– 15 Nights / 16 Days | 12th – 27th March 2027
Bengaluru • Ranganathittu • Mysore • Nagarhole / Kabini • Mudumalai • Ooty • Valparai • Munnar • Periyar • Thattekkad • Cochin
Join Yogesh Bhatia Photography on an immersive 16-day journey through the extraordinary wildlife and birding landscapes of Southern India.
From riverine wetlands and wildlife-rich forests to the high-altitude Nilgiris, Western Ghats rainforests, tea plantations and the bird-rich forests of Thattekkad, this expedition brings together some of the most diverse habitats in southern India.
This is not simply a sightseeing tour.
It is a dedicated birding, wildlife and photography expedition, designed for photographers and nature enthusiasts who want to spend meaningful time in the field, search for specialist and endemic species, observe wildlife behaviour and improve their photography through practical guidance.
Throughout the journey, Yogesh Bhatia will provide field-based photography mentoring covering composition, exposure, autofocus, shutter speed, long-lens technique, bird-in-flight photography, behavioural photography, environmental portraits, low-light work and ethical wildlife photography.
The journey travels through some of Southern India’s finest wildlife habitats, offering opportunities for:
Asian Elephant | Bengal Tiger | Leopard | Dhole | Gaur | Sambar | Chital | Nilgiri Tahr | Nilgiri Langur | Lion-tailed Macaque | Malabar Giant Squirrel | Wild Boar | Indian Muntjac
Sightings are always dependent on natural conditions, wildlife behaviour and park regulations.
A major focus of the expedition is the remarkable endemic and specialist birdlife of Southern India.
Potential targets include:
Great Hornbill | Malabar Pied Hornbill | Malabar Parakeet | Grey Junglefowl | Red Spurfowl | Nilgiri Blue Flycatcher | Nilgiri Pipit | Grey-breasted Laughingthrush | White-bellied Treepie | Malabar Grey Hornbill | Indian Pitta | Crimson-backed Sunbird | Sri Lanka Frogmouth
The itinerary also includes opportunities for raptors, owls, waterbirds, forest birds and other range-restricted species.
Photography is at the heart of the expedition.
Field guidance will include:
The aim is not merely to record wildlife, but to understand light, behaviour, timing, composition and the story within the frame.
Arrival In Bengaluru
Arrive in Bengaluru after midday and transfer to the hotel.
The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing participants to settle in before the expedition begins.
Dinner & overnight: Royal Orchid Central, Bengaluru.
BENGALURU → KOKKARE BELLUR → RANGANATHITTU → MYSORE
After breakfast, drive towards Mysore with birding stops en route.
At Kokkare Bellur, look for Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican and other wetland and woodland species.
Continue to Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, where a boat ride on the Cauvery River provides close photographic opportunities for cormorants, ibises, spoonbills, pelicans, storks and other waterbirds.
Possible additional species include Indian Roller, Black Drongo, Jerdon’s Leafbird, Blue-faced Malkoha, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Red-naped Ibis and Purple-rumped Sunbird.
Dinner & overnight: Radisson, Mysore.
MYSORE → NAGARHOLE / KABINI
After breakfast, drive approximately 90 km to Nagarhole with birding and wildlife stops en route.
Nagarhole forms an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere and is one of the finest habitats for Asian Elephant.
Wildlife possibilities include Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Gaur, Chital, Sambar, Muntjac, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Giant Squirrel and Smooth-coated Otter.
Birding will focus on Western Ghats and forest species including Malabar Parakeet, White-cheeked Barbet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Grey Junglefowl, Great Hornbill, Scarlet Minivet and others.
In the evening, enjoy a coracle ride on the Kabini River, with opportunities for bird photography and, with luck, large congregations of elephants.
Dinner & overnight: Kabini River Lodge.
EXPLORE NAGARHOLE / KABINI
Early morning jeep safari with a resident naturalist.
Depending on conditions, the programme may also include a motorboat or coracle ride on the Kabini River.
Wildlife possibilities include elephant, gaur, chital, sambar, wild dog and, with luck, tiger or leopard.
Birding targets may include Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Golden-backed Woodpecker, storks and peafowl.
The evening includes a wildlife movie and campfire gathering, with conversations about the day’s sightings and experiences.
All meals & overnight: Kabini River Lodge.
EXPLORE NAGARHOLE / KABINI
A further full day in the Kabini landscape.
Morning and afternoon activities may include jeep safari, boat or coracle experiences according to wildlife movement, park conditions and photographic opportunities.
The emphasis will be on mammals and birds, while working on wildlife behaviour, environmental portraits, bird-in-flight technique, exposure in changing forest light and long-lens fieldcraft.
All meals & overnight: Kabini River Lodge.
NAGARHOLE / KABINI → MUDUMALAI
After breakfast, drive approximately 85 km to Mudumalai National Park and Tiger Reserve.
The afternoon includes a jeep safari with a naturalist, combining mammal photography with birding opportunities.
Possible birding targets include White-rumped Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Indian Vulture, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, White-naped Woodpecker and Malabar Lark.
Dinner & overnight: The Nest Inn, Mudumalai.
EXPLORE MUDUMALAI
Morning coffee or tea at approximately 06:15 hrs, followed by a morning jeep safari.
Return for breakfast around 10:00 hrs.
After lunch, proceed for a second afternoon wildlife safari.
Between safaris, there may be opportunities for relaxed birding and photography around the lodge and surrounding habitat.
Dinner & overnight: The Nest Inn.
MUDUMALAI → OOTY
After breakfast, drive approximately 50 km to Ooty through the scenic Nilgiri Hills.
Visit tea plantations, meadows and the Botanical Gardens.
A relaxed birding session around the gardens provides opportunities to photograph hill birds and Nilgiri species, while the landscape offers excellent opportunities for environmental and landscape photography.
Dinner & overnight: Sullivans Court, Ooty.
OOTY → VALPARAI
After breakfast, drive approximately 240 km to Valparai.
Valparai offers an exceptional combination of rainforest, tea estates, shola patches, viewpoints, rivers and waterfalls.
Wildlife possibilities include Asian Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Dhole, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Pangolin and Civet.
Birding will focus on Western Ghats species including Rocket-tailed Drongo, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Black-headed Oriole and Green Pigeon.
Dinner & overnight: Mountain Terrain Resort, Valparai.
VALPARAI → MUNNAR
Spend several hours exploring the best forest areas around Valparai in search of the rare Lion-tailed Macaque.
Other possibilities include Nilgiri Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Gaur and Asian Elephant, alongside specialist forest birds.
In the afternoon, continue approximately 160 km to Munnar.
Late afternoon is free to explore on foot or enjoy a nature walk through the tea gardens.
Dinner & overnight: Windermere Estate, Munnar.
EXPLORE MUNNAR / ERAVIKULAM
Explore the high-altitude habitats around Munnar and Eravikulam.
Search for Western Ghats endemics including:
Grey-breasted Laughingthrush • Nilgiri Blue Flycatcher • Nilgiri Pipit • Nilgiri Wood Pigeon
Other possibilities include Bonelli’s Eagle, Black Eagle, Dusky Crag Martin, Pacific Swallow, Black Bulbul, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler and Oriental White-eye.
The area also supports an important population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
Photography will focus on endemic birds, Nilgiri Tahr portraits and dramatic shola-and-mountain landscapes.
Dinner & overnight: Windermere Estate.
MUNNAR → PERIYAR
After breakfast, drive approximately 85 km to Periyar.
Explore the Periyar landscape, with possibilities for Elephant, Gaur, Wild Pig, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Dhole and, very rarely, Tiger.
Birding opportunities include Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, Great Malabar Hornbill and Racket-tailed Drongo.
Later, visit a neighbouring spice plantation with an experienced naturalist.
Dinner & overnight: Spice Village, Thekkady.
EXPLORE PERIYAR
Start the day with a visit to Lake Periyar and a lake cruise.
The lake is surrounded by wooded hills, with ancient tree stumps rising from the water.
Elephant herds are among the most regular wildlife sightings, while birds may include Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, hornbills and drongos.
The day combines wildlife observation, bird photography and landscape photography.
Dinner & overnight: Spice Village.
PERIYAR → THATTEKKAD
After breakfast, drive approximately 110 km to Thattekkad with birding stops en route.
Thattekkad is one of the most important lowland birding areas of the Western Ghats.
Targets include White-bellied Treepie, Rufous Babbler, Crimson-backed Sunbird, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Wynaad Laughingthrush, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Red Spurfowl and Grey Junglefowl.
Owls may include Mottled Wood Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl and Spot-bellied Eagle Owl.
The Sri Lanka Frogmouth is a major target.
Dinner & overnight: Amritara Riverside, Thattekkad.
FULL DAY THATTEKKAD
Enjoy a full day of guided birding and trekking in the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and surrounding forest.
The primary objective will be to search patiently for specialist and endemic birds, with particular attention to the Sri Lanka Frogmouth.
Time will also be spent around the lodge and nearby habitats.
Later in the evening, undertake a dedicated night-birding session in search of owls and nightjars, subject to local conditions and permissions.
Dinner & overnight: Amritara Riverside.
THATTEKKAD → COCHIN AIRPORT
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Cochin Airport in time for your onward flight.
END OF THE EXPEDITION
Accommodation is planned at carefully selected properties throughout the expedition.
| Destination | Hotel | Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Royal Orchid Central | 1 |
| Mysore | Radisson | 1 |
| Kabini | Kabini River Lodge | 3 |
| Mudumalai | The Nest Inn | 2 |
| Ooty | Sullivans Court | 1 |
| Valparai | Mountain Terrain Resort | 1 |
| Munnar | Windermere Estate | 2 |
| Thekkady / Periyar | Spice Village | 2 |
| Thattekad | Amritara Riverside | 2 |
Experience Southern India through the eyes of a photographer.
This is a small-group expedition designed to maintain a personal photography experience, effective field coordination and quality time with the wildlife and birding habitats.
This expedition has been created as a birding, wildlife and photography experience—not simply a sightseeing tour.
Participants will receive practical field guidance throughout the journey on:
Composition • Exposure • Autofocus • Shutter Speed • Long-lens Technique • Bird-in-Flight Photography • Behavioural Photography • Low-Light Photography • Environmental Portraits • Ethical Wildlife Photography
The programme provides dedicated opportunities to search for Western Ghats endemics, specialist birds, raptors, waterbirds, forest birds and nocturnal species, while retaining strong opportunities for elephants, gaur, deer, wild dogs, primates and, with luck, big cats.
