Rann Of Kutch Birding & Wildlife Tour 6N/7D
Rann Of Kutch Birding & Wildlife Tour 6N/7D
No. of days
7
Trip Type
#
Activity Level
Moderate
Experiences
Best time
October to April
Region
Request free consultation
Our travel planning team will contact you to provide personalized guidance. Submission confirms your acceptance of our privacy policy.
Overview
The West Indian state of Gujarat is a treasure trove of diverse bird and wildlife habitats that attract birdwatchers and wildlife photographers from all over the world. Beyond its seemingly dry terrain lies a land of rich ecological diversity, including the unique saline desert of the Little Rann of Kutch, vast grasslands, wetlands, and dry deciduous forests, boasting over 200 bird species and a wide array of mammals.
The Little Rann of Kutch is a vast saline desert famous as the sanctuary for the rare Indian Wild Ass. It shelters mammals such as Desert Fox, Desert Cat, Striped Hyena, Blackbuck, Nilgai, and Chinkara with occasional sightings of Indian Wolf and Indian Fox. The region also attracts spectacular flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos along with Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, and numerous migratory waterbirds that grace its seasonal mudflats and wetlands.
Birdwatchers in the Little Rann can enjoy spotting Marbled Duck, Sykes’s Nightjar, Pallid Scops Owl, Sociable Lapwing, Ferruginous Duck, and Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin. Waterfowl enthusiasts will appreciate sightings of Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, and Black-necked Grebe.
The wetlands also host majestic birds like Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Western Reef Heron, and Great White Pelican. Raptors add drama with species including White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, White-eyed Buzzard, Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, and Laggar Falcon.
Jamnagar’s coastal wetlands and Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary near the Gulf of Kutch offer an exceptional mix of saltwater and freshwater habitats where birds thrive, including Great Crested Grebe, Dalmatian Pelican, Black-necked Stork, Brahminy Kite, Common Crane, and Greylag Goose.
Gir National Park, the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion, features dry forests teeming with wildlife like leopards, sambar deer, spotted deer, and diverse birdlife such as Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, and Painted Francolin.
Velavadar National Park is known for its expansive grasslands that shelter a significant population of Blackbuck along with Indian Grey Wolf, Bengal Fox, and a variety of birds of prey such as Montagu’s Harrier and Pallid Harrier. This park offers a spectacular natural event with massive harrier roosts and a rich diversity of grassland birds including larks, pipits, shrikes, and sandgrouse.
This comprehensive Gujarat tour takes you through some of India’s most unique and varied ecosystems. From iconic raptors like the White-rumped Vulture, Indian Spotted Eagle, and Booted Eagle to elusive gems such as White-naped Tit and Stoliczka’s Bushchat, and from the endangered Great Indian Bustard to charismatic mammals like the Asiatic Lion and Indian Wild Ass, this journey promises a rewarding wildlife and birding experience.
Trip Highlights
- Rare and endangered birds like the Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, Houbara Bustard, Ferruginous Duck, and Sociable Lapwing.
- Large flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos breeding in the Little Rann of Kutch and Jamnagar wetlands.
- Iconic mammals include Indian Wild Ass, Asiatic Lion, Indian Wolf, Striped Hyena, Desert Cat, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Chinkara, and Golden Jackal.
- Diverse bird species including Pelicans, Storks, Ibises, Cranes, Kingfishers, Larks, Warblers, and numerous raptors.
- Experience the cultural charm of Gujarat villages and towns along with exceptional bird and wildlife habitats.
Image Galllery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ahmedabad – Drive to Little Rann of Kutch
We start by picking you at Ahmedabad Airport or train station, then take a 2-hour drive to the Little Rann of Kutch. Along the way, watch for vultures like White-rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, and Griffon Vulture near cattle graveyards. At the resort, enjoy birding onsite with sightings of Red-necked Falcon, Shikra, Bluethroat, Rosy Starling, Red-naped Ibis, Great White Pelican, Indian Pond Heron, Common and White-throated Kingfishers.
Afternoon safari in the Rann for Indian Wild Ass, Crested Lark, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Desert Wheatear, and Grey Francolin. Mammals like Nilgai, Chinkara, Indian Fox, and Jungle Cat may be spotted. Sunset brings chances to see Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers and other raptors returning to roost.
Day 2: Morning Walk in Dasada Village – Travel to Jamnagar
Evening at Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary Begin with a gentle morning walk to spot White-eared Bulbul, Indian Roller, Indian White-eye, and shrikes in Dasada village. After breakfast, drive for six hours to Jamnagar, watching for open country birds like Black-winged Kite en route.
Evening birding in Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary offers sightings of Great Crested Grebe, Red-naped Ibis, Black-necked Stork, Brahminy Kite, Dalmatian Pelican, Greylag Goose, and Golden Jackal.
Day 3: Coastal Birding along Gulf of Kutch
Explore the coast of the Gulf of Kutch, a vital migratory flyway. Spot Crab-plover, Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Knot, and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins offshore. Coastal birds include Flamingos, Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Bitterns (Yellow, Cinnamon, Eurasian), Black-crowned Night Heron, and Western Reef Heron.
Day 4: Transfer to Gir National Park – Afternoon Safari
Drive early to Gir National Park, home to the Asiatic Lion. Afternoon safari to see lions, leopards, spotted deer, sambar, nilgai, and wild boar. Bird highlights include Crested Serpent Eagle, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian Golden Oriole, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback, Coppersmith Barbet, Pied and White-throated Kingfishers, Rufous Treepie, Large Cuckooshrike, and Jungle Babblers.
Day 5: Full Day Safari in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
Morning and afternoon safaris to explore Gir’s dry forests and wildlife. Watch for Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Chital (Spotted Deer), Sambar, and Nilgai. Birds like Indian Scops Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Common Woodshrike, Rufous Treepie, and other woodland birds provide excellent birding opportunities.
Day 6: Travel to Velavadar National Park – Evening Harrier Roost
Journey to Velavadar National Park, famous for blackbuck conservation. Afternoon birding focuses on birds of prey including Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Short-toed Snake Eagle, and shrikes like Great Grey Shrike and Long-tailed Shrike. Witness one of the world’s largest harrier roosts at sunset. Mammals like Indian Grey Wolf, Striped Hyena, Bengal Fox, and Golden Jackal may be spotted.
Day 7: Morning Birding at Velavadar – Departure via Ahmedabad
Final morning birding session to see Blackbuck, Indian Hare, Golden Jackal, and a variety of raptors. Afterward, drive back to Ahmedabad for departure.
No. of days
7
Trip Type
#
Activity Level
Moderate
Experiences
Best time
October to April
Region
Overview
The West Indian state of Gujarat is a treasure trove of diverse bird and wildlife habitats that attract birdwatchers and wildlife photographers from all over the world. Beyond its seemingly dry terrain lies a land of rich ecological diversity, including the unique saline desert of the Little Rann of Kutch, vast grasslands, wetlands, and dry deciduous forests, boasting over 200 bird species and a wide array of mammals.
The Little Rann of Kutch is a vast saline desert famous as the sanctuary for the rare Indian Wild Ass. It shelters mammals such as Desert Fox, Desert Cat, Striped Hyena, Blackbuck, Nilgai, and Chinkara with occasional sightings of Indian Wolf and Indian Fox. The region also attracts spectacular flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos along with Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, and numerous migratory waterbirds that grace its seasonal mudflats and wetlands.
Birdwatchers in the Little Rann can enjoy spotting Marbled Duck, Sykes’s Nightjar, Pallid Scops Owl, Sociable Lapwing, Ferruginous Duck, and Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin. Waterfowl enthusiasts will appreciate sightings of Greylag Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, and Black-necked Grebe.
The wetlands also host majestic birds like Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Bittern, Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Western Reef Heron, and Great White Pelican. Raptors add drama with species including White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, White-eyed Buzzard, Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Red-necked Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, and Laggar Falcon.
Jamnagar’s coastal wetlands and Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary near the Gulf of Kutch offer an exceptional mix of saltwater and freshwater habitats where birds thrive, including Great Crested Grebe, Dalmatian Pelican, Black-necked Stork, Brahminy Kite, Common Crane, and Greylag Goose.
Gir National Park, the last refuge of the Asiatic Lion, features dry forests teeming with wildlife like leopards, sambar deer, spotted deer, and diverse birdlife such as Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, and Painted Francolin.
Velavadar National Park is known for its expansive grasslands that shelter a significant population of Blackbuck along with Indian Grey Wolf, Bengal Fox, and a variety of birds of prey such as Montagu’s Harrier and Pallid Harrier. This park offers a spectacular natural event with massive harrier roosts and a rich diversity of grassland birds including larks, pipits, shrikes, and sandgrouse.
This comprehensive Gujarat tour takes you through some of India’s most unique and varied ecosystems. From iconic raptors like the White-rumped Vulture, Indian Spotted Eagle, and Booted Eagle to elusive gems such as White-naped Tit and Stoliczka’s Bushchat, and from the endangered Great Indian Bustard to charismatic mammals like the Asiatic Lion and Indian Wild Ass, this journey promises a rewarding wildlife and birding experience.
Trip Highlights
- Rare and endangered birds like the Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, Houbara Bustard, Ferruginous Duck, and Sociable Lapwing.
- Large flocks of Greater and Lesser Flamingos breeding in the Little Rann of Kutch and Jamnagar wetlands.
- Iconic mammals include Indian Wild Ass, Asiatic Lion, Indian Wolf, Striped Hyena, Desert Cat, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Chinkara, and Golden Jackal.
- Diverse bird species including Pelicans, Storks, Ibises, Cranes, Kingfishers, Larks, Warblers, and numerous raptors.
- Experience the cultural charm of Gujarat villages and towns along with exceptional bird and wildlife habitats.
Image Galllery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Ahmedabad – Drive to Little Rann of Kutch
We start by picking you at Ahmedabad Airport or train station, then take a 2-hour drive to the Little Rann of Kutch. Along the way, watch for vultures like White-rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, and Griffon Vulture near cattle graveyards. At the resort, enjoy birding onsite with sightings of Red-necked Falcon, Shikra, Bluethroat, Rosy Starling, Red-naped Ibis, Great White Pelican, Indian Pond Heron, Common and White-throated Kingfishers.
Afternoon safari in the Rann for Indian Wild Ass, Crested Lark, Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Desert Wheatear, and Grey Francolin. Mammals like Nilgai, Chinkara, Indian Fox, and Jungle Cat may be spotted. Sunset brings chances to see Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers and other raptors returning to roost.
Day 2: Morning Walk in Dasada Village – Travel to Jamnagar
Evening at Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary Begin with a gentle morning walk to spot White-eared Bulbul, Indian Roller, Indian White-eye, and shrikes in Dasada village. After breakfast, drive for six hours to Jamnagar, watching for open country birds like Black-winged Kite en route.
Evening birding in Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary offers sightings of Great Crested Grebe, Red-naped Ibis, Black-necked Stork, Brahminy Kite, Dalmatian Pelican, Greylag Goose, and Golden Jackal.
Day 3: Coastal Birding along Gulf of Kutch
Explore the coast of the Gulf of Kutch, a vital migratory flyway. Spot Crab-plover, Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Great Knot, and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins offshore. Coastal birds include Flamingos, Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Bitterns (Yellow, Cinnamon, Eurasian), Black-crowned Night Heron, and Western Reef Heron.
Day 4: Transfer to Gir National Park – Afternoon Safari
Drive early to Gir National Park, home to the Asiatic Lion. Afternoon safari to see lions, leopards, spotted deer, sambar, nilgai, and wild boar. Bird highlights include Crested Serpent Eagle, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian Golden Oriole, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback, Coppersmith Barbet, Pied and White-throated Kingfishers, Rufous Treepie, Large Cuckooshrike, and Jungle Babblers.
Day 5: Full Day Safari in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary
Morning and afternoon safaris to explore Gir’s dry forests and wildlife. Watch for Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Chital (Spotted Deer), Sambar, and Nilgai. Birds like Indian Scops Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Common Woodshrike, Rufous Treepie, and other woodland birds provide excellent birding opportunities.
Day 6: Travel to Velavadar National Park – Evening Harrier Roost
Journey to Velavadar National Park, famous for blackbuck conservation. Afternoon birding focuses on birds of prey including Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Short-toed Snake Eagle, and shrikes like Great Grey Shrike and Long-tailed Shrike. Witness one of the world’s largest harrier roosts at sunset. Mammals like Indian Grey Wolf, Striped Hyena, Bengal Fox, and Golden Jackal may be spotted.
Day 7: Morning Birding at Velavadar – Departure via Ahmedabad
Final morning birding session to see Blackbuck, Indian Hare, Golden Jackal, and a variety of raptors. Afterward, drive back to Ahmedabad for departure.
