Butterfly Tour of Kerala

After breakfast, drive to Thattekkad - This area is a butterfly country and one should sight such species as Malabar Rose (Pachliopta pandiyana), Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor), Paris Peacock (Papilio paris), Malabar Raven (Papilio dravidarum), Clipper (Parthenos Sylvia), Gladeye Bush brown (Mycalesis patnia), Tamil Catseye (Zipoetis saitis), White bar Bushbrown (Mycalesis anaxias) and the Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus). On arrival at Thattekkad, check-in at the hotel and enjoy an Overnight stay.

Morning is free for watching butterflies. In the afternoon, take a drive to Munnar (120 Kms), the tea town of India. Also, we will visit to Rajamalai to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. This place is also home to several endemic bird and butterfly species. Birds like the Black winged Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Painted Bush quail, Rufous-backed Shrike, Grey headed Myna etc. are seen as well as butterflies like Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon), Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), Indian Cabbage White (Artogeia candida), Nilgiri Tiger (Parantica nilgiriensis), Red Helen (Papilio helenus), Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon), Giant Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe), Red Disk Bushbrown (Mycalesis oculus), Palni Four Ring (Ypthima ypthimoides). An overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast go for excursion to Chinnar, (60 kms), the dry deciduous forest sanctuary in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats. This sanctuary has large bird and butterfly population. You should see the rare Grizzled Giant Squirrel or the Star Tortoise, endemic to this region. Also, you should see birds such as the Common Peafowl, Grey Partridge, White-bellied Drongo, Indian black Robin, Green-billed Malkoha, Redwinged Crested Cuckoo etc. and butterflies like Yellow Pansy, Blue Pansy, Great Eggfly. Further, you should see Travancore Evening Brown (Parantirrhoea marshalli), Five-bar Swordtail (Pathysa antiphates), Southern Duffer (Discophora lepida), Cruise (Vindula erota), Tamil Lacewing (Cethosia nietneri) Malabar Banded Swallowtail (Papilio liomedon). In the evening return to Munnar and enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast leave for Periyar in the morning (4 hours) and transfer to hotel on arrival. You may opt for a pleasant boat ride along the Periyar Lake in the evening. Enjoy watching varied birds and animals like tigers, elephants, wild boar, deer, etc. at the Periyar / Thekkady National Park. You can also visit a few tribal villages around Periyar and witness fascinating activities of tribals collecting honey from dangerous hill bees. Evening transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Early morning butterfly watching trip alongside the banks of the lakes & streams, which are abound here. Short treks into the forest should yield very rewarding butterfly sightings. In the evening, get back to the hotel for an Overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Cochin. On arrival at cochin drop you at airport to connect flight for onward destination.

End of the Tour: -