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Calicut -> Wayanad -> River Nila -> Silent Valley -> Chimmony Wildlife -> Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary -> Munnar -> Chinnar Wildlife -> Periyar Wildlife -> Vallakkadavu Camping -> Cochin Activities
Rainforest trekking, Waterfall trails, Bamboo Rafting, Jungle Patrol at night, Wilderness Camping, Bird watching, Wildlife spotting. Safari and Butterfly watching. About the itinerary
The rainforests of Kerala, punctuated by various streams, brooks and rivers, make an ideal habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The trip covers tropical evergreen forests, semi evergreen forests, moist deciduous grass lands, shola, high rolling plateaus, dry thorny scrubs, ravines, rugged peaks and rain shadow regions.
Various accommodation option ranging from home stay, heritage resorts, hotels and wilderness camping are offered. The days spent in Cochin, Alleppey the guests have free time to explore around.
We offer a range of activities as a way of experiencing the wilderness - including rainforest trekking, waterfall trails, bamboo rafting, Thoni Cruise, Night time Jungle Patrol, wilderness camping, bird watching, wildlife spotting, safari and butterfly watching. Whilst most of the day is spent in the forest and its fringe areas, we have taken care to make sure that guests are not denied any level of comfort in terms of accommodation. This ranges from Plantation accommodations, riverside resorts, wilderness camps, jungle lodges, tree houses and eco lodges.
Itinerary:
Day 1 Calicut - Wayanad:
Arrival at Calicut, meet our representative outside the airport terminal and transfer to Wayanad by road (3 hours). Lunch at the hotel and relaxation. Afternoon visit Edakkal caves: Listen to the heritage of Wayanad and see the pre historic sites that unveil the mystery of the land called Wayanad. Back to the hotel in the evening and overnight in Wayanad.
Day 2 Wayanad:
Leave for Wildlife Safari in Muthanga wildlife sanctuary after early breakfast: 24 kilometer safari through the sanctuary. You could see Asiatic Elephants, Bears, Wild gaurs, Spotted and Sambar deers and even a leopard. Lunch at a local house hold/Uravu. Spice Tour, Tea estate and waterfall visit in the afternoon. Visit plantations enroute to waterfall areas exploring spices of all kinds grown in Wayanad. Trek down through the rainforest and to explore the waterfalls and back to the hotel by evening. Overnight in Wayanad.
Day 3 Wayanad - River Nila:
Early morning trek to Chembra Peak through shola grass lands. The grassy hill offers panoramic views during sunrise. Moderate trekking for a total of four hours at an average pace. We have spotted wild life during our early morning treks. Back to the resort for Lunch. After noon transfer to Nila (4 hours drive). Rest and for the day. Overnight in a riverside hotel / Farm house
Day 4 River Nila - Silent Valley:
After breakfast transfer in Silent Valley Jungle camp (3 hrs). Overnight in the Jungle lodge.
Day 5 Silent Valley:
Jeep Safari to Sairandri Forest Camp. Silent valley has one of the largest viable breeding populations of Lion Tailed Macaques; a true arboreal monkey which is highly endangered and a good population for birds and butterflies and orchids. Rain forest trek to Kunti puzha. Overnight in jungle lodge.
Day 6 Silent Valley - Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary.
Drive to Chimmony 3.5hrs drive. Trek through the wilderness of Chimmony to the campsite. Light trekking with our naturalist to explore the wilderness and forest area comprise of Tropical Evergreen forest and deciduous forest. Rainforest Camping at night.
Day 7 Chimmony - Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary:
Drive 2 hrs to Thattekkad. Birding and butterfly watching ornithologist have identified more than 253 species of birds in Thattekkad sanctuary area, that spread over an extend of 25.16 sq km, overnight in the forest Camp
Day 8 Thattekkad - Munnar:
Drive to Munnar 3hrs drive. Munnar hill stations lie is known for vast acres of tea plantations and misty cool climate. Overnight in a Farm house/ Resort.
Day 9 Munnar - Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary :
Drive to Chinnar -2hrs drive. Trek to Vysapara Hills. Excellent site for spotting wildlife. Overnight in a Jungle hut.
Day 10 Chinnar Wild life sanctuary:
Trekking and River trail. Overnight in tree house .Its dry deciduous forests makes it easier to view the wildlife. Undulating terrain with rocky patches increase the scenic splendor of the sanctuary. The forest type comprise thorny scrub forests, dry deciduous forests, high altitude sholas and wet mundane grasslands make this forest area a good wild life area to spot the wild life.
Day 11 Periyar:
Drive to Periyar 5.5 hrs drive. Evening: Night Patrol: 3hrs trek into Jungle with naturalist and torches..Return to Hotel by 10pm. Overnight in Periyar.
Day 12 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
Nature trek and bamboo Rafting. Sixty three species of mammals have been recorded from this biggest protected sanctuary area of Kerala. The checklist of birds has 323 species. All the Western Ghats endemics except the Nilgiri laughing thrush are found here. Out of the 119 species of butterflies recorded, 20 are Western ghat are endemic. Overnight in Periyar.
Day 13 Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary- Vallakkadavu Camping:
After breakfast transfer to Vallakkadavu camp site (2 hours). Short trek around the camp and overnight tented camping.
Day 14 Vallakkadavu Camp - Cochin Aiport
Transfer to Cochin airport. Approx 4hrs drive
How this particular trip makes a difference to the local community / environment :
One of the most unique programmess in Eco Tourism in India - this holiday supports mainly those people who live on the fringes of the forest as trackers, guides and interpreters. Due to several "social re-engineering" and political decisions, many of the tribal people have been forced to leave the forest and are no longer associated with its day to day activities. This particular trip focuses on their role as care takers of forest, its resources and wildlife and by doing so also assures them a decent livelihood with dignity. Sustainable income through responsible tourism ensures increasing interest amongst local community members, which in turn supports conservation of wildlife and forest resources.
Poaching, forest fires and illicit liquor brewing in forest areas have been reported by our assistants and trackers. These have been successfully handled by the authorities with support from VSS (Forest Protection Committee) and EDCs (Eco Development Committee). Except in the rare case of communication problems in terms of naturalist's interpretation, all the associates in this program are locals. The now famous 'Periyar Model' have successfully rehabilitated several former poachers as protectors. The majority of the accommodation used in this itinerary is operated by local community members belonging to the Eco Development Committees (EDCs) and supported by our team of naturalists and professionals. The benefits are transferred directly to the community members and not simple tokenistic. |
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