Accolades

"....The organisation of the holiday was fantastically efficient. Thomas at Head Office responded very rapidly to all emails, and the various transfers and handovers took place perfectly, with no waiting time. Thomas must be a superb Manager to achieve such efficiency. The 3 guides used were charming and friendly. Peter was an excellent and enthusiastic bird guide who went out of his way to ensure that we saw as many species as possible. We were really surprised at the geography of inland Kerala: so green, such stunningly beautiful landscapes, so many rivers and waterfalls. The tea plantations are photogenic in a very special way: so impossibly green in the sun. Walking in the forests near Periyar was like being in heaven: in the shade, beautiful birds, no other people around and with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. All the local people that we met were so genuinely friendly!!
Christopher Smith, Dec 2016

"...Having experienced Northern India we were amazed at how different Kerala was. So much greener and less busy. Our bird guide Peter was so friendly and knowledgeable and not to mention a great driver. We saw a total of more than bird 170 species and several mammals. Peter not only was a great bird guide but also told us lots about Keralan culture and history including a visit to a tea museum in Munnar. Fantastic and exceeded expectations...."
Christopher Wyeth, Nov 2016

"....Just a short note to thank you for the excellent arrangements for our recent birding trip in the Western Ghats. Not only was it a great success from a birding point of view, thanks to Sathya's experience and skill, but we also found the accommodation to be of a very high standard and the food excellent. Please pass on our thanks to everyone involved. Thanking you once again; we will be in touch when we decide to return to India, as we most surely will...."
Mark Smiles , March 2016

"....It was an excellent birding trip with Peter. He is an extraordinary birder. Peter is also an extraordinary driver. The total number of bird species we saw in the Kerala birding trip was 206, and 207 including the mallard (2 seen between Munnar and Ooty). The total number of mammal species was 15. My total number of bird species was 216 including 9 species in Cochin...."
Pedro Plans, Dec 2015

“..Many thanks for your organisational work on our recent birding trip to Kerala/W Ghats. We could not fault the choice of sites, accommodation and the general travel arrangements, including routes. We loved the Keralan food. A thoroughly enjoyable trip with special thanks to Sathiyan and Sree; both excellent in making sure things went well. Particular thanks to you for ensuring we had a guide of Sathiyan's ability - we bumped into several others and they would simply not have been up to the job. He was excellent company all round and I'm sure helped things go well behind the scenes. Sree was a safe and personable driver - we could not have asked for more of him either. We plan a return trip to India in a couple of years time - we'll be in touch nearer the time to make sure we can go with Sathiyan - the trip to include Gujarat, possibly the Andamans too..”
David & Vicki Bryant (UK) Feb 2015

"...Excellent. We would thoroughly recommend Kalypso Adventures, both for the planning and organization and for the expertise, enthusiasm and patience of our driver/bird guide Peter..."
Moyra Williams, Mar 2015

"...The trip has fulfilled my expectations. It was a trip focused on endemic birds from Western Ghats and I got 17 from a total of 18 possible species. It's a big success. The total list raised to 214 species, a high number to an 8 days trip. It's a highly recommendable trip. Excellent birding and other wildlife, scenic landscapes, very nice accommodation and an excellent guiding. It has been one of the best birding holidays I haver ever been on. I'm seriously thinking to come back to India with the same company. I'd like to remark the excellent work of Peter as a guide, he's a fine birding guide and a very concerned tour leader about well-being of the clients..."
Luis Mario Arce, Mar 2015

“:..We returned to Colombia more than two weeks ago. Only now I find the time to express our thanks to you and Kalypso for the success of our Six days endemics tour of Kerala. The tour was fantastic. The two places where we stayed were very good (service, food, rooms, etc.). In particular, the setting of the Hornbill Camp is very beautiful, comparable to anything in the world. Mathew, the driver, did a very good job. He was polite, careful, always on time, and cooperated with all our special needs. And Sudeesh's job was outstanding. He is highly professional and passionate about his job. He went really out of his way to find birds for us. And he managed to balance, as I had requested, the diversity and quantity of the birds observed (more than 140) and the time needed by me to get photographs, as good as possible, of the highest number of species (more than eighty lifers photographed, and many more with improved photographs). The fact that we saw and I could photograph five owls and the Sri Lankan Frogmouth (three individuals of this species) is just one sample of a job very well done. The Kalypso tour was a very important part of this unforgettable first trip to India…”
Francisco and Claudia Piedrahita (Colombia) Jan 2015

“…We have just arrived to Poland. Thank you very much for: very good idea of the trip, excellent organization, and very helpful and qualified guide- Peter. We had an opportunity to discover South Indian people, nature, animals, and of course fantastic Indian cuisine. We are sure it is not our last trip with Kalypso Adventures!.. ”
Piotr Jedrzejczak (Poland) Jan 2015

“…We had an excellent tour with Jijo. Highly recommended !! 172 lifers for me. Jijo is a great guide and person…”
Jean Jacques Gozard, Amaziliatours.com, Dec 2014

“… I'm just writing to thanks you so much for organising our recent western Ghats tour. We booked via India footprints, but realise that this was subcontracted to you. The organisation and running of the tour was faultless. Satyan is an excellent bird guide with very keen eyes and ears and his enthusiasm is infective. He always ensured we managed the best possible views. Das, our driver was also a perfect companion for the trip. His driving was safe and he could never do enough to help during our walks. He was always insistent on carrying my tripod and helping Julia and I over rough ground. He went out of his way by escorting us on shopping trips and visits to the bank and carried our bags at the accommodations. I understand he is newly with the company, but he was a credit to the organisation. A final thank you to Mr Thomas who went out of his way to ensure the location and delivery of our missing luggage and for swiftly sorting out the payment blunder at the Airport hotel. The standard of accommodation was mainly lovely and the food excellent throughout. My only slight criticism would be of the Monarch hotel at Ooty. Although clean and comfortable, the place was so badly run it was beyond belief. The impersonal nature of the establishment was not to our taste and I think most nature lovers/ birders would much rather be placed at a homestead type guesthouse, if possible….”
Mike Haley/ Julia Kaminski.(USA) Mar 2014

“…Our birding tour was wonderful! Peter was an excellent guide & driver. He knew his birds & was perhaps too solicitous of our comfort & welfare. We are not accustomed to being treated as royalty. Thanks!...”
Helmut Mueller, USA, Feb 2014

“…My wife and I are back from our 10 day tour and I wanted to tell you that we had a very good time and both Kumar and Satyan were excellent. Kumar was always on time, kept the car well and we felt very safe amid the chaos which can be Indian driving. Satyan is a wonderful bird guide, very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. With his detailed knowledge and perseverance, we managed to see almost everything that could be reasonably expected…in 9 days, where as I understand most take a fair bit longer. I would be happy to act as a reference for a future Bird Trip Inquiry…”
Roger McNeill (Australia) Jan 2014

“… I would like to thank Kalypso for the impeccable organization on our recent trip to the Western Ghats. Jijo and Joji proved to be an excellent partnership. Also I was delighted to find that Jijo was as passionate about dragonflies and butterflies as the local avifauna. Very rarely do I go outside Europe/USA and put names to the amazing array of dragonflies and butterflies. ..”
Nick Gardener (UK) Nov 2013

“…Many thanks for organizing our holiday for us, we enjoyed our time in India very much. All the arrangements went like clockwork and our driver and guide were both excellent. All the accommodation was very nice and the staff were all very helpful and friendly. Jijo and Goji both went out of their way to make our stay a very memorable and unforgettable experience. Once again many thanks…”
David & Ann Webb.(UK) Oct 2012

“…I’m safely back home after a wonderful trip! I consider that the planning of the trip went extremely well and your effort in ensuring that all went well is greatly appreciated. The food at the accommodation was generally excellent everywhere and all of the staff at accommodation efficient and hospitable. The drivers and vehicles were generally up to standard. The guides, Rofikul Islam and Sathyan Mepayur, were pleasant and courteous at all times and worked extremely hard to find the birds for us. Admittedly most of our group were elderly and some of them talked or moved excessively while the guides were trying to find secretive birds for them but neither showed their frustration. Both are very knowledgeable about their birds. Rofik is only young, 23, so has a bright future ahead of him...” Allen Richards Group (Australia) Mar 2012
 

 

"Our trip was great and Kalypso fully lived up to its reputation as the premier birding and nature tour organizer in southern India. First, Thomas at headquarters was very responsive to our inquiries, setting forth an excellent schedule and hotel choices, and working with us on changes to accommodate our particular tastes. Second, the logistics were flawless, the car was great, and our driver Deepu and guide Satyan were cheerful, attentive and professional. Third, the birds were great (we saw virtually every endemic) and we were privileged to have Satyan as our guide with his extensive knowledge of natural history, including birds, butterflies, mammals and more. We would highly recommend Kalypso to others."
Byron Swift (29 Mar 2011)
President, Nature and Culture International
2806 P Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007

 

"Back from Kerala, Michelle and I appreciated a lot this successfull birdwatching trip. Our guide Jijo is an excellent and very nice person." Raphael Jordan, France (March 2011)

" I just wanted to thank you for an excellent trip last week to Kerala. I really enjoyed it very much, Both guys were excellent hosts and made me feel very welcome. Shiba is a great driver and very friendly, Jijo, what can I say ? Excellent guide and very knowledgeable, he knows the area very well and he really knows the species behaviours and calls !! They are both a credit to you and should be highly valued members of your team." Mike Barth, UK (March 2011)

"Back in Australia! we had a great birding trip 9th Jan on-,thanks your organization, planning and communation, we would especially like to commend Jijo for his care and knowlege of the birds, he showed great cosideration to us a we were novices compared to fellow birders." Warren Stevens, Australia (Feb 2011)

"...I wanted to thank you for your organisation of my trip to Southern India. It was most enjoyable and really very successful. Everything went smoothly, the accomodations were excellent, far above any expectation I may have had and Jijo a most accomplished guide. I was very impressed by the ability to alter the itinerary in changing circumstances e.g the closure of Top Slip and how all I had to concern myself with was birding. I cannot thank Kalypso enough and would have no reservations in recommending you to any friends who may wish to travel to India in the future. In fact, I may wish to do so again myself on the basis of this trip. .." Nick Preston (UK), April 2010

"...I wanted to write and say thank you for a wonderful birding weekend. The trip far exceeded my expectation. Jijo Mathew was very skilled in finding the birds and a wonderful partner for the weekend. I truly hope to find a time to return to Kerala and use your services again and will be sure to give you a five star recommendation for other birders that are interested in coming to Kerala..." Tom Ingram (USA), March 2010

"...Just a short note to say that Tim and I have returned home safely and that we had a very successful and enjoyable tour – approx 274 species in all recorded. I will be in contact again shortly.Many thanks for your superb organisation...." John Clark (UK), Feb 2010

"...I want to thank you for a very well organized trip in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was a trip where we experienced many exciting things. One important factor in this was Satyan Meppayur who was an extremely knowable and engaged. I really want to recommend Satyan as a very skilled bird and nature expert! ..." Mona Hammer (Holland), Feb 2010

"...We are now home again after our holiday in India. We would like to thank you very much for making this holiday a success for us. We loved Kerala and hope very much to visit again. Everyone we met were friendly and welcoming, and all arrangements made by Kalypso went very smoothly. We were very well looked after by our driver and guide, and had some excellent walks seeing many endemic and other bird species. Our guide was very helpful and informative - we learnt a lot from him...." Aldyth Rowe (UK) Feb 2010

"...All arrived home safely after one fantastic tour with Kalypso Adventures. Many thanks for organising such a wonderfu birding tour. .." Malcolm Rymer (UK), Dec 2009 (http://www.wildlifevideos.net/)

"...Mike and I arrived back in England today after an excellent couple of weeks in India. I am writing to thank you for arranging the trip which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Jijo is a great guide - keen, expert and reliable; Gorgi is a good driver - safe and assured. We enjoyed southern India and will be recommending Kalypso to our friends..." John Eyre(UK), Sep 2009

"...We want to let you know, that we really enjoyed our trip. I added 42 new birds to my India list. We were very impressed by the skills of Peter. He was very eager to show us the birds he knew were there. We particularly liked the stay in Hornbill camp and the birding in the sanctuary. ..." Maarten Bosman(Holland) March 2009

"...We really enjoyed our South India birding. Satyan was absolutely superb. Not only is an expert birder but also a superb artist – he gave us a copy of “Shore Birds of Kerala” and I think that his illustrations of the birds are probably the best I have ever seen – as well as being very interesting on many other subjects..." Alec Crawford (UK), Feb 2009

"...Just a line to say how much we enjoyed the birding trip with Peter.We were very impressed with the whole organization and Peter was fantastic-nothing was too much trouble and he knew just where to go and was a great birder.A very nice man.It was the trip of a lifetime and we've got some fantastic memories!Very many thanks. Best wishes to you and your organization.We hope we might be able to travel with you again some time..." John and Aline Roberts (UK), Jan 2009

"...Safely back home in Swizerland I would to thank you for this excellent trip we had. Everything was perfectly organised. We was lucky to observe all endemic South India bird species plus lot more. Sathyan was a excellent and helpful guide, expert also in calls and songs. Binoy did all driving very good and was a pleasant an helpful companion. We could recomand your agency as a perfect adressee. Your are the South India Experts..." Mario Camici, LIBERTY BIRD TOURS, Jan 2009.

"...Your team were a pleasure to travel with, were efficient and on time. The places we stayed were very nice particularly hornbill camp where the food and the staff were brilliant. I enjoyed the birding and we found many good birds. I would be happy to be a reference point for you with other prospective UK clients...." Andrew Conway, Oct 2008.

"Many thanks for organising a very enjoyable trip. We were very happy with all the arrangements. The painted stork picture was taken on Peter's last sight-seeing tour, which he did with us on the last day. It was his suggestion, and unscheduled, and a very welcome addition to the itinerary. The leopard, we sighted at Nagahole. If the photos are of any use to you on our website, then you are welcome to use them. Many thanks again....." Tim and Liz Harland, UK Mar 2008

”…Our tour of South India went exceptionally well, everything worked perfectly and we were impressed with the professionalism of Kalypso Adventures and their representative Francis (who looked after us perfectly). Sathyan is a most experienced birder who found us 240 species including many endemics and he is also a pleasant and caring person. Our driver Sivadas was wonderful, handling the coach with great skill on all the Ghat roads. All in all a great team. Without exception - all of our 12-strong group were very happy with the tour and the organisation. we can certainly say we were impressed with everything and especially Kalypso's own personnel - were superb. We would recommend the tour to anyone. Full marks to them!...” Tony & Gerda Scott, SOC Birding, March 2008.

"...Wanted to let you know that we had a spectacular time on our birding trek. Jijo was amazing and the Horn Bill Camp in particular very charming. What a spot! We saw so many birds and we would love to do the whole trip again...." Leila Javitch, USA Mar 2008

"Just a line to say how very much we enjoyed our tour, organised by Kalypso, from 18th to 23rd February. It was hard to imagine how the enjoyment that we derived from last year’s tour could have been improved upon, but this year exceeded even those high expectations. The accommodation at all three venues was excellent and full of individual character, with attentive staff at each ensuring that our stay was as welcoming and comfortable as possible. Jijo and Georgie, the driver, were wonderful companions, a professional and friendly team. Nothing was too much trouble, whether out birdwatching or ensuring that the arrangements as a whole ran smoothly. Jijo went ‘the extra mile’ to maximise the opportunity to get the best possible view of every bird, and was a mine of other fascinating information ranging from the medicinal properties of plants, to the landscapes and culture of Southern India. Although he said modestly, ‘it’s my job’, it was so much more than that. So thanks once again for a really memorable experience, and as I think we said last year, we would have no hesitation in recommending Kalypso to anyone contemplating a wildlife tour in India. ..." Morton Debra, UK Feb 2008.

"...Colin and I would like to thank you for a most wonderful holiday birdwatching. We found from the start that everything ran like clockwork. The car was most comfortable and the accommodation good value for money. Our bird guide, Jijo, was a real gem, extremely knowledgeable and always good company, I cannot recommend him highly enough. Our driver, Anwar, was unfailingly courteous and, importantly, a good driver! Thank you for all the attention to detail and so much that we really enjoyed. We have been recommending Kalypso to our friends . .." Usha and Colin Hull, UK, Nov 2007

"...Just a brief mail to report at fantastic trip around Southern India in January-February: the trip was very, very successful - from start to the very end. Satyan is a fabulous good guide & Gorgi is an excellent driver – he is very careful and just never takes any risk – we felt 100% safe. All in all it was a pleasure working with you all….” Uffe Gjøl Sørensen , Denmark, Feb 2007 

"...We are now back in the UK and we wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our visit to Thattekad. The Hornbill Camp is super and we particularly enjoyed the company of our guide Jijo. Very many thanks ..." Conrad Davies , Feb 2007

"....Just a line to say how very much we enjoyed the recent trip, and to thank you for organising the programme for us. The arrangements were perfect from beginning to end. The accommodation was excellent, especially at the Hornbill Camp, where memories of the tranquility will be an abiding memory. The staff at both venues were unfailingly friendly and helpful, which brings us to the specifics. Jijo was a real ‘find’, not only a wonderful birding guide, but also an extremely knowledgeable and informative all round naturalist, who pointed out much of interest, including aspects of local life and culture. Indeed, nothing was too much trouble for him in ensuring that everything ran smoothly. He was also very good company. This was a superb trip, which exceeded our expectations, and we would have no hesitation in organising another one in the future, or recommending you to anyone proposing to visit Kerala...." Debbie and Laurence Atter, UK - February 2007

"Unlike many reports this will not be a list of birds seen. Although we have a very keen interest in all aspects of wildlife from birds to butterflies and animals, we are also keen to understand the way of life of the local people. Our Kerala Odyssey, arranged by Kalypso Adventure Tours (info@kalypsoadventures.com) was truly remarkable, satisfying all our interests and far exceeding our expectations. The itinerary had been carefully thought out so that we were not just dashing about from place to place in order to see as many birds as possible but were also given the time to absorb everything we saw. However, the variety of habitats visited did ensure a very good “bird-list.” In total we identified 219 species, more than we have ever seen in any other part of the world we have visited. The standard of the varied accommodation( including hotels, a tea-estate bungalow, a houseboat, an up-market tented camp and bamboo cabins) was very high and we were always treated courteously. The fresh Keralan and Tamilian food was a pleasure to sample. The whole trip was made special by Satyan Meppayur, our guide. Not only does he have an amazing expertise in identifying birds but he also has a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of wildlife and local culture and customs Never have we had such a good guide, for besides being an expert in his field he was a charming companion for three weeks and demonstrated a keen sense of humour. We consider ourselves exceptionally lucky to have been able to spend time with him and learn so much from him about all aspects of Keralan life. The trip involved some arduous road journeys but these were made less stressful by the care and consideration of Binoy, our driver. Our comfort and safety were always his prime concern We felt very privileged to be in the company of two Keralan people, Satyan and Binoy, whose aim was to give us the holiday experience of a lifetime We give our sincere thanks to them and indeed to Kalypso Adventure Tours who we would recommend unreservedly We certainly had a fantastic time!...." Joan , Ken & Hilary, January 2007

"...I would like to record that we very pleased with all the arrangements that Kalypso Adventures made in connection with our recent birding trip. We found our guide to be a marvellous birder and through his skill and organization, this was the best bird tour we have ever made. The accommodation at Bamboo Grove and Hornbill Camp were both great, and the meals that were prepared for us likewise. Binu was a good driver and he was helpful to us in many ways. ...." Elizabeth Compston & Prof W. Compston (Emeritus), Australian National University, Canberra, Feb 2006

“…Thanks to all of you for a great tour in South India. Everyone in the group had a very good tour full of birds and many animals and we saw a lot of India. Indeed it was a good trip. All of you did a great work to secure that we got the best and everything went without any problems. Thank you. Send my greeting to Satyan and Peter and thank them for a great work. They are two very nice and clever persons. I will give my best recommendation. So thank you for everything...." Hans Mielstrup, Tour Leader, Danish Ornithologist Group, March 2005

"...Just a quick note to say thank-you very much indeed for arranging our birding trip to south India in February. Everything went to plan and we were all very pleased and impressed by the services of Sattyan as a guide -please pass on our gratitude. The trip has left us all with many happy memories of south India - a return trip beckons! We were all very impressed by the professionalism of your company and will recommend your services to our friends!..." Matt Parsons, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

"....As concerning the trip everything was wonderful. During the trip I have seen about 192-193 birds ,this figure could be greater if I was not concentrated to photography... I have seen 14 of the 16 endemics ,I heard several times the Grey-headed Bulbul but I didn't see it and I lost only the Nilgiri Laughingthrush. Periyar offered me the pleasure to see some mammals not seen elsewhere but also some good birds like Wynaad Laughingthrush.....Dr. Poullis Theodoulos, Cyprus

"...Our birding trip to Kerala was a wonderful experience. I can't thank you enough for your help both in the planning stages and in the arrangements. The first day we saw about 80 birds, 50 of which were new to us. Then we went out looking for endemic birds. The meals he provided in camp were delicious. My husband was totally delighted to be served our first meal on a banana leaf. There was always plenty of bottled water and the pineapple and papaya were delicious. We liked Hornbill Camp and were delighted that we saw a gray hornbill. The racket tailed drongo was a strange and memorable bird too. We also thought the Salim Ali Sanctuary across the Periyar River was a great spot. ..." Susan Ahlstorm (USA)

"...Both my wife, Edwina and myself had a great time in Hornbill Camp with the company of Peter, Ade and of course, the guide. There is always something interesting throughout the trip. When driving, Peter will share his knowledge on local cultural with us. Out in the field, not only will the guide spot and identify birds to us but in depth information of the species (e.g.: feeding habits, incubation durations) Once again, we would like to express our THANKS to Kalypso!.."Chung Cheong (Singapore)

"...We spent 10 days from December 25 through January 4 in Kerala (and briefly Tamil Nadu), India with the dual objectives of relaxing and searching for Southern Indian specialty birds. The trip was organized for two of us by Kalypso Adventures ( www.kalypsoadventures.com ). Kalypso provided excellent service as did our birding guide for 4 days. Transportation between locations was by hired car arranged through Kalypso...." Mark Giordano (USA) 

"...It was indeed a pleasure to meet you finally and get to know you, even though it was for a short period of time, I would like to thank you for all the trouble you took to arrange the trip for us. Everyone enjoyed it thoroughly. We saw most of the birds we wanted to see. the accommodations and the food were wonderful...." Sudha Ramakrishna (Audubon Society, Texas, USA)

"...I've now been back from my birding safari for about a week and had time to recover from the exertions and reflect upon events. Firstly I would like to thank you for proposing the itinerary and organising the safari. Robin and Rajesh did a superb job of looking after me on behalf of Kalypso Adventures...." Len Williamson (UK)

"...We would like to thank you on a great time we had on the trip and a special thanks to our guide who found me the birds I wanted to see except for Wynnad's Thrush but the long walk was to far for the others in the heat. Thank you for a very smooth trip which also a special thanks to Peter who looked after us exceptionally well. Again thank you for a very well organised and smooth trip...." Martin Butler (UK)

"...I had a marvelous time in Kerala, and I want to thank you for arranging my trip. I will definitely plan a return trip sometime during the winter months..." Dennis Buss, USA 

".... All of us are back in Texas after a successful trip to India/Sri Lanka. Thanks to you for working closely with us to accommodate our needs in Kerala, airfares, etc. You did a fine job. We were pleased that you joined us for part of a day. I am recommending you to a local bird tour group of the Audubon Society to handle the S. India area in the future...." Preston Martin, Audubon Society, Texas