THE ENDEMICS OF THE

Kochi – Thattakad – – – Ooty – Nagarhole – Mumbai

 Day 1 Travel to Kochi  Day 2 Arrive at Kochi. Drive to Tattakad. Afternoon birding on foot in the surrounding area  Day 3 Morning and afternoon – birding on foot with local guide  Day 4 Morning and afternoon – birding on foot with local guide  Day 5 Today morning driven to Munnar. Afternoon birding on foot in the near and surrounds  Day 6 Today morning drive to a nearby sanctuary for birding on foot. Evening at leisure  Day 7 Today morning driven to Valparai. Afternoon birding on foot in the near and surrounds  Day 8 Morning and afternoon birding on foot with local guide  Day 9 Today morning you will be driven to Ooty. Afternoon at leisure  Day 10 Today morning birding on foot in a nearby sanctuary. Afternoon at leisure  Day 11 Morning, driven to Nagarhole. PM jeep safari or boat safari at Nagarhole  Day 12 Morning and afternoon safaris to the  Day 13 Morning and afternoon safaris to the Nagarhole National Park  Day 14 Today morning driven to Bengaluru. Later fly out of Bengaluru

Day 1 Depart the UK to Kochi arriving early next morning.

Day 2 Arrive Kochi & drive to Thattakad Arrive into Kochi. On exiting the baggage reclaim you will be met by a representative and transferred in an air conditioned vehicle to your hotel in Thattakad (2 hours’ drive). In the afternoon, time permitting, you will enjoy a privately guided birdwalk. Overnight – The Birds Lagoon, Thattakad – Dinner only.

Mottled Wood and Oriental Scops Owl

Day 3 Thattakad Today early morning till late breakfast – birding on foot looking for endemics. After breakfast – rest till lunch and after lunch birding on foot again till day break. In the night – a short birding session might be possible to look for and nightjars Overnight - The Birds Lagoon - All meals included

Day 4 Thattakad After early breakfast – you will be driven to a nearby area looking for some of the target endemics. Birding on foot till lunch – after a lunch break (picnic lunch) resume birding on foot or by car and eventually drive back to Thattakad. Overnight - The Birds Lagoon - All meals included

Day 5 Thattakad to Munnar Today you will be driven to Munnar (4 hours drive). On arrival, check in to the Windermere Hotel for overnight stay. Afternoon is at leisure – short birdwalks in the near and surrounds of the hotel is definitely possible. Overnight - The Windermere – All meals included.

Nilgiri Tahr

Day 6 Munnar After breakfast, you will be driven to a sanctuary for a whole day’s birding. After the birding, you will be driven back to the hotel. Evening is at leisure. Overnight – The Windermere - All meals included

Day 7 Munnar to Valparai After breakfast, you will be driven to Valparai (6 hours- with birding & photo stops) – small tea estate town next to . Valparai is a good location to try for some of the endemic mammals and birds. On arrival check in at the Monica Bungalow for overnight stay. Late evening, a short walking tour with one of the lodge staff might be possible. Animals like Indian Flying Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Stripe Necked Mongoose and Brown Palm Civet are sighted here. Overnight – Monica Bungalow - All meals included .

Black and Orange Flycatcher Day 8 Valparai Today early morning you will be taken for a walk looking for animals like the Indian , Lion Tailed Macaque, , Malabar Giant Squirrel etc. The global population of the Lion Tailed Macaque is between 500 – 1000 of which at least 80 of them stay near Valparai. This afternoon and evening – a walk/drive with spotlight looking for key endemic species like the Brown Palm Civet and Brown Mongoose.

Day 9 Valparai to Ooty After breakfast, you will be driven to Ooty (6 hours drive allowing for photo stops and birding stops) – on arrival check in at The Savoy for overnight stay. This afternoon – time permitting a short walk in an area near Ooty looking for range restricted endemics birds like the Nilgiri Race of the Scaly Thrush and found in this area. Overnight – The Savoy Hotel – All meals included

Day 10 Ooty Early in the morning – drive with packed breakfast to an area about two hours drive from Ooty looking for range restricted endemic birds of the Nilgiri Hills like the Nilgiri Blue Robin, Painted Bush Quail, Black & Orange Flycatcher, White Bellied Blue Flycatcher etc. After birding, drive back to Ooty – afternoon at leisure. Overnight – The Savoy – All meals included

Day 11 Ooty to Nagarhole After breakfast drive to Nagarhole (five hours drive with birding and photo stops). On arrival check in at the Kabini River Lodge or similar. Later in the afternoon enjoy a shared boat safari to the park.

Day 12 Nagarhole National Park Nagarhole gets its name from the Nagarhole River that snakes through this beautiful sanctuary and provides support to its teeming wildlife and flora. Apart from the most important tiger park from southern peninsula – Nagarhole is also home to a viable population of leopard, wild dog, , Asiatic jackal, , a number of deer and a huge variety of birds including endemic rarities like the Blue Faced Malkoha, Malabar Trogon, Jerdon’s Bush Lark, Malabar Crested Lark, Malabar Pied , Malabar Grey Hornbill, White Bellied Woodpecker and Malabar Woodshrike. Nagarhole is five and half hours from Bengaluru which is well connected to UK and US by a network of flights. Winter months are good for wildlife lovers – though the summer months are better for elephant lovers. Morning and afternoon – enjoy jeep safaris to the Nagarhole National Park. Overnight – Kabini River Lodge - All meals included

Boat Safari at Nagarhole and Asiatic Elephant

Day 13 Nagarhole Morning and afternoon – enjoy jungle activities to the park – the park is explored by jeep and on boat. Overnight – Kabini River Lodge - All meals included

Day 14 Nagarhole to Bengaluru Today morning after a morning safari – you will be driven to Bengaluru (6 hours drive). From the Bengaluru airport you will fly back home. In case you need a day use room to freshen up before your flight – the same will be arranged for you at Bengaluru.

PRICE INCLUSIONS: • Accommodation for 12 nights on Twin share basis and meals as specified in the itinerary • Transportation by Toyota Innova’s - mineral water will be provided in the car • Porterage fee at the hotel/airports only • Local English speaking guide and entrance fees (single entry) to monuments mentioned in the itinerary • All entrance fees, jeep & boat safari charges at the national parks. • At each place a local naturalist will be provided.

PRICE EXCLUSIONS: • International, visa fees, airport tax or any kind of insurance cover • Drinks and meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary • Tips or gratuities • Any car arrangements on free days • Still and video camera fee at monuments and game parks • Items of personal nature like drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips, camera fees, etc

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