We leave Cochin, Kerala mid-morning and reach Thattekad (Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary) by noon on Day 1. We spend two days exploring the small sanctuary for a significant chunk of south Indian bird specialities.

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of the Periyar River on the foothills of the Western Ghats of Kerala. The habitat matrix of the location, which includes riverine, lowland evergreen and plantation forests, contain an amazing density of birds and offers excellent photographic opportunities for several Western Ghats bird specialities among an impressive bird-list of over 250 species. The world famous ornithologist, the late Dr. Salim Ali, suggested that Thattekad contains among the highest species density of birds in India outside of the Eastern Himalaya. Some of the south Indian endemic birds found here include the Grey-headed Bulbul, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, White-bellied Treepie, Wynaad Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher and White-cheeked Barbet. Sightings of rarities such as the Black Baza, Crested Goshawk, Red Spurfowl, Malabar Trogon, Ceylon Bay Owl and the Sri Lanka Frogmouth are not uncommon. Winter is interesting for several migrant flycatchers, warblers and wetland birds

Elephants are regularly seen in and around the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, along with several other mammals including rare sightings of top predators such as Indian wild dogs and leopards. The wet, humid habitats of the location also contain an exciting diversity of plants, herpetofauna and invertebrates.

We reach Munnar in the afternoon on Day 3 and will spend two days exploring the landscape for mid and high altitude specialities of the Western Ghats.

Munnar is a small hill station town (1500m) nestled among tea plantations and wet montane forests (sholas) in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The shola forests surrounding Munnar and the montane forest-grassland ecosystem of the nearby higher reaches are excellent locations to encounter several of south India’s high altitude endemic birds. Some of the Western Ghats specialities you are likely to encounter around Munnar include the White-bellied Shortwing, Painted Bushquail, Black and Orange, White-bellied Blue and Nilgiri Flycatchers, Greybreasted Laughing Thrush, White-cheeked Barbet, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Crimson-backed Sunbird and Nilgiri Wood Pigeon. We will make a special effort to find the rare Yellow-throated Bulbul during our stay here. Winter reveals several warblers and rarities such as the Blue Rock Thrush and Indian Blue Robin.

Wildlife specialities from here include the Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic mountain goat, Nilgiri Langur, an endemic primate, and a rarely seen endemic mustelid, the Nilgiri Marten.

After some morning birding around Munnar, we drive down the hills to Cochin, a major city, with excellent rail and air connectivity. We reach Cochin mid-afternoon and transfer to onward destinations.

Potential Extensions (please let us know if you would like to include any of the following destinations onto the itinerary):