Thattekad and Munnar Bird Photography Workshop

Overview

Join us for a 3 nights and 4 days Bird Photography Expedition to Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, one of South India’s top birding hotspots, home to over 300 species including the Malabar Trogon, Ceylon Frogmouth, and Malabar Grey Hornbill. The tour also includes an overnight visit to Munnar to photograph rare highland and shola forest birds like the Nilgiri Flycatcher, making this one of the best bird photography tours in India.

DCP Experts

DCP Safety

Entry fees

Images Review

Meals

Post Event

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About The Tour

Join us for an exciting bird photography expedition in Kerala, exploring the world-famous Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary and the pristine evergreen forests of Edamalayar. Designed for passionate bird photographers and nature enthusiasts, this 3-night, 4-day journey takes you deep into some of South India’s most biodiverse habitats, offering unparalleled opportunities to photograph a spectacular variety of avian species, including many Western Ghats endemics and migratory visitors.

Located on the banks of the Periyar River, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary — also known as the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary — is Kerala’s first bird sanctuary and one of India’s richest birding hotspots. Its tropical evergreen and deciduous forests, interspersed with wetlands and grasslands, host over 300 species of birds. Winter visitors like the Indian Pitta spend months here, while species such as the Orange-headed Thrush, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Collared Scops Owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, and Grey-fronted Green Pigeon offer excellent photography opportunities amidst the scenic wilderness.

The expedition also includes birding sessions in the Edamalayar Forest, about 15 km from Thattekkad, a lush evergreen stretch above the Edamalayar River known for sightings of the Mountain Hawk Eagle, Dark-fronted Babbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, White-rumped Needletail, Emerald Green Pigeon, and the rare Black Baza (best seen from November to February). The combination of Thattekkad’s riverine habitats and Edamalayar’s hill forests provides a diverse range of landscapes and lighting conditions for incredible bird photography.

Target Species: Indian Pitta, Orange-headed Thrush, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Collared Scops Owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Dark-fronted Babbler, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, White-rumped Needletail, Emerald Green Pigeon, Black Baza, and many more Western Ghats endemics and migratory birds.

This expedition promises a perfect blend of tropical lowland and evergreen forest birding, making it one of the best bird photography tours in South India for capturing the extraordinary avian diversity of Kerala’s Western Ghats.

Quick Information

Route:

Kochi - Thattekad - Munnar - Kochi

Start Point:

Kochi airport

Duration:

3 nights 4 days

End Point:

Kochi airport

Inclusions

Bird photography at two locations - Thattekad and Munnar
Transport from Kochi airport to Thattekad and return
Internal transfer from Thattekad to Munnar
Accommodation and food (BLD) - as per itinerary
DCP Mentor for all 4 days
All guide fee
Night trail or walk
Sanctuary entry fee

Experts

Kane Lew

Masterclass Mentor And Head - Creative Photography

Kane Lew, one of the finest artists in the DCP panel of experts. He is an arts graduate from Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Arts, Mumbai, and is a commercial photographer. Kane is an experienced photographer and has travelled extensively across Indian geography for several years. He has brilliant photography skills and technical knowledge in all genres of photography with a special interest in wildlife photography. He is known for his innovations and his capability of giving shape to imaginations. He has a great teaching acumen. Apart from his love for art, sculpture and music, he is a skilled trainer, trekker and a biodiversity expert. He is a Masterclass Mentor in the panel and Head of Creative Photography Division, Team DCP.

Nearest airport is Kochi International Airport. Tour includes pick and drop from and to Kochi airport.

**We recommend Flexi flight option for greater flexibility in unforeseen cancellations.

Nearest railway station is at Aluva which is 47 kilometres away. It is the second largest station in Ernakulam and all trains going to South Kerala stop here.

There are regular buses and taxis available from all nearby cities like Kochi, Madurai, Alappuzha and Thrissur. Tour includes pick and drop from and to Kochi airport.

Getting Ready

Things to carry:

Camera- Any good DSLR / Mirrorless camera.
Lens – preferably 400 mm and above tele lens
Carry Bean bag to mount the lens
Please carry good sturdy tripod
Carry full charged batteries along with charger
Carry back up memory cards /HDD storages drives, Laptop
Carry warm clothes considering winter cold.
Carry odomos or any mosquito repellent lotions or creams to protect from bites.
Carry basic first aid and regular prescribed medications if any

Itinerary

Day 1

Pickup from Cochin International Airport in the morning and drive to the hotel near Thattekad bird sanctuary and freshen up with a cup of tea / coffee. We begin our day looking for woodpeckers, jungle fowls, munias and other Western Ghats endemic birds around the sanctuary until noon. Lunch is served by 1 pm followed by a quick brief by our local guide on the afternoon session. We start our next session by 3:00 PM at one of the bird hides in the Sanctuary. Spend the evening with the group, discussing the experience over a cup of tea/coffee, followed by dinner.

Day 2

Wakeup call at 5:30am. Enjoy your tea/coffee by 6.00am and start the day by 6:30am at the local hide (setup by the guide). We will be spending the day trekking through the forests for Frogmouths, Nightjars and Trogon along with host of native as well migrant species. The priority includes Grey Headed Bulbul, Jerdons Leaf Bird and Black Baza. We will be back at hotel by 12pm for lunch and brief break until 2:30 pm that will also provide an opportunity to charge up on batteries and empty storage cards.

The second half will spend our time photographing Western Ghats endemics like Flycatchers, Treepie’s, Barbets, Starlings, Pitta and Leaf birds at one of the hide.

Post refreshments we will spend time photographing mottled wood owl, Nightjars and elusive Slender Loris before retiring for the day.

Day 3

We start our day @ 5 am and after refreshments, we will drive to Munnar which is a 2 hour drive from Thattekad. We would be stopping occasionally to photograph birds on the way. Post breakfast we will start looking for Black & Orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon and Nilgiri flycatcher around Rajamala and Kanniamala Shola.

Post lunch we will visit Lockhart Gap area, the grasslands in the surrounding hills and Bodi Ghats for Yellow throated bulbuls, Indian Robin and Sirkeer & Blue-faced Malkohas until 5:30 PM post which we will drive back to Thattekad and retire for the day post dinner.

Day 4

We start our day 6 AM post tea & refreshments and head to a local hide in the vicinity of Thattekad bird sanctuary to photograph Malabar Parakeets, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo’s and Red Jungle fowls followed by a walk in the sanctuary looking for Frogmouth, Trogons and Black baza. Come back to the resort for breakfast. Our tour ends here. Bid adieu to our hosts and the sanctuary. Drop will be arranged till Cochin Airport for your flight back home.

Field Learnings

Key Learning Highlights

Mastering the use of bird hides to capture shy and elusive forest species
Framing birds in complex rainforest and shola backgrounds for visual impact
Predictive shooting: Understanding bird behavior to pre-visualize decisive moments
Exposure control in low-light forest conditions using ISO, aperture, and shutter speed
Selecting and managing autofocus settings for fast-flying species
Ethical practices in bird photography—minimizing disturbance in sensitive habitats
Composing images that balance natural elements like branches, light, and color
Shooting across diverse altitudes—adapting techniques from lowland rainforest to high-elevation grasslands
Use of fill light and ambient light control in forest interiors
Reviewing and critiquing images to improve composition, sharpness, and storytelling

What You Will Learn

During this immersive bird photography expedition across Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and the high-altitude forests of Munnar, participants will gain hands-on experience in photographing birds across vastly different habitats — from lowland rainforests to montane shola-grassland ecosystems. You’ll learn how to adapt to challenging light conditions under dense forest canopies, perfect your skills with long telephoto lenses, and understand the nuances of hide photography. The DCP mentor will guide you through visual storytelling techniques, bird behavior prediction, composition in cluttered environments, and best practices in ethical bird photography.

You’ll also explore how to handle real-time challenges like shooting fast-moving flycatchers in dim light, using manual and semi-automatic exposure modes effectively, and selecting the right autofocus settings for different situations. Post-session reviews will help you refine your images, and structured feedback will be provided to help elevate your photography from documentation to artistic expression.

Package Cost

Indian nationals:
Twin sharing: INR 38,000 per person inclusive of all taxes
Single occupancy: INR 45,500 per person inclusive of all taxes

Foreign nationals:
Twin sharing: US$ 585 per person inclusive of all taxes
Single occupancy: US$ 700 per person inclusive of all taxes

Gold members - Upto 5% off
Silver members - Upto 3% off

WhatsApp to ask for a payment link / QR code to pay.

Cost includes

Transport from Kochi airport to Thattekad location and return
Internal transfer from Thattekad to Munnar
Accommodation and food (BLD) - as per itinerary
DCP Panel Experts charges
All guide fee
Night trail or walk
Sanctuary entry fee

Cost does not include:

Camera-fee at sanctuaries.
Mineral Water, Soft Drinks, Laundry Charges, Phone Calls, Tips etc.
Any kind of insurance, Medical or/and Emergency Charges.
Any extra meals not included in the above itinerary.
Taxes

Map

Thattekkad

Policies

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations 30 days or more prior to departure – 20% cancellation fee.
Cancellations within 30 days of departure – non-refundable.

Disclaimer – Force Majeure

The organizer shall not be liable for any delay, change, cancellation, loss, or additional expenses caused by natural calamities, adverse weather, government restrictions, transport disruptions, or any other force majeure events beyond its control. Any itinerary changes made for participant safety shall be binding. Any additional costs arising from such circumstances shall be borne by the participants, and no refund or compensation shall be payable for affected or unused services.

FAQ's

Can I get a single occupany accomodation?

Yes. Please write to us on info@dcpexpeditions.com as it is subject to availability.

Design Your Custom Tour

Thattekad and Munnar - Bird Photography Expedition, Dec 2027

₹ 38,000₹ 42,000

₹38,000₹ 42,000