Wild West India: Birding & Wildlife Expeditions in Western India
Endemic Explorer: Crafting Private Birding and Wildlife Journeys through India’s Wild West
Explore birding and wildlife tours in Western India: Gujarat, Rajasthan, and desert landscapes.
15 Days
Expedition length
Nov 12-27
2025
$ 4100
Per person
This 15-day photographic journey takes you across three of India’s most iconic dryland ecosystems—Greater Rann of Kutch (GRK), Little Rann of Kutch (LRK), and the Desert National Park (DNP) near Jaisalmer—regions renowned for their stark beauty and exceptional avian diversity. Timed for January, this expedition is ideal for capturing wintering raptors, dryland specialists, and regional endemics in peak visibility. You will explore saline plains, scrub deserts, grasslands, and thorn forests in more than 20 guided jeep safaris. Carefully planned for optimal light and wildlife activity, the tour offers exclusive access to remote habitats and promises remarkable photographic opportunities in every location.
Endangered Great Indian Bustard in Its Native Desert Habitat, a Rarity Preserved.
Raptors Galore Across Gujarat’s Open Grasslands and Salt Flats, Hunting Freely.
Stark Landscapes: Salt Flats, Grasslands, and Desert Scrub Meet Rugged Silence.
Seasonal Wetlands Teeming with Migratory Birds and Flamingos in Vibrant Display.
Desert Mammals: Wolves, Hyenas, and the Elusive Desert Cat, Unseen Yet Near.
Local Culture: Salt Workers, Camel Herds, and Desert Life Endure.
India's wild west: As enedmic explorer sees it
Embark on a Photographic Journey Through India’s Wild Deserts, Wildlife, and Timeless Landscapes
All our private tours are highly customizable. Share your travel goals, and we’ll create a compelling itinerary together
Day 1: (12 November 2025) Arrival
Drive to Bhuj (Greater Rann of Kutch)
6 hour's drive to grk ( AHMedabad to grk)
On arrival at Ahmedabad airport, you will be met by your tour leader and transferred by private vehicle to Bhuj, the gateway to the Greater Rann of Kutch. The drive covers approximately 335 km and takes 6 hours, travelling westwards across Gujarat’s semi-arid plains. En route, you will notice the gradual shift in vegetation—from cultivated fields to dry scrub and thorn forests. Bhuj serves as the base to explore the Banni Grasslands and the arid salt flats of GRK, a unique ecological zone near the India-Pakistan border. After check-in and rest, you will be briefed on the expedition ahead, before settling in for your first night.
Day 2 to Day 5: (13–16 November 2025) Greater Rann of Kutch)
Explore Greater Rann of Kutch
Greater Rann of Kutch (4 Nights / 5 Days)
The Greater Rann of Kutch is a vast mosaic of seasonal salt marshes, desert grasslands, and thorn scrub habitats, bordered by the Banni Grasslands to the south. The area offers outstanding opportunities to photograph raptors such as the Short-toed Snake Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Laggar Falcon, and Long-legged Buzzard. Most famously, this region is among the last strongholds of the critically endangered White-rumped and Indian Vultures. The saline flats attract Sandgrouse, Desert Wheatear, and Greater Hoopoe-Lark, while the grasslands support coursers, larks, and shrikes. You will undertake eight dedicated safaris here—two each day, timed for morning and late afternoon light—giving you plenty of time to track species and wait for the perfect shot.
On Day 5, after your final evening safari, you will begin the 245 km overland journey south to the Little Rann of Kutch, a drive of approximately 4 hours, arriving late in the evening.
Day 6 to Day 9: (17–20 November 2025) Little Rann of Kutch
Explore Little Rann of Kutch
Little Rann of Kutch (4 Nights / 5 Days)
The Little Rann of Kutch, though smaller in name, is ecologically vast and equally dramatic. This expansive saline desert is one of the last refuges of the Indian Wild Ass and also hosts thousands of wintering waterfowl and waders. Its cracked earth and seasonal wetlands create a surreal landscape ideal for wide-angle habitat photography. LRK is particularly rich in raptor activity, with wintering Imperial Eagles, Steppe Eagles, and Greater Spotted Eagles regularly sighted. In the open flats, you may also photograph Macqueen’s Bustard, Indian Courser, and the occasional Eurasian Eagle-Owl roosting in a burrow. Each of the eight safaris here offers a new photographic challenge—from dynamic birds in flight to low-angle silhouettes at dusk. The terrain is flat, allowing for creative compositions and uninterrupted sightlines. On
Day 10, you depart early morning for the 520 km drive northwest to the Thar Desert and the famed Desert National Park in Rajasthan. The journey takes approximately 7 hours.
Day 10 to Day 14: (21–25 November 2025) Desert National Park
Explore DNP
Desert National Park (5 Nights / 6 Days)
The Desert National Park, near Jaisalmer, lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and is home to some of India’s most sought-after desert species. The landscape here consists of wind-blown dunes, sparse grasslands, and rocky outcrops—perfect habitat for India’s avian ghosts. The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard is the region’s flagship species, often seen stalking through the dunes. Raptors abound here too: Egyptian Vulture, Tawny Eagle, Red-headed Vulture, and Saker Falcon all feature prominently. The dry grasslands support Cream-coloured Courser, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark, and Desert Lark, while reptiles such as Spiny-tailed Lizards and Desert Monitor lizards are frequently spotted basking. Eight intensive safaris will be conducted across this landscape, with early starts and sunset returns designed to capture the golden light of the desert. Jaisalmer’s dramatic fort, glimpsed on the horizon, is a silent witness to this wild theatre.
Day 15: (26 November 2025) Departure
Departure
Jaisalmer or JODHPUR
After breakfast, you will be transferred either to Jaisalmer airport domestic flight (limited number of flights) or embark on the 300 km overland journey back to Jodhpur (approx. 5 hours), depending on your onward travel plans. It is the end of an extraordinary expedition through some of India’s wildest and least photographed landscapes. The photographic rewards from this tour—both in species diversity and aesthetic drama—are likely to be unmatched.
Tour Highlights
Comprehensive List of Birds & Wildlife
Birds: White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Great Indian Bustard, Grey Hypocolius, Red-necked Falcon, Indian Eagle-Owl, Isabelline Shrike, Desert Wheatear, Sykes’s Lark, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Spotted Sandgrouse, Painted Sandgrouse, Peregrine Falcon, Pallid Scops Owl, Marsh Harrier, Common Kestrel, Common Crane, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Great White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, various Stork species, Pied Avocet, Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Macqueen’s Bustard, Greater Spotted Eagle, Short-eared Owl, Indian Courser, Rosy Starling, Great Indian Bustard, Merlin, Saker Falcon, Tawny Eagle, Cream-coloured Courser, Desert Lark, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-headed Vulture, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark.
Wildlife: Desert Fox, Chinkara, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Indian Grey Mongoose, Indian Wild Ass, Jungle Cat, Indian Fox, Striped Hyena, Spiny-tailed Lizard, Desert Monitor Lizard, Indian Hedgehog.
Note: The following list includes some of the key bird and animal species we are likely to encounter on this trip, based on our past experiences. However, please note that wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, as they depend on several natural factors beyond our control.
Tour Cost
Tour Cost : USD 4100
Per Person / Twin Share
Single Room Supplement: USD 750 (Subject to availability)
If you are a solo traveller, we will try to arrange a roommate for you. However, if this is not possible, a single-room supplement may be required.
The accommodations we will be staying in during the tour may be modest, with basic facilities, but they are comfortable and ideally situated for birding and wildlife activities.
Tour Leader:
An experienced guide/tour manager will accompany you throughout the trip, supported by various local guides.
Special Notes
Included & Excluded
Included in the Tour Cost:
All accommodations as per the itinerary, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), guide fees, ground transportation, river cruise on the Fly River, entrance fees, and land permits.Not Included in the Tour Cost:
Domestic & international flight tickets, visa fees, taxes, travel insurance, additional food and drinks, and tips for guides and staff.
Tour Map
Extras & Tools
Read, Watch, or Listen About the Tour
