Port Blair - Shoal Bay - Chidiya Tapu - Mount Harriet National Park - Port Blair - Kolkata
7 Days / 6 Nights
Our Andaman Birding Tour takes you to one of the world’s remotest birding hotspots and treats you to a wonderful pageantry of endemic birds. The geographic isolation of the archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar
Pre-Booked
Included except arrival and departure city.
Guide for complete tour.
Airport to Airport.
2-8PAX
Included
Planning for a birdwatching tour in India with your family or friends? We have the perfect tour designed for you!
We will surprise you with a fantastic parade of rare species on our Fixed Departure Andaman Birding Tour, which brings you to one of the world's rarest birding hotspots.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands archipelago bird species have benefited from its geographic isolation. This group of islands in the far south of the Bay of Bengal have been spared human exploitation because they are hundreds of kilometres from any continental land mass. They have also witnessed the evolution of several bird species that are unique to the islands over centuries and millennia. Our birding expedition in the Andamans will focus on these magnificent avian marvels.
Awesome, right?
The archipelago is fairly big, and much of it is completely off-limits. Our South Andaman birding trip concentrates on the region around Port Blair, the region's capital.
The archipelago itself is quite large and many parts are strictly off limits. Our Andaman birdwatching tour focusses on South Andaman, particularly the areas around its capital Port Blair.
At first sight, Port Blair might appear to be a quiet, picturesque town in India with some noise and activity, yet a simple stroll into the nearby marshes and woodlands reveals a rich bird habitat.
You can see almost all of the Andaman Islands' endemic birds, including the Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Crake, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Shama, and Andaman Drongo, in a location called Shoal Bay, which is only a short ferry ride from Port Blair.
Chidiya Tapu (Bird Island), an evergreen woodland distributed along the seashore, is just as good, if not better, as a birding location. The endemics and other species found in this Andaman birding hotspot include the Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Beach Thick-knee, Olive-backed Sunbird, and a variety of kingfishers.
A fantastic location for nocturnal bird watching is Chidiya Tapu. The Andaman Masked Owl, Andaman Scops Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl, Hume's Hawk Owl, Andaman Nightjar, and Andaman Barn Owl are among the nocturnal creatures that may be discovered with some keen observation in the dark.
Similarly, Mount Harriet National Park is a favourite destination for birders, particularly for those who wish to see a rich array of animals in addition to a wide diversity of birds. Woodpeckers, kingfishers, cuckoo shrikes, minivets, drongos, treepies, parakeets, thrushes, sunbirds, and raptors may all be seen in this area.
These hotspots are covered by the Andaman Birding Trip over a week, which includes a minimum of four full birding days. We frequently go birding well into the night to observe the nocturnal beauties.
One of the pioneers who introduced the globe to Andaman birding tourism is India Birding Tours. Since Myanmar and Malaysia are geographically closer to the Andamans than mainland India, we have extensive experience leading successful bird trips in the Andamans. We are familiar with the locations likely to yield the best views of endemic, resident, and migratory birds, including some bird species.
Do you know the best time to do our Andaman birding expedition? Well, let us tell you it is from October to March.
Around this time of year, the weather is enjoyable, and birding hotspots are teeming with avian marvels that you won't get tired of seeing and taking photos.
Overall, the Andaman Fixed Departure Birding Tour is a beautiful opportunity to explore the Andaman Islands' rich birdlife and scenic beauty. The tour provides a perfect balance of adventure, nature, and relaxation, making it an unforgettable experience for any nature enthusiast.
Well, now it's time to take you through the itinerary in detail.
Lodging: We have a whole range of accommodation to offer, but we prefer for our clients the lodging that enhances their overall Andaman birding experience. We choose hotels, villas, resorts, or lodges that are close to the birding sites so that you may spot an odd bird even from your window or balcony. The accommodation provides all the basic amenities and top-class service. If you have a specific demand regarding accommodation, do let us know in advance.
Meals: We are very mindful of the food our guests are served during any birding trip of India. We put you up in hotels or resorts that have both western and Indian food on their menu. You may be vegetarian or may love meat, there is always something to satisfy your palate. At times, when we camp out and overnight in tents, our kitchen staff takes over and rustles up some mouth-watering delicacies. Our staff and the hotels we put you up in follow best hygiene practices.
Tour Difficulty: Our Andaman birdwatching adventure makes no strenuous demands on your physical stamina, but it has some back-to-back full days of birding that require long hours in the field, walking long distances, while carrying your own equipment such as binoculars, camera, field guide, backpack, etc. You should be equal to this task. The terrain is mostly flat, save a few gentle slopes at Mount Harriet National Park. On some evenings, we birdwatch late into the night.
Tour Extension: There is plenty of opportunity in the Andamans for water sports and adventure. You may want to go for a scuba dive or a short stint at Havelock Island, which is famous for its gorgeous beaches and yummy seafood. Or you may want to go sightseeing at Cellular Jail or Anthropological Museum. We can include these visits in tour extension, provided you inform us well in advance to let us make necessary arrangements.
Climate: The summer in the Andamans can be hot and humid, but the winter brings in a refreshing spell of pleasant weather. The six-month period from October through March is the best time to do birding in Andamans. The monsoon is well over by this time and the birds are out in large numbers. Casual summer wear is fine for this weather, and you may want to carry along a light raincoat or poncho for an odd shower. Do also bear in mind that Andaman has early mornings and early evenings, as per the Indian Standard Time.
Upon arrival at the Port Blair airport, our tour guide will warmly welcome you and help you transfer to your hotel. After checking in and freshening up, you can explore the nearby market or walk.
Besides this, you can relax at night in the hotel after having a delicious dinner.
Today at Port Blair, we'll go birding for the entire day.
Port Blair and the areas around it so teem with birds that all it takes is a short trip to one of the local water bodies to see some incredible avian beauties like Chinese Pond Heron, Chinese Egret, Pintail Snipe, Common Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Red-necked Stint, Long-toed Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Oriental Plover, Grey-headed Lapwing, Crab Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Gull-billed Tern, and Lesser Crested Tern. This India Short Birding Tours of Port Blair warms you up for the busy birding days ahead.
We dine at the hotel, or you may try out local restaurants if you wish to. Overnight at the hotel or resort.
We will rise early to take advantage of the best morning birding opportunities. We will pack our breakfast and even bring our lunches in bags because time is essential in these early hours. After a brief drive, we board a ferry to reach Shoal Bay, a region of marshy wetlands and rainforests where numerous aquatic birds assemble.
Nearly all of the Andaman Islands' endemic birds can be found in Shoal Bay, along with various other avian beauties. The Andaman Woodpecker, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, among many more, may all be seen near Shoal Bay on a good birding day.
We will have to pack our lunches in Shoal Bay and continue birding there until the evening when we head back to our accommodation in Port Blair for supper and the night so as not to disturb our birding routine.
We will leave our hotel in Port Blair and travel an hour to Chidiya Tapu (Bird Island), where we will spend the entire day birding. The walk leads directly into the centre of the mangrove island and along its coastal forest, beginning about 4 kilometres before Chidiya Tapu.
Numerous endemic, resident and migratory birds can be found in the area's woods and waters. You can see the Andaman Crake, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Serpent Eagle, and Andaman Shama, among many other species, during a successful day of birding at Chidiya Tapu.
We will lounge on the beach for about an hour or so in the evening while enjoying the sunset. Additionally, there are some nearby water sports opportunities. We will search the area for nighttime avian species, including the Andaman Masked Owl, Andaman Scops Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl, Hume's Hawk Owl, Andaman Nightjar, and Andaman Barn Owl after sunset.
After a productive night of nighttime birding, we will head back to our hotel for supper and the night.
The third-highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mount Harriet, inspired the name of Mount Harriet National Park. Due to the magnificent flora and fauna found here, it is a favourite destination for birders and nature lovers. The park boasts a unique marine ecology on its eastern shore, known as a butterfly hotspot.
We will get here early in the morning to make the most of our birding expedition to Mount Harriet National Park, located approximately 10 kilometres from Port Blair. A day of birding here unveils a wide range of avifauna, including Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Crake, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black-naped Oriole, Black-hooded Oriole, Large Cuckooshrike, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Ashy Minivet, Small Minivet, Andaman Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Blue Rock Thrush, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Collared Kingfisher, Brown Coucal, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Pintail Snipe, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Andaman Treepie, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive-backed Sunbird, and White-headed Starling, and many others.
We will head back to our lodging in Port Blair for a delicious dinner and then relax for the night.
The sixth day of our Andaman birding tour is intriguing as you get to choose where to go birding today near Port Blair. After seeing Shoal Bay, Chidiya Tapu, and Mount Harriet National Park, you can visit other Andaman Islands birding hotspots.
Isn't it amazing?
The goal is to look for the species that need to be added to our checklist. We may walk through the wetlands, marshes, woodlands, and seashores to see these Andaman avian specialities. We could go birding well into the night to view some nocturnal species to make the most of this day. This day completes four consecutive days of the most fascinating birdwatching in the Andamans.
By evening or night, we will return to our hotel, where we will have dinner and spend the night.
After a tasty breakfast, we will transport you to the airport for a morning flight to Kolkata, Delhi, or Chennai. With these, our Andaman Fixed Departure Birding Tour comes to an end. Hope you will have your best time with us.
