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Andaman – the name brings to mind pristine beaches, clear emerald waters, lively coral reefs and lots of sunshine. This archipelago is also home to some of the most beautiful evergreen forests. The varied habitats of the islands are thriving eco-systems, with many flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Experience the natural bounty of these islands, up-close, on Emerald Isles – Wildlife Photography Tour of Andaman.
On this carefully designed tour, we’ll visit wildernesses around Port Blair. And explore the forests and beaches on a rarely-visited island – Little Andaman. Many species of birds call this island their home – their only home in the whole world! Photograph these endemic birds, along with the beautiful islands they live on, under the expert guidance of the Darter Photography mentor.
Jump to ◆ Overview ◆ Is this tour for you? ◆ Tour Price ◆ Tour Mentor ◆ Itinerary ◆ Sign Up
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Tour Dates
Jan 25 to Feb 2, 2025
Tour PriceRs. 114,500Max. Participants – 5
Overview
On this tour, we’ll get a glimpse into the different facets of the Andaman islands. And we’ll have a great time photographing all this!
There are more than 20 endemic species (and subspecies) of birds on these islands. Most live in the pristine rainforests here, including the Andaman Treepie, Andaman Shama, Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Crake and the elusive state-bird of the islands, the Andaman Woodpigeon. There are also 5 species of owls on these islands, including the Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl and the Andaman Boobook. Many species of birds – like White-breasted Woodswallow, Pacific Reef Egret, Glossy Starling and Long-tailed Parakeet – are found only here and nowhere else on the mainland in India. The rich forests are bound to keep us mesmerized as we walk under their tall canopy, looking out for endemic fauna.
We’ll visit some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. The clear waters are always welcoming, with some amazing views at sunrise and sunset. They are also amazing places to see and photograph birds like the colourful Collared Kingfisher, waders like Whimbrels and Ruddy Turnstones and the majestic White-bellied Sea Eagle.
We’ll also explore the history of this place which has played an important role in our Independence movement. The historic Cellular Jail, remembered with dread for the horrors committed within it, is also an engineering marvel with a scale that is breathtaking.
The tour itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1 – Arrival in Port Blair. Introduction and orientation sessions. Afternoon at Chidiya Tapu
- Day 2 – Explore wetlands and Chidiya Tapu. Overnight in Port Blair.
- Day 3 – 5 – Explore the forests of Little Andaman island (6-8 hours from Port Blair by speedboat). Overnight in Hut Bay.
- Day 6 – Return to Port Blair. Visit Cellular Jail (if there’s time). Overnight in Port Blair.
- Day 7 – Explore the forests of Mount Harriet National Park and the wetlands around Port Blair. Overnight in Port Blair. Overnight in Port Blair.
- Day 8 – Explore Chidiya Tapu/Jirgatang/Mount Harriet
- Day 9 – Last photography session around Port Blair. Tour ends with afternoon flight out of Port Blair
Is This For You?
Emerald Isles is designed for photographers of all levels of expertise – amateur and serious – who would like to photograph the natural wealth and wildlife of Andaman. As in all our tours, the group size would be limited so that the Darter Photography Expert can interact closely with every participant. Wildlife enthusiasts who are not photographers, but are keen to see and experience Andaman, are also welcome to join this group. This extensive trip, covering some of the most beautiful places in Andaman, will keep you enthralled from start to finish.
Our tour is designed in such a way that we
Tour Price
The tour price is Rs.114,500 per person for double occupancy (inclusive of all taxes). The tour starts and ends in Port Blair.
For single occupancy, the tour price will be Rs.139,500 per person (inclusive of all taxes).
The price includes
The price does not include
Cancellation Policy for the Andaman Tour:
– 20% of full tour fee is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation on or before Nov 10, 2024.
– 50% of full tour fee is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between Nov 11 and Dec 11, 2024.
– 70% of full tour fee is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between Dec 12 and Jan 01, 2025.
– No refund on cancellation on or after Jan 02, 2025, or for no-show.
Please note that the above itinerary is subject to favourable weather and other conditions. Also, ferries and boats at Andaman can have unpredictable schedules. In case of any obstacles, we will do our best to make alternate plans. The price of the tour or any part of it will not be refunded in the event of unfavourable conditions during the tour days.
Photography Mentor – Shreeram M V
Shreeram M V is a professional photographer, photography mentor and naturalist. What started off as a fascination for birds in a lake behind his house turned into a journey across the natural world. For this IIM Bangalore graduate, the passion for travel and wildlife enabled him to charter his own course outside the corporate world.
He has explored and photographed places across the world as diverse as the savannahs of Africa, the ice continent of Antarctica, the islands of New Zealand, the rainforests of the Western Ghats, the salt marshes of Kutch, the grasslands of Tal Chapar, the deciduous forests of South and Central India, the high-altitude plateau of Ladakh, the coasts of peninsular India, the forests of North-east India and the islands of Andaman. His approach to wildlife photography has evolved into telling stories about the place and its habitats, biodiversity and human interactions with nature.
He is a well-published and awarded photographer. His articles and photographs have been published in diverse print and digital magazines such as National Geographic Traveller, Sanctuary Asia, Saevus, Lonely Planet India, Terrascape, Nature inFocus and JLR Explore. As a naturalist, he has been associated with Jungle Lodges and Resorts and Karnataka Eco-tourism Development Board in training and certifying naturalists from across the state.
His approach to wildlife photography is to bring back photographs that tell stories – about the place and its habitats, the diversity of flora and fauna and human interactions with the wilderness. Composition and light are his favourite tools in crafting new perspectives of the natural world.
His personalized style of mentorship, where he works with each participant’s individual interests and strengths, has been much appreciated over the years. See some of his work at Shreeram M V Photography and instagram.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Port Blair and check-in to hotel. At lunch, the team gets together to introduce one another. We’ll then have an orientation session about the bird life at Andaman and tips on photographing wildlife in the islands. In the afternoon, we head out towards Chidiya Tapu to look for forest birds in the evening light. This forest is home to most of the Andaman endemics. After dusk, we explore the forests and farms for endemic species of owls like Andaman Hawk Owl and Hume’s Hawk Owl. Overnight at Port Blair.
Day 2: We head out to the wetlands around Port Blair to arrive in time for sunrise. A lot of water birds are active in the morning and we should get to see scores of Purple Swamphens, Common Moorhens and Lesser Whistling Ducks. Yellow and Cinnamon Bitterns try hard to camouflage themselves in the reeds close-by. White-bellied Sea Eagles soar in the skies, scanning for a juicy snack in the waters below. With some luck, we may even encounter our first endemic of the tour – the Andaman Teal. In the afternoon, we head out towards Chidiya Tapu to look for forest birds in the evening light. This forest is home to most of the Andaman endemics. Overnight at Port Blair.
Day 3: Early today, we set sail to the island of Little Andaman. Around 6-8 hours away by speedboat from Port Blair, this island is rarely visited. The forests here are pristine and teeming with birdlife. We’ll explore this island over the next 3 days, starting this evening. Overnight at Hut Bay.
Days 4-5: We start early on both days to explore the forests around Hut Bay in Little Andaman. Nicobar Pigeons, renowned for their beauty, call the depths of these forests their home. While we keep a watch for them, there are many more endemic species of birds that we might encounter here. Expect long walks (around 5-6 hours every day) as the roads through the forests may not be motorable. We’ll also spend time around the coast during low-tide to explore the diversity of life in the tidal pools. Every evening, we keep our ears open for the owls (and they are plenty of them here). Overnight at Hut Bay.
Day 6: Today, we sail back to Port Blair after soaking in the solitude that is Little Andaman. After checking into the hotel, we’ll head out to the Cellular Jail in Port Blair (if we are on time). The monument, known for historical atrocities, is nevertheless an architectural marvel. And we might come across birds here too, like the Edible Nest Swiftlet. Overnight at Port Blair.
Day 7: This morning, we’ll visit Mount Harriet National Park. The beautiful evergreen forests of this park are mesmerizing – not only are they dense but the towering trees makes one feel so diminutive. The view from the top of Mount Harriett shows the extend of the canopy. This park is home to many endemic species of birds, like Andaman Cuckoo-Dove, Andaman Wood-pigeon, Andaman Serpent Eagle and Andaman Woodpecker. After sunset, we can expect to encounter 3 endemic species of Owls. Overnight at Port Blair. After lunch at Mount Harriet, we’ll drive down to the water bodies around Sippyghat. These lakes, some of them created after the tsunami, host many resident and migrant waterfowl, including the rare Andaman Teals, Long-toed Stints, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Bar-tailed Godwits, Pacific Golden Plovers and Yellow Bitterns. We’ll also visit some mangroves looking for the rare Mangrove Whistler and Ruddy Kingfisher. Overnight at Port Blair.
Day 8: In the morning, we’ll visit the forests at Chidiya Tapu or Jirgatang to look for endemic species of birds, including Andaman Bulbuls, Andaman Treepies, Spot-breasted Woodpeckers and Andaman Coucals. In the afternoon, we’ll decide on Mt. Harriet or Chidiya Tapu depending on the species that we’d like to photograph.
Day 9: We head out for one last bird photography session around Port Blair, before we checkout and take an afternoon flight back home.
Throughout the tour, we would have Andaman’s finest birdwatching guide with us. He has an amazing knowledge of endemic birds and his spotting skills and enthusiasm are an inspiration for the most avid of birdwatchers.
In addition, the accompanying Darter Photography Expert would help you with:
Please note that the itinerary above is subject to fair weather, boat schedules, bird sightings and other factors. Darter Photography reserves the right to make changes to the above itinerary at any point of time.
Register for this Tour
Write to us at photography@darter.in or call/WhatsApp Shreeram (+91-9740083260) to join the tour. Alternatively, please fill in the following form to get in touch with us regarding the tour.