Red Panda and Birds of Eastern Himalayas Tour

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Red Panda and Birds of Eastern Himalayas Tour

Endemic Explorer: Creating Bespoke Himalayan Wildlife Journeys in Search of the Red Panda

Track Red Pandas, Spot Rare Birds, and Witness Himalayan Peaks on an Eastern Journey

9 Days

SUGGESTED LENGTH

Nov-March

Best time to go

$ TBA

Price From

At Endemic Explorer, our journeys are crafted not around sights, but around rare species, elusive habitats, and the quiet thrill of wilderness. This Red Panda and Birding Tour through the Eastern Himalaya is no exception—another must-do circuit for those who travel to track the extraordinary. From high-altitude ridgelines to subtropical forests, this immersive expedition spans Singalila, Senchal, and Mahananda—three of Bengal’s most biodiverse ecosystems. With expert trackers and local naturalists by your side, you will follow subtle forest signs in search of the red panda, photograph endemic Himalayan birds, and rise before dawn to witness sunrise over Everest from Sandakphu. This may not be a luxury tour, but the reward is unbeatable: rare wildlife encounters, deep forest immersion, and the raw magic of nature revealed on its own terms. It is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and let the wild lead the way—an experience for the true explorer.

Traverse misty ridgelines, forests, and valleys across Bengal’s wild frontier.

Track elusive red pandas through bamboo forests with expert trackers..

Explore Mahananda’s lush jungles, home to vibrant tropical biodiversity.

Ride vintage Land Rovers into high-altitude forests steeped in nostalgia..

Spot rufous-necked hornbills gliding through dense, echoing canopy trails.

Search for jewel-toned broadbills in shaded, whispering forest understori

EASTERN HIMALAYAS: AS ENDEMIC EXPLORER SEES IT

Birdwatching and Red Panda Tracking Tour in the Eastern Himalayas – Singalila, Senchal & Mahananda Forests

All our private tours are highly customizable. Share your travel goals, and we’ll create a compelling itinerary together

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Day 1: Arrival – Bagdogra to Maneybhanjan (~95 km | 7,000 ft)

Welcome to North East India

(~95 km | 7,000 ft)

Your Himalayan journey begins with a pickup from Bagdogra Airport. As you rise from the plains into the pine-kissed heights, the landscape transforms—tea gardens give way to forests laced with mist. After a drive of around 4–5 hours, you arrive at Maneybhanjan, a quaint mountain village that marks the edge of Singalila National Park. Here, time seems to slow down. Cottages dot the hillside, prayer flags flutter in the breeze, and the mountain air feels lighter in more ways than one. Settle into your homestay and enjoy a traditional Nepali dinner. This peaceful village, perched at 7,000 feet, becomes your basecamp for red panda tracking in the days.

Day 2: Tumling Birding & Entry into the Panda Zone

The Hunt for the Red Panda Begins

(~25 km round trip | 7,500–10,000 ft)

Your day begins with tea and golden light spilling over the eastern ridges. After breakfast, you travel to Tumling for an early birding session—a paradise for high-altitude species like blood pheasants and Darjeeling woodpeckers. Meanwhile, expert trackers begin their search in the deeper Panda Zone. Later, you join them via 4×4 vehicle, venturing into bamboo thickets and rhododendron forests favored by red pandas. The altitude here ranges from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, where air is crisp and the forest thick with life. You return to Maneybhanjan by late afternoon, your senses sharpened, your lens tested.

The evening is warm, calm, and filled with promise.

Day 3: Red Panda Zone

Deep in the Forest – The First True Chase Begins

(7,000 ft)

Each step today feels deliberate. You’re no longer exploring—you’re tracking. With experienced naturalists leading the way, you follow subtle signs: claw marks on bamboo, droppings near a mossy trail, or rustling in the canopy. Patience defines this pursuit. The red panda doesn’t reveal itself easily, but the forest offers other rewards—sightings of the yellow-throated marten, red giant flying squirrel, or orange-bellied squirrel are entirely possible. High above, the ridgelines of Nepal and India drift in and out of cloud. You may cover more ground today or wait silently for hours in one spot. Either way, it’s the rhythm of the wild that dictates the pace.

Day 4: Himalayan Culture & Continued Tracking

Waiting for the Red Panda & Birding

( 7,000-7500 ft)

The morning begins with another immersive journey into the Panda Zone. By now, your senses are tuned to the environment—you notice bird calls, shifting winds, the creak of forest floor underfoot. As trackers continue the search, you may have another chance to capture red panda movement or rare Himalayan birds. The afternoon brings a change in mood. Back at your homestay, a small local cultural event introduces you to Nepali traditions through music, dance, and storytelling. It’s not performance—it’s sharing. With locally prepared dishes like sel roti and gundruk soup, the evening becomes a soulful blend of culture and wilderness.

Day 5: Final Day in Singalila – Farewell to the Clouds

From Panda Country to Hornbills

Your last day in Singalila begins before dawn, with one final effort to spot the elusive red panda. Perhaps today is the day it pauses, just long enough for your lens to meet its gaze. Or perhaps it remains a ghost—heard, hinted at, but unseen. Either way, the days here have forged a bond with this land. If conditions permit, a short birding session in Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary adds another layer to your experience—lush canopies, whispering oaks, and hill partridges in dappled light. By evening, you prepare to descend into a different forest world—the subtropical jungle of Mahananda.

Day 6: Into Latpanchar – Entering Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary

Explore Latpanchar

(~70 km | 4,000 ft)

Leaving the alpine ridges, you descend into the dense green arms of Latpanchar, a hidden gem in the upper reaches of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. At lower altitudes, the forest becomes richer, wetter, and more intense. After settling into your forest lodge, you spend the day exploring bird hides and jungle trails where hornbills nest and squirrels leap through the canopy. As twilight deepens, the real magic begins—night birding introduces you to nocturnal creatures like frogmouths, nightjars, and owls. The jungle at night speaks a different language, and tonight, you’ll learn to listen.

Day 7: From Hornbill Trails to Tea Garden Retreat

Welcome to North East India

(~60 km | 1,000 ft)

Rise early for a final session in Latpanchar, hoping to catch the rufous-necked hornbill gliding through morning light. This area, at about 4,000 feet, is rich in canopy-dwellers and forest melodies. After lunch, descend further toward Siliguri, where the landscape softens into tea gardens and wide, open skies. Your stay tonight is inside a working tea estate—quiet, green, and gently luxurious. Watch dusk fall over rolling plantations while sipping first-flush Darjeeling. After days in thick forests, this change of scenery offers comfort without breaking the thread of wilderness. The jungle, now behind you, still feels close.

Day 8: Exploring Lower Mahananda – Raptors and Riverain Forest

Lower Mahananda

(~20 km)

Your final full day in the wild begins in the lower stretches of Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, where river forests and open canopies shelter raptors, hornbills, macaques, and more. The altitude now hovers around 500–800 feet, and the climate is warmer, more tropical. Morning and afternoon excursions reveal a different kind of wilderness—less hidden, more dynamic. Crested serpent eagles scan from treetops, while hornbills crash through the canopy. A picnic-style field lunch keeps you immersed in the jungle’s hum. As the light fades, you return to your tea garden retreat for one last evening beneath wide Himalayan skies.

Day 9: Return to Bagdogra – Journey’s End

Departure

Your journey draws to a close after a quiet morning stroll among dew-drenched tea leaves or a final look toward the forest’s edge. The short drive back to Bagdogra Airport is filled with reflection on sightings, silences, and moments that only wild places can offer.

Optional Sandakphu Extension

Counts the Peaks, Including Mount Everest

12000 Ft

A highly recommended optional excursion to Sandakphu (3,636 m / 11,929 ft) can be incorporated into your itinerary. Known as the highest point in West Bengal, Sandakphu offers a surreal, panoramic view of the Himalayan range. From this single vantage, on a clear day, you can witness four of the five highest mountains on Earth: Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,485 m), and Mt. Kangchenjunga (8,586 m). The journey begins pre-dawn via 4×4 vehicle from Maneybhanjan, winding through rhododendron and pine forests to reach the summit in time for sunrise. You’ll return to base before noon. Though the road is rugged, the reward is unforgettable—an unmatched Himalayan panorama that leaves even seasoned trekkers speechless.

Tour Cost

TBA

This is a private tour. The tour cost will vary based on the number of participants, optional excursions to Sandakphu, and the total number of days. Please speak with our travel experts to discuss your preferences and receive a personalised quote.

Special Notes

Important Notes for Participants

1. Accommodation
  Lodging throughout the journey is in basic but comfortable homestays and forest lodges. All rooms offer attached toilets, hot water, and heating arrangements where necessary. While not luxurious, accommodations are clean, safe, and perfectly located for proximity to wildlife zones.
2. Meals
  Food is locally sourced, simple, and nourishing. Guests are encouraged to embrace local flavors and inform us in advance of any dietary restrictions so we can accommodate them where possible.
3. Physical Fitness
  This trip involves forest walks, uneven terrain, and long hours of tracking wildlife. A reasonable level of physical fitness and mobility is essential to enjoy the experience fully. You don’t need to be an athlete—but a sense of adventure helps!
4. Early Starts & Long Drives
  The itinerary includes some long drives, bumpy roads (especially in higher altitudes), and early morning departures to maximize chances of wildlife sightings. Patience and flexibility are key, as nature moves on its own schedule.

Tour Map

Extras & Tools