Highlights: This is a tour specifically designed to sight all the endemics of the Western Ghats as well as most of the South Indian endemics. The tour covers the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekkad, the rain forests at Periyar, the high altitude cloud forests at Munnar, the highlands of Ooty, the magnificent forests at Masinagudi .

Detailed Itinerary

  • Day 1, 2, 3 – Thattekkad. Thattekkad is a lowland forest with several types of eco-systems – riverine, grasslands, evergreen, scrub, dry deciduous, lowland forest, enabling it to be one of the best birding destinations in India. This is also home to most of the endemics of the Western Ghats. One should sight the Whitebellied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Crimsonbacked Sunbird, White Bellied Blue Flycatcher, Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill besides owls like the Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Oriental scopes owl, Brown Fish Owl, Oriental Scopes Owl and Spotbellied Eagle Owl. You should also be able to sight the Red Spurfowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Pitta, Black-throated Munia and the Grey headed fishing eagle.Accommodation: Hornbill Camp http://www.thehornbillcamp.com/Meal Plan: All meals
  • Day 4, 5 –Periyar. Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the finest wildlife & birding destinations in South India. With over 320 bird species identified and a leading habitat for the Bengal Tiger, this sanctuary is an ideal destination of our tour. We will go on treks and boats for wildlife and birding in the next 2 days. Asiatic elephants, Gaur, sambar, tigers and sloth bear sightings are possible on safaris into the forest. This is also an ideal place to sight the Wayanad Laughing Thrush.Accommodation: Wildernest http://www.wildernest-kerala.com/ Meal Plan: B & B
  • Day 6, 7 – Munnar We will leave for Munnar via the Bodi Ghats where we should sight the sight the rare Yellow Throated Bulbul, Indian Robin, Sirkeer Malkoha, Short Toed Snake Eagle, Bluefaced Malkoha and the Black eagle. We will reach Munnar by evening. The next day we will go birding in the sholas (high altitude montane forests) and grasslands for the Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black & Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Whitebellied Shortwing, Broadtailed Grassbird, Grasshopper Warbler. Munnar is also the place to see the endangered endemic Nilgiri Tahrs in their natural habitat. Accommodation: Olive Brook http://www.olivebrookmunnar.com/Meal Plan: All Meals
  • Day 8 – Ooty. We will take the long drive to reach Ooty by afternoon. Ooty (Udhagamandalam) – is a hill station, at about 2,200m in the Nilgiri Hills. The Cairnhill Reserved Forest, 3km from town on the Avalanche road will be our main destination, where the endemic Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Shortwing, and Black-and-rufous, Rusty-tailed and Nilgiri Flycatchers all occur.Accommodation: Kluney Manor http://www.nivalink.com/kluneymanor/facilities.htmlMeal Plan: All Meals
  • Day 9 – Masinagudi After morning birding at Ooty looking for the Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, we will make our way through the Sirgur Ghats to Masinagudi. Mudumalai at the foot of the of the Nilgiris hills, is one the many reserves located within the forest belt between the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Mountains. The terrain being varied with hills, valleys, ravines, watercourses and swamps, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and scrub forests is ideal birding country. Should see Jerdon’s Bushlark, Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Blue Robin, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, White-bellied Minivet, Yellow-billed Babbler, White-bellied Woodpecker, Large Cuckooshrike, Banded-bay Cuckoo, Thick-billed Warbler and Painted Bush Quail.Accommodation: Jungle Hut http://www.junglehut.in/mainpage.htmlMeal Plan: All Meals
  • Day 10 – Bangalore We will proceed towards Mysore & visit the famous heronry on an islands on the Cauvery River at the Ranganthittu Wildlife sanctuary. Rowing boat cruise enables view of Eurasian spoonbill, Black-crowned night heron, three species of Cormorant, River Tern and Thick Knee, and many others. Marsh crocodiles will also be seen. Also visit the remote village Kokre Bellur for the Nesting Painted Storks and Spot-billed Pelicans followed by birding at a nearby reservoir.Accommodation: Grand pavilionMeal Plan: B & B
  • Day 11 – Depart for Delhi by mid-day flight

Inclusions:

Accommodation on twin share

Meal Plan as shown

Birding guide

All entry fees to parks, sanctuaries and monuments

Bottled water in the field

Chauffer-driven a/c car

  • All inter-state taxes, toll, parking etc…

Exclusions:

Flights

Tips

Beverages & liquor

Camera charges for parks, sanctuaries and monuments