Birding and Wildlife Safari - Western Ghats

Birding and Wildlife Safari - Western Ghats

Our New Series “Nature Walks & Wildlife Safaris” Tours are specially designed for the Nature enthusiasts who wish to explore a bit of extra than ordinary. All our Nature & Wildlife related programs are well crafted by our Naturalist Mr. Benny Kurien with proper guidance from our operational team. Mr. Benny is a Naturalist and Wildlife expert on Western Ghats of India with an in depth knowledge on the flora and fauna, wildlife and bird life. He is associated with our Responsible Tourism initiatives through many Eco Tourism Societies in different Wildlife spots in the Western Ghats. This is mainly to support the tribal people to earn a decent livelihood. The below tour is a good mix of short Nature walks and wildlife safaris ideal for small groups. Individual tours also possible with our local guides in many of the destinations. All our tours are open for customization in connection with the special interests of the travelers.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cochin Arrival-Kathakali Dance

Stop At: Kerala Kathakali Centre, near Santa Cruz Basilica K.B. Jacob Road, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin) 682001 India
On arrival at Cochin Airport, you will be met & transferred to your hotel. Afternoon for free walks in Fort Cochin Area, watching Black kites, Bhraminy kites , terns and few migratory birds like Western reef egret. The estuary is an ideal habitat of Dolphins (Bottlenose) . Evening, enjoy a live Kathakali performance, which is the dance drama of Kerala. Overnight at Hotel.

Cochin the queen of the Arabian Sea is one of the most interesting cities of India and has one of the finest natural harbors in the world. A root-conscious people of Kerala have preserved their past not only in the form of history books but also in the form of monuments and palaces. Places, palaces and institutions of historic value are being preserved conscientiously.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Fort Abode,a 3 star boutique hotel centrally located in Fort Cochin

Day 2: Guided Canoe Cruise & Heritage city tour

Stop At: Fort Kochi, Fort Kochi, Kochi (Cochin), Ernakulam District, Kerala
Morning, after breakfast, proceed for a village backwater Cruise with lunch. Afternoon return to Cochin for a guided tour of Cochin. Overnight at the Hotel.
Duration: 6 hours

Stop At: Poothotta - Kanjiramattam Road, Poothotta - Kanjiramattam Rd, Kanjiramattom, Kulayettikara, Kerala 682315, India
Village backwater Cruise - A journey in a country boat into the pristine purity of a typical village backwater of Kerala.... goes through the zigzagging narrow canals and paddy fields fringed with coconut palms.....watch rare birds.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Home cooked lunch at the village farm house
Accommodation included: Fort Abode,a 3 Star boutique Hotel

Day 3: Houseboat

Stop At: Alleppey Backwaters, Alappuzha India
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Alleppey Backwaters to board your exclusive Houseboat for a cruise through Vembanad Lake followed by overnight stay on board. Your meals will be freshly cooked and served on board. Evening your crew will guide you for a village walk. You will get a chance to watch many water birds during your cruise through the backwaters. Overnight on Houseboat.

What is truly magical about a houseboat is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers. The houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen where are cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters.
Duration: 21 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner: All meals on Houseboat are freshly cooked and served on board in the Alleppey traditional cuisine
Accommodation included: Traditional Houseboat with Airconditioned Bedroom on board

Day 4: Periyar Spice Farms

Stop At: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumily, Thekkady India
After breakfast on board, you will be transferred to Periyar, the famous wildlife destination of Kerala. Afternoon visit a spice farm. Evening for free walks near to the Tiger Sanctuary. Overnight at Hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Periyar Spice & Ayurvedic Garden, Munnar Thekkady Road, Kumily, Thekkady 685551 India
A private Spice garden to familiarize the Spices of India
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Pepper County Homestay located in a Spice Garden

Day 5: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Stop At: Periyar Tiger Reserve, Idukki and Pathanamthitta Districts, Thekkady 685536 India
Full day explore the wildlife of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Go for a full day jungle activity which includes guided trekking in the wildlife park. You will also do a bamboo rafting in the Periyar Lake. Lunch will be served inside the Sanctuary. Overnight at the Hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch will be served inside the National Park
Accommodation included: Pepper County Homestay

Day 6: Munnar Tea Plantations

Stop At: Munnar, Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala
Morning, after breakfast, proceed to Munnar, known as nature lover’s paradise. On arrival at Munnar, check into your Resort. Afternoon go for a guided plantation walk and birdwatching.. Overnight at the Hotel.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Camelot Resort,a family run Nature Resort located amidst Tea gardens and an Orchard with Sanctuary border

Day 7: Shola Forest birding

Stop At: Pampadum Shola National Park, Vattavada (Kerala) Koviloor Rd, Vattavada 685615 India
After breakfast, drive to Kundala and Pampadumchola for short treks for bird watching. You will also walk through the Tea Plantations. Overnight at the Resort.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Camelot Resort

Day 8: Marayoor & Chinnar

Stop At: Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Munnar - Udumalpet Road, Munnar 685612 India
After breakfast at the Hotel, go for a full day guided explorations covering Eighth mile shola, Marayoor & Chinnar. This trip will be a mix of safari through National Park, trekking in Dry Forest,tribal village visit etc. Traditional lunch will be served at the village. Return to Munnar for overnight stay
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: A traditional Lunch will be served in Marayoor Village
Accommodation included: Camelot Resort

Day 9: Thattekkad Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Stop At: Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Near Kothamangalm of Ernakulam, Munnar India
After breakfast, drive to Thattekkad Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, one of the low altitude evergreen forests, situated by the banks of River Periyar. On arrival, check into your hotel and later go for a birding trek at Thattekkad and Urulanthanni rain forest patches. Overnight at your hotel in Thattekkad.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Bluewings Homestay run by a Retired Professor located on the border of the Sanctuary

Day 10: Athirappally Waterfalls,Valparai Reserve Forest

Stop At: Athirappilly Waterfalls, Sholayar Forest Ranges, Thrissur India
After an early breakfast, drive to Athirappally forest to watch the amazing waterfalls inside the forest. You will be taken for a birdwatching walk through the banks of Athirappally river. Later continue drive through Sholayar Forest ranges to Sethumadai through Valparai, the beautiful tea garden route. Overnight stay at a farmsaty set on a private estate growing vanilla, banana & coconuts, in the edge of Anamalai Tiger Reserve.
Duration: 8 hours

Pass By: Valparai, Valparai, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu
You will be driving through Valparai

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Cotsvilla Resort,a forest theme farm resort located close to Anamalai Sanctuary

Day 11: Anamalai Tiger Sanctuary & Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Stop At: Anamalai Wild Life Sanctuary, Topslip, Pollachi Town, Pollachi 642001 India
Early morning go for a safari at Anamalai Tiger Reserve and later a walking tour at Parambikulam Tiger Sanctuary. Today we will go with packed lunch. Early evening return to your farm stay to go for a Nature trail through the estate to try sighting butterflies, Paradise flycatchers and blue-winged parakeets. Later in a dusk walk we can try owling for mottled wood owl. Overnight at Farm stay.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Parambikulam Road Anappady, Thunakadavu, Palakkad 678661 India
You will be doing a wildlife activity inside the Sanctuary as per the availability of programs during the period of travel
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cotsvilla Farm Stay

Day 12: Nilgiris

Stop At: Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park, Thuvaipathy Village Anaikatti, Coimbatore 641108 India
After breakfast, drive to Ooty which is a nice climb through the Nilgiris. Afternoon visit Botanical Garden. Overnight at Hotel
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Sullivan Court,a 3 star hotel centrally located

Day 13: Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary

Stop At: Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, Bandipur 571126 India
After breakfast, drive to Bandipur Forest. You will be driving through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. On arrival check into your resort set on the borders of the Sanctuary. Evening go for a guided safari through the Sanctuary. Overnight at Hotel.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Windflower Wildlife Resort,a 4 Star theme resort on the Sanctuary Border

Day 14: Bandipur

Stop At: Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, Bandipur 571126 India
Early morning and evening guided safaris inside the sanctuary. During daytime, go for short walks around the resort to spot birds and other wildlife. Overnight at Hotel.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Windflower Resort

Day 15: Nagarhole Tiger Sanctuary

Stop At: Nagarhole National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka
Morning, proceed to Nagarhole National Park, where former Maharajahs of Mysore used to go for hunting. This deciduous forest patch inhabits Tigers, sloth bears, leopards, elephants, different monkeys, Malabar trogon and Indian pitta. On arrival, check in at the Hotel. Evening go for a safari. Overnight at the Hotel in Kabani.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Red Earth Tribal theme resort run by the host family

Day 16: Nagarhole Tiger Sanctuary

Stop At: Nagarhole National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka
Early morning go for a guided Jeep Safari through the National Park. Evening go for a boat safari through Kabani river. Day time for visiting local tribal village and birding spots. Overnight at the Hotel in Kabani.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Red Earth Resorts

Day 17: Palace Town Mysore

Stop At: Mysore Palace (Amba Vilas), Sayyaji Rao Rd Agrahara, Chamrajpura, Mysuru (Mysore) 570001 India
Early morning go for a final safari. Later after breakfast, drive to Mysore. After lunch , visit to Mysore palace, Devaraja Vegetable, flowers and fruits market. Mysore is known as the city of Palaces and the entire architecture and decorum of the place is in harmony with the Royal style for which Mysore is known. The still existing colonial buildings add charm to the Royal city. Overnight at Hotel.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Gitanjali Homestay run by a local traditional family

Day 18: Kokkerabellur Pelicanery

Stop At: Kokkarebellur, Maddur, Bengaluru 571422 India
After breakfast, drive to Kekkerebellur Pelicanery. You may stop at Maddur village entrance on the highway to have your lunch before driving to Bangalore. Later drive to Bangalore for overnight stay.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lemontree Hotel,a 4 Star Boutique hotel located Centrally in Bangalore

Day 19: Bangalore City

Stop At: Bengaluru, Bengaluru, Bangalore District, Karnataka
Morning go for a short orientation tour of Bangalore. Afternoon at leisure. You may opt for shopping on your own. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Lemontree Hotel

Day 20: Bangalore Departure

Pass By: Bangalore District, Bangalore District, Karnataka
Today you will be transferred to Bangalore International Airport to connect your flight home.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.