Bird Photography Tour in Nepal – Ultimate Birding Experience is a professionally curated wildlife photography experience in the birding hotspots. The tour is designed specifically for serious bird photographers, passionate birdwatchers, and nature enthusiasts who seek more than casual sightings. The tour focuses on quality sightings, ethical photography practices, and intensive field time.
Nepal is one of the world’s richest birding destinations. Home to over 900 recorded bird species spread across a surprisingly small region. Despite its small size, the country spans an exceptional range of ecosystems. From tropical lowland wetlands and riverine grasslands to dense mid-hill forests and high-altitude Himalayan alpine zones, Nepal offers unmatched habitat diversity. As a result, bird photographers and birdwatchers can experience an extraordinary variety of species within a single journey.
Furthermore, Nepal lies at the intersection of the Palearctic and Oriental biogeographic areas, allowing migratory, resident, and endemic species to coexist. This incredible diversity, along with spectacular scenery and accessible topography, makes Nepal a year-round birding and bird photography paradise.
Our trips are led by knowledgeable local birding guides who understand bird behavior, seasonal movements, and ideal photography conditions. Equally important, our flexible photography-focused schedules allow ample time for tracking, observation, and capturing birds in natural light and authentic behavior.
Ultimately, this bird photography tour is more than just a trip. It is a carefully curated wildlife experience that blends expert guidance, diverse habitats, and photographic freedom. Therefore, whether you are aiming to build a world-class bird portfolio or simply immerse yourself in Nepal’s rich avian life. This journey promises unforgettable encounters in the heart of the Himalayas.
If you’re looking for a short birding trip, Kathmandu Valley is the perfect choice. It offers 300+ bird species across forests, hills, and wetlands, including pheasants, raptors, migratory waterfowl, and the Spiny Babbler. With easy access, varied habitats, and excellent photography opportunities, it is perfect for short birding trips, especially during spring and autumn.
· Assistance with camera settings & composition
· Professional birding & photography guides
· Knowledge of bird behavior and positioning
· Flexible shooting hours
Ethical wildlife photography practices
· December – January: Winter migratory birds (Terai)
· October – November: Clear skies, autumn migrants
· February – April: Spring breeding season
· Carefully curated bird hotspots
· High success rate for rare species
· Small group or private tours
· Ethical, conservation-focused tourism
· Ideal for professionals & hobbyists

It’s time to kick off your adventure! Upon arrival, we will head to the hotel, do a gear calibration session, and prepare for our birding adventure. In the evening, enjoy leisure time in Thamel.
It’s an early-morning start to the oak-pine forests of Shivapuri.
Target Species: Kalij Pheasant, Hill Partridge, Great Barbet, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon
Focus: Passerines in the mid-canopy and raptors soaring on thermals like the Mountain Hawk-Eagle.
Phulchoki (2,760m) is the highest point on the rim of the valley. We will drive to the top for a sunrise session overlooking the Himalayas.
The Big Goal: The Spiny Babbler, Nepal’s only endemic bird. It favors dense scrub and is best photographed when it emerges to sing in the early morning.
Afternoon: Focus on "bird-adjacent" subjects or small, colorful birds like Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers in the Godavari Botanical Gardens at the hill’s base.
It’s a morning flight to Biratnagar, the Birding Capital of Nepal. Koshi Tappu is a Ramsar wetland paradise, with reed beds, mudflats, and freshwater marshes.
Target Species: Waders, Storks, Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican (rare), Black-necked Stork, Gangetic Dolphin
It’s a scenic drive along the Trishuli River into Chitwan’s subtropical lowlands. End the day with a Sunset Riverbank Session to photograph birds returning to roost.
It's three days of birding in the wilderness of Chitwan National Park, and we will explore the best birding zones:
Chitwan National Park is not just a birding paradise—it’s one of Nepal’s richest wildlife hubs, offering incredible opportunities to see endangered mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and unique flora. The park is home to big mammals like One-Horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Sloth Bear, Chital (Spotted Deer), Sambar Deer, Swamp Deer (Barasingha), and Wild Boar. A visit here combines wildlife photography, jungle safaris, and cultural experiences.
After an unforgettable birding adventure in Southern Terai, it’s time to fly back to Kathmandu. Once in the city, enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu’s rich cultural heritage in Basantapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath Stupas.
It’s the ultimate birding adventure toward the Langtang foothills.
Target Species: Himalayan Monal (Nepal’s national bird), Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Rosefinches
Besides birds, Langtang is the hotspot of rare and elusive Red Panda, Musk Deer, and Himalayan Tahr, and we will cross these amazing animals during the birding, if we are fortunate enough.
It’s time to say goodbye to Nepal. Transfer to the airport with memories (and hundreds of amazing photos) to last a lifetime.
The rusty-cheeked scimitar babbler (Erythrogenys erythrogenys) is a distinctive songbird native to the Himalayas, known for its long, down-curved bill and vocal behavior.
The Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata), sometimes known as the Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice bird, is a tiny, gregarious estrildid bird from tropical Asia. It is well-known for the unique "scaled" black-and-white pattern on its underparts.
he Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus) is a colorful, medium-sized bird native to the Himalayan foothills and Southeast Asia. Its colorful plumage and rhythmic, repeating calls make it a popular sight (and sound) in lowland and montane forests, gardens, and city outskirts.
Male minivets are brightly colored passerine birds from the Pericrocotus genus of the cuckooshrike family. They are known for their colorful plumage and can often be observed moving across forest canopies in small, energetic flocks.
The Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a distinctive bird known for its beautiful "crown" of feathers and peculiar butterfly-like flying. It is often found across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is admired for both its remarkable look and its legendary status in numerous civilizations.
The Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis), sometimes known as the Crow Pheasant, is a huge and distinctive member of the cuckoo family. Despite its name and look, it is neither a crow nor a pheasant, and unlike many other cuckoos, it is not a brood parasite—meaning it makes its own nests and raises its own young.
The Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus), sometimes known as the Lanceolated Jay, is a beautiful songbird of the crow family (Corvidae) native to the Himalayas.
The Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is an Asian songbird known for its fearlessness and aggressive nature. It is commonly referred to as the "King Crow" since it dive-bombs much larger birds such as crows and raptors.
The black kite, also known as the fire kite (Milvus migrans), is a medium-sized bird of prey from the Accipitridae family, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is estimated to be the most numerous Accipitridae species worldwide, while some populations have seen major decreases or variations.
The Green-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura), often known as the Bleating Warbler, is a tiny and active bird found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. It belongs to the Cisticolidae family and is known for its "sewing" nesting behavior and loud, unique sounds.
The Scaly Thrush (Zoothera dauma) is a secretive, ground-dwelling songbird distinguished by its distinctive "scaly" look, which is caused by black borders on golden-brown feathers.
The Himalayan Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus), commonly known as the Asian black bulbul, is a sociable and vocal songbird that lives in the broadleaf forests and mountainous regions of South and Southeast Asia.
The Grey Bushchat (Saxicola ferreus) is a tiny, upright-standing passerine bird from the Muscicapidae family. It is found throughout the Himalayas and mainland Southeast Asia, and is recognized for its bold but relatively sedentary behavior, typically spotted perching on high, exposed areas like as poles or wires for extended periods of time.
The Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), also known as the White-cheeked Bulbul, is a bright and unusual songbird found in the northern areas of the Indian subcontinent.
The Himalayan Black-lored Tit (Machlolophus xanthogenys) is a beautifully patterned passerine bird found in the Indian subcontinent's foothills and montane forests, mainly along the Himalayas.
The Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens) is a huge, colorful bird found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is the largest member of the barbet family and may be identified by its massive pale yellow beak and loud, repeating calls, which are a continuous fixture of Himalayan landscapes.
The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), sometimes known as the Paddybird, is a small, common heron found in the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. It is famed for its superb camouflage, which seems drab and earthy when stationary but transforms into a flash of brilliant white when in flight.
The Plumbeous Water Redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus) is a unique little songbird from the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae). Its name, "plumbeous," relates to the lead-colored plumage.
The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small, sociable passerine bird known for its distinctive black-and-white coloration and ability to mimic other bird
The Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a medium-sized, sleek bird with dark plumage and a distinctive bright red patch under its tail. It originated in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia and has since become one of the world's most widespread and invasive bird species.
The double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is the most common cormorant in North America. It is known for its ancient appearance and characteristic S-shaped neck, and it may be found near both fresh and salt water.
The woolly-necked stork (Ciconia episcopus) is a huge, unique wading bird known for its white, downy neck that stands out against its usually glossy black body.
he Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis) is a tiny and colorful songbird found in tropical and subtropical Asia. Though it resembles a conventional flycatcher, it is a member of the Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatcher) family, which means it is more closely related to tits and warblers than "Old World" flycatchers.
This is a pre-booking form for the lead traveler. We would send you the actual booking form after the confirmation
I really wanted to find a local company who could make a personalised itinerary for my husband and I to do red panda trekking and a safari in Bardia National Park to see tigers (among other things). I would highly recommend Tiger Encounter for any trip to Nepal, but especially if you’re looking to encounter wildlife.
We recently returned from a 2 week private wildlife trekking and safari tour with Tiger Encounter, and couldn’t recommend them highly enough. We found them through a Google search and we are so glad that we did – we were so impressed! Tiger Encounter really offer such a personalised service and clearly care about their travellers.
Excellent safari in Chitwan and Bardia. Very professional company and we were looked after really well. Communication was easy and fast response. The guides on the safaris were brilliant and the accommodation was excellent. Can’t rate them highly enough.
I’ve been to 28 different countries and countless safaris over the world- let me tell you that this is the standard for every other safari I’ve been on since! The attention to detail, the absolute love and care of the guides, and the tour operator’s genuine wish for you to have the best experience possible made this one of the most amazing tours/safaris I’ve been on. It was just as amazing to meet the locals and meet the Tharu people as it was to see the rhino and to be close up with an elephant!! (And That tiger that kept in front of our raft to cross the river!!) As an experienced traveler, take my word that you will have a genuinely wild and carefree adventure!!!???
Had the most wonderful and life changing experience with Tiger Encounter. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Mr. Sharma (owner) who had accompanied me as my guide throughout my adventure. They had planned everything so well and truly make you feel like family. Be it every step of the way from jeep safari, jungle walk, canoe ride, trek through the jungle, mountain trek Mr. Sharma is truly amazing guide, photographer and wonderful motivator. It goes without saying that your guide is your doorway to experiencing everything about the beautiful country you visit. Be it food, shopping, adventure or pleasure. I truly loved every moment of my time…and hope to return to this beautiful country with Tiger Encounter to many more adventures and celebrating a wonderful friendship. Hop you all have as amazing adventures and journeys with them. ?
Thank you Tiger Encounter team for another great experience in beautiful Nepal. We had amazing memories in Mt. Everest & Chitwan! We did wildlife safari, jeep safari, bird watching, village tour & cultural program. You are super professional, knowledgeable. Strongly recommend.
Tiger Encounter made our tiger encounter possible. On tiger tracking day two we saw the beautiful beast come out to drink it has an incredible experience. Waiting for almost two days on the blazing heat of May was really worth it!!
We went on a wildlife safari tour operated by Tiger Encounter last May 2019. It was a great experience for the whole family our kids were very excited to see animals out in the wild.
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