Luxury South India and Andaman Endemic Birding Tour 2025
Endemic Birding Expeditions Across South India’s Forests and the Andaman Islands
Covering all endemic bird areas, luxury accommodations, local foods, and local experiences
16 Days
Andaman & Western Ghats
December
5 - 20 december, 2025
$4550
Price From
Designed for dedicated birdwatchers in search of India’s endemic treasures, this immersive journey explores the richly biodiverse Andaman Islands and Western Ghats. Traverse habitats ranging from coastal mangroves and evergreen rainforests to high-altitude sholas and dry grasslands. Target rare and range-restricted species, including the Andaman Crake, Andaman Treepie, Nilgiri Thrush, Nilgiri Pipit, Malabar Trogon, Cylone Frog Mouth, Cylone Bay Owl and Malabar Grey Hornbill. The itinerary covers key ecosystems ideal for spotting canopy specialists, understorey skulkers, and elusive nocturnal birds. Since 2014, we have been leading birding tours across India with a sharp focus on endemics and regional specialities. With careful planning, local knowledge, and field-tested routes, this tour offers one of the most comprehensive endemic birding experiences in South Asia.
Meticulously crafted journey for serious birders seeking Isouth India's rare and endemic bird species.
Explore coastal forests and mangroves in search of unique Andaman endemics and island specialities.
Shola forests and highland grasslands reveal Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Sholakili, Pipit, and more high-altitude gems.
Mist-draped hills hide Malabar Trogon, White-bellied Sholakili, laughingthrushes, and endemic flycatchers in lush habitats.
Birding beside aromatic plantations paired with fresh, regional cuisine—flavourful, cultural, and unforgettable each day.
Wrap up in Kerala’s birding jewel—Thattekkad’s forests alive with endemics and nocturnal surprises. .
Designed by us, tailored to you
South India birding tour for serious birders, targeting Andaman, Nilgiri, and Malabar endemics across shola forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
All our private tours are highly customizable. Share your travel goals, and we’ll create a compelling itinerary together
Day 1: (5 December 2025)– Port Blair – Chidiya Tapu & Mount Harriet National Park
Arrival in Port Blair, Andaman Island
Begin birding upon arrival
Tapu and Mount Harriet lie within South Andaman, offering access to some of the island’s richest lowland evergreen forests. Chidiya Tapu, a coastal forest system blending tropical moist evergreen trees with mangroves and littoral scrub, serves as a stronghold for island endemics like the Andaman Crake and Andaman Treepie. Mount Harriet, with slightly higher elevation and denser forest interior, hosts elusive canopy dwellers and nocturnal species. Combined, these habitats hold over 20 endemic birds and a range of regional specialities. These forests are critical remnants of the Indo-Burmese biogeographic region, with rich biodiversity and high levels of avian endemism.
Target Species: Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Crake, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Shama, Andaman Coucal, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman White-headed Starling, Black-naped Oriole, Olive-backed Sunbird, Long-tailed Parakeet, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Collared Kingfisher. Night species: Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl, Hume’s Hawk Owl.
Day 2: (6 December 2025) – Ferrargunj Forest Reserve & Sippy Ghat
Semi Evergreen Forests & Swamps
Interior Habitats
(Elevation: 20–50 m | Distance: ~35 km round trip) Forest Reserve & Sippy Ghat (Elevation: 20–50 m | Distance: ~35 km round trip)
Located inland from Port Blair, Ferrargunj Forest Reserve features undisturbed tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests with seasonal swamps. These forests are quieter and denser than coastal sites, making them ideal for species preferring interior habitats. The terrain of forested hills and valley bottoms supports endemics like the Andaman Drongo and Andaman Cuckooshrike. The adjacent Sippy Ghat wetlandsllow freshwater marsh, provide feeding grounds for a wide variety of migratory and resident shorebirds. These contrasting habitats offer a rewarding combination of forest canopy specialists and open-area waders within a single day, making it one of the most productive areas near Port Blair.
Target Species: Andaman Teal, Andaman Cuckooshrike, Andaman Drongo, Edible-nest Swiftlet, Sandpipers, Snipes, Plovers, Oriental Scops Owl (Andaman race), Hume’s Hawk Owl.
Day 3: (7 December 2025)– Mount Harriet or Chidiya Tapu
Return to Mount Harriot or Chidiya Tapu for any missed targets.
all endemics
Depending on target species, we return to either Mount Harriet or Chidiya Tapu to complete our checklist of Andaman endemics. Mount Harriet offers shaded ridges and mossy undergrowth perfect for canopy specialists and shy understorey birds, while Chidiya Tapu’s mixed habitats provide second chances for the elusive Andaman Crake or Andaman Wood Pigeon. These forests are among the best remaining examples of lowland evergreen rainforest in the Andamans, with high moisture and rich stratification. In the evening, the area around Chidiya Tapu becomes active with nocturnal birds, adding nightjars and owls to our list.
Target Species: Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Nightjar, Andaman Barn Owl, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Flowerpecker.
Day 4: (8 December 2025 )– Shoal Bay
Birding in Southern Andaman
Mangroves and inner forests
Shoal Bay lies on the southeastern edge of South Andaman Island, facing the coastal inlets and mangrove-lined waterways of the archipelago. This unique coastal forest features a combination of moist evergreen forest and tidal swamp, making it an excellent site for species that favour dense lowland cover. Its patchwork of muddy banks, creeks, and lush green canopy often yields sightings of Ruddy Kingfisher and Andaman- specific flycatchers and thrushes. Due to its quiet and remote nature, it also offers refuge to several elusive and skittish species not easily found elsewhere.
Target Species: Ruddy Kingfisher, Andaman Flowerpecker, Andaman Bulbul, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive-backed Sunbird, Dollarbird.
Day 5: (9 December 2025)– Mount Harriet and Shoal Bay
Clean-Up Day
Morning birding, followed by flight to Coimbatore
A final birding session in either Mount Harriet or Shoal Bay will help round out the Andaman checklist. We aim to target any species missed during the previous outings, especially those that prefer dense, high-canopy or riparian forest environments. Following this, we board an evening flight to the Indian mainland, arriving in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, the gateway to the Western Ghats sector of our birding expedition.
Target Species: Clean-up of any remaining Andaman endemics.
Day 6: (10 December 2025)– Coimbatore – Kallingal Grasslands
Birding in Coimbatore
dry and grassland species
Elevation: 400m
The semi-arid plains and rocky scrubland around Kallingal, just outside Coimbatore, are home to a set of dry zone specialists. Dominated by open grassland, Acacia scrub, and scattered granite outcrops, this habitat contrasts sharply with the forests of the Andamans. Birding here is particularly fruitful in the late afternoon and evening when crepuscular and nocturnal species become active. The sparse vegetation allows for excellent visibility, and the rocky escarpments often harbour roosting owls and coursers.
Target Species: Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Indian Courser, Great Thick-knee, Sykes’s Lark, Indian Eagle Owl, Singing Bushlark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Indian Nightjar, Yellow-wattled Lapwing..
Day 7: (11 December 2025) – Puliyampatti Grasslands – Drive to Ooty
Drive to Ooty
Birding in Nilgiris
Puliyampatti, en route to Ooty, offers expansive agricultural fields and fallow lands dotted with scrubby vegetation. This transitional landscape is excellent for observing open-country species, raptors, and migrants during the right season. After morning birding, we ascend the Nilgiri Hills to Ooty, a colonial-era hill station nestled within high-elevation montane grassland and shola forest. The evening in Ooty offers the first chance to observe high- altitude endemics of the Western Ghats.
Target Species: Painted Sandgrouse, Sykes’s Lark, White-eyed Buzzard, Red-necked Falcon, Jungle Prinia, Barred Buttonquail, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Nilgiri Sholakili.
Day 8: (12 December 2025)– Ooty – Doddabetta & Coonoor
Birding In the Blue Mountains
Western Ghat endemics
(Elevation: 2,600 m) – Doddabetta & Coonoor (Elevation: 2,600 m)
Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris, rises over 2,600 metres and is blanketed in dense shola forest. These forests, found only in the higher Western Ghats, are ancient, fragmented cloud forests rich in endemic flora and fauna. Birding here is characterised by slow, quiet walks through moss-covered trails where one may encounter the shy Nilgiri Thrush or the striking Black-and-Orange Flycatcher. In the afternoon, we descend to Coonoor to bird in lower elevation sholas, broadleaf woodland, and coffee plantations.
Target Species: Nilgiri Thrush, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Tytler’s Leaf Warbler, Indian Blackbird, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Malabar Parakeet.
Day 9: (13 December 2025)– Ooty – Masinagudi
Lower Western Ghats
Birding in Masinagudi
(54 km | 1.5 hr | Elevation: 950 m) – Masinagudi (54 km | 1.5 hr | Elevation: 950 m)
Descending into the rain-shadowed dry forests of Masinagudi, we enter the drier deciduous and scrub habitat of the Moyar Valley. These forests offer a rich contrast to the lush sholas of the previous days. The open canopy and bamboo thickets are ideal for raptors, woodpeckers, and dry-zone babblers. Riverbanks, clearings, and village groves enhance the birding diversity. Masinagudi is also productive for night birding, with owls and nightjars active shortly after dusk.
Target Species: White-bellied Minivet, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Malabar Lark, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Jerdon’s Leafbird.
Day 10: (14 December 2025)– Masinagudi – Munnar
Long Drive To Munnar, Kerala
(271 km | 8.5 hr | Elevation: 1,500 m) – Munnar (271 km | 8.5 hr | Elevation: 1,500 m)
Today’s long drive from Masinagudi to Munnar is a transition between two major ecological landscapes—from dry deciduous woodland into the cool, misty hillscapes of the southern Western Ghats. Arriving in Munnar by evening, we step into a world of high-altitude montane grasslands and fragmented shola forests. These ancient ecosystems, among the most threatened in India, harbour some of the rarest highland bird species in the country. If time permits, we explore the outskirts for an introduction to its rich avifauna.
Target Species: Evening scouting for Nilgiri Flycatcher, Hill Swallow, Indian Blackbird, Indian Blue Robin.
Gothic glory in the Umbrian hills
Day 11: (15 December 2025)– Rajamala National Park & Pothamedu Hills, Munnar
Birding In The Tea County
Colonial era tea gardens and endemics
(Elevation: 1,500–2,300 m)
We begin early with birding at Rajamala (Eravikulam National Park), one of India’s best-known protected highland reserves. Characterised by undulating montane grasslands and isolated shola forest patches, this park is a biodiversity hotspot for both flora and fauna. These habitats host rare endemics that have evolved in isolation at these elevations. In the afternoon, we shift to the more open hillsides of Pothamedu, a productive area for raptors, flycatchers, and hill-forest edge species.
Target Species: Nilgiri Pipit, Nilgiri Thrush, Palani Laughingthrush, White-bellied Sholakili, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, Painted Bush Quail.
Day 12: (16 December 2025)– Munnar – Periyar via Bodinayakanur
Periyar. A Journey Through Spice Plantations
Wayanad laughing thrush & yellow throated bulbul
(97 km | 3 hrs | Elevation: 900 m)
This morning we journey through the Bodinayakanur ghats on the way to Periyar. These rugged lower hills are often overlooked but provide ideal habitat for species like Yellow- throated Bulbul and Sirkeer Malkoha. The route offers open-canopy deciduous forests, scrub, and thorny thickets. Upon reaching Periyar, we explore the outer edges of the Tiger Reserve, home to a mix of dense evergreen forest and bamboo patches. Evening birding near the park’s fringes is excellent for laughingthrushes and hornbills.
Target Species: Yellow-throated Bulbul, Hill Prinia, Sirkeer Malkoha, Wayanad Laughingthrush, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Barbet, White-bellied Treepie.
DDay 13: (17 December 2025)– Periyar – Thattekkad
Lower Elevation Birding
thattekkad: The best birding area in peninsular india
(104 km | 3 hr 15 min | Elevation: 35 m)
After a final morning birding session in Periyar, we descend from the highlands to the lowland rainforests of Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary. This transition introduces us to a radically different avifaunal zone. Thattekkad is one of the richest birding sites in India and known for its dense canopy, water bodies, bamboo brakes, and mixed tropical forest. Evening and night birding around the sanctuary can be particularly productive, with chances for a variety of elusive nocturnal species.
Target Species: Malabar Gray Hornbill, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, Great Eared Nightjar, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, Indian Scops Owl, Jungle Owlet.
Day 14: (18 December 2025) – Thattekkad – Urulanthanni Forest
Birding In Thattekkad
winter visitors : indian pitta and black baza
(Elevation: 50–100 m)
Today is dedicated to deep-forest birding in Urulanthanni, a relatively undisturbed tract of evergreen and semi-evergreen lowland forest adjoining Thattekkad. This terrain is humid, mossy, and often dimly lit, making it a rewarding challenge for serious birders. The forest supports numerous Western Ghats endemics and an excellent diversity of insectivores and frugivores. The mix of riverine forest, hill slopes, and open glades offers opportunities to encounter both canopy and understorey dwellers.
Target Species: Malabar Trogon, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Crested Goshawk, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.
Day 15: (19 December 2025)– Thattekkad & Cheekode Forest
Forests Near Thattekkad
White-bellied Treepie and Malabar parakeet
Our final full day of birding includes a morning visit to Cheekode Forest, a more open lowland woodland with bamboo stands and fruiting trees. This location supports a mix of endemic forest birds and generalist species. In the afternoon, we position ourselves in a well-situated forest bird hide, perfect for observing shy insectivores and flycatchers up close. As light fades, we enjoy one last look at the forest’s evening chorus.
Target Species: White-bellied Treepie, Indian Pitta, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Orange-headed Thrush, Blue-bearded Bee-eater.
Day 16: (20 December 2025) – Thattekkad – Cochin International Airport
Departure: Kochi International Airport
End Of Tour
(45 km | 1 hr 30 min)
After a relaxed final morning birding walk to target any missed species, we transfer to Cochin International Airport for departure. The combination of island and mountain endemics, forest, grassland, and wetland habitats, and both diurnal and nocturnal species makes this a comprehensive and deeply rewarding birding journey through South India.
Tour Highlights
Comprehensive List of Birds:
South India
Andaman Teal, Andaman Cuckooshrike, Andaman Drongo, Edible-nest Swiftlet, Sandpipers, Snipes, Plovers, Oriental Scops Owl (Andaman race), Cylon Bay Owl, Hume’s Hawk Owl, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Nightjar, Andaman Barn Owl, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Flowerpecker, Ruddy Kingfisher, Andaman Bulbul, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive-backed Sunbird, Dollarbird, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Indian Courser, Great Thick-knee, Sykes’s Lark, Indian Eagle Owl, Singing Bushlark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, Indian Nightjar, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Nilgiri Thrush, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Tytler’s Leaf Warbler, Indian Blackbird, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Malabar Parakeet, White-bellied Minivet, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Malabar Lark, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Jerdon’s Leafbird, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Hill Swallow, Indian Blue Robin, Nilgiri Pipit, Palani Laughingthrush, White-bellied Sholakili, Broad-tailed Grassbird, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher, Painted Bush Quail, Yellow-throated Bulbul, Hill Prinia, Sirkeer Malkoha, Wayanad Laughingthrush, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Barbet, White-bellied Treepie, Malabar Trogon, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Crested Goshawk, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, Great Eared Nightjar, Sri Lanka Bay Owl, Indian Scops Owl, Jungle Owlet, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Blue-bearded bee-eater.
Tour Cost
USD 4550 Pp
twin sahre basis. (Single Romm Supplement USD 760)
Tour Inclusions • Accommodation • Domestic Flight Ticket ( Port Blair to Coimbatore), Meals • Transport • Professional Guide(s) • Support and Coordination • Filtered Drinking Water. All Applicable Taxes and Service Charges
Tour Exclusions • International Airfare • Visa Fees and Travel Insurance • Optional Activities and Extensions • Personal Expenses • Taxes, Camera Fees (where applicable) • Vaccinations and Medical Expenses
Please refer to the links at the bottom of our website for our full booking terms and conditions and tour policies. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information about bookings, cancellations, or other details.
Tour Leader:
An experienced guide/tour manager will accompany you throughout the trip, supported by various local guides.
Special Notes
Included & Excluded
The tour starts at Port Blair on 5 December 2025
The tour rnds at Kochi International Airport 20 December 2025
1. Domestic Flights
The domestic flights from Port Blair to Coimbatore is included in the tour price.
2. Indicative Itinerary
This is a suggested itinerary. We reserve the right to make adjustments at any time in order to ensure the best possible outcome for the tour experience.
3. Weather Advisory
The weather during this period is generally pleasant. However, higher altitude regions such as Ooty can be chilly at night, so we recommend packing accordingl
Tour Map
Extras & Tools
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