Colorful and exciting, Southern India possesses some of Asia's most magnificent national parks and is home to more than 20 endemic birds and a variety of mammals, ranging from the tiny endemic Malabar Spiny Dormouse to Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, and Indian Elephant. Separated by valleys, the mountain blocks where most of the parks are found are collectively known as the Western Ghats. In the valleys we'll see brightly painted trucks and giant wheeled oxen carts traveling the roads together with more "normal" modes of transport. In the wetlands we'll watch for Spot-billed Pelican, Red-naped Ibis, and Pheasant-tailed Jacana, while in the mountains we should see Legge's Hawk-Eagle, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Indian Pitta, and the gorgeous White-bellied Treepie.
Our tour begins in Nagarhole National Park, where endemic Malabar Parakeets and White-cheeked Barbets call from within our lodge grounds. We'll then spend most of the following two weeks in the Western Ghats, where most of the endemic and near-endemic birds survive, and we'll be looking for such specialties as Gray Junglefowl (far more beautiful than its name suggests), Malabar Trogon (a real treat), and Black-and-orange Flycatcher. In the undergrowth we'll search for Wynaad Laughingthrush and White-bellied Sholakili (two of the harder endemics), while overhead the loud swoosh of wings at any time may signal Great or Malabar Pied hornbills.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Combo Tours If you would like a longer birding holiday, some departures of this tour may be combined with: SRI LANKA
ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS
ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.
DEPARTURES • We have 1 departures currently scheduled through 2024, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.
2024
Nov 11 - Dec 1, 2024 Guided by: Terry Stevenson & local guide Tour Manager: Sharon Mackie Tour Limit: 10 Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available - The itinerary has not been finalized for this tour. The trip has provisionally filled but, if you are interested, we can waitlist you for the trip. As we do not require deposits until the itinerary and price are finalized, we often have folks drop off a tour when the deposit is required, and so space opens up! Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour. Tour Fee: $10250 Deposit: $1025 REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO
ABOUT OUR TRIPLISTS • After every tour we issue an annotated triplist of the birds recorded on the trip, illustrated with wonderful images (and sometimes video clips) from the tour's participants and guides.
Enjoy looking through the 1 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!