Munnar, Kerala
Munnar Backpacking
Kolukkumalai & Tea Trails
- Duration
- 2D / 1N2 days · 1 night
- Starts from
- Bangalore
- Trip type
- Adventure
Tea estates and viewpoints, a Kalaripayattu show, and a jeep ride up to Kolukkumalai, the highest tea estate in the world.
- Adventure
- Heights
- Nature
- Culture
Dates
- 30 Oct 20262 days₹6,599
See 4 more datesShow fewer dates
- 6 Nov 20262 days₹6,599
- 13 Nov 20262 days₹6,599
- 20 Nov 20262 days₹6,599
- 27 Nov 20262 days₹6,599
Prices are per person.
The trip
Munnar takes its name from 'munnu' and 'aaru', three rivers, and it still feels like a place built around water and cloud: misty hills, tea estates rolling to the horizon, and roads that climb through green all the way up. It sits in Kerala's Idukki district, an overnight drive from Bengaluru, which makes it just about perfect for a weekend.
Saturday runs on viewpoints. Photo Point first, looking out over the plantations, then Mattupetty Dam, lunch at a small offbeat local place, and Echo Point in the afternoon. In the evening comes a Kalaripayattu show, Kerala's 2,000-year-old martial art, and then dinner and a bonfire back at the stay.
Sunday goes higher. Lockhart Gap Viewpoint for the panorama, then the rough jeep track up to Kolukkumalai, the highest tea estate in the world at over 7,000 ft, and Jaguar Rock for one last look across the plains. Lunch is offbeat again, with time for local tea and spices, and then the long drive home, reaching Bengaluru early on Monday morning.
The pace is easy, the stay sits on the quieter outskirts among the tea, and the group stays small enough that shared meals and the bonfire do the rest. One thing worth knowing: check-in is only after 12:00 noon, so Saturday starts with a wash and a luggage drop rather than a room.
Highlights
Day 1 · 11:00 AMPhoto Point & Mattupetty Dam
Day 1 · 5:00 PMKalaripayattu Cultural Show
Day 2 · 12:00 PMJeep Ride to Kolukkumalai
Day by day
Tea Gardens, Viewpoints & Kalaripayattu
The weekend starts on Friday night. Pickups are at New Udupi Grand in HSR Layout at 8:25 PM and KLM Fashion Mall in Marathahalli at 9:00 PM, and the bus pulls out for the overnight drive to Kerala with a few icebreakers before everyone settles in to sleep. You climb into Munnar on Saturday morning through the ghat roads. Check-in is only after 12:00 noon, so the morning starts with a freshen-up and a luggage drop at the stay — washrooms are available — and then breakfast. From there the day runs on viewpoints: Photo Point above the plantations, Mattupetty Dam, lunch at a local offbeat restaurant (options are limited up here), and Echo Point in the afternoon. The evening is a Kalaripayattu show, Kerala's 2,000-year-old martial art, subject to ticket availability, and then dinner and a bonfire back at the stay if the weather holds.
- 7:00 AMArrival in Munnar via the Ghat RoadsThe last stretch climbs through tea slopes and hairpins into Munnar, in the quieter outskirts of town.
- 8:00 AMFreshen Up & Luggage DropCheck-in is only after 12:00 noon, so wash up and leave your bags at the stay. Washrooms are available so you can get going.
- 9:00 AMHilltop BreakfastA hot breakfast with fresh tea at the property before the day's driving starts.
- 11:00 AMPhoto Point & Mattupetty Dam (a highlight)Photo Point looks straight out over manicured tea bushes; Mattupetty Dam sits below it, with the reservoir and the hills stacked behind.
- 1:00 PMLocal Offbeat Lunch BreakA stop at a small local eatery for Kerala-style food. Dining options up here are limited, and lunch is on your own.
- 3:00 PMEcho PointA lakeside drive to the spot where the hills throw your voice back at you, and one of the better places on the trip for photographs.
- 5:00 PMKalaripayattu Cultural Show (a highlight)A live performance of Kerala's 2,000-year-old martial art. Subject to ticket availability, and entry fees are not included in the package.
- 7:00 PMDinner & Bonfire at the StayBack at the property for a group dinner, icebreaker games, music and a bonfire under the tea slopes, weather permitting.
Lockhart Viewpoint & the Kolukkumalai Jeep Ride
Sunday morning is a freshen-up and breakfast, then check-out and straight into the hills. Lockhart Gap Viewpoint opens up the panorama first — deep valleys, tea plantations and mountain roads folding into each other — and from there rugged jeeps climb the track to Kolukkumalai at over 7,000 ft, the highest tea estate in the world. Jaguar Rock is the last viewpoint of the trip, looking out over the plains below. Lunch is another offbeat stop, with time in town for local tea, spices and souvenirs. The group turns for home in the evening, with dinner and tea breaks on the highway, and you should reach Bengaluru early on Monday morning.
- 7:00 AMFreshen Up & BreakfastAn easy start with a hearty breakfast at the property before the day heads uphill.
- 8:00 AMCheck-Out from the StayPack up and check out; bags travel with the group for the rest of the day.
- 10:00 AMLockhart Gap ViewpointA stop on the Munnar-Thekkady road for layered views of deep valleys, tea plantations and twisting mountain roads.
- 12:00 PMJeep Ride to Kolukkumalai (a highlight)Rugged 4x4s grind up the mountain track to Kolukkumalai at over 7,000 ft, the highest tea estate in the world. Jeep charges are not included in the package.
- 3:00 PMJaguar Rock ViewpointThe last viewpoint of the trip, looking out over the Western Ghats and the plains far below.
- 4:00 PMOffbeat Lunch & Tea ShoppingA late lunch at a local restaurant and a quick stop in town for tea, spices and souvenirs. Lunch is on your own.
- 6:00 PMReturn Drive to BengaluruBoard the bus for the overnight drive home, with dinner and tea breaks on the highway. Expected arrival in Bengaluru early on Monday morning.
What’s included
6 items · extras
Gear & extras, 6 items
- Meals: breakfast on both days and dinner on Day 1
- The overall experience that you gain during the trek
- Accommodation on sharing basis in tents/rooms/dorms based on property available
- Trained outdoor leader
- Round-trip via AC tempo traveller or minibus (based on group size) with push-back seats
- Drive bata, toll, parking & interstate parking
Not included, 6 items
- Travel, accident, health, or medical insurance
- Anything not explicitly mentioned under Inclusions
- Entry fees for the Kalaripayattu Cultural Show
- Charges for the Kolukkumalai jeep ride
- Any additional expenses due to unforeseen situations such as weather conditions, landslides, or public disturbances
- GST @ 5%
Questions about this trip
What should I carry?
A backpack or rucksack plus a small day pack, a reusable water bottle, comfortable clothes (T-shirts, trek or cargo pants), one warm layer such as a fleece or sweatshirt, a rain jacket or poncho, cap and sunglasses, trekking or sports shoes with good grip, flip-flops for the stay, basic toiletries, sunscreen (SPF 40+), any personal medication, snacks or energy bars, a power bank, polybags for wet or muddy clothes, and extra cash for meals and activities not covered in the package.
What is the check-in policy and how strictly is the daily timeline followed?
Check-in at the stay is only after 12:00 noon, so Saturday morning starts with a freshen-up and a luggage drop; common washrooms are available so you can get ready without losing the day. Early check-in depends entirely on room availability when we arrive. The hourly schedule is tentative. The order of places or the timings may shift with weather, traffic, local restrictions or road conditions, and the Kalaripayattu show is subject to ticket availability while the bonfire depends on the weather.
Is it safe to travel with strangers?
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Are your trips safe for women?
On all of our trips, safety is non-negotiable and our priority. Female outdoor leaders accompany every group, the stays are secure, and we guarantee separate sleeping arrangements for men and women.
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