One of the world’s biggest biodiversity hotspot, Shikhar’s ‘Jungle Trails of South India’ showcases the best of wildlife in India. This two-week jungle trail encompasses several National Parks and Sanctuaries renowned and envied for their prized wildlife possessions. Nature walks in forest, riding feeding and bathing Elephant, visiting spice plantations, trekking, riding and boating, and not to forget drifting leisurely overnight in the traditional Kettuvallom (Houseboat) in Kerala’s famous backwaters, are a few other experiences that you live on the trail. Nagarhole’s numerous grassy swamps, Bandipur, a renowned Project Tiger Reserve, Madumalai, South India’s first wildlife sanctuary in the picturesque Western Ghats (A UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site), Ervikulam, Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the finest and largest Wildlife Reserve in India, not only offer rich flora and biodiversity but are famous for their prized encounter of Tiger, leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Asian Elephant, four-horned Antelop, the endangered Nilgiri Tahr and hundreds of other different species of flora and fauna.
Arrive Bangalore by flight and from where our representative will transfer you to hotel.Welcome to India! After immigration and custom formalities at the airport, we are warmly greeted by our local host in traditional Indian way and are transferred to our Hotel.Overnight in Bangalore.
The morning transfer from Bangalore to Nagarhole National Park ( Approx. 220 Kms/ 5 hrs drive).Upon arrival check in at hotel.In the afternoon you go on your first vehicle safari returning at around sunset.Overnight in Nagarhole.
Morning and afternoon explore the park with vehicle safaris. The Nagarahole National Park is the best place for you to exactly know where the wild truly reside. A visit to the park can be an amazing experience, one that you won’t forget for a long time in your life.Due to high levels of rainfall in this region, the park consists of numerous open grassy swamps lined with teak and eucalyptus. Wildlife varieties are numerous in number. Some of the common predators that can be seen include tigers, leopards, sloth bears and wild dogs. Spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, four-horned antelopes, wild boars and elephants constitute the herbivores.Elephants in particular are seen the most, and they can be spotted enjoying their natural habitat at its best.Other mammals present include the common langur, Bonnet macaques, jungle cats, slender Loris, leopards, civet cats, mongoose, common otters, giant flying squirrels, giant squirrels, porcupines, jackals, mouse-deer, hares and pangolins. The park also has a wide variety of birds and amphibians.Overnight in Nagarhole.
After a morning vehicle safari in Nagarhole drive to Bandipur National Park (Approx. 125 Kms/ 3 hrs drive). Bandipur is a well known as one of the Project Tiger Reserves established in the mid-1970s. It is a great conservation area and hosts a good population of Asian elephants.Afternoon explore Bandipur National Park.Overnight in Bandipur.
Morning proceed to Madumalai National Park ( Appprox. 25 Kms/ 45 minutes drive) to explore the wildlife in the park. Madumalai wildlife sanctuary has the distinction of being the first wildlife sanctuary to be created in South India in 1940. This gently undulating hilly terrain of the Western Ghats lies on Tamil Nadu’s interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala. Strategically located near Bandipur National Park, Waynad Sanctuary and the Sigur and Singara reserve forests, it also comes under the proposed Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Moyar river, the most important source of water in the sanctuary, separates Madumalai from adjoining Bandipur, with similar flora and fauna.Afternoon Jeep safari in Bandipur National Park.Overnight in Bandipur.
After your last vehicle safari in Bandipur you head off to Pollachi (Approx. 180 Kms/ 4 hrs drive).Upon arrival check in at Shenbaga Vilaasam.Shenbaga Vilaasam is a very special place to stay & in a perfect rural location. The building is a historical gem presented to a very high standard, & wonderfully comfortable. The place awes you as you walk in. The setting is also very nice - surrounded by coconut farms. The property is the summer residence of a once "royal" family - it is an elegant, one-storey complex.Overnight in Pollachi.
Late morning drive to Munnar (Approx. 120 Kms/ 3 ½ hrs drive).Munnar - A haven of peace and tranquility! This picturesque scope of the lofty Western Ghats first came into prominence as a favorite summer resort of the British government. The town of stands at the confluence of three mountain streams. Enjoy trekking, boating, riding, angling or just laze about and fill your soul with peaceAt an altitude of 1,524 metres and close to Anamudi, the highest peak in southern India, the cool climate of Munnar provides a welcome relief from the heat of the plains.Overnight in Munnar.
Enjoy the day by visiting the stunning Eravikulam National Park on foot. The reserve is well-known for protecting its endangered Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat.Eravikulam National Park is 97 sq. km. in extent, situated along the crest of the Western Ghats in the High Ranges of Idukki district of Kerala state, India. The Park holds the largest viable population of the endangered (IUCN) Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius). Apart from tahr, the Park is the abode of other little known fauna such as Nilgiri marten, ruddy mongoose,small clawed otter,dusky striped sqirrel etc.Overnight in Munnar.
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to visit tea plantation and tea museum.Munnar is perhaps the choicest of places to preserve and showcase some of the exquisite and interesting aspects on the genesis and growth of tea plantations in Kerala's high ranges. With special emphasis to Munnar, and to the delight of tea lovers and tourists, Tata Tea opened a Tea Museum which houses curious, photographs and machineries, each depicting a turning point that contributed to a flourishing tea industry, as seen today in the region.Timings: 0900 to 1600 hrs. The museum is closed on Monday. Good Friday is also a holiday for museum.There after drive to Periyar ( Approx. 120 Kms/ 4 hrs drive). Upon arrival check in at hotel.Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Cardamom Hills and provides convenient access to the park. Magical land of spices and wildlife! Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, is one of finest and largest wildlife reserves in India. The Indian elephant comes in herds to frolic in the lake’s waters.The road winds through a picturesque countryside with plantations of tea, cardamom, pepper, cloves and cinnamon.Overnight in Periyar.
Early morning proceed for nature walks in the forest as it comes to life with the calls of birds and monkeys.Then visit through one of the spice plantations, a highly educational and enjoyable experience seeing how crops such as pepper and nutmeg are grown and harvested. As you take a walk along the streets of Kumily or the winding pathways among the plantations, the thing that strikes you first is the lingering aroma in the air. The scent may be of cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon or cardamom and sometimes a fragrance that combines the scents of two or more spices. The geographical and climatic peculiarities of Kumily such as the cool climate and its elevation from the sea level make it ideal for spice cultivation.Afternoon half day with elephant with the below activities:Two hour elephant ride.Elephant Bath and shower.Elephant feeding and Photo session.Timber Dragging and Tea or Coffee.Plantation study, cardamom processing factory visit.Overnight in Periyar.
Morning proceed for full day Jeep Safari which start at 0530 hrs and ends at 1740 hrs.Jungle Jeep Safaris are exciting way to drive into vegetation, ravines, gorges and valleys, amidst the mottled sunlight. Beginning with the reserve area, it will take you along Kumaon foothills by the way of pug marks, hoofs and scratches, a bed of dry leaves and water holes.While there are chances of getting lost in the wild jungle aura, do not forget to carry a pair of binoculats and camera hanging around your neck as you might spot pack of wilds, quiver of serpents, and herd of elephants.Overnight in Periyar.
Morning proceed for boat ride on Lake Periyar.Thekkady is famous for the wildlife sanctuary located here. There is boating facility at Thekkady where the boat will take you around the Wildlife Sanctuary through the Periyar Lake. One can see wild animals during this boat ride but need to be very quiet.Then proceed to Kumarakom (Approx. 122 Kms/ 4 hrs drive).Upon arrival check in at hotel.Afternoon explore the Kumarakom Bird sanctuary by boat and on foot.Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake which covers an area of 14 acres on the southern banks of Kavanar River in Kerala. Previously Kumarakom is famously called as Baker’s Estate heron and teal. It inherits many colourful birds variety in this park. It is one of the best bird sanctuaries in India held by the Englishman. It is a heavenly place for the travelling birds like Siberian stork, egret, darter.Overnight in Kumarakom.
After breakfast at the hotel drive to Alleppey (Approx. 35 Kms/ 45 hrs drive) and embark Canoe for the real back water trip.The tour starts at 0600 hr and ends at 1100 hrs.To enjoy the wide varieties of sceneries and freshness of narrow canals take a canoe trip. This trip will explain every eye of the narrow canals in the backwater. While cruising through these canals in a canoe boat you would come across many interesting aspects of day to day life in the land as well as on water. You can see the flourishing paddy field, coconut lagoons & isolated islands. You can also enjoy the lifestyles of the villagers while walking through the paddy fields.There after embark on Houseboat for an overnight.Cruising Kerala’s backwaters in a traditional ‘Kettuvallom’ (boats made by tying together wooden planks with coconut ropes) is a distinctly unique experience!.These traditional wooden craft, originally used to transport rice along Kerala’s lush green backwaters, have found a new lease of life quietly exploring timeless scenes of palms and paddies, temples and villages. Boats have either one or two fan-cooled bedrooms with attached shower rooms. The sides are open allowing the breeze to flow freely. Your private crew steer the boat, cook lavish local meals and keep you in tea and cold drinks.As you drift along the backwaters, you can see the local villagers fishing and washing clothes in the canals, as small boys swim alongside the boats shouting ‘Hello’ and ‘Which country?’. Birdlife is plentiful: stork and egret are often spotted. Even a day on a rice boat is a unique and unforgettable experience, but staying overnight, on a boat gives the chance to experience dusk and dawn on the still, reflective waters.Overnight on Houseboat.
Disembark from Houseboat and drive to Cochin airport (Approx. 75 Kms/ 1 ½ hrs drive) to board flight back home.
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For the services contracted, 40 % advance payment should be made to hold the booking on a confirmed basis and the balance amount should be paid before commencement of your tour. We hold the right to decide upon the amount to be paid as an advance payment, based on the nature of services and the time left for the commencement of the services.
Payment can be made by Bank Transfer, Cash payment to our office or by Demand Draft / Cheque. All payments should be free and clear of any withholding tax and deduction. Bank charges, if any, for remittance (by remitting bank or by intermediary bank) would be strictly borne by payer.
Tour once commenced will strictly go as per the itinerary finalised. In case of events and circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to change all or parts of the contents of the itinerary for safety and well being of our esteemed passengers.
In case of cancellation of tour/travel services due to any avoidable/unavoidable reason/s we must be informed in writing. Cancellation charges would be effective from the date we receive letter in writing and cancellation charges would be as follows:
Please note – Irrespective of above mentioned cancellations slabs – in case of cancellation of tour services after the booking is made with us – a minimum 10% service charges would be applicable.
In case you cancel the trip after commencement refund would be restricted to a limited amount that too would depend on the amount that we would be able to recover from the hoteliers we patronize. For unused hotel accommodation, chartered transportation and missed meals etc. we do not bear any responsibility to refund.
Where as in case of Cancellation before the commencement, it will take atleast two weeks time to refund the said amount.
Please note that after the finalization of the tour/service cost, if there are any hikes in entrance fees of monuments/museums, taxes, fuel cost or guide charges by the Govt. of India, the same would be charged as extra.
Mountain Adventure Tours & Travels act only in the capacity of agent for the hotels, airlines, transporters, railways & contractors providing other services & all exchange orders, receipts, contracts & tickets issued by us are issued subject to terms & conditions under which these services are provided by them.
All itineraries are sample itineraries, intended to give you a general idea of the likely trip schedule. Numerous factors such as weather, road conditions, the physical ability of the participants etc. may dictate itinerary changes either before the tour or while on the trail. We reserve the right to change any schedule in the interest of the trip participants’ safety, comfort & general well being.
Our rates are based on the prevailing rates as negotiated by us with the hotels, airlines etc. Hotels and Airlines retain the right to modify the rates without notice. In case of such changes the rates quoted before the modification, can be changed by us according to the modifications by hotels or airlines. All hotel bookings are based on usual check in and checkout time of the hotels until unless indicated in the itinerary.
We shall not be responsible for any delays & alterations in the programme or expenses incurred – directly or indirectly – due to natural hazards, flight cancellations, accident, breakdown of machinery or equipments, breakdown of transport, weather, sickness, landslides, political closures or any untoward incidents.
We shall not be responsible for any loss, injury or damage to person, property, or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation or other services, resulting – directly or indirectly – from any act of GOD, dangers, fire, accident, breakdown in machinery or equipment, breakdown of transport, wars, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferages, epidemics, medical or custom department regulations, defaults, or any other causes beyond our control.
We do not have any insurance policy covering the expenses for accident, sickness, loss due to theft, or any other reasons. Visitors are advised to seek such insurance arrangements in their home country. All baggage & personal property/s at all times are at the client’s risk.
To travel to India from overseas countries except for the citizen of Nepal & Bhutan, one needs a 06 months valid passport and a valid Visa. And processing of Passport and Visa are not included in the tour cost.
Any person who has a contagious disease is forbidden to travel, any person found during the tour with such a disease will be asked to leave the tour and will have to make their own arrangements to return home.
