Search Destination

Birding Tour of Andaman and South India

Duration:

15 Nights / 16 Days

Destination:

Port Blair – Chennai – Kochi – Thattekad – Periyar – Munnar – Ooty – Masinagudi – Mysore – Bangalore

Introduction

Andaman and Nicobar Islands were covered in vagueness for centuries because of their inapproachability. These are the epitome of exquisiteness and present scenery full of attractive and charming variety. These islands sparkle like emerald in the Bay of Bengal. The intense jungle which covers these islands and the countless unusual flora and fauna make a very rhythmical and loving ambiance. This tour is being crafted in such a way that a traveler should experience the legacy of natural richness and the scenic beauty of the Andaman and South India so that his travelling to India should not only be a journey for him but an experience in itself.

Tour Highlights
  • Mount Harriet National Park
  • Sippighat
  • Chidiya Tapu Beach 
  • Thattekad is one of the best birding destinations in India 
  • Periyar Tiger Reserve
  • Cairn Hill Reserved Forest, and Dodabetta 
  • Sirgur Ghats
  • Ranganthittu Wildlife Sanctuary
View Itinerary Details

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival Port Blair

Arrival at Port Blair and transfer to the Hotel. Later go for birding around Mount Harriet National Park, a tropical moist evergreen forest where you can site Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Crake, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Collared Kingfisher, Brown Coucal, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Pintail Snipe, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Andaman Treepie, Black-naped Oriole Andaman Drongo, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive backed Sunbird, White-headed Starling. In the evening back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Port Blair.

Day 2

Port Blair

Today early morning after breakfast drive towards Sippighat which is a swampy marshland to the south of Port Blair and good for sightings of water birds & waders. One can see the Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl, Sunda Teal, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Brown Coucal, Red-breasted Parakeet, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Edible nest Swiftlet, Common Snipe, Black-naped Tern, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black-naped Oriole, Andaman Drongo, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive backed Sunbird. Thereafter proceed back to Mount Harriet to pick up those missed earlier. Return by evening. Overnight stay in Port Blair.

Day 3

Port Blair

Today very early in the morning trip to Chidiya Tapu, a piece of wet evergreen forest situated to the South of Port Blair and superb for birding. The track for birding starts 4 km before Chidiya Tapu and 2 km along the seashore forest. Should sight the Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Crake, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Black-naped Oriole, Andaman Drongo, Olive backed Sunbird, White-headed Starling, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Brown Coucal, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet. In the evening back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Port Blair.

Day 4

Port Blair

Today morning after breakfast birding for the species missed out during earlier trips. In the evening back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Port Blair.

Day 5

Port Blair – Chennai – Kochi – Thattekad

Today morning after breakfast transfer to the airport to board the flight to Chennai. Change planes at Chennai and fly into Kochi arriving by noon. On arrival transfer to Thattekad (1 hour drive) and transfer to your hotel. Evening birding for night birds (if time permits). Overnight stay in Thattekad.

Day 6

Thattekad

Thattekad is one of the best birding destinations in India a flat forest with various ecosystems. This is also home to most of the species of the Western Ghats. One can view 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. Overnight stay in Thattekad.

Day 7

Thattekad

Thattekad is one of the best birding destinations in India a flat forest with various ecosystems. This is also home to most of the species of the Western Ghats. One can view 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. Overnight stay in Thattekad.

Day 8

Thattekad

Thattekad is one of the best birding destinations in India a flat forest with various ecosystems. This is also home to most of the species of the Western Ghats. One can view 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. Overnight stay in Thattekad.

Day 9

Thattekad – Periyar

Today morning after breakfast transfer to Periyar Tiger Reserve. With over 320 bird species identified and a leading habitat for the Bengal Tiger, this sanctuary is one of the finest wildlife & birding destinations in South India. One can see here for some very special species including the very secretive and wary Wynaad Laughingthrush. Some other species include White-rumped and Brown-backed Needletails, Oriental Honey-Buzzard, Black Eagle, the striking Black Baza, Pompadour Green and Mountain Imperial Pigeon, the uncommon migratory Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Gray-breasted Prinia, Thick-billed Warbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, and the spectacular Asian Fairy Bluebird among other more widespread species. Overnight stay in Periyar.

Day 10

Periyar

Today morning after breakfast go to Periyar Tiger Reserve. With over 320 bird species identified and a leading habitat for the Bengal Tiger, this sanctuary is one of the finest wildlife & birding destinations in South India. One can see here for some very special species including the very secretive and wary Wynaad Laughingthrush. Some other species include White-rumped and Brown-backed Needletails, Oriental Honey-Buzzard, Black Eagle, the striking Black Baza, Pompadour Green and Mountain Imperial Pigeon, the uncommon migratory Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Gray-breasted Prinia, Thick-billed Warbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, and the spectacular Asian Fairy Bluebird among other more widespread species. Overnight stay in Periyar.

Day 11

Periyar – Munnar

Today morning after breakfast transfer to Munnar via the Ghats to Khambam where one can see the Large Grey Babbler, Common Babbler, Jungle Bush Quail and the Grey Fancolin. Also visit Bodi Ghats en-route Munnar and stop over for the rare view of 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. Overnight stay in Munnar.

Day 12

Munnar

Today morning after breakfast, 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. Overnight stay in Munnar.

Day 13

Munnar – Ooty

Today morning after breakfast transfer to Ooty & reach by afternoon. Ooty also known as (Udhagamandalam) – is a hill station, at about 2,200m in the Nilgiri Hills. After arrival visit the the Cairn Hill Reserved Forest, and Dodabetta where the species like Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, White-bellied Shortwing, and Black-and-rufous, Rusty-tailed and Nilgiri Flycatchers can be seen. Overnight stay in Ooty.

Day 14

Ooty – Masinagudi

Today morning after breakfast transfer to Masinagudi through the Sirgur Ghats. The landscape being diverse with hills, valleys, ravines, watercourses and swamps, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests and scrub forests is one of the best places for birding in India. One can see here 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. Overnight stay in Masinagudi.

Day 15

Masinagudi

Today morning after breakfast go for 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. Overnight stay in Masinagudi.

Day 16

Mysore – Bangalore

Today morning after breakfast proceed towards Mysore to have a glimpse of the famous heronry on an island on the Cauvery River at the Ranganthittu Wildlife sanctuary. One can view through the Rowing boat cruise the Eurasian spoonbill, Black-crowned night heron, three species of Cormorant, River Tern and Thick Knee, and many others. Marsh crocodiles will also be seen. Later depart for Bangalore Airport for your onward journey. TOUR ENDS

Inclusions
  • Accommodation for 09 Nights on twin / double sharing basis.
  • Daily buffet breakfast at all hotels.
  • Transportation by private air-conditioned car with driver for all arrivals, Departures, sightseeing and inter-city drives as per the itinerary.
  • Services of English speaking guide at the major destinations.
  • Services of Trip India Representative on all arrivals and departures.
  • Fuel charges, toll tax, state tax & parking charge
  • All presently applicable luxury taxes.
Exclusions
  • Entrance fees at monuments/parks/museums.
  • Items of personal nature like drinks on table, laundry, telephone bills etc.
  • Meals other than mentioned above.
  • Indian visa fees or international airfare / domestic flight fare / train ticket
  • Still Camera or video charges levied by some monuments.
  • Any other shopping and personal purchase.
  • Medical Requirements on request.
  • Service Tax as per government.
  • Any other services not mentioned in the inclusions.

Your Journey Begins Here

Please fill out this form so we can tailor the perfect trip.

Route Map

Your Journey Begins Here

Please fill out this form so we can tailor the perfect trip.