Sikkim is situated in the eastern Himalayas . Spread below the Mount Khanchendzonga (8,534 mts), which is the third highest mountain in the world, and revered by the Sikkimese as their protective deity. The elevation ranges from 300 mts to over 8,540 mts above sea level. Amidst the grandeur of the mountain peaks, lush green valleys, fast flowing rivers, and hills, this region offers a rare and singular experience. Within a matter of hours we can move from the sub tropical heat of the plains to the cold of the mountains that reach up to the area of perpetual snow.

Bagdogra the Base : We reach Bagdogra. Afternoon can be spent in the nearby Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary to observe a mix of ground and hill birds. Overnight in  Siliguri, prominent to be : Indian Grey Hornbill, Himalayan Griffon, Jungle and Asian Barred Owlet, Bee Eaters, Egret, Green billed Malkhoa, Red Jungle Fowl, Common Hill Myna, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Black Ibis, Black Baza, Besra, Greater Coucal, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Black hooded Oriole, Indian Roller, and more.
 

Chestnut-tailed Minla	Niltava

Second morning, we embrace our first drive up hill to Lava. The distance to Lava is about 115 km, can be covered within four hours. However, we like to do it leisurely, stopping at places to observe numerous birds. It is a spectacular site, mountains on one side and river on the other side of the road. We get engrossed to look at diversity of birds all around. Reaching Lava in evening, we stay in a private resort for minimum three nights, can be extended if interested to log in additional species.

Lava : Lava is the prime niche in this region to offer wonderful birds in the evergreen forest regime. It has small village population with a monastery. We prefer walking on the numerous trails and can drive on forest roads in poor shape. The Bird Guide helps leads us all through. The stay is very eventful here with no outside disturbance.

On fifth day, we drive from Lava (4 hrs) to reach Pamayangtse to stay in a private resort for at least four nights. We plan to cover Pamayangtse, Yoksom, Peling and Khechepheri lake region for this stay in order to log in nearly two hundred species here. Khechepheri is a wondrous water body considered sacred by local people, hosting several migrant species.

Gangtok : Having had bag full of mountain birds, we drive (4 hrs) from Pamayangtse to reach Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim State, for two night halt here and stay in an excellent hotel. It is a hilly town and spreads down the western side of a long ridge flanking the Ranipul River. The entire Kanchenjunga range can be viewed from the town. We use our vehicle as also prefer to go on foot to areas outside the city and there are several tracks to villages where bird watching will be interesting.

We drive from Gangtok (5 hrs) to reach Darjeeling, a hill station with the Raj nostalgia. Along the road, we stop for birding at some self-selected places, indulge in photography of the tea estates' scenario. Darjeeling is surrounded by lofty mountains, a fascinating place, rich in natural beauty. We need to get up early in order to reach the Tiger Hill before sun set (0500 hrs) in order to have the divine sight of Mt. Everest and Mt. Khanchendzonga. Photography can be great depending on clear sky. Walking down the hill is better, birding and enjoying breakfast with tea-coffee as served by the driver and Bird Guide. We drive out of the town to spend time in bird watching beyond the tea estates. Plenty of birds - about hundred species are easily possible to be recorded.

We drive (4 hrs) down the hills in time to reach Bagdogra. Two weeks minimum stay is suggested.

Black Eagle	Blue-winged Minla

Sikkim Birds : The possible bird species on this tour include : Greenbilled Malkoha, Greater Coucal, Brown Wood Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, Himalayan Swiftlet, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Grey-capped Woodpecker, Greater Yellow-nape Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Grey Wagtail, Olive- backed Pipit, Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike, Short-billed Minivet, Striated Bulbul, White-cheeked Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Bar headed Goose, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Buzzard, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Oriental Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, Large Niltava, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Grey headed Canary Flycatcher, Rufous breasted Bush Robin, Blue-fronted Redstart, White-capped Redstart, Plumbeous Redstart, Little Forktail, Spotted Forktail, Common Stonechat, Grey Bushchat, White throated Laughingthrush, Striated Laughingthrush,Grey sided Laughing Thrush, Scaly Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Red faced Liocichla, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Long-billed Wren Babbler, Rufous-throated Scimitar Babbler, Spotted Wren Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Golden Babbler, Grey throated Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Red-billed Leiothrix, Black-headed Shrike Babbler, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Hoary-throated Barwing, Blue-winged Minla, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Red tailed Minla, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, White-browed Fulvetta, Nepal Fulvetta, Rufous Sibia, White-naped Yuhina, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe throated Yuhina, Rufous-vented Yuhina, Black-throated Tit, Black-browed Tit, Coal Tit, Green-backed Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Yellow-browed Tit, White-tailed Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Green tailed Sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter, Bay-backed Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Ashy Drongo, Hair-crested Drongo , Green Magpie, Grey Treepie, House Crow, Large-billed Crow, Oriental Cuckoo, Maroon-backed Accentor, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Plain-backed Thrush, Grey winged Blackbird, Grey-sided Thrush, Dark-throated Thrush, Grey-bellied Tesia, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Tickell's Leaf Warbler, Buff barred Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Blyth's Leaf Warbler, Golden-spectacled Warbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Grey-cheeked Warbler, Chestnut crowned Warbler, Black-faced Warbler, Broad-billed Warbler, Siberian Flycatcher, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Little-pied Flycatcher, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Common Myna, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, White-rumped Munia, Plain Mountain Finch, Crimson-browed Finch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Tibetan Serin, Brown Bullfinch, Red headed Bullfinch, Gold Naped Finch, Little Bunting etc.