Green Earth Trails · Kerala & South India
Munnar · Thekkady · Thattekkad
Program Overview
Kerala's Western Ghats is one of the world's eight biodiversity hotspots, home to over 500 bird species and 16 endemics found nowhere else on earth. This eight day birding tour takes you through three of South India's finest habitats: the high altitude shola grasslands of Munnar, the dense forests of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, and the riverine groves of Thattekad, the sanctuary that Dr Salim Ali, the father of Indian ornithology, described as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India. Every birding session on this tour is timed around the two golden windows when bird activity peaks: early morning from first light, and late afternoon into dusk. Midday hours are reserved for travel between destinations, meals and rest. No gruelling full day slogs in the wrong light. Just focused, rewarding birding in the right habitats at the right time of day, guided by naturalists who have spent years learning the calls, habits and micro territories of these forests. The tour is private, with group sizes kept small to maximise sightings and minimise disturbance to wildlife. For birders visiting from the UK, Europe or North America, the Western Ghats offers a density and diversity of sightings that compares with East Africa or Southeast Asia, within compact and comfortable travel distances. Likely highlights include the Malabar Trogon, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Indian Pitta, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Great Hornbill and the elusive Kerala Laughingthrush.
Day by Day
Arrival day · Evening birding walk
Your Kerala birding journey begins with a scenic drive from Cochin into the Western Ghats. As the road climbs through rubber and cardamom estates and the air turns cool and misty, keep your binoculars ready. The ascent itself offers early sightings of forest species along the way. Arrive in Munnar by afternoon and ease into the highlands with a relaxed evening birding walk through the tea plantation edges and shola forest margins surrounding your accommodation. This first session is unhurried, intended to settle the eye and ear into the rhythm of forest birding. Overnight in Munnar.
Morning and evening birding · Nilgiri endemics
Munnar's high altitude landscape is a patchwork of rolling shola grasslands, montane evergreen forest patches and misty plateaus found nowhere else in India. Morning birding begins in the shola grassland belt, one of the most rewarding habitats for Nilgiri endemics. After a relaxed midday break, the afternoon session covers forest edge patches and wetland margins where different species emerge in the softer light. Target species include the Nilgiri Pipit, Painted Bush Quail, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Kerala Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and the Black and Orange Flycatcher. The Nilgiri Pipit in particular is a Western Ghats endemic that birders travel specifically for, and Munnar's shola grasslands are one of the few places it can be reliably seen. Overnight in Munnar.
Morning birding · Drive to Periyar · Evening forest walk
A focused morning birding session in Munnar captures any species missed the previous day before the drive south to Thekkady through the Cardamom Hills. The road descends gradually through spice country, with stops where species are calling along the way. The late afternoon arrival at Thekkady is timed for an evening birding walk along the forest edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve, where the transition from plantation to primary forest brings an entirely new set of species into view. Target species today include the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Indian Scimitar Babbler and the White bellied Treepie, all characteristic of the Western Ghats lower elevation forests. Overnight in Thekkady.
Full day inside the reserve · Optional boat safari
A full day inside one of South India's finest wildlife sanctuaries. Morning birding takes you deep into the Periyar forests with your naturalist guide, covering mixed deciduous and semi evergreen habitat. The optional morning boat safari on Periyar Lake provides a unique vantage point, scanning the forested shoreline for waterbirds and species descending to drink. The afternoon session covers different forest zones, with evening birding along the reserve boundary where canopy and edge species are most active. Target species include the Malabar Trogon, Wayanad Laughingthrush, Black Baza, Grey Junglefowl, Crimson backed Sunbird and the Heart spotted Woodpecker. Mammal sightings are also possible inside Periyar, with elephant, sambar deer and the occasional gaur frequently seen near water sources. Overnight in Thekkady.
Morning session · Drive to Thattekad · First evening
A morning birding walk in Thekkady before check out makes full use of the final hours in Periyar's forests. The drive to Thattekad passes through Kerala's midland landscape of rubber, coconut and paddy country, pleasant birding territory in its own right. Arrival at Thattekad in the late afternoon allows a gentle first evening session in the riverine forest, where the air fills with the calls of species that will become the focus of the next two days. Thattekad was the favourite field site of Dr Salim Ali, who spent extended periods documenting its avifauna. Stepping into the sanctuary in the soft evening light is a fitting introduction to what is widely regarded as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India. Overnight in Thattekad.
Thattekad · Riverine Forest and Wetland Birding
Thattekad is the jewel of this itinerary. Bounded by two arms of the Periyar River and covered in dense, largely undisturbed tropical forest, it hosts an extraordinary concentration of Western Ghats endemics alongside a rich variety of waterbirds, raptors and forest specialists. Morning birding targets the interior forest trails where species like the Sri Lanka Frogmouth and Malabar Parakeet are regularly encountered. The late afternoon session shifts to wetland margins and riverbanks, where herons, kingfishers and waders come into their own. Target species include the Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Malabar Parakeet, Indian Pitta, Rufous Babbler, Orange Minivet and the Brown chested Jungle Flycatcher. The Sri Lanka Frogmouth is one of the more sought after species in the Western Ghats, and Thattekad is among the most reliable locations on the subcontinent to see it. Overnight in Thattekad.
Full day across all habitat types · Dusk session
A full day covering Thattekad's most productive zones across different habitat types: forest interior, bamboo groves, riverine edges and open scrub. Morning and afternoon sessions are planned around any target species still on the list, with the guide focusing efforts based on the group's priority sightings from earlier in the tour. This is the day when rarer, more elusive species tend to reveal themselves to patient and persistent birders. Target species include Jerdon's Nightjar at dusk, the Malabar Whistling Thrush, the Great Hornbill in its preferred fruiting trees, and the Crested Serpent Eagle. The dusk session for Jerdon's Nightjar is a particular highlight, with the species calling reliably from forest edges as the light fades. Overnight in Thattekad.
Final dawn session · Transfer to airport
One final dawn birding walk in the forest before breakfast captures the magic of Thattekad at its most alive. After a relaxed breakfast and check out, the transfer back to Cochin International Airport takes approximately two hours, bringing this Western Ghats birding journey to a close with a checklist that will be the envy of fellow birders back home. Safe travels and we hope to see you back in South India before long.
Accommodation & Pricing
What's covered
Included
Not included
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an experienced birder to join this tour?
Not at all. This tour welcomes both seasoned birders with detailed target species lists and enthusiastic beginners who simply love nature and wildlife. Our naturalist guides adapt their approach to the group, providing species identification support, call recognition tips, and as much or as little technical detail as each guest prefers. Many of our guests come on their first birding tour and leave with a serious interest in the field.
When are the birding sessions each day?
All birding sessions are timed around the two golden windows when bird activity is at its peak. Morning sessions begin at first light and run through mid morning, typically from around 6:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Evening sessions run from late afternoon into dusk, roughly 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. The middle of the day is reserved for meals, rest and any travel between destinations. This is deliberate. Birding outside the golden windows is significantly less productive and we prefer to give you that time back.
What is the best time of year for birding in Kerala?
October to March is the ideal season for birding in Kerala's Western Ghats. Winter migrants arrive from Central Asia and the Himalayas from October onwards, adding significantly to the resident species count. The weather is dry and pleasant, forest visibility is good, and bird activity is high. We do not recommend this specific tour during the monsoon months from June to August or the hot summer months of April and May.
How many people will be in the group?
This is a private tour, customisable for groups of up to six guests. We keep group sizes small to maximise sightings and minimise disturbance to wildlife. Smaller groups move quietly, hear calls more clearly, and allow the guide to give individual attention to each birder. We also offer private departures for solo travellers and couples.
Who leads the birding sessions?
All sessions are led by experienced local naturalist guides with deep knowledge of the Western Ghats ecosystem, bird calls and species behaviour in each specific habitat. Our guides have spent years in these forests and are skilled at locating and identifying species that casual visitors routinely miss. Each habitat on the itinerary is led by a guide who knows that particular site intimately.
What equipment should I bring?
We recommend bringing your own binoculars if possible, ideally 8x42 or 10x42 magnification. A field guide to the birds of India, or a birding app such as eBird or Merlin, is also useful. Comfortable walking shoes, light layers for the cool Munnar mornings, neutral coloured clothing and a light rain jacket are all advisable. We provide spotting scopes at key locations.
How much walking is involved each day?
Birding sessions typically involve slow gentle walks of two to four kilometres on forest trails and paths. The pace is always unhurried because birding rewards stillness more than distance. The terrain varies from flat riverine paths at Thattekad to gentle slopes in Munnar's grasslands. This tour is not physically demanding and is suitable for most fitness levels, including older birders.
What species am I most likely to see?
The Western Ghats holds 16 bird species endemic to the region found nowhere else on earth, plus a strong cast of resident and migratory species. Likely highlights across the eight days include the Malabar Trogon, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Indian Pitta, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Great Hornbill, Kerala Laughingthrush and the Crested Serpent Eagle. Actual sightings depend on season, weather and natural species behaviour, but our three location circuit is designed to give you the best possible opportunity across multiple habitat types. Most groups record between 150 and 250 species over the eight days.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Yes, absolutely. The eight day itinerary above is our recommended framework, but we are happy to extend the tour to include additional destinations such as Wayanad, Silent Valley or Eravikulam, adjust the number of nights at each location, or build an entirely bespoke birding circuit based on your target species. Please contact us with your wishlist and travel dates and we will design the right itinerary for you.
How do I book the birding tour?
Use the Enquire button on this page to send us your travel dates, group size and any specific birding interests. We respond within 24 hours with availability, pricing and a proposed itinerary for your review. A 70% advance deposit is required to guarantee the tour, with the balance payable on arrival. We accept credit cards and international wire transfers. Cancellation terms are governed by our standard cancellation policy linked in the footer.
Also available · Small group tour
If you are travelling solo or as a couple and want the convenience of a ready-made program with fixed dates and transparent pricing, our small group fixed departure is designed for you.
From ₹24,000 per person · Single supplement available
Get in touch
Tell us your travel dates, group size and any specific requirements. We will come back to you within 24 hours with a detailed proposal.
We respond within 24 hours · hello@greenearthtrails.com · +91 94009 46800 (WhatsApp)
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