--- title: "Munnar Backpacking Trip" description: "Tea-garden Photo Point, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, a Kalaripayattu show and bonfire, then a 4x4 jeep ride to Kolukkumalai and Jaguar Rock." url: "https://www.goweekender.in/escapes/munnar-backpacking-trip" --- # Munnar Backpacking Trip Tea-garden Photo Point, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point, a Kalaripayattu show and bonfire, then a 4x4 jeep ride to Kolukkumalai and Jaguar Rock. - Destination: Munnar, Kerala - Departs from: Bangalore - Duration: 2D/1N (2 days, 1 night) - Price: from ₹6,599 - Categories: Relaxation, Heights, Waves, Culture, Adventure, Nature - Booking: in the GoWeekender app (iOS and Android), run by a verified host ## Upcoming departures - 30 Oct 2026: ₹6,599 - 6 Nov 2026: ₹6,599 - 13 Nov 2026: ₹6,599 - 20 Nov 2026: ₹6,599 - 27 Nov 2026: ₹6,599 ## About this trip Munnar is a popular hill station in Kerala, known for its breathtaking landscapes, tea gardens, spice plantations and cool climate, a favourite of nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts alike. With its scenic beauty, rolling tea estates and tranquil ambience, it is the perfect getaway to experience the charm of Kerala's hills. We leave Bangalore on Friday night at 8:30 PM for the 500 km, roughly 11 to 12-hour overnight drive. Day 1 starts among the manicured tea gardens at Photo Point, then the scenic lake drive to Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point, a simple local lunch, and a live Kalaripayattu performance, Kerala's ancient martial art, before dinner and a bonfire night at the stay. Day 2 heads out along the Munnar-Thekkady road past Periyakanal Falls (seasonal) and the Lockhart Gap viewpoint to the 4x4 jeep ride up Kolukkumalai, the world's highest tea plantation, and the Jaguar Rock viewpoint, then a late lunch and the overnight drive back to Bangalore, arriving early Monday morning. A note on crowds: Munnar gets very busy in the holiday season and roads can be jammed, especially at Echo Point and Mattupetty Dam on Day 1, so there is an outside chance of missing a place or two. Please follow the timings set by the trip captain so we stay ahead of the crowd. Stay is on a triple-sharing basis in cabin-frame cottage tents or rooms, with breakfast on both days and dinner on Day 1 included. Lunches, dinner on Day 2, the Kolukkumalai jeep ride and the Kalaripayattu show entry are self-sponsored. ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Overnight Departure, Photo Point, Mattupetty Dam, Echo Point & Kalaripayattu Show Leave the city noise behind on Friday night and set off for the emerald tea hills of Munnar on the 500 km, roughly 11 to 12-hour overnight drive. Pickups: 8:30 PM Udupi Grand (Teacher's Colony, HSR Layout), 9:00 PM KLM Fashion Mall (Marathahalli) Welcome the crisp mountain mist as the winding ghat roads bring us to our stay on the outskirts of Munnar. Check-in at Munnar stays is usually around noon, so we freshen up in the washrooms, leave luggage in the common area and head out after breakfast: Photo Point for stunning views over the manicured tea plantations, the Mattupetty Dam, a simple lunch at an offbeat local place (food options are limited), and Echo Point for scenic views and the natural echo. The highlight of the evening is a live Kalaripayattu show, the oldest martial art form of Kerala, before we return to the stay for dinner and a bonfire night with music and new friends. Munnar gets crowded in the holiday season, especially at Echo Point and Mattupetty Dam, so please stick to the captain's timings. - 8:00 AM Reach the stay, freshen up & breakfast: Arrive at the stay on the outskirts. Check-in is usually around noon, so freshen up in the washrooms, leave luggage in the common area and enjoy a hot South Indian breakfast. - 10:00 AM Photo Point tea gardens: Stop at Photo Point for stunning views and photos among the manicured tea plantations. - 11:30 AM Mattupetty Dam: Drive along the scenic lake road to Mattupetty Dam and admire the reservoir set among the tea gardens. - 1:00 PM Lunch at an offbeat local eatery: Lunch at a simple local eatery (self-sponsored). Food options are limited in this area, so please pick from what is available. - 2:30 PM Echo Point: Visit Echo Point on the lake for scenic views, the natural echo and plenty of pictures. This spot gets crowded, so we keep to the captain's timings. - 5:00 PM Kalaripayattu culture show: Watch a thrilling live Kalaripayattu performance, the oldest martial art form of Kerala and the highlight of the day. Entry charges are self-sponsored. - 7:00 PM Check-in, dinner & bonfire night: Return to the stay, complete check-in and freshen up, then gather around the bonfire for dinner (included), music and storytelling with fellow travellers. ### Day 2: Periyakanal Falls, Lockhart Gap, Kolukkumalai Jeep Ride, Jaguar Rock & Return Wake up early to the soothing morning breeze over the tea estates. After breakfast and check-out we drive along the lush Munnar-Thekkady road, stopping at Periyakanal Waterfalls (seasonal) and the Lockhart Gap viewpoint for sweeping views of Munnar's valleys. Next comes the adventurous off-road 4x4 jeep ride up to Kolukkumalai, the highest tea plantation in the world, with iconic photos at the Jaguar Rock viewpoint among cloud-kissed tea estates. After a relaxed offbeat lunch stop we begin the overnight return journey to Bangalore, arriving early Monday morning refreshed and recharged. - 7:00 AM Breakfast & check-out: Early wake-up to the breeze over the tea estates, freshen up and pack. Breakfast at the stay is included; complete check-out before we leave. - 8:30 AM Periyakanal Waterfalls: Drive along the scenic Munnar-Thekkady road and stop at Periyakanal Waterfalls (water flow is seasonal). - 10:00 AM Lockhart Gap viewpoint: Stop at the Lockhart Gap viewpoint to take in panoramic views of Munnar's tea valleys. - 11:30 AM 4x4 jeep ride to Kolukkumalai: Hop into 4x4 off-road jeeps for the adventurous ride up to Kolukkumalai, the highest tea estate in the world, with breathtaking views of the plantations. Jeep charge is self-sponsored. - 1:30 PM Jaguar Rock viewpoint: Capture iconic photos at the Jaguar Rock viewpoint on top of Kolukkumalai, a popular spot amid the cloud-kissed tea estates. - 3:00 PM Offbeat lunch stop: Pit stop for a wholesome offbeat lunch on the way down (self-sponsored), with time for tea tasting and souvenir shopping in town. - 5:00 PM Return journey to Bangalore: Board the coach for the overnight drive back to Bangalore with highway dinner and tea breaks (self-sponsored). Expected arrival early Monday morning at the Bangalore drop points. ## What's included - All toll and driver night charges. - Trip captain throughout the trip. - Entire travel as per the itinerary by AC Tempo Traveller / Mini Bus. - Experience of group travel and a lifetime of memories. - Accommodation on a triple sharing basis in cabin-frame cottage tents or rooms. - Meals: breakfast on Day 1 and Day 2, dinner on Day 1. ## Not included - GST @ 5%. - Costs arising from uncontrollable circumstances like bad weather, landslides or public protests. - Travel, accidental, health and medical insurance. - Jeep ride charge to Kolukkumalai. - Anything not mentioned under inclusions. - Lunch on both days and dinner on Day 2, personal expenses and tips. - Kalaripayattu cultural show entry charges. ## FAQs ### What should I carry? Soft copy of your Aadhaar card, a warm jacket for the chilly evenings, cargo or track pants and shorts, T-shirts, sunscreen, good-traction shoes, two water bottles, cap and sunglasses, a personal medical kit, flip-flops for lazing around the stay, polybags for wet clothes, extra cash for meals not included in the itinerary, a power bank, a small backpack for the day, and most importantly your sense of humour and spirit of adventure. ### Is it safe to travel with strangers? Safety is built into everything we do. Every member completes ID verification before joining. Our community review system means travellers build reputation through completed trips. Plus, tribes typically form through chat and video calls before any trip happens, so by the time you meet, they're not really strangers anymore. ### How does GoWeekender match travellers? Our Vibe Check algorithm goes beyond basic preferences. We analyse your travel pace (relaxed explorer vs packed itinerary), adventure appetite (chill vibes vs adrenaline junkie), budget comfort zone, and interests like photography, street food or trekking. The result? You get matched with travellers who genuinely get you, not just people heading to the same place. ### How does group travel make adventures more accessible? Simple math: split accommodation, shared transport and group rates on activities. What costs ₹15,000 solo often drops to ₹6,000-8,000 when you're travelling with your tribe. Beyond money, you also get shared planning effort, safety in numbers and, honestly, way better photos. ### What is the check-in policy and how strictly is the daily timeline followed? Activity & daily timeline: the hourly schedule is tentative and designed to give you the best experience. The order of places visited or the timings may change because of weather, traffic, local government restrictions or road conditions. Munnar gets crowded in the holiday season, especially at Echo Point and Mattupetty Dam, so please follow the timings set by the trip captain. Early check-in: standard check-in times apply as per the stay's policy, and early check-in is strictly subject to room availability on arrival. Where it isn't available, common washrooms and freshen-up areas will be provided and luggage can be stored in the common area so you can get ready for the day's plan without delay.