Wildlife holiday(Cochin – Thattekkad – Munnar- Periyar – Kumarakom – Cochin)

Duration: 9 days and 8 nights

Description: Enjoy the amazing variety of nature that Kerala attracts. Tour includes: Stay at a bird sanctuary/ Stay in a wildlife resort /Jungle treks to spot birds and animals / Mountain streams of Munnar.

Day 1 Arrival Cochin-Thattekad
Welcome by our representative at the airport and drive to Thattekad, a lowland forest with several types of eco-systems including the riverine, grasslands, evergreen and lowland forest, making it one of the best bird watching destinations in India.

Check into the resort.

This is also home to most of the endemics of the Western Ghats. One should be able to sight the White Bellied Tree Pie, Rufus Babbler, Crimson Backed 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, and Spot Bellied Eagle Owl. You should also be able to sight the Red Spur Fowl, Grey Jungle Fowl, Indian Pittal, Black-throated Munia and the Grey Headed Fishing Eagle.
Evening at leisure. Overnight at the resort.

Day 2 Thattekad
After Breakfast, excursion to the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary designed by the renowned ornithologist, Dr. Salim Ali. The Bombay Natural History Society has identified 253 species in Thattekkad. This bird sanctuary set in a peninsular land of 25 sq. km is covered with deciduous forests and plantations of rosewood, teak etc. Rare birds like the Crimson-Throated Barbet, Bee-eater, Sunbird, Shrike, Black Winged Kite and the Night Heron are also commonly sighted. This rare haven offers picturesque landscapes, and is a nature lover’s paradise.
Evening at leisure. Overnight at the resort.

Day 3 Thattekad-Munnar
After breakfast, drive to Munnar, a hill station located 1600 meters above sea level. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in South India it still retains its colonial charm and is famous for its tea plantations, rolling hills, picture postcard hamlets and undulating valleys. Check into your hotel and unwind. Visit the tea museum or simply walk through the tea estates. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 Munnar
After breakfast, you will be taken for a visit to Rajamalai, where you can watch Nilgiri Tahrs in their natural habitat.  Also be visiting the nearby Kundala lake, Exho point, Blossom park.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 5 Munnar – Periyar
After breakfast, drive to Periyar upon arrival. Check into your hotel.
Periyar is known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings. One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. There are over 320 species of birds in Periyar, including Nilgiri Wood Pigeons, Blue-winged Parakeets; White bellied Tree Pies, Laughing Thrushes and Fly Catchers.
Overnight at the resort.

Day 6 Periyar
After breakfast, today you could go on a jungle trek where you will have the opportunity to sight many birds along with elephants and other animals.

Overnight at the resort

Day 7 Periyar- Kumarakam
After breakfast, drive to Kumarakom, a bird sanctuary located on the banks of the backwaters and renowned for its varied avian population. Local varieties such as Waterfowls, Cuckoos and Owls, as well as the migratory Siberian Cranes can be viewed here.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at the resort.

Day 8 Kumarakam
Day at leisure with Ayurvedic massage. Overnight at the resort.

Day 9 Kumarakam- Cochin Departure
After breakfast, departure transfer to Cochin airport for your return flight.