--- title: "Ooty & Coonoor Weekend Getaway" description: "Tea and chocolate factory, Dolphin's Nose, the Nilgiri toy train, Ooty Lake, a campfire night, then Pine Forest, Wenlock Downs and Pykara Lake." url: "https://www.goweekender.in/escapes/ooty-coonoor-weekend-getaway" --- # Ooty & Coonoor Weekend Getaway Tea and chocolate factory, Dolphin's Nose, the Nilgiri toy train, Ooty Lake, a campfire night, then Pine Forest, Wenlock Downs and Pykara Lake. - Destination: Ooty, Tamil Nadu - Departs from: Bangalore - Duration: 2D/1N (2 days, 1 night) - Price: from ₹5,999 - Categories: Relaxation, Nature, Adventure, Culture, Heights - Booking: in the GoWeekender app (iOS and Android), run by a verified host ## Upcoming departures - 30 Oct 2026: ₹5,999 - 6 Nov 2026: ₹5,999 - 13 Nov 2026: ₹5,999 ## About this trip Ooty and Coonoor are charming hill stations nestled in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Ooty, the Queen of Hill Stations, is one of the most popular getaways in South India, with pleasant weather through the year, sprawling tea gardens, lush green landscapes and viewpoints like Doddabetta Peak. Coonoor is renowned for its tea estates, breathtaking views of the Nilgiris and Sim's Park, a botanical garden from the early 20th century. Both are ideal for nature lovers, offering tranquillity, stunning landscapes and plenty of trekking, bird watching and photography. We leave Bangalore on Friday night at 9:30 PM for an 8 to 9-hour overnight drive up the ghats. Day 1 starts at a tea and chocolate factory to sample fresh Nilgiri teas, then Dolphin's Nose in Coonoor for views of the gorges and Catherine Falls, lunch, a ride on the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train through the valleys, and an evening at Ooty Lake before a campfire night at the homestay. Day 2 takes in the Pine Forest, the Wenlock Downs shooting point and Pykara Lake or falls before the drive back to Bangalore, reaching early Monday morning. A note on crowds: Ooty gets very busy in the holiday season and roads can be jammed, especially 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 in rooms on a triple and quad sharing basis with breakfast on both days included. Lunches, dinners, the toy train ticket, activities at Ooty and entry tickets are self-sponsored. ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Overnight Departure, Tea Factory, Dolphin's Nose, Toy Train & Ooty Lake Escape the city hustle on Friday night as we head for the Nilgiris. Board the coach at your pickup point for the 8 to 9-hour overnight drive up the winding ghat roads to Ooty. Pickups: 9:30 PM Udupi Grand (Teacher's Colony, HSR Layout), 10:00 PM KLM Fashion Mall (Marathahalli), 10:30 PM Domlur Sky Walk (Old Airport Road). Welcome to the Queen of Hill Stations. After arriving at the homestay and freshening up (on weekends check-in is only after 11 AM, so washrooms are provided to freshen up), we start with a sensory tour of a tea and chocolate factory to sample fresh Nilgiri teas and homemade chocolates. Next, drive to Dolphin's Nose for thrilling views of the mountain gorges over the Kotagiri valley and Catherine Falls. After lunch, board the world-famous UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train for a scenic ride through the valleys (subject to ticket availability). In the evening unwind by Ooty Lake before returning to the homestay for a campfire night with music, food and conversations. Ooty gets crowded in the holiday season, especially on Day 1, so please stick to the captain's timings. - 7:00 AM Reach the homestay, freshen up & breakfast: Arrive at the homestay after the overnight drive. On weekends check-in is only after 11 AM, so washrooms are provided to freshen up before breakfast. - 9:00 AM Tea & chocolate factory: A sensory tour of a tea and chocolate factory to taste fresh Nilgiri teas and homemade chocolates, with time to shop. - 10:30 AM Dolphin's Nose viewpoint: Drive to Dolphin's Nose in Coonoor for thrilling views of the mountain gorges over the Kotagiri valley and Catherine Falls, seen from the viewpoint. - 1:00 PM Lunch at a local restaurant: Lunch at a local restaurant (self-sponsored). - 2:30 PM Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train: Ride the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train for a scenic, aesthetic trip through the valleys. Tickets are self-sponsored and subject to availability. - 5:30 PM Evening at Ooty Lake: Unwind by Ooty Lake, a major attraction, and admire the scenery; boating is available (self-sponsored). - 7:30 PM Campfire night at the homestay: Return to the stay, freshen up and enjoy a campfire night (subject to weather) with dinner (self-sponsored), music and long conversations before a peaceful sleep. ### Day 2: Pine Forest, Wenlock Downs Shooting Point, Pykara Lake & Return After breakfast and check-out we head to the Pine Forest, where towering pines set against the Nilgiri mountains make an otherworldly escape for nature lovers. Lunch is at a simple local eatery nearby, as this is an offbeat stretch with limited options. Later we visit the famous Wenlock Downs shooting point, a favourite of Hindi and Tamil film directors for its sweeping mountain views, and then relax at the scenic Pykara Lake, where boating is available. We depart for Bangalore by evening and reach the city early Monday morning with a bag full of memories. - 7:30 AM Breakfast & check-out: Wake up to the Nilgiri chill, freshen up and pack. Breakfast at the homestay is included; complete check-out before we leave. - 9:30 AM Pine Forest: Walk among the towering pines set against the backdrop of the Nilgiri mountains, an otherworldly escape and a favourite photo spot. - 12:30 PM Lunch at a local eatery: Lunch at a local eatery nearby (self-sponsored). This is an offbeat location, so food options are limited and simple. - 2:00 PM Wenlock Downs shooting point: Visit the famous shooting spot on the Wenlock Downs, popular with Hindi and Tamil film directors, for picturesque views of the mountains all around. - 3:00 PM Pykara Lake: Relax at the scenic Pykara Lake, take in the views and, if you like, go boating (self-sponsored). - 5:00 PM Return journey to Bangalore: Depart for Bangalore by evening with dinner and tea breaks along the way (self-sponsored). Expected arrival early Monday morning at the Bangalore drop points. ## What's included - Meals: breakfast on Day 1 and Day 2. - Entire travel as per the itinerary by AC Tempo Traveller. - Accommodation in rooms on a triple and quad sharing basis. - Driver bata and toll charges. - Trip captain throughout the trip. - Experience of group travel and a lifetime of memories. ## Not included - Lunch and dinner on both days. - Personal expenses and tips. - Travel, accidental and medical insurance. - Anything not mentioned under inclusions. - Costs arising from uncontrollable circumstances like bad weather, landslides or public protests. - Toy train tickets, activities at Ooty and entry tickets. - GST @ 5%. ## FAQs ### What should I carry? A day pack, water bottle, sun cap and sunglasses, long and short-sleeve T-shirts, a fleece jacket or sweatshirt for the cold, long pants, a couple of pairs of socks, a small towel, a rain jacket or poncho, good-traction shoes plus flip-flops, a personal medical kit with any prescribed medication, toothbrush and toiletries, SPF 40+ sunscreen, a power bank, some snacks, polybags for wet clothes, a soft copy of your Aadhaar card, extra cash for meals not included in the itinerary, and most importantly your sense of humour and spirit of adventure. Let's leave nothing behind but our footprints. ### 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. Ooty gets crowded in the holiday season, especially on Day 1, 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 so you can get ready for the day's plan without delay. ### 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.