Kerala Birding Tour – 7 Nights in the Western Ghats of Southern India
Price starting from 170,000 per person
An Expert-Led Journey Through Shola Forests, Tiger Reserves & Riverine Sanctuaries
Kerala's Western Ghats is one of the world's eight biodiversity hotspots, home to over 500 bird species, dozens of which are found nowhere else on earth. This 7-night birding tour takes you through three of South India's finest birding destinations: the high-altitude shola grasslands of Munnar, the dense forests of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, and the legendary riverine groves of Thattekad. A sanctuary that the father of Indian ornithology, Dr. Salim Ali, described as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India.
8 Days / 7 Nights | 3 Prime Locations | 250+ Species Possible | Private birding program with Expert accompanying birder / naturalist
Why This Birding Tour Stands Apart ?
Every birding session on this tour is timed around the two golden windows: early morning and late afternoon to evening, when bird activity peaks and the forest comes alive with calls, colour and movement. Midday hours are used for comfortable travel between destinations, rest, or leisurely exploration. No gruelling full-day slogs. Just focused, rewarding birding in the right habitats at the right time of day, guided by naturalists who know these forests intimately.
8 days of Central Kerala birding tour
DAY 01 - Cochin to Munnar Arrival – Into the High Ranges
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.
Overnight in Munnar
DAY 02 Munnar High-Altitude Shola Grasslands
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 : Nilgiri Pipit · Painted Bush Quail · Nilgiri Flycatcher · Kerala Laughing thrush · Nilgiri Wood Pigeon · Black-and-orange Flycatcher
Overnight in Munnar
DAY 03 Munnar to Thekkady Morning Birding · Drive to Periyar
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 late afternoon arrival at Thekkady is timed perfectly 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: Malabar Grey Hornbill · Indian Scimitar Babbler · White-bellied Treepie
Overnight in Thekkady
DAY 04 Thekkady · Periyar Tiger Reserve Inside the Reserve – Forests, Lake and Forest Edge
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: Malabar Trogon · Wayanad Laughingthrush · Black Baza · Grey Junglefowl · Crimson-backed Sunbird · Heart-spotted Woodpecker
Overnight in Thekkady
DAY 05 Thekkady to Thattekad Morning Session · Drive to Salim Ali's Sanctuary
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.
Overnight in Thattekkad
DAY 06 Thattekad Bird Sanctuary 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: Sri Lanka Frogmouth · Malabar Parakeet · Indian Pitta · Rufous Babbler · Orange Minivet · Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher
Overnight in Thattekkad
DAY 07 Thattekad · Extended Birding Rare Species and Habitat Sweep
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: Jerdon's Nightjar (dusk) · Malabar Whistling Thrush · Great Hornbill · Crested Serpent Eagle
Overnight inThattekad
DAY 08 Thattekad to Cochin Farewell Morning Session · Departure
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 Airport takes approximately 2 hours, bringing this Western Ghats birding journey to a close with a checklist that will be the envy of fellow birders back home.
Habitat Section
Section Heading Three World-Class Birding Habitats
Habitat 1 Shola Grasslands
Munnar High-altitude montane grasslands interspersed with evergreen forest patches, a habitat unique to the Nilgiri Hills and home to some of India's rarest endemic species found at no other elevation or location on earth.
Habitat 2 Tiger Reserve Forest
Thekkady Undisturbed mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forest inside Periyar Tiger Reserve, where the absence of human pressure allows secretive species to behave naturally and birding sightings are consistently rewarding.
Habitat 3 Riverine Forest
Thattekad Described by Dr. Salim Ali as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, Thattekad's dense riverine groves hold an exceptional diversity of Western Ghats endemics, waterbirds and forest specialists in a compact and intensely productive sanctuary.
Why Kerala is One of the World's Premier Birding Destinations
Kerala sits within the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of just eight globally recognised biodiversity hotspots. The state records over 500 bird species, roughly 40% of India's total avifauna, including 16 species endemic to the Western Ghats found nowhere else in the world. For birders visiting from Europe, the UK or North America, a Kerala birding tour offers a density and diversity of sightings that rivals East Africa or Southeast Asia, within compact and comfortable travel distances.
Munnar, Thekkady and Thattekad form the classic Western Ghats birding triangle, each offering distinct habitat types, elevation zones and species assemblages that together cover the full spectrum of Kerala's endemic and migratory birdlife. Green Earth Trails designs all birding itineraries around the natural activity rhythms of the forest: morning and evening sessions in prime habitat, with expert local naturalists who have spent years learning the calls, habits and micro-territories of these species.
Accommodation & Pricing per person
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Birding tours are available from October to March, rest of the months fall on summer and monsoon.
The program includes
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Accommodation on half board basis
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All transfers and sightseeing in large cab
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Services of an accompanying English speaking Birder and naturalist.
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Entrance tickets at places of interest
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Packed drinking water in cab through out the tour
Notes
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The price is based on 2 adults travelling together.
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The program can be further customised adding additional nights in Kochi or respective destinations of interest.
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Rooms as above is subject to availability at the time of booking
Kerala tour booking Procedure
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Once the tour is confirmed with us we make reservation at the respective hotels / resorts / houseboat.
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We shall send you a confirmation voucher based on the confirmation we have received from the service providers.
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70% advance deposit is required to guarantee the tour and the rest could be paid on the day of arrival.
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We accept payments via credit cards
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International wire transfer is available for foreign remittances.
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In the event of a cancellation, the cancellation policy applies - kindly refer to the cancellation policy.
Enquiry Now!
Birding Tour – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to be an experienced birder to join this tour?
Not at all. This tour welcomes both seasoned birders with a detailed target species list 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.
Q: 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.
Q: What is the best time of year to do this birding tour?
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 of June to August.
Q: How many people will be in the group?
This is a private tour, however can be customised for smaller groups of upto 6 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 or couples.
Q: 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.
Q: 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 very useful. Comfortable walking shoes, light layers for the cool Munnar mornings, neutral-coloured clothing, and a rain jacket are all advisable. We provide spotting scopes at key locations.
Q: How much walking is involved each day?
Birding sessions typically involve slow, gentle walks of 2 to 4 kilometres on forest trails and paths. The pace is always unhurried. 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.
Q: What species am I most likely to see?
The Western Ghats holds 16 bird species endemic to the region found nowhere else on earth. Likely highlights include the Malabar Trogon, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Indian Pitta, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Great Hornbill, Kerala Laughingthrush, and Crested Serpent Eagle. Actual sightings depend on season, weather, and the natural behaviour of species on any given day, but our three-location circuit is designed to give you the best possible opportunity across multiple habitat types.
Q: Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes, absolutely. The 7-night itinerary above is our recommended framework, but we are happy to extend the tour to include additional destinations such as Wayanad or Silent Valley, 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.
Q: What is included in the tour price?
Please contact us for a detailed inclusions list tailored to your group size and travel dates. As a general guide, our birding tours include accommodation, daily breakfast, naturalist guide fees, park entry permits, and all ground transport between destinations. International flights, travel insurance, and personal expenses are not included.
Q: Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, provided children have a genuine interest in wildlife and birds. We recommend this tour for children aged 12 and above who are comfortable with early morning walks and quiet observation. Younger children are welcome on private family bookings where the pace and focus can be adjusted accordingly.
Q: How do I book?
Use the Enquire Now button on this page to send us your travel dates, group size, and any specific birding interests. We will respond within 24 hours with availability, pricing, and a proposed itinerary for your review.