February 12: Arrival in Delhi
Participants of the Corbett Tour are expected to travel to Delhi on 12th February by themselves. The Corbett Tour commences at Ramnagar on the morning of 13th February. We suggest an overnight train or a shared taxi from Delhi to Ramnagar at extra actual cost. Please talk to us for assistance.


• Day 1, February 13: Ramnagar and Bijrani
  After arriving in Ramnagar early in the morning, participants are whisked away into the Bijrani range immediately for a safari that lasts three hours, during which we will pursue birding opportunities and acquaint ourselves with the topography of the Park.
  
  Returning from the safari, we will check-in to our comfortable hotel, breakfast, refresh and rest.
  
  In the afternoon, following an appetizing lunch, your Skipper will moderate an introduction session and then brief you on the Park, its wildlife, the rules and set the tone for the Tour.
  
  Following this, at 3:30p.m, we will head out to Kumeria and surrounding areas for birding, looking for the Ibisbill, the Brown Dipper and other rarities.
  
  An interactive session on photography and wildlife will ensue in the evening before we enjoy a scrumptious supper and retire for the day.
  
• Day 2, February 14: Departure to Gairal
  Leaving in the morning, we enter the Dhanghari gate and drive up to our next destination - Gairal. From this point on, we will be inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve for the rest of the Tour. Gairal Rest House is in a picturesque location on the banks of Ramganga River and the beautiful forest road leading to it offers plenty of wildlife sightings en route.
  
  Reaching Gairal by afternoon, we lunch and rest awhile before leaving for the evening safari ride. Here we will target the tiny Chestnut-headed Tesia and the Grey-bellied Tesia. Gairal is also a good place to sight the endangered Gharial Crocodile. And not to forget, a glimpse of the king of the jungle is always a possibility.
  
• Day 3, February 15: Gairal
  We leave the rest house early in the morning and drive around Gairal to look for some more interesting birds, while watching out for Tiger pugmarks or Deer and Monkey alarm calls. Gairal is a great place to see the Khaleej Pheasant, Great Hornbill, Red-breasted Parakeet, Rufous-bellied Eagle and Crested Kingfisher, and in their pursuit, we will drive alongside the meandering Ramganga River and cross the dry river-beds, which serve as natural fire-breakers. We return to our rooms for breakfast and put our feet up for awhile.
  
  Participants who do not wish to rest can go up to the watchtower close to the rest house that overlooks the Ramganga River and try their hands at photographing birds at eye-level.
  
  After lunch, we depart for our evening ride and expect to photograph mammals like Elephant, Sambar and Barking Deer among others.
  
• Day 4, February 16: Transfer to Dhikala
  The Dhikala Forest Rest House is one of the oldest in Corbett, and the range is highly sought after due to its excellent wildlife sightings. Driving towards Dhikala through dense forests, we look for birds like the Red-billed Leothrix, Yellow-bellied Fantail Flycatcher and the Dollar Bird. We will also swing by the famous Crocodile Pool where Crocodiles and Gharials are seen from a vantage point, and keep our senses peeled for Tuskers, Tigers and the rare Tawny Fishing Owl.
  
  We reach our destination by afternoon and check-in. Not after long, we will embark on our evening safari and drive through the famous Dhikala Chaur, which offers a tremendous opportunity to photograph Elephants and Hog Deer in a highly photogenic ambience.
  
• Day 5, February 17: Dhikala
  We will spend the morning and evening safaris roaming the Dhikala Chaur, winding through Sambar Road, Khinnanauli and other popular landmarks, scouring for Jackals, Owls, Vultures, Collared Falconets, Lesser and Pallas' Fishing Eagles and Otters. Being a biodiversity hotspot, Dhikala seldom disappoints a discerning visitor as there is never a dearth of objects of amazement in this action-packed zone.
  
• Day 6, February 18: Departure from Corbett
  We drive around Dhikala in the morning and depart post-lunch to drive up to Dhanghari, all the while admiring the lovely landscape and amazing wilderness. We reach Ramnagar whence participants disperse by their preferred mode of transport.
  
February 19: Return to Delhi
Please Note: Your Skipper may, at his discretion, amend the itinerary to spend more time inside the park if possible. This will not affect your travel schedules, tour duration or cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many participants are expected in one Safari vehicle on this tour?
  Most of our Photo Tours are crafted to provide ample attention to the participants. You can expect a maximum of 4 participants in a safari vehicle on this Tour. Groups of 4 participants form a team and the Skipper will divide his attention between all such vehicles while on the tour.
• How different are your Photo Tours from ordinary tours?
  Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven’t experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. Besides, most of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focussed.
• How sure are you about photographing wildlife on this Tour?
  Considering Toehold’s meticulous attention to timing, the leveraging of local expertise and the thoroughness of planning, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our sightings and photography were unsatisfactory. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment, we stop just short of claiming that sightings are guaranteed.
• What equipment do you suggest on this Tour?
  Corbett National Park is a highly versatile destination that offers the visitor the opportunity to photograph a variety of wildlife. For birds, a lens with a focal length of at least 400mm is usually essential. Mammals normally call for flexibility in composition, so a zoom lens in the range of 70 to 300mm or 100 to 400mm works very well. And finally, a wide-angle lens is highly recommended to capture the scenic vistas of this magnificent park, especially in the Dhikala range. However, if you do not have appropriate equipment, there is no need to fret. Toehold offers an exhaustive array of cameras and lenses for hire, so you can always hire what you need. Click here to see what is available.
• I am a newbie in wildlife photography. Am I eligible?
  Absolutely! This tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold’s eminent Skippers. In fact, if you are a neophyte, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away!
• Refund/Cancellation Fees:
  1. 15% for cancellation between 30 and 45 days from date of departure
  2. 50% for cancellation between 7 and 30 days from date of departure
  3. 90% for cancellation between 2 and 7 days from the date of departure
  4. No refund will be made for cancellation within 48 hours from date of departure
• Terms & conditions
  
  • 1. Participants who have a medical history of blood pressure, heart-related problems or asthma are advised to seek medical advice before enrolling for this Tour.
  • 2. Fitness to complete the Tour is the only criterion for participation.
  • 3. Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt. Ltd. shall not be responsible for injuries, damages or losses caused to any participant due to terrorist acts, social or labour unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside the travel agent's control.
  • 4. All clients traveling with Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt Ltd. must complete and sign a reservation form and the "Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Arbitration Agreement" form.