Koshi Tappu Birdwatching: When to Go, What You See and How the 5-Day Tour Runs

Last updated 10 October 2026.

Short answer: The best time for birdwatching at Koshi Tappu is October to March, when the winter migrants are in. Our 5-day tour flies Kathmandu to Biratnagar and gives you four nights beside the reserve, with dawn walks and boat trips, from USD 1,335 per person on Budget for 2 to 4 people. No bird, dolphin or animal can be promised, and I will not pretend otherwise.

Koshi Tappu is the birdwatching trip I like most in Nepal, and the one almost nobody has heard of. It sits in the flat eastern Terai, far from the mountain routes. You can read the full plan on our Koshi Tappu Birding Tour, 5 Days from Kathmandu page. A licensed guide is with you all five days.

What is Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?

Koshi Tappu is a wetland reserve on the Sapta Koshi river in the eastern Terai. It was set up in 1976, covers about 176 square kilometres, and was listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance on 17 December 1987. Grassland, mudflats and water channels make up most of it. It sits on the Central Asian Flyway, which is why tens of thousands of migrating birds pass through.

Public records list around 485 bird species for the reserve. It also protects the wild water buffalo, and a census in 2016 counted 432 of them. The Gangetic dolphin lives in the river, though it is shy and no sighting can be guaranteed.

When is the best time for birdwatching at Koshi Tappu?

October to March. That is when the migratory ducks, waders and birds of prey are in on the water and the mudflats. Our tour page says the same, and I would not plan a birding trip outside those months.

What you see depends on the month and the weather, and we cannot promise a species. If you want a particular bird, tell me when you write and your guide will plan around it.

What does the 5-day tour look like?

The pace is slow on purpose. Birdwatching means standing or sitting still for long stretches, so no special fitness is needed. The best time for light and activity is the early morning, which is why days 2 and 5 start at first light.

How do we watch the birds?

We keep a respectful distance. We never bait or feed wildlife, we never play recorded calls, and we never flush a bird for a photograph. Your guide decides how close a boat or a walker goes. We also offer no rides on any animal, which is a rule across everything we run. For a wider look at wildlife in the Terai, read my guide to a wildlife photography tour in Nepal and my notes on wildlife photography in Nepal.

How do you get to Koshi Tappu?

You fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar on day 1 and back on day 5, so no days are lost on the road. Our driver meets you at Biratnagar airport and takes you to the lodge near the reserve, a drive of about an hour and a half. Flights can be delayed, so keep a spare day before any onward international flight. We meet you at your Kathmandu hotel or the airport and take you to the morning flight.

How much does the tour cost?

Prices are per person and are the live prices on the trip page. The price includes four nights near the reserve, the flights between Kathmandu and Biratnagar for you and your guide, all transfers in a private vehicle, the reserve entrance fee, the boat trips and the walks with your guide. On Budget you get breakfast only and a twin room. On Standard you get a private room and all meals. On Luxury you get the best available lodge or safari-tent camp with a deluxe room, all meals and all non-alcoholic drinks. Kathmandu hotel nights, international flights, the Nepal visa and insurance are not included. An extra Kathmandu hotel night is available as an add-on.

Koshi Tappu or Chitwan for birds?

They are different trips. Koshi Tappu is a wetland: grassland, mudflats and river channels, watched from a boat and on foot, and it is built around the migrants of October to March. Our Chitwan days are jeep, dugout canoe, jungle walk, Tharu villages and birds, and I describe them in my Chitwan things-to-do guide. If birds are the whole point of the trip, I would go to Koshi Tappu. If you want a mix of wildlife, culture and a short stay, Chitwan fits better. Neither has any altitude to worry about.

What should you bring?

Binoculars and a long camera lens are not provided, so bring your own. Pack neutral-coloured clothes, a hat, sun cream and insect repellent. Bring your passport. A good field guide helps, though your guide will help you find and name what you see, and the tour suits beginners, keen amateurs and photographers alike.

What are the terms?

Group size is 1 to 20, and every tour is private, so we never add strangers to your party. Buy travel insurance at home. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice, to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu, in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients. We tell you your guide's name after you book.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Koshi Tappu? October to March, when the migratory birds are in. The tour page gives the same window.

How many birds are there at Koshi Tappu? Public records list about 485 species. How many you see in five days depends on the month, the weather and your patience, and I cannot give you a count.

Will we see dolphins and wild water buffalo? You may see Gangetic dolphins in the channels and the wild water buffalo the reserve protects. Both are wild and the dolphin is shy, so I cannot promise either.

Is it only for experienced birders? No. Beginners and photographers are welcome. The walks are short and slow, and your guide helps you identify what you see.

How long is the tour? Five days, with four nights near the reserve, and flights from Kathmandu in both directions.

How much does a Koshi Tappu tour cost? For 2 to 4 people it is USD 1,335 on Budget, USD 1,545 on Standard and USD 2,500 on Luxury per person. A solo traveller pays USD 1,980, USD 2,250 or USD 4,475.

Is it good for photography? Yes, and we allow time for it. Bring a long lens, and tell your guide on the first morning if you want a longer session with one kind of bird.

Do I need to be fit? No special fitness. The walks are short and slow, the ground is flat, and you spend long periods standing or sitting still.

How do you book?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your month, how many of you are coming and any birds you hope to see. I will tell you honestly what the month offers and send the exact quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.