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This trip explores South India's wildlife from three exceptional lodges in outstanding protected areas, and includes visits to both a productive tiger park and India's southern rainforest.

We begin with a visit to Nagarhole National Park, home to tiger, leopard, Asian wild dog, Asian elephants and a black panther. Next we travel to the edge of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, where we stay on a superb private reserve. We’ll make forest walks in search of Malabar trogon, parakeets, pied and grey hornbills, and Nilgiri langur. After a night in Coimbatore, we continue south to Anamalai Tiger Reserve. From our base on a tea plantation we look for endemics including lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr and Malabar whistling thrush. 

Typical Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Depart UK

    Depart London on an overnight flight to Bengaluru.

  2. Days 2-4 : Nagarhole National Park

    We reach Nagarhole in time for a late lunch on day two, before taking our first evening drive in this beautiful park. For the following two days we take morning and evening safaris in the park, at least one of which will be a boat safari on the Kabini River dam. 

    Nagarhole is a beautiful park in the state of Karnataka. Tiger, leopard, Asian wild dog and Asian elephant are all readily seen here, as are stripe-necked and ruddy mongooses, grey langur, bonnet macaque, Indian giant squirrel and several ungulates.

    Nagarhole is also a great park for watching birds. In addition to widespread species including red-vented and red-whiskered bulbuls, jungle and common mynas, this is a great place for southern species including white-cheeked barbet, southern hill myna, grey junglefowl and Malabar parakeet.

    Accommodation: Kabini River Lodge, 3-nights

  3. Days 5-6 : Fringe Ford, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

    Fringe Ford is an exceptional private reserve on the edge of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. A colonial cardamom plantation has largely been allowed to revert to forest and has been recolonised by native plants and animals.

    We explore the trails here on foot, and have excellent chances of finding a range of southern endemics including Malabar trogon, Malabar pied hornbill, Malabar grey hornbill and Nilgiri langur, in addition to more widespread species including the magnificent gaur.

    Accommodation: Fringe Ford, 2-nights

  4. Day 7: Transfer to Coimbatore

    After a full day’s drive, we break our journey towards the rare endemics of the south by spending the night in a stylish hotel in the city of Coimbatore.

    Accommodation: The Residency Towers, Coimbatore, 1-night

  5. Days 8-10 : Valparai Range, Anamalai Tiger Reserve

    One of South India’s little known wonders, Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to many regional endemics, including a host of birds and mammals. We spend the afternoon of day 8 and two full days visiting sites in the Valparai Range of the park, looking for such charismatic and threatened mammals as lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Asian elephant and Nilgiri tahr.

    The birding here is also very good. Localised species we may find include Malabar whistling thrush, Malabar parakeet, Nilgiri flycatcher, black-and-orange flycatcher, Palani (Kerala) laughingthrush, blue-faced malkoha and Loten’s sunbird.

    Accommodation: Briar Tea Bungalows, 3-nights

  6. Day 11: Transfer to Kochi for flight to Bengaluru

    This morning we leave Valparai, bound for Kochi International Airport. From here we take a domestic flight to Bengaluru where we check into a hotel near the airport, prior to our early departure the following day.

    Accommodation: Goldfinch Resort, Bengaluru, 1-night

  7. Day 12: Arrive UK

Please note: We have an excellent and experienced team of naturalist tour leaders guiding our groups in India. The exact leader for each departure will be confirmed once the group has been guaranteed to travel.

Key info

  • Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 12 days from £4,495 pp
  • Duration and price excluding international flights: 11 days from £3,895 pp
  • Single supplement: From £850
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
    Tailor-made can be arranged
  • Group Size: 5–6
  • Group Departures:
    Make a booking request or enquire:
    1. Enquire Book
    2. Enquire Book
  • Tailor-made Departures:

    A tailor-made holiday or private departure can be arranged, please contact us to tailor a trip to suit your requirements.

  • Included in the price/package:
    • Services of the naturalist leader
    • Flights
    • Transfers
    • Accommodation
    • Guided activities
    • All meals
    • Conservation fund contribution
  • Activities available:
    • Nature drive
    • Walking

Expert leader

Varun Devaraj

Photo of Varun Devaraj

Varun has been working in wildlife and conservation for the last nine years. A fascination for the wilderness started at a young age, spending his school holidays exploring the wilds of the Western Ghats with his parents.

After a brief and stint in the corporate world, Varun joined The Keystone Foundation in the Nilgiris and worked on conservation and afforestation projects in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

In 2011 Varun moved to Satpura Tiger Reserve in Central India to work as a naturalist and wildlife guide at Forsyth’s Lodge, a pioneer in alternative wildlife experiences such as walking and canoeing in tiger country. After a productive five years, he spent the next couple of years consulting with wildlife properties around the country, helping them set up wildlife programmes and aid in marketing activities.

Varun is now working as a wildlife guide, focusing on Central India, Karnataka, the Western Ghats and Ladakh.

View all tours led by Varun

Tour Reports

Find out more about the day-to-day sightings and wildlife activities on our group tours from our expert naturalist leaders.

Featured locations:

Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole is a mixture of forests and rolling hills, criss-crossed by streams, waterfalls and swamps. Formerly a Maharaja’s hunting reserve, it is now dedicated to saving wildlife, and is considered one of the best places in India to see elephant. In the summer months they congregate in large herds along the river. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Karnataka State
  • Ideal for viewing: Asian elephant, tiger, leopard, wild dog, gaur
  • Excellent for: Walking safaris, Vehicle safaris

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Sharing a boundary with Bandipur National Park, with which it forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Wayanad is a rare protected patch of Malabar rainforest in the extreme north of Kerala. It is home to Nilgiri langur, Malabar grey hornbill and many others of the region’s endemics. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Kerala State
  • Ideal for viewing: Malabar trogon, Malabar parakeet, Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri langur, brown palm-civet

Anamalai Tiger Reserve

Anamalai Tiger Reserve

The forested Anamalai Hills contain one of Tamil Nadu’s most beautiful reserves. Its steep slopes are covered with deciduous jungle and bamboo thicket, where sightings of gaur, elephant and leopard are common. The birdlife is also prolific, with over 300 species. You can join a game drive or walk with a guide. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Tamil Nadu State
  • Ideal for viewing: African elephant, sloth bear, tiger, wild boar, wild dog
  • Excellent for: Walking safaris, Vehicle safaris, Birdwatching
Featured accommodation:

Briar Tea Bungalows

Briar Tea Bungalows

Surrounded by 2,000 hectares of tea plantation and close to the key wildlife sites of the Valparai Range and Anamalai Tiger Reserve, the Briar Tea Bungalows offer colonial-style comfort and elegance in a stunning natural setting of valleys, mountains, waterfalls and thick forest with unique flora and fauna. Find Out More about Briar Tea Bungalows

Fringe Ford

Fringe Ford

Fringe Ford is a unique lodge on a 400-hectare private reserve at the edge of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The historic bungalow, built for a colonial cardamom plantation, has comfortable rooms and a 360 degree view over forest-clad hills. Dinner here is served under the stars by a murmuring stream. Find Out More about Fringe Ford

Kabini River Lodge

Kabini River Lodge

This is a typical Indian safari lodge, formerly the hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Mysore. It accommodates up to 50 guests in spacious rooms or cottages, and a wealth of wildlife can be found in nearby Nagarhole National Park, such as elephant, sambar, gaur and even sloth bear. Find Out More about Kabini River Lodge