THE
MAGIC
OF
WAYANAD It's another level out here!

TOUR OVERVIEW

Dates: 26th to 28th July, 2024

Wayanad, the emerald paradise is nestled among the mountains of the Western Ghats. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotising, this land is filled with amazing wildlife, history and culture. This verdant hill station is full of plantations, forests and wildlife, and these hills connect to Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Bandipur and Nagarhole in Karnataka, thus forming a fantastic corridor for wildlife to travel between the amazing Nilgiri biosphere. These hills serve as the perfect location for our Rainforest Exploration & Macro Photography Tour. The region hosts a wide array of exciting and adventurous activities for avid naturalists, wildlife enthusiasts & macro photographers.

Situated at a high altitude and in an area which receives a high amount of rainfall, the environment around boasts a wide variety of life, especially with regards to numerous species of amphibians & reptiles, many being endemic to the area and found nowhere else on Earth.

There is an amazing diversity of amphibians found here with several species of colourful and very vocal bushfrogs, night frogs, cricket frogs, 2 species of gliding frogs, tree frogs, dancing (torrent) frogs, the super cool Malabar tree toad and other species of toads, and several species of caecilians (limbless amphibians).

We also have a high chance to come across some amazing reptiles with star attractions such as the Malabar & hump-nosed pit vipers, cat snakes, vine snakes, coral snakes, keelbacks and shieldtails to name a few. There are also many species of geckos.

This area of Wayanad, also has a good population of the endemic Yellow variant of the giant snail (Indrella ampulla).

The area is also amazingly rich in bird life, that boasts over 300 species including the beautiful Malabar trogon, orange minivet, hill myna, Asian fairy bluebird and various species of woodpeckers, flycatchers and raptors. Mammals found in the area include, leopards, barking deer and wild boar and an amazing array of nocturnal life such as mouse deer, various species of lesser cats, flying squirrel and porcupines.

We will be staying at the absolutely beautiful Wayanad Wild (CGH Earth) resort, situated on the fringe of a protected forest and surrounded by verdant aromatic tea estates, and the musical babbling of sparkling brooks and streams that flow through this amazing property.

What’s better, Phillip Ross will guide you into this wonderful rainforest, equip you with a good understanding of the amazing life found in this region and teach you the fundamentals of wildlife and macro photography that will help you take some stunning photographs.

Come and see Wayanad like never before and enrol yourself for this one-of-a-kind Rainforest Exploration & Macro Photography Tour with The Outback Experience!

TOUR TAKEAWAYS

With an array of activities including macro photography, bird photography, nature walks, animal tracking & photography learning, you are sure to have an unforgettable rainforest experience. The specifics of the tour include:

  • Only 4 participants to maximise every opportunity and bring back a stellar macro portfolio.
  • Two nights and three days in one of India’s richest wildlife habitats – The Western Ghats
  • Comprehensive understanding of photography and wildlife behaviour
  • Special emphasis on macro photography
  • Superb wildlife sightings including many endemic amphibians, reptiles & birds
  • A lovely luxurious stay on and delicious meals at the beautiful Wayanad Wild, run by CGH Earth
  • A fun-filled great holiday
  • Expert guidance from wildlife photographer, Phillip Ross

TOUR ITINERARY

Dates: 26th to 28th July, 2024

DAY 1:

On arrival at our lodge in Wayanad (we will help you with arranging your travel from your hometown to Wayanad, at extra cost at actuals), tour instructor, Phillip Ross will greet you and welcome you to our beautiful resort. After check-in and a scrumptious lunch, Phillip will introduce all participants to the property with a brief on the wildlife found in the area, the afternoon’s photography plan and also a presentation on the ideal settings.

Over some refreshing beverages and snacks in the evening, Phillip introduces the wonderful world of macro photography to the participants. We then prepare to set out for the much awaited late evening walk where Phillip will lead all participants to a brook and begin exploring for various macro subjects. We have a great chance to come across various bush frogs such as the prized Raorchestes ochlandrae, R. nerostagona, R. glandulosus, R. akroparallagi and the R. anili, besides the amazing gliding frogs, Rhacophorus malabaricus and Rhacophorus lateralis and the amazingly cool Malabar tree toad Pedostibes tuberculosus. We will also keep our eyes peeled for some of the amazing snakes found in this region, like the prized Malabar pit viper, Hump-nosed pit viper, Malabar vine snake and even the amazing Thackeray’s cat snake apart from coming across various lizards, spiders, caecilians, beetles, centipedes and an array of insect life.

Later that evening, we’ll gather around for a presentation on composition and we end the night with a delicious dinner.

DAY 2 :

We awake to the sweet calls of the birds found within the campsite and after a hot cup of coffee or tea, prepare to depart for the morning birding walk. We’ll keep our eyes peeled and hope to sight some of the amazing birds that this part of Wayanad has to offer. We return to the campsite for breakfast and now proceed on a gorgeous stream walk, and spend the entire morning photographing various subjects including dancing frogs, insects, wild flowers, many species of mushroom and fungi, snails, crabs apart from doing some great birding too.

We return to the campsite for a delicious lunch followed by some well earned rest.

After a refreshing cup of tea or coffee, we head out birding once again, and hope to tick off all the targeted species. It is likely to be dark by the time we return, which is a great time for frog encounters and hope to come across some more cool endemic species.

We end the night with a celebratory dinner.

DAY 3:

On the final morning, we wake early and head out on the final macro photography session where we will try out some interesting perspectives.

We return for breakfast and gather for a final rendezvous before checking out at 11:00 a.m. and driving back to our homes to share some fascinating tales.

COST & TERMS

How much does it cost?

Individuals

INR 32,900/-

per participant(Exclusive of 5% GST)

Pals

INR 64,800/-

for two participants(Exclusive of 5% GST)

Outbacker

INR 30,900/-

per Outbacker(Exclusive of 5% GST)

Outbacker: Participated in at least three previous The Outback Experience camps or workshops

Inclusions

  • Twin-sharing accommodation in comfortable and luxurious deluxe rooms.
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and hot beverages (coffee and tea)
  • Guaranteed photography learning and a whole lotta fun!
  • All entrance fee’s

Exclusions

  • 5% GST
  • Any extra meals and beverages ordered
  • Tips & gratuities
  • Road transfers from Bangalore, to and from the destination. We will assist you with car pooling or booking a cab.
  • Airfare, if applicable
  • Anything that is not expressly mentioned in the inclusions list

Payment Terms

100% payment in advance for confirmation of booking.

Payment can be made via bank transfer to our account. Please inform us of the reference number once the payment is made.

Cancellation Fees

  • 10% outside 30 days before the tour
  • 25% between 29 and 22 days before the tour
  • 50% between 21 and 15 days before the tour
  • 75% between 14 and 8 days before the tour
  • 100% within 7 days before the tour

Have questions about this tour?

We hope you'll find your answers here.

Who is this tour for?

Anybody above the age of 18 with a passion to learn and master photography. There are no other eligibility criteria.

How do I make the payment?

We have multiple payment options available from which you may choose one as per your convenience. Details will be shared when we receive your enquiry.

How many participants can be expected to attend?

A maximum of 4 participants + Phillip is expected. The Outback Experience’s USP is to provide as much individual attention and quality time to each participant as possible and thus the workshop strength has been kept low. We do not cater to very large groups per batch!

Where are we staying and what sort of accommodation and food can we expect?

We will be staying at a beautiful and luxurious resort in Wayanad. This beautiful lodge is situated right on edge of a forest and by a stream. All participants will be staying in comfortable and luxurious rooms. The food served is a lavish and delicious buffet spread of local, Indian and continental delicacies.

BOOK NOW!

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