8 independent reviews for Kerala birdwatching holidays, Western Ghats
Reviews for Kerala birdwatching holidays, Western Ghats
Dominic Pia review 2 Dec 2025
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Walking in the magnificent Periyar forest and finding Tiger pad prints.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring some warm clothing for the higher altitude birding at Ooty3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
My holiday certainly did benefit local people and supported conservation. I don't think that it reduced environmental impacts.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The holiday was fantastic and exceeded expectations. My guide Joji was brilliant.GAVIN HENDERSON review 21 Nov 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Western Ghats.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The Indian Government doesn't want you to go to India. You have to fill in a lengthy Visa form and you can't get rupees outside India or take them out of India.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. Mainly the hotels although we went to several nature reserves.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
All good. Excellent bird guide.John Sullivan review 20 Feb 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Cultural connections2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be flexible3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, no, no4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very satisfyingAnne Romans review 20 Dec 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
India is a feast for the senses. Amazing colours, amazing scenery, I loved the birds the people and the food. I saw many endemics and my guide Joji had such good knowledge of the environment and could spot birds I did not have a hope of seeing. I was also impressed with his driving skills. All the hotels were comfortable, clean and the staff very welcoming.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a loo roll - they are very small in India. Waterproof boots and wear the leech socks.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes I hope so - definitely all the guides were local people, some tribal which was important to me. Also the use of glass bottles for water in the hotels was such a good idea - it should be copied all over the world!4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
ExcellentKaren Bennett review 16 Feb 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
This was truly a trip of a lifetime, the number of ecosystems we ventured into, the variety of bird life and the healthy forests all added to a unique experience. The Western Ghats hosts incredible biodiversity. The tour operator staff were super accommodating, organizing a trip with less than 3 weeks notice. Joji, my driver and guide, made sure I was able to see every bird and appreciate its presence. He went above and beyond expectations by taking me through jungle trails at night to seek out the civet cat. In 6 days I saw 137 bird species and 10 mammals.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You just can't experience the biodiversity of the Western Ghats without an experienced guide. Joji was an amazing guide.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I loved that even though I had a guide with the tour operator, they sought out local guides in Munnar, Periya, and Alleppey to ensure a local flavor and share local knowledge of the environment. It also spread the wealth throughout the community. The accommodations were all small, locally owned, and lovely as well.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic experience. I will use this company for adventures in the future for sure.Roger Greeff review 20 Feb 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Fantastic birding at Chinnar. Hornbill Camp at Thattekhad is an amazing place beside the river with local walking2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you want a wider focus than birding to your holiday (wildlife more generally, local culture) get it written into your itinerary very clearly, and ask for a guide who will offer these aspects3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Hornbill Camp definitely. Workers are from the local village.Kalypso use small hotels4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A great birding trip, staying at some great small accommodations in beautiful settings. Not as much general wildlife and contact with local people as we had hopedChristopher Smith review 12 Dec 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Too many! Walking through tea plantation at Munnar, beautiful forest walks near Periyar, evening kayaking in lagoon near Hornbill Camp, exceptional food and service at Periyar River Lodge, close up views of Trogons, walking close to wild elephants in the jungle, the sheer beauty of the Western Ghats and the small quiet roads used by our guide between Munnar and Periyar and later from Periyar to Hornbill Camp. We also enjoyed our end of tour kayaking in the Backwaters, though had expected more time in the small canals rather than the wide waterways ( though I suspect that there are simply not enough navigeable small canals).2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Some may consider Indian driving exhilarating, others may find it alarming. If you belong to the latter category, tell your driver at the airport that you suffer from car sickness. This will ensure a more leisurely drive; not only will you travel more comfortably, you will also have more time to appreciate the surroundings. In Kerala many hotels and homestays do not have an alcohol license. If you enjoy a beer at the end of the day, ask your guide to but in some stock so as to avoid disappointment. Read up on the byzantine tipping rules before you go; tipping was the most annoying part of the holiday and unfortunately the guides refused to give any advice as to whom to tip and how much. We stayed at different categories and the rules never seemed to be the same.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Everyone involved was local, so to that extent yes. I have no way of passing judgment on environmental impacts.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The organisation of the holiday was fantastically efficient. Thomas at Head Office responded very rapidly to all emails, and the various transfers and handovers took place perfectly, with no waiting time. Thomas must be a superb Manager to achieve such efficiency. The 3 guides used were charming and friendly. Peter was an excellent and enthusiastic bird guide who went out of his way to ensure that we saw as many species as possible. We were really surprised at the geography of inland Kerala: so green, such stunningly beautiful landscapes, so many rivers and waterfalls. The tea plantations are photogenic in a very special way: so impossibly green in the sun. Walking in the forests near Periyar was like being in heaven: in the shade, beautiful birds, no other people around and with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. All the local people that we met were so genuinely friendly that I rather felt that they put western Civilisation to shame!!Christopher Wyeth review 29 Nov 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Having experienced Northern India we were amazed at how different Kerala was. So much greener and less busy. The holiday could not have gone any smoother and our thanks to Thomas for recommending the wonderful Graman Homestay for a break before our bird watching trip began. We more or less just sat in the garden and relaxed whilst Jos and his wife looked after us and gave us some wonderful food. Different Kerala dishes every day. Our bird guide Peter was so friendly and knowledgable and not to mention a great driver. We saw a total of more than bird 170 species and several mammals. Peter not only was a great bird guide but also told us lots about Keralan culture and history including a visit to a tea museum in Munnar. After the bird tour we stayed for three nights at the Organic Farm of Dewakolam. This was also a great palce to stay, the food was all sourced from the farm and we had tours of a rubber plantation, village, and waterfall which were all included. Finally we went on an overnight houseboat trip from Aleppy which was very relaxing. The crew gave us very nice food and took us on a walk when we moored for the night. As the boat tour finished at 9am and our flight was not until the evening, Peter arranged for us to stay in an airport hotel for the afternoon. It is touches like this that make a holiday.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If possible do as we did and spend some time before and after the bird watching tour in a homestay or small hotel. Gramam and Dewakolam.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We always try to book our holidays with local companies.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic and exceeded expectations.Holiday Reviews
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