Dates & Prices |
BOOK NOW |
Dates: 6th – 18th November 2026
Price: £3,995 places available
Single Room Supplement: £none
Deposit: £500 per person
Price Includes: Accommodation, all meals, ground transport, services of guides, holiday report
Not Included: International & internal flights, travel insurance, drinks and any other personal items
Conservation Donation: Butterfly Conservation Europe
Leader(s): Dr Simon Spencer + expert local guide
Group Size: Minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 guests plus 2 leaders
Grade: Slow paced and relatively easy walks, some in hilly terrain
Holiday Highlights
- An exploration of the wildlife rich South Western Ghats, for a fine array of butterflies
- The perfect winter escape from northern Europe – sunshine, relaxation and wildlife all in one!
- Led by expert Lepidopterist Dr Simon Spencer, alongside an expert local lepidopterist guide
- Highlights/target species include Malabar Banded Peacock, Southern Birdwing. Malabar Tree Nymph, Palni Fritillary, Paris Peacock, Blue Tiger, Five-bar Swordtail, Nilgiri Tahr and many more!
- Visit to Periyar Tiger Reserve – butterflies but also larger wildlife such as Asian Elephant, Sloth Bear, charismatic Lion-tailed Macaque, and of course chance of Tiger!
- Relaxed pace ideally suited to photography & full enjoyment of the wildlife & scenery
- Contribute to conservation with a donation from every tour!
Explore Kerala in the South Western Ghats of Goa for its bounty of butterflies with Dr Simon Spencer!
Holiday Guide
Dr Simon Spencer was trained as an entomologist and has worked on the conservation of butterflies in Wales and Shropshire for 25 years having been interested in butterflies all his life. He has led many informal trips to Europe to see butterflies and was the chairman of Butterfly Conservation’s European Butterflies Group (EBG) for many years. He is a part time farmer and is particularly interested in the effect of changes in grazing on butterflies.
He and his wife have travelled extensively in Europe in a camper van looking for butterflies and occasionally filming them. He has been part of several collaborative projects in Europe where UK butterfly people work with local butterfly enthusiasts to survey and monitor butterflies.
This immersive natural history tour explores the Southern Western Ghats of India, one of the world’s great biodiversity hotspots and a region of extraordinary endemism. Running parallel to India’s western coast, the Western Ghats are an ancient chain of hills whose forests, grasslands and wetlands support an astonishing array of life found nowhere else on Earth. Our journey focuses on the butterfly diversity of Kerala, particularly its many endemic and near-endemic species, while also embracing the wider wildlife, landscapes and cultural richness of the region. The tour begins with an overnight flight from London to Kochi, followed by a relaxed transfer to Thattekkad. Nestled along the Periyar River, Thattekkad Wildlife Sanctuary—also known as the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary—is famed for its biological richness. Described by Salim Ali in the 1930s as the finest bird habitat in peninsular India, the remaining forest fragments still offer a vivid insight into Kerala’s original lowland evergreen forests. Over two full days we explore forest edges, wetlands and riverine habitats, as well as nearby butterfly-rich sites such as the Idamalayar Dam and Bhoothathankettu. An excursion to Urulan Thani, a precious evergreen forest patch, provides excellent chances to encounter Western Ghats endemics including Paris Peacock, Five-bar Swordtail, Malabar Banded Swallowtail and Malabar Rose, alongside a wide supporting cast of colourful species. Continuing south, we journey into the Cardamom Hills and ascend into the misty landscapes of Periyar Tiger Reserve. This vast and scenic protected area is renowned for its forested hills, grasslands and tranquil waterways. Over three nights, we explore Periyar both on foot and by boat, the latter offering superb opportunities to observe large mammals such as Asian Elephant along the lake shores. While the reserve is famous for its Tigers, it also shelters Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur and the charismatic Lion-tailed Macaque. Butterfly diversity here is equally impressive, with species such as Tamil Catseye, Glad-eye Bush Brown and Clipper, while birdlife includes southern specialties like Malabar Trogon and Malabar Grey Hornbill. From Periyar we travel to Munnar, a former British hill station set at around 1,500 metres above sea level and surrounded by rolling tea plantations. Nearby Eravikulam National Park protects high-altitude grasslands and shola forests, and is globally important for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. A full day here is devoted to searching for high-elevation endemic butterflies, including Red-disc Bushbrown, White Hedge Blue, Palni Fritillary and Palni Four-ring. A dramatic shift in scenery follows as we descend into the rain-shadow landscape of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Its dry deciduous and thorn scrub forests host a distinct butterfly assemblage, including dryland species such as Crimson Tip and endemics like Nilgiri Tiger, providing a striking contrast to the lush forests visited earlier. The final phase of the tour brings us to Kerala’s famed backwaters at Kumarakom, on the shores of Lake Vembanad. Here, butterfly watching continues around our lakeside resort, with highlights including the spectacular Southern Birdwing and Blue Mormon. The journey culminates in a full day and night aboard a traditional houseboat, drifting through palm-lined canals and villages. This tranquil finale offers a chance to absorb Kerala’s rhythms of life, savour local cuisine and reflect on an exceptional exploration of one of Asia’s richest natural regions, before returning to Kochi for the onward journey home We hope to welcome you on this exclusive & unique trip! 
Day 1
Depart London arriving in Kochi (formerly Cochin) and travel to Thattekkad and relax
Day 2 & 3
We explore the Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in honour of the pre-eminent Indian birder, is located two hours’ drive from the port city of Kochi, near Kothamanagalam, on the northern bank of the Periyar River. The Sanctuary was established in 1983, based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. He described Thattekad in the 1930’s as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. Much of the forest has now been converted to agricultural and plantation areas, but the surviving areas certainly give glimpses of the rich diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala.
We will spend two full days here, devoting the mornings to explore various habitats on the periphery of the sanctuary. We will also be making excursions from Thattekad to Idamalayar Dam & Bhoothathankettu two dams with short distances from our lodge. These areas are very good for butterflies and dragonflies.
We will also be visiting Urulan Thani an Evergreen patch of forest & good for Endemic Butterflies. Some of the speicies that we are likely to encounter are Paris Peacock, Five Bar Swordtail, Malabar Banded Swallowtail, Malabar Rose, Angled Pierrot, Blue Bottle, Common Jay, Commander
Day 4, 5 & 6
Butterflying in Thattekkad in the morning and travel to Periyar
We will drive on southwards to Periyar Tiger Reserve. We will travel from the lowlands before ascending into the Cardamom Hills to reach Periyar.
Periyar is one of the sixteen Project Tiger reserves in India, and one of the most picturesque and beautiful wildlife reserves in the world with its waterways, forests and grasslands.
Despite the destruction of much of the lowland forest within the Reserve as a result of the construction of a dam across the Periyar River in 1895, its 777 square kilometres provide a haven for a wide range of mammals, including Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Sloth bear, Leopard, Dhole, Nilgiri Langur and Lion-tailed Macaque as well as Butterflies like Tamil Catseye, Glad Eye Bush Brown, Clipper, Indian Awlking . The Reserve also has a rich and varied bird fauna and we will see several of the species found only in southern India and Sri Lanka, such as Malabar Trogon, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Small Sunbird etc.
We will spend three nights here, exploring the Reserve by boat and on foot. The boat journeys provide unrivalled opportunities for observing mammals, particularly Elephant, at close range. There is also a chance of Tiger sightings on boat journeys. A longer excursion, deep into the forests on foot with local tribal guides, will help to make this an intimate and unique experience.
Day 7
Safari on the Periyar Backwater and travel to Munnar
Today we travel to Munnar, a distance of around 40km, to an altitude of 1500m above msl. Munnar is a hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, it is surrounded by rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the late 19th century. One of the major attractions of this hill station is the Eravikulam National Park. World renowned for its endangered inhabitant, the Nilgiri Tahr, this sanctuary is spread across an area of 97 sq. Km.
Day 8
We spend the entire day exploring Munnar and the Eravikulam National Park for high altitude endemic species such as the Red-disc Bushbrown, White Hedge Blue, Palni Fritillary, Palni Four-ring etc
Day 9
Today we start early and travel to Chinar Wildlife Sanctuary, a two hour journey, into a different landscape. Chinar falls in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats, with tropical dry deciduous, thorny scrub forest that is home to dryland butterfly species such as the Crimson Tip in addition to endemics like Nilgiri Tiger
Day 10
Today we set off on a 4-hour journey to Kumarakom by the coast where we stay at a coastal resort. We wille be on the banks of the Lake Vembanad in the sleepy little town of Kumarakom in central Kerala. Situated at the heartland of Kerala’s famed backwaters, Kumarakom has changed little since the Middle Ages.
This afternoon we will explore the butterfllis around the resort we are staying in. There is a good populations of butterflies including the Southern Bird Wing (Largest Butterfly in India), Blue Mormon (Second Largest Butterfly in India), Common Jay, Blue Bottle.
Day 11
This is the day to relax and soak in coastal Kerala after a long and enduring wildlife explorations in the hills. We spend the entire day and overnight on a houseboat as it cruises along the backwaters. Houseboat cruises offer an immersive experience into the local way of life. Passengers can witness daily activities along the waterways, such as fishing, coir-making, and rice cultivation. Cruises typically include gourmet meals featuring local cuisine, and opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography.
This day would be the ideal culmination of the tour
Day 12
We check out and travel to the Cochin airport for onward journey.
Grading
A/B (easy to moderate). This is a standard wildlife-viewing tour with some strenuous walks at Periyar, Munnar and Thattekad due to the hilly terrain. Walks may include inclines, some steep and prolonged, plus some treks through the jungle, which can be rough underfoot.
Weather
The weather from November to March is relatively cool, by southern Indian standards, though it can be very warm during the day, when temperatures range between 28 and 30°Celsius. Temperatures at Munnar may go down to between 5 and 10°C in winter, and night-time temperatures are comfortable. Rain is unlikely but, if it occurs, can be heavy, though it does not usually last long. A folding umbrella is useful. Leeches can be a problem in the forests after rain, so leech socks are advisable. Biting insects are not especially bad, and malaria is rare in Kerala, though we still advise taking malaria prophylactics.
New tour – reviews to follow
New tour – reports to follow
