Day 01 – Bangalore to Nagarhole National Park via Kokkerebellur
On arrival in Bangalore, you will be transferred to an airport hotel for freshen up. Later, drive to Nagarhole National Park. Enroute visit Kokkerebellur bird sanctuary. This bird sanctuary is a local community initiative towards wildlife conservation and education.On arrival in Nagarhole, check into your resort. Rest of the day to relax. Overnight at the Resort.

Nagarhole is a 640-square kilometre National Park, sitting in the Western Ghats, the lengthy chain of mountains running right down the western side of peninsula India. In the earlier era, this was a private hunting spot of Mysore’s king and then became shikhar hotspot for British viceroys and Indian royalties. A region of hills and hollows, Nagarhole contains a mixture of Teak and Mathi forest, little villages and cultivated land. Travelling by safari van, we will explore the forests where we will see some of the 1,000 Elephants that range through the area. The Park should also provide us with our first chance of seeing the Gaur or Indian Bison, the largest and most impressive of all the world’s wild cattle. With luck we may see Tiger, Leopard or Sloth Bear, or perhaps a pack of Dhole (Asiatic Wild Dog). Chital (Spotted Deer), Common Langurs and Wild Boar are numerous here.

We will be looking for some of southern India’s bird specialties here, such as Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-backed Woodpecker and Malabar Crested Lark. Nearby, where the river has been dammed, we may take to the water in coracles in search of the waterbirds that favour its marshy fringes. Indian Shags, Little Cormorants, and a variety of storks and kingfishers are all to be found here. Overnight in Kabani.

Highlighted Species-Kabini (Ngarhole)
Birds: Indian Cormorant , Greater cormorant, Woolly necked stroke, Osprey etc – best location for photographing them during boat safari.
Land safari offers: Lesser adjutant (Between November and March) in Tiger tank area. White bellied woodpecker, Indian Roller, Crested serpent eagle etc .

In house area: River tern, sun birds, Indian pitta, Bhramini starling , lap wing, plovers and snipes , copper smith barbet , Malabar barbet , puff throated babbler, Asian paradise fly catcher, Malabar parakeet, Indian grey horn bill etc.
Mammals: Tiger, Leopard, Black Panther, Elephant, Wild gaur, Sambar, Spotted deer, common Langur,Dhole etc
Reptile: Mugger

Day 02 – Nagarhole
Morning & Evening guided Jeep Safaris(subject to availability-otherwise Van safari) through the Sanctuary
It will be advisable to spend some time to understand the philosophy behind Red Earth Resorts where they have a total integration of local ethnic community and they run many projects towards the upliftment of this community.

Day 03 – Nagarhole
Morning & Evening guided safaris. In between, if time permits, you may go with our Naturalist escort for some bird watching in the nearby areas.

Day 04 – Nagarhole to Masinagudi (Mudumalai National park)
Today we drive to Masinagudi which is a part of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Exploring buffer zone by jeep for birds and animals, birding in farm forests. Extremely picturesque drive through the plateau towards South east section of Nilgiri bio reserve and through King Sanctuary where Bandipur National Park and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located.

On arrival at Masinagudi,we check into our resort . Early evening , we will go for a dusk safari and return to the resort for dinner & overnight stay.
As we penetrate deep into the forests, we can almost hear the mute conversations between the animals and the trees. There’s a lot, lot more to discover. Peafowl, patridges, quail, hornbill, giant squirrel, dhole (wild dog) elephants, sambhar, barking deer, etc. This is also one of the best habitats of White Bellied Vulture. An endless variety of wildlife flourishes here and the trees sheltering them are even or beautiful. The green fauna and flora of these rain forests are unimaginable with a thick population of wild animals. Overnight in Masinagudi.
Highlighted Species in Masinagudi (Sharing its flora & fauna with Bandipur Sanctuary)
Birds: Grey hornbill, Great Malabar Hornbill,White rumped vulture , Indian roller and more
Mammals: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant , sambar, spotted deer, sloth bear, ruddy mongoose

Day 05 – Masinagudi (Mudumalai National park)
Today we will go for a safari in Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary. Afternoon or early evening to have another jeep safari in masinagudi. Overnight at the resort.

Day 06 – Masinagudi to Ooty
Early morning another Jeep Safari. After breakfast, drive to Ooty for a transit stop. Ooty is an old colonial township in the Nilgiri mountains. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07 – Ooty to Valparai (6 Hours Drive)
After an early breakfast, drive to Valparai. Early evening try luck for sighting LTMs and Hornbills. Overnight at Valparai
Highlighted Species in Valparai & Athirapally Region
Birds: Malabar Pied horn bill, Malabar Grey horn bill, lesser fish eagle ,Great horn bill, lesser hill myna, Indian Dollar Bird, White bellied wood pecker, blue caped rock thrush
Mammals- Lion tailed Macaque ,Nilgiri Langur, Elephant,stripe necked mangoose
Reptiles: King cobra, large scale pit wiper etc )

Day 08- Valparai-Athirappilly Day trip
Early morning go in search of LTMs and Hornbills. Later go for a day trip to Athirappilly to sight some Hornbills etc. Overnight at Valparai.
Day 09:Valparai to Chinnar(3 Hours)

After breakfast, drive to Chinnar wildlife sanctuary. Afternoon, go for a hiking safari through the wildlife zone and visit to a Mesolithic Cave art site. As we go on the nature trail in Chinnar, we are bound to come across a fascinating plethora of bird and animal life. The sanctuary has an area of 90 sq.km. Chinnar has the unique thorny scrub forest with Xerophytic vegetation. The undulating terrain with rocky patches manifolds the scenic splendor of the sanctuary. As the altitude varies from 500 to 2,400 m above sea level within a few kilometer radius, there is a drastic variation in the climate and vegetation.

This sanctuary has also rainfall ranging from 600 mm to 3000 mm and a dry season ranging from three to six months. Elephant, gaur, leopard, spotted deer, sambar, grizzled giant squirrel, hanuman languor, long eared fish owl and many more inhabit the Chinnar forests. The grizzled Giant squirrel is an endangered species found here.

Day 10 – Chinnar-Marayoor-Munnar
After breakfast, check out and drive to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to go for a guided walking safari inside the sanctuary. For lunch, reach Marayoor village to have a homemade lunch at the village. Later , drive to Munnar to check into your hotel for overnight stay
The local family we visit for lunch is our network partner in our local community empowerment projects.

Highlighted Species Munnar & Chinnar Region:
Birds: Nilgiri fly catcher, Nilgiri Thrush, Indian robin, Nilgiri flower pecker, Black and orange fly catcher, broad tailed grass bird, Rufous babbler , Kerala laughing thrush, Indian black bird, Black eagle, lesser kestrel, white bellied blue robin, yellow browed bulbul, Yellow throated bulbul, Spot bellied eagle owl, brown fish owl, Shama, Small minivet, Jacobin Cuckoo, Spectacled piculet, brown checked fulveta, etc .
Mammals: Nilgiri tahr, Nilgiri Langur, Brown mongoose, Brown palm civet, Malabar giant squirrel (southern Morph), dusky squirrel, Nilgiri Marten etc
Reptiles: Large scale pitwiper, green vine snake, Anamalai Salaia

Day 11 – Pampadumchola & Eravikulam National Park-Shola Forests
Full day for walks in the Shola forests of the region and Eravikulam National park.Overnight at Munnar
Shola Forests in this region are the best examples of our forest conservation towards the endemic and endangered species of flora & fauna

Day 12 –  Munnar- Periyar 4 Hours drive
After breakfast, drive to Periyar Sanctuary. On arrival, check into your hotel. Afternoon you will go for a boating inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Overnight at Hotel.

Periyar – Conjures up images of elephants, chains of hill and spice scented plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will see a lot of wildlife and observe the way of life of simple mountain people. Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.

Day 13 – Periyar ( Thekkady ) 7.30 AM till 4.30 PM
Full day trekking in the Sanctuary. It will be a guided program by the forest Department and there are chances of closure of the Sanctuary between April & June due to the fear of wild fire /heavy rains . At 0730 AM we have to report at the bus boarding point. Once you reach the starting point ,you will finish the registration formalities and collect leech socks, packed light breakfast & a proper hot lunch etc. The program has around 12 kms of soft hike and 3 kms of bamboo rafting. This will be a nice program to watch possible wildlife in the sanctuary. Only physically fit travelers can do this full activity. Children below 13 years are not allowed to do the program. Packed breakfast and lunch are a part of the package. Evening return to the base to return to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.
This is one of Kerala’s first Responsible Tourism Programs as a part of rehabilitating the tribal people who lived inside the Sanctuary and sometimes Poachers and hunters. With the help of an Eco Development Society (EDS),these people are now the guards of the forest for the best conservation and the best guides for tourists because they know the forest very well including the movement of wild animals. The revenue from these programs help the Government to give back to the Community to enable them to have decent living.

The Thekkady sanctuary is one of the best in the country for watching and photographing unique flora & fauna. A cruise through the waters of Periyar Lake around which the wildlife sanctuary is situated, offers lots of photo opportunities. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake’s edge. Tigers are sighted when the forest water holes dry up and these animals come and drink water from the river.

Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests constitute the major part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The rest of the area is a combination of moist deciduous forests and grasslands. Of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar Tiger Reserve is the oldest in the country and the largest in the State. The abundant wildlife here attracts a lot of visitors.Apart from being a recognised breeding ground for tigers, the reserve has also been identified as the best place for researching elephantine life. The tiger population in the area is estimated to be about 40. Though it is difficult to sight them, visitors often spot pugmarks and scats around the reserve.Thirty-five species of mammals have been identified here. They include rare and endangered species. A boat ride on the lake is a great way to spot the wild elephants, the Gaur, the Sambar and so on. While the Gaur is the largest of the bovines here, the Sambar, the largest deer in India, is the main prey of the tiger and the wild dog.Apart from these, there are wild pigs, Malabar Giant Squirrels, Small Travancore Flying Squirrels, jungle cats, sloth bears etc.The endangered species in the area include Nilgiri Langurs and the Lion-tailed Macaque, that is usually seen only in the evergreen interiors. Nilgiri Tahrs are also found in the reserve, especially in the higher rocky areas. Salim Ali’s fruit bat, one of the rarest bats, is also reported to have been found in the area. The stripe-necked mongoose, usually found in the semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, the extremely rare Nilgiri Marten – the only species of marten found in southern India- and endemic mustelids are also seen here.

Day 14 – Gavi Jeep Safari
At 5.30 AM, you will be picked by our Jeep driver for a safari to Gavi, another side of Periyar Sanctuary where you will get many opportunities to sight wildlife. At Gavi, you will go for a guided walk inside the sanctuary. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the tour. Evening return to Periyar for Overnight stay.

Day 15 – Periyar to Alleppey Houseboat (4 Hours)
Early morning, go for a canoe ride through narrow canals to watch the bird life on the backwaters. Later after breakfast, you will be driven to the backwaters to board an exclusive Houseboat for a cruise through the backwaters followed by overnight stay. Your escort will help you to explore many species of water birds.

What is truly magical about a houseboat is the breath-taking 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, cosy living rooms, a kitchen where are cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad locals, on board. The name Backwaters brings you the very thought of Houseboats. Food and leisurely times spent on-board with the feeling and privacy of house as well as enjoying the natural beauty. A Cruise amidst marvellous mangrove forests, captivating coconut canopies, swaying palms, mangrove forests, pulsating paddy fields sprinkled with enchanting waterways and canals decked with white lilies, can be quite a rejuvenating experience for the weary traveller. Enjoying a cruise in these backwaters is not to be missed, as it leaves you feeling fully rejuvenated. The banks of these backwaters in Kerala are the most enchanting picnic spots. You get to experience the native way of living. The experience on the Houseboat is not the one to be explained by words. Its to be lived and evolved by yourself.

Day 16 – Alleppey-Cochin (1.5 Hours)
After breakfast on board, you will be transferred to Cochin, the colonial city of Kerala. Enroute visit Poothotta island village for an exclusive experience which is a part of our Community Based Responsible Tourism. On arrival at the other side of the island, the local host along with a guide will receive you to cross the river in a canoe. Further you will be taken through some breath taking narrow canals and village activities like coir making. You will be offered a home cooked meal by the local family
This is an exclusive experience offered to our travellers as a part of our community support imitative and the economic benefits go to the host family which eventually support the local circular economy and sustainable living.

Later drive to Cochin. Evening, watch a Kathakali Dance show at a live Theatre. Promotion of our traditional dance forms is a part of our cultural heritage conservation. Overnight at Cochin.

Day 17 – Cochin
After breakfast, visit a fishing harbour to watch the fishermen life. Later guided walk through the vegetable market & Broadway market to watch local life. Afternoon, guided sightseeing of Cochin. Overnight at Cochin.

Day 18 – Cochin Departure
Today, you will be transferred to Cochin International Airport to connect your flight home.