Wildlife holidays in Asia
Annapurna region, Nepal by David Mills
The variety of landscapes, peoples, cultures and wildlife to be found in Asia is quite remarkable. From the vast, unpeopled deserts and steppes of Kazakhstan to the most spectacular and highest mountains in the world that lie along the northern border of Nepal, the backbone of the Great Himalaya. From the humid tropical rainforests of Borneo, Thailand and Malaysia to the flower-filled, oak and rhododendron forests of the temperate Himalayan foothills in Nepal, China and Bhutan. These vast and varied regions are home to Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus; to pastoralist nomads, sedentary farmers, traditional traders, industrialists and tribal hunter-gatherers. Here, botanists may revel in the tulip-filled meadows of Kazakhstan, the rhododendron forests of Bhutan, and the alpine meadows of China and Nepal. Mammal enthusiasts will be rewarded with far more than the big cats on our very popular 'Just Tigers!' tours in central India, whilst birdwatchers face the challenge of both the diversity and elusive habits of south-east Asia's tropical rainforest birds, the thrill of encountering those fabled Siberian species that occasionally visit British shores as vagrants, and the physical challenge of tracking down the remote high-altitude specialities of the Tien Shan and Himalayan mountains. Tigers, Leopards, Snow Leopards, Clouded Leopards, Asiatic Lions, Asian Elephants, Water Buffalo, Gaur (Asian Bison), Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, and Brown, Black and Sloth Bears - all seen on our holidays - are amongst Asia's 'big game' that is every bit as exciting as that found in Africa! The Asian challenge, though, is greater than that of Africa, for whilst much of the latter's wildlife may be seen on traditional vehicular safaris, the former's demands patience on foot amongst the rainforests, and the good health and enthusiasm to undertake exciting treks through the Himalaya. We stay in some fine hotels and luxury jungle lodges and tented camps on many of our Asian holidays; but camping (fully serviced!) and more basic government guesthouses are needed to allow us to explore and enjoy the more remote areas.
