Day 1 – Arrive in Bengaluru
On arrival at Bengaluru Airport, you will be greeted by Mysteries of India representative and chauffeur who will escort you to the hotel. The representative will hand over and explain all travel-related documents to you. Depending on flight time – rest of the day at leisure. If time permits, you can do a half-day city tour. Overnight at hotel in Bengaluru.
Day 2 – Bengaluru – Nagarhole (Kabini)
Checkout from the hotel after breakfast. Travel to Nagarhole National Park, which has jungle-covered hills and the Kabini River reservoir. It was once the royal hunting ground of Mysore’s Maharajas. Low water levels in February and March attract antelope, deer, elephants, and predators like as striped hyenas, leopards, dholes, and rare tigers. Come for a game drive in the evening. Approximately 250 bird species, 40 animal species, and innumerable invertebrates can be found in Nagarhole, a Project Tiger core region. Herds of Gaur and elephants, deer, birds, and predators, including the elusive Black Leopard, are all likely to be spotted at the water’s edge. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 3 – Nagarhole
Get ready for another experience of a game drive. Afternoon you can enjoy the coracle ride in the Kabini River. Probably the best way to be closer to birds for photography. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4 – Nagarhole
Early in the morning, go bird viewing with the local naturalist. Kabini is a birdwatcher’s paradise, home to about 300 species of avifauna, including those indigenous to the area. Explore the Ospreys along the river’s banks while keeping a close eye out for any fish that could occasionally come to the surface. Within the reserve’s interior, you will be treated to the thunderous cries of Changeable Hawk Eagles and Crested Serpent Eagles. A Brown Fish Owl stealthily flies between canopies, so keep a close eye out for it. The Malabar Whistling Thrush is the most boisterous and jovial of the wild birds, and they will serenade you in the early morning. Enjoy a second game drive in the park in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5 – Nagarhole – Wayanad
After breakfast, depart the lodge. Drive to Wayanad in the morning. This well-liked area is well-known for its spice plantations and animals. Wayanad is situated on the border between Tamil Nadu and Kerala and is a part of a forest reserve. Its untamed greenery provides both breathtaking scenery and the opportunity to witness wildlife. The Wayanad hills comprise a large geographical mass that allows wildlife to roam freely in their most natural habitat because they are next to Bandipur in Karnataka and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 – Wayanad
Get ready for your first bird watching trip in the woods. In the evening, you can join the cookery session with the chef, called – MALABAR KITCHEN. Wayanad Wild’s master chefs share some of their skills with you at the evening cookery classes. Here you will learn the secrets of traditional Kerala cooking. You will enter the magical world of Indian spices such as what they are, how to use them, combine them, and savor the special magic they bring to even the most commonplace foods. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 – Wayanad – Pollachi
Checkout from the hotel after breakfast. Drive to Pollachi. It is sometimes referred to as the “coconut city” since it supplies many Indian cities and towns with ripe, soft coconuts, and its proximity to the Western Ghats guarantees a fantastic climate all year round. In addition, Pollachi has the biggest cattle market in South India and one of Asia’s biggest jaggery marketplaces. the entrance to Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary as well. Upon reaching the Coco Lagoon. Enjoy a visit to a handloom factory in the afternoon, where exquisite colors and talented artists work together to weave traditional Indian sarees. See how exquisite sarees are woven using age-old methods that have been passed down through the generations. These exquisite examples of fashion and art are these handloom-woven sarees. We will guide you through the Saree making process, from cotton scratch to finish. Overnight at hotel in Pollachi.
Day 8 – Pollachi – Thattekad
Checkout from the hotel after breakfast. Drive to Thattekad (approximately 3-4 hours, 150 km). Thattekad Bird Sanctuary – Dr. Salim Ali, the famous ornithologist, surveyed the area in the 1930s, and this sanctuary is the result of his recommendations and efforts. Thattekad literally means the flat forest, and the region is a lush green lowland forest lying between tributaries of river Periyar. Thattekkad region boasts of 728 species of plants, 284 species of birds, 222 species of butterflies, 52 species of fishes, 39 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibians recorded from the Sanctuary. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 – 10 – Thattekad
These two days will be dedicated to exploring the sanctuary for its beautiful birds and other fauna around. Between the birding time, you can also enjoy the hospitality of the River House. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 – Thattekad – Periyar
Checkout from the hotel after breakfast. Drive to Periyar (approximately 4-5 hours, 180 km). Periyar is located in central Kerala amidst the cool hills of the Western Ghats where the heartland luxuriates in matted coffee, tea, pepper, and cardamom plantations. The pride of Kerala and a testimony to nature’s splendor and human innovation, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar Lake – an artificial lake. Here the high ranges of the Western Ghats are clothed in dense evergreen, moist deciduous forests, and savannah grasslands. Apart from Elephants, the other animals to be seen are Gaur, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dhole or Indian Wild Dog, and very rarely a Tiger. Four species of primates are found at Periyar – the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Gee’s Golden Langur, Common Langur, and Bonnet Macaque. The birdlife comprises Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill, and racket-tailed Drongos. Afternoon enjoy the game viewing by boat. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 – Periyar
Early morning the short or long trek through the reserve is highly recommended. Afternoon enjoy the spice plantation trip to understand the spices of the area. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 – Periyar – Kumarakom (Drive)
Checkout from the hotel after breakfast. Drive to Kumarakom (approximately 3-4 hours, 130 km). An easy-going slow-paced village on Vembanad Lake in the backwaters of Kerala. It’s laced with canals, where houseboats ply the waters. The nearby Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is home to many species of birds including resident and migratory. Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 14 – Kumarakom
Today set yourself for a visit to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is among the most popular bird watching spots in the country. Spread out over 14 hectares, one comes across numerous rare avian species in these parts. Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake in Kottayam, one gets to see a variety of migratory birds that flock in thousands, ranging from places like the Himalayas to Siberia. The list includes the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, water duck, Siberian Cranes, parrots, teal, larks, flycatchers, and wood beetles. Boating trips around the sanctuary are extremely relaxing, and this is among the most visited places in Kottayam district. Afternoon at leisure. Enjoy the hospitality of the resort or enjoy the Ayurveda & Spa treatments. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 – Kumarakom – Cochin
Checkout from the hotel after breakfast. Drive to Cochin (approximately 2-3 hours, 80 km). Arrive Cochin and check in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Evening enjoy the Kathakali dance drama, enacting epics from the Hindu Ramayana and Mahabharata. Overnight at hotel in Cochin.
Day 16 – Cochin
Enjoy the city tour today, which includes the Dutch Palace, the renowned Chinese fishing nets, and the Jewish Synagogue from the 16th century. Enjoy a free afternoon to independently explore the local market and the fort area. Overnight at hotel in Cochin.
Day 17 – Departure
Breakfast and checkout from the hotel. You will be transferred to the Cochin airport to board your flight home/onward journey.
