Arrive Kochi International Airport & transfer to Thattekkad – an area with extensive lowland forests and several types of eco-systems – riverine, grasslands, evergreen, scrub, dry deciduous, lowland forest, enabling it to be one of the best wildlife and birding destinations in India and also home to some of the endemic mammals of the Western Ghats. The wildlife includes Indian Flying Fox, Malabar Giant Squirrel, the elusive Slender Loris, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, Travancore Flying squirrel and the Common Palm Civet. This is also a great place for endemic birds, butterflies & odonata. Thattekkad is also home to most of the endemic birds of the Western Ghats. You should see White-bellied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Crimson-backed Sunbird, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill and owls which could include Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl and Spot-bellied Eagle Owl if you are lucky. Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Red Spurfowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Pitta, Black-throated Munia and the Grey-headed Fish Eagle are all likely. Areas to visit include Palamattam area near Thattekkad, extending to Edamalayar and Urulanthanni which form the part of the lowland forest areas around Thattekkad. O/N at the Hornbill Camp – aircon cottage tents https://www.hornbillcamp.in/ Meal Plan: B L D Key Species Mammals - Malabar Giant Squirrel, Dusky Palm Squirrel and Travancore Flying Squirrel, Common Palm Civet, Slender Loris. Key Species Birds - White-bellied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Crimson-backed Sunbird, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill,Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl and Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Red Spurfowl.

Transfer to the hill country at Munnar - the highest areas along the Western Ghats. While at Munnar, visit the Rajamala area where among its rolling grasslands and steep cliffs live the endemic and endangered Nilgiri Tahrs. Concerted efforts by the conservationists have brought this magnificent animal back from the brink of extinction. At present there are more than 700 Tahrs in the area. You will be visiting the Pampadum Shola National Park to look for the endemic Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri Langurs, Malabar Giant Squirrel and endemic birds like the Nilgiri Wood pigeon Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Shortwing and the Broad-tailed Grassbird. O/N at Tea County Meal Plan: B L D Key Species Mammals – Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri Langur Key Species Birds – Nilgiri Wood pigeon Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Short wing and the Broad-tailed Grass bird.

Today is a longish day heading down slope to the dry scrub forests at Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Here on your walk, look out for the endemic Grey Tufted Langur (or Madras Langur) and the near-threatened Grizzled Giant Squirrel, besides Star Tortoise. There are good chances of other wildlife like elephants and gaurs. Special birds to look out for include Jacobin Cuckoo, Grey Junglefowl, White-bellied Drongo, Blue-faced and Sirkeer Malkohas, White-naped Woodpecker, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Jungle Bush Quail and Yellow-legged Buttonquail, Brown Fish owls and Spot-bellied Eagle Owls. After Chinnar you will be taking the 2 hour drive across the Tamil Nadu border to the forests of Valparai near Indira Gandhi national park - a place known for its great swathes of forests and wildlife. Elephants, sloth bears, leopards, gaurs, dholes (wild dogs) but the focus will be on the endemic Lion-tailed Macaques (on IUCN’s Red Data list for being a threatened species) which can be spotted in the high altitude rain forests here, their natural habitat. O/N at Stanmore Bungalows – https://teabungalows.com/ Meal Plan: B L D Key Species Mammals at Chinnar - Grey Tufted Langur (or Madras Langur), Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Star Tortoise. Key Species Mammals at Valparai – Lion-Tailed Macaques Key Species Birds – White-bellied Drongo, Blue-faced and Sirkeer Malkohas, White-naped Woodpecker, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Jungle Bush Quail and Yellow-legged Buttonquail, Brown Fish owls and Spot-bellied Eagle Owls.

After the morning wildlife safari looking out for wildlife, you will be headed for Mudumalai at the foothills of the Nilgiris (6-7 hours). Here, you will be going on jeep safaris and walks through the dry deciduous forests here on wildlife trips. The sanctuary lies on the Northern and North-Western side of the Nilgiri (Blue Mountains),about 80 km north-west of Coimbatore in the extreme north-western corner of Tamil Nadu. Nature has been lavish in providing this sanctuary with thickly wooded hills, plateaus, deep valleys, waterfalls, rivers, marshes and streams. A variety of habitats ranging from Tropical Evergreen forest, Moist mixed deciduous, Moist Teak forest, Dry teak forest, Secondary grass lands, Shrubs and Swamps exists here. This area is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve consisting of Mudumalai, Bandipur, Nagarhole and Wayanad sanctuaries which facilitates migrations of large numbers of wildlife especially elephants. The park harbours large population of wildlife including Elephants, Sloth Bears, Four Horned Antelope, Wild Dog, Tigers, Leopards, Mouse Deer & Spotted Deer. Here you should also see Jerdon’s Bushlark, White-bellied Minivet, Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Blue Robin, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Yellow-billed Babbler, White-bellied Woodpecker, Large Cuckooshrike, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Thick-billed Warbler and Painted Bush Quail. There would also be one vehicle safari at Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Accommodation: Jungle Hut - http://www.junglehut.in/ Meal Plan: B L D Key Species Mammals - Elephants, gaurs, Sloth Bears, dholes (Wild Dogs). Chances of sightings of Tigers & Leopards is rare but possible. Key Species Birds – Jerdon’s Bushlark, White-bellied Minivet, Sirkeer Malkoha, Indian Blue Robin, Nilgiri Thrush, Malabar Lark & and Painted Bush Quail.

Transfer to Bangalore or Coimbatore airport for onward journey.