Valparai is a mid-elevation hill station. The tea plantations are surrounded by the evergreen forest. The region is also a rich elephant tract and is known to have many leopards. The drive to the town through the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is noted for elephants, boars, lion-tailed macaques, gaur, spotted deer, sambar, and giant squirrels. The area is also rich in birds, including the great hornbill. The Valparai range is also a habitat to the Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic wild ungulate.
Valparai Photo Tour - 3N/4D
Tour Overview
Valparai, situated in the Anamalai Hills, is a serene and picturesque hill station nestled in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. Known for its lush tea estates, misty landscapes, and rich biodiversity, Valparai offers a tranquil escape into nature’s embrace.
The town serves as a gateway to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, a significant wildlife sanctuary renowned for its conservation efforts and thriving population of Lion-tailed Macaque, elephants, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr and diverse bird species. The reserve provides a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, offering a chance to witness the mesmerizing beauty of the Western Ghats’ flora and fauna.
Valparai and the Anamalai Tiger Reserve are ideal destinations for those seeking a harmonious blend of natural beauty and wildlife exploration.
Workshop Date and Time:
22, January 2023
Venue:
Valparai, Tamil Nadu.
Tour Schedule
Day 1: Arrival and getting ready
Tour companion welcomes the group at Valparai. We check into our rooms, relax for a while and treat ourselves with authentic local cuisine lunch. Post lunch, we gather together for a tour briefing and getting to know each other. Our first drive towards the Lion-tailed Macaques begins and we hope to find some groups which could possibly give us some memorable frames. The area is rich in bird life and we will spend the time with the birds and Lion-tailed macaques.
We come back to our rooms by evening, refresh ourselves with a cup of tea/ coffee and start reviewing the images taken during the day. The rest of the evening goes into some productive discussions and listening to a presentation about wildlife photography by the tour leader.
Day 2: Full-day wildlife & bird photography
We wake up early to set out on a drive into the beautiful evergreen forest. To begin the day, we would try to capture some nice landscapes just when the golden light appears. We will be coming across a variety of subjects all day long and the mentor will be there showing the beauties of western ghats and also helping the participants to make better images.
Breakfast, lunch and other breaks will be taken care of at the appropriate times in between the full-day shoot. Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Indian Gaur and possibly some Elephants (if they are around). We hope to catch a glimpse of the Great Horn Bills during the course of the day.
Evening we meet to see the images of everyone captured during the day. Feedback and review session with the tour leader.
Day 3: Full-day wildlife & bird photography
Another early morning trail in the beautiful evergreen forest. The group will set out to shoot some nice landscapes that Valparai has to offer. And depending on the movement of animals, the group will be shooting the endemic wildlife of this region.
Breakfast, lunch and other breaks will be taken care of at the appropriate times in between the full-day shoot.
Another image review and discussion session with the tour leader, followed by dinner.
Day 4: Early morning trail and check-out
One more round of morning trail into the forest patch, make some more memorable frames and then come back to relax. We try to get Nilgiri Tahr, the mountain goat. Post breakfast, the mentor gives tips on post-processing and an image review session will go on.
The tour ends with everyone making some memorable frames of the endemic wildlife. Participants head back to their respective destinations.
Throughout the course of the tour, mammals and birds of Indian Subcontinent books are available with the tour leader for the participants to refer to and learn.
Cost & Terms
29900/-
All-Inclusive Cost. Lunch & refreshments will be provided.
Cancellation Terms:
Before 7 days of the workshop date – 50% of the payment will be refunded.
Within 7 days of the workshop date – 20% of the payment will be refunded.
What’s Included?
Accommodation (Twin sharing).
Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner. (Buffet)
Tea/ snacks are provided at the appropriate breaks.
All required park fees.
Notepad/ pen for taking notes.
Photography services during the tour.
Guide charges during the tour.
Cost doesn’t include :
Travel to and fro from your location to the destination.
Mineral water and soft drinks.
Alcoholic beverages.
And anything that is not there in the included list is considered excluded.
Tour Companion
Poorna Kedar, a nature lover, and a professional wildlife photographer. He spent about a decade in various genres of photography, the majority of those years in nature & wildlife alone. His favorite subject is birds, he loves shooting anything from mammals, macro, and landscape.
View more of his work@
Images from past workshops
Avail our cameras and lenses for rental at a flat 25% discount for use during this workshop.
Pixellin Camera & Lens Rentals – Bangalore & Mysore.