Unique Tour of Birds and Mammals of South India

Meals: On Own
Accommodation: Goldfinch Retreat

Arrive in Bangalore in the evening. You will be met and transferred to the hotel.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Green

After breakfast, checkout and drive to Mysore en route stopping at Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary. Set amidst the scenic lush green gardens, Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary is a delight for birders and wildlife photographers. The unique riverine habitat of Ranganthittu boasts more than 200 species of migratory and native birds.

Later, drive to Mysore. Arrive in Mysore, and check in to the hotel.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast in Mysore, Lunch and Dinner in Mudumalai
Accommodation: Jungle Hut

After the morning birding session. Check out at 1100 hrs and drive to Mudumalai (87 km / 2 hr.). On the way, you can stop for bird watching. Species may include Small Pratincole, Red Avadavat, and Red-naped Ibis, plus several others. Arid areas can be briefly checked for Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark. Stopping along the road at Mudumalai is not permitted. However, your guide knows where you can pull off the road to explore some excellent dry scrub habitat that is sure to add some new species to the list.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Jungle Hut

Spend the full day in Mudumalai. Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu is a tiger reserve with an area of 900 square km. In the dense moist deciduous forests of this area the upper canopy reaches heights of 30 m and valuable hardwoods like teak and rosewood are also to be found here. This is one of the finest habitats of the Asian Elephant. Drained by the Moyar River, its open forest makes it easy for visitors to see the Elephant and Gaur in natural surroundings. The park has good facilities for viewing wildlife, which include Gaur, Elephant, Sambar, Chital, and even the occasional Tiger or Leopard. Among other mammals are the Muntjac (or Barking Deer), Chevrotain (or Mouse Deer), Wild Boar, Indian Giant Squirrel, Slender Loris, Langurs and Macaques. The Park has about 250 species of birds, including the Malabar Trogon, Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, and Green Imperial Pigeon.

Meals: Breakfast in Mudumalai
Accommodation: Fortune Resort Sullivan Court, Ooty 

Morning birding in Mudumalai. After an early lunch, drive to Ooty (46 km / 2 hr.). Arrive at Ooty and check in to the hotel. Rest of the day birding/sightseeing in the Ooty area.

Overnight stay.

Key species: Grey Junglefowl, Black Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Greater Flameback, Blue-winged Parakeet, White-cheeked Barbet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Southern Hill Myna

Meals: Breakfast in Ooty
Accommodation: Nexstay Golden Fern Resort 

After the morning birding session in Ooty, checkout from the hotel. Proceed to Chinnar (194 kms / 6 hrs.). Reach Chinnar, birding around the hotel, if time permits.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast in Chinnar, Lunch and Dinner in Munnar
Accommodation: Olive Brook

After breakfast, check out and drive to Munnar (02 hrs.) stopping en route for bird watching. Arrive in Munnar in the evening where you will stay for 3 nights.

Evening birding around the hotel.

Overnight stay

Key species: Nilgiri Tahr, Grey Junglefowl, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Southern Hill Myna, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Orange Minivet

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Olive Brook

Birding in the Sholas in and around Munnar. We will look for Nilgiri Tahr on our visit and will focus on the endemics listed above along with all the other resident species of the area.

Overnight stay.

Key species: Nilgiri Tahr, Grey Junglefowl, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Southern Hill Myna, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Orange Minivet

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crown Valley Thekkady 

After breakfast, check out and drive to Periyar (03 hrs). 

Reach Periyar, and check in to the hotel. The Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Thekkady is spread across 777 sq km of which 360 sq km is thick evergreen forest. Noted for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife, and scenic beauty, the sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Crown Valley Thekkady 

You will have a full day in Periyar. The day would be spent in the company of the exotic and varied wildlife of the national park. The rendezvous with the wild begins with one of the best things to do in Periyar.

Overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast in Periyar, Lunch and Dinner in Thattekad
Accommodation: Seventh Heaven

Today proceed to Thattekad (67 km / 2 hr.). Reach Thattekad. Check-in into the resort. You can go bird watching.

Overnight stay.

Key species: Sri Lanka Bay Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Indian Swiftlet, Malabar Trogon, Malabar Barbet

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Seventh Heaven

Your guide will meet you early in the morning for two full days of guided birding at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. 

Overnight stay.

Key species: Wayanad Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Parakeet, Flame-throated Bulbul, Malabar Woodshrike, Nilgiri Thrush

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: None

Today drive to Cochin Airport (43 km / 1.5 hr.) to connect flight back to home.

Tour Ends.