A 175 sq km wetland in the Sunsari district of Nepal’s eastern Terai region, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve comprises extensive mudflats, reed beds, and freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the Sapta Koshi River. Although the reserve is an abode to the multifarious faunal species like, wild buffalos, sloth bears, one horned rhino, Bengal tiger, wild elephants etc., it is actually regarded as a bird watchers’ paradise. There are over 485 species of birds- water cock, Indian nightjar, Dusky eagle owl, black-headed cuckoo shrike, white-tailed stonechat, striated grass bird, large adjutant stork, paellas fish eagle, common golden-eye, gull billed tern, swamp francolin and Nepal rufous vented prinia etc. to name a few. Leave the birds aside and you’ll be flabbergasted to witness some of the fascinating aquatics including the freshwater Gangetic dolphins and the marsh mugger crocs.
The trip begins with a 35 minutes’ flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, the second biggest city and an industrial hub of Nepal. The reserve is just about an hour’s drive from Biratnagar. After reaching a resort in Koshi Tappu, we rest for a while and then set off into the wild premises of the park to get indulged in array of enticing jungle activities which continues till the next day. Bird watching, elephant ride, canoeing, and the cultural dance show of the local tribe known as “Jhagad” etc. are surely going to make our stay in the wilds, very exhilarating. Eventually, just as we fall in love with the woods and the scary wilds beasts begin to be our best friends, our trips winds up with a drive back to Biratnagar, followed by a flight to Kathmandu.
OUTLINE ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar (80m/35min) and drive to Koshi Tappu (81m/1hour)
Day 04: Jungle Activities
Day 05: Drive from Koshi Tappu to Biratnagar airport (80m/1 hour) and fly to Kathmandu (1400m/35min)
Day 06: Final departure
Important Snippets
The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.
Day 01: Arrival In Kathmandu (1400m)
Upon arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by a representative from Marron Treks and then transferred to your hotel. At the hotel, you will be greeted with welcome drinks. We then have a quick pre-trip meeting where you will be briefed on the necessary formalities and your tour itinerary. You can spend the remaining half of the day, resting Or if lying flat is too unbecoming for you, stroll around the nearby places just to get the feel of what this city is like. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)
Short stroll in the evening yesterday might not have acquainted you to Kathmandu. So we want to make sure that you know this city like you know yourself. Once done with your breakfast, let’s hop in to our reserved vehicle and then head on for a comfy ride with one of our experienced city guides. You will be visiting the most renowned historical/cultural landmarks in Kathmandu. Our guide will take you to the Pasupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square and Boudhanath (the Maha Stupa). All these sites are enlisted in the UNESCO world’s heritage list. After this informative and interesting tour, we drive back through the busy and noisy streets of Kathmandu to the serene premises of your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar (80m/35min) and drive to Koshi Tappu (81m/1hour)
After about 35 minutes' flight from Kathmandu, we touch down at the Biratnagar airport. Biratnagar happens to be the second biggest and the industrial city of Nepal. We the head on for another 60 minutes' drive to eventually arrive at the Koshi Tappu resort. We take a short break and refresh ourselves with some drinks. And then we get indulged in outdoor activities like spotting birds and elephant ride across the wild premises of the reserve. We also get the opportunity to witness the slide show presentation revealing the history of the reserve. Overnight at resort in Koshi Tappu on full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) basis with jungle activities.
Day 04: Jungle Activities
It's yet another consecutive day to get seriously intimate with the nature. Our sweet slumber at the resort breaks with a wake up call coupled with steaming cup of tea/coffee. We then gear up for the jungle activities which are scheduled to continue throughout the day. We will have our pack lunch somewhere in the jungle, amidst the twittering birds, swaying trees and prowling animals; something really different compared to the conventional milieu of our regular lunch table. At one time we will be riding on a growling jeep, while at other time we find ourselves on a boat cruising smoothly on the quiet waters of the reserve. Our eyes hungrily catch glimpse 
of every single component visible around the massive frontier of the reserve; be it an ugly looking stout buffalo or a very charismatic, Gangetic dolphin. It's not just the day that is adventure packed, the evening is equally fun filled as we get to witness the very unique cultural dance program of the indigenous tribe called as "Jhagad". After these moderately tiring but incredibly enticing moments, we get back to our hotel where a succulent-mouth watering barbeque dinner awaits us. Overnight at resort in Koshi Tappu on full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) basis with jungle activities.
Day 05: Drive from Koshi Tappu to Biratnagar airport (80m/1 hour) and fly to Kathmandu (1400m/35min)
Making the most of our stay in this wonderful surrounding, we can still stroll around the villages in the morning. After breakfast, we drive to the Biratnagar airport and board on the flight back to Kathmandu. You will be received at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the time can be spent on your own. You can indulge yourself in shopping. Thamel is your hot spot for souvenir shopping. May be that in addition to your interesting trip anecdotes, you would also want to take back some stuff for your friends and relatives. In the evening, a farewell dinner with a range of traditional Nepali cuisines, will be hosted by Marron Treks. Enjoy the dinner, pack/prepare yourself for a flight back home and have a beauty sleep. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.
Day 06: Final departure
Depending upon your flight schedule, a representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the Tribhuwan International airport, three hours in advance. As you wave us good bye and enter the terminal block, you would perhaps recall your arrival at this place. No wonder everything seems so familiar now because, you had come here as tourist, but you are going back as a friend! Have a safe flight back home and we look forward to being your travel companion in Nepal again! .
You have just been a part of this sizzling adventure. If you have the appetite for more, we gladly offer you an array of challenging and entertaining quests that catapult you to the diverse landscapes of Nepal, giving you a rare opportunity to witness the multifarious vegetation, jaw-dropping natural beauty, serene turquoise lakes and luscious mountain vistas. Please click on "Nepal Trekking", pick your preferred trek package and give us the chance to add yet another dash of adventure to your life!!
Important Snippets
The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.
Accommodation
During Koshi Tappu - Bird Watching Tours we opt you accommodate you in standard Hotel like Hotel Royal Singhi (3 star), Hotel Manaslu (3 star), Radisson (5 star) or similar in Kathmandu city. In Biratnagar we accommodate you in Hotel Namaskar or similar.
Meals
We never compromise with the quality of food and the health of the trekkers as well as the crew members. Generally, we opt for the fresh and nutritional local community food. You could make your delicious pick from an array of traditional food. This way, you could not only get the real sense of the local culture and life patterns but also contribute to promoting the locally available resources of organic food and beverages. Besides, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads, Masala Curry etc. are also available in the restaurants for your retreat.
Best Months
March - May and October - December is the best months for Koshi Tappu -Bird Watching Tours
Our Guides
Guides play a very active role during the trek. Marron Treks has experienced and helpful guides who make your trip enjoyable as well as productive. Our guides are literate, multilingual speakers, environment conscious and well acquainted to culture, language, location and every single detail. This would help our visitor to make most of their trip fruitful.
Travel Insurance
Before starting your journey with MarronTreks it is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure your insurance covers you for both medical and evacuation costs. In some places it is not necessary but it would be better if you have the travel insurance with you all the time. That would make your trip safe and hassle free.
For more queries, Visit our FAQ section or contact us directly at marketing@marrontreks.com
Starting Price: USD XXX (On request) on twin sharing accommodation basis.
For other special requirements or bigger group deals, kindly mail us directly at: marketing@marrontreks.com
Cost Includes
Cost Excludes
Wildlife Safari
Wildlife Safari implies maneuvering your way through the dense forests. You don’t have to worry about looking sophisticated and hence some very basic packing should do the deal for you. The list below may look sort of lengthy at the first glance but depending upon your personal circumstances, season, kind & length of the trip you are heading for, some of our listed items may not be applicable to you; so you can jolly well ignore them.
Daypack
Walking pants/trousers
Half pants/ Shorts
Full - sleeve shirts
T - Shirts
Jumper or Pile Jacket
Hats
Jacket/Sweater/Warm trousers (if you are travelling from Nov-Feb)
Other light clothes including cotton undergarments
Comfortable Walking or Running Shoes/Cotton socks
Sport Sandals/Flip-flops
Polypropylene/wool socks (if you are travelling from Nov-Feb)
Light wool gloves
Flash light, batteries & bulbs
Insect repellents / Anti-mosquito cream
Duffle bag (will be provided by Marron Treks as a complimentary gear and you needn't return it)
Goggles or sunglasses
Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
The items below could seem trivial, but if you don’t have them, you might just find yourself sticky and stinky, which isn’t actually good for you!
Toiletries
Quick-drying camp towel
Detergent powder/bar
Toilet paper
Sunscreen Lotion (SPF 20+) & Lip balm
Pocket knife
Sewing/Repair Kit (for tent & mattress)
Emergency kit including a whistle, waterproof match/lighter
Padlocks for bags and lodge rooms
Stuff sacks
Water bottle
Earplugs
Candlesticks
It is important that you include the medicines prescribed by your doctor. Below is just the generic list of medications. We advise you to always consult your travel doctor as you might be resistant or allergic to some medicines. Generally, our guide carries the first aid kit with him, but it’s always better to have your own kit.
Anesthetics (Ibuprofen/Aspirin)
Broad spectrum antibiotics tablets
Metronidazole and Antacids (for diarrohea /indigestion)
Broad spectrum ointments (Neosporin/ Clotrimazole/Gentamicin)
Antiseptic liquids (Dettol/Savlon)
Assorted band-aids
Small gauge pad
Roll of adhesive tape
Iodine tablets
Nothing hard and fast about carrying the items on this list as they are not the basics. Yet, though not all, if you still manage to squeeze in some of these items on your carry, you will not regret as they might just come handy during the trip.
Camera, memory card and battery charger
GPS unit Altimeters
Binoculars
Nylon rope (for tying and hanging up wet clothes)
Plastic bags for wet cloths
Books and magazines
Choice of dry food
Generally, there are no fixed departure dates for the optional adventure like “Wildlife Safari". If you intend to pursue the adventure on any specific date, please contact us directly and let us know about your preferred schedule. We will endeavor our level best to make sure that the adventure commences on the set date.
