Where Curiosity Meets Conservation
Thavala Trails offers immersive herping, birding, and biodiversity trails across India’s most fascinating ecosystems. Led by biologists and naturalists, our experiences are grounded in science, built on ethics, and designed for those who want to truly understand — and document — the wild.
View Our Trails in Action
Frogs, snakes, birds, and stories from the field
Not Just Another Nature Tour
Thavala Trails was born from rain-soaked notebooks, headlamp-lit field journals, and the unmistakable joy of spotting a frog in the leaf litter — and knowing its name, its story, and why it matters.
We are not a generic tour company. We are a team of field biologists, naturalists, and conservationists with years of hands-on experience in the Western Ghats and beyond. Every trail we offer is an invitation — not just to see the wild, but to understand it.
What We Do
At Thavala Trails, we lead guided herping and birding experiences across India’s richest biodiversity hotspots. Our trails focus on reptiles, amphibians, birds, and the ecosystems that support them — from shola forests and tropical rainforests to laterite scrublands and montane streams.
Each itinerary is crafted to be immersive, ethical, and educational, whether you’re a curious beginner or an experienced field enthusiast.
We specialise in:
- Night walks in amphibian habitats
- Field-based species photography
- Birding in key IBA zones like Thattekad
- Workshops on biodiversity, field ethics, and documentation
- Custom trails for students, researchers, and wildlife photographers
We also actively encourage nature photographers to join us. Our trails are designed with photographers in mind — offering time, positioning, and expert insight into species behaviour and habitat use to help capture stunning, ethical wildlife images.
Why We Do It
The forest is not a backdrop. It’s a living, layered story — and we want to help more people read it.
Most of our team has spent years studying the very species we encounter on trail. We’ve tagged frogs, recorded calls, conducted surveys, and contributed to conservation programs. We now bring that same lens of care and curiosity to our public trails, helping participants go beyond surface-level sightings.
We believe that deep, respectful connection with nature comes from understanding, not just observation. And the more people understand the wild — the more they care for it.
Importantly, a portion of every trail fee directly funds ongoing field research and conservation efforts.
Your participation doesn’t just support ethical travel — it actively contributes to preserving the ecosystems we explore.
Amal Som
Manager Director
Amal Som is a nature enthusiast and entrepreneur with a passion for creating meaningful outdoor experiences. As Managing Director of Thavala Trails, he brings together his love for wilderness exploration and commitment to responsible ecotourism across the Western Ghats.
Sidharth Sasidharan
Chief Naturalist
Sidharth Sasidharan is a passionate naturalist and wildlife photographer with a keen focus on reptiles and amphibians of the Western Ghats. His work blends field exploration with visual storytelling to promote awareness and appreciation of lesser-known species.
Mentors
Dr Sandeep Das
Mentor
Dr. Sandeep Das is a renowned wildlife biologist and herpetologist with extensive research experience in the Western Ghats. He is known for his work on species discovery, conservation biology, and environmental education, and has contributed significantly to biodiversity documentation in India.
Dhruvaraj S
Mentor
Dhruvaraj S is a wildlife researcher and conservationist with a deep interest in amphibians, reptiles, and ecological data analysis. He combines field expertise with skills in artificial intelligence and geospatial modeling to support biodiversity research and awareness.
Surya Narayanan
Mentor
Lectus arcu bibendum varius pharetra. Ide nunc miles ipsum lorays faucibuas.
Ph : (023) 987-6543
Nithin Divakar
Mentor
Nithin Divakar is a PhD scholar at the Kerala Forest Research Institute, specialising in bat ecology and conservation within the Western Ghats. He actively engages in community-based conservation initiatives to protect bat habitats.
Ph : (023) 987-6543
Naturalists
Nidheesh Chenchery
Naturalist
Lectus arcu bibendum varius pharetra. Ide nunc miles ipsum lorays faucibuas.
Ph : (023) 987-6543
Ahmed Javad K A
Naturalist
Lectus arcu bibendum varius pharetra. Ide nunc miles ipsum lorays faucibuas.
Ph : (023) 987-6543
