Ooty, Tamil Nadu
Ooty & Coonoor Weekend Trip from Bangalore
- Duration
- 2D / 1N2 days · 1 night
- Starts from
- Bangalore
- Trip type
- Mountains
A Nilgiris weekend from Bangalore: tea and chocolate tastings, Dolphin's Nose, the Toy Train, Ooty Lake, pine forests and Pykara Lake.
- Mountains
- Heights
- Nature
- Culture
Dates
- 30–31 Oct 20262 days₹5,999
See 7 more datesShow fewer dates
- 6–7 Nov 20262 days₹5,999
- 13–14 Nov 20262 days₹5,999
- 20–21 Nov 20262 days₹5,999
- 27–28 Nov 20262 days₹5,999
- 4–5 Dec 20262 days₹5,999
- 11–12 Dec 20262 days₹5,999
- 18–19 Dec 20262 days₹5,999
Prices are per person.
The trip
Ooty and Coonoor sit high in the Nilgiri Hills, where the air turns cool, eucalyptus and pine line the roads and tea gardens roll down every slope. Ooty, the old Queen of Hill Stations, still carries its colonial charm; Coonoor below it is quieter, greener and built around tea. This weekend is less about ticking off sights and more about misty mornings, long views and slowing down.
We leave Bangalore on Friday night and drive through the night into the hills, reaching our Ooty homestay early on Saturday. After freshening up and breakfast, we taste fresh Nilgiri tea and local dark chocolate at a tea and chocolate factory, then stand at the cliff edge of Dolphin's Nose in Coonoor, looking over deep valleys towards Catherine Falls. After lunch comes the Nilgiri Toy Train, winding through tunnels, over bridges and around hairpin bends. The evening is spent at Ooty Lake, with boating, cycling, horse riding or a quiet walk at sunset, before a campfire night at the stay with music and long conversations.
Sunday starts with breakfast and check-out, then a walk through the towering Pine Forest with the Nilgiri hills behind it. After lunch we visit the Shooting Spot, a hilltop meadow loved by Hindi and Tamil film crews, and end the day by Pykara Lake, with an optional boat ride. We start the drive home in the evening and reach Bangalore early on Monday morning.
The stay is a cosy homestay on triple or quad sharing, and breakfast is included on both days. Lunches, dinners, the Toy Train ticket and activities such as boating are paid on the spot. A trip leader stays with the group throughout, and the trip is alcohol- and smoke-free.
Highlights
Day 1 · 11:00 AMDolphin's Nose Viewpoint, Coonoor
Day 1 · 2:30 PMNilgiri Toy Train ride
Day 2 · 9:30 AMPine Forest walk
Day 2 · 3:30 PMPykara Lake
Day by day
Overnight Drive, Tea Trails, Dolphin's Nose & Toy Train
We leave Bangalore on Friday night, with pickups at HSR Layout at 9:00 PM and Marathahalli at 9:30 PM, so please have dinner before boarding. After an overnight drive in a non-AC tempo traveller or mini bus with push-back seats, we reach the Ooty homestay early on Saturday. The day takes in a tea and chocolate factory, Dolphin's Nose in Coonoor, the Nilgiri Toy Train and an evening at Ooty Lake, ending with a campfire at the stay.
- 7:00 AMArrive at the Ooty homestayFreshen up using the washrooms at the stay. Room check-in at Ooty stays is only after 11 AM on weekends.
- 8:00 AMBreakfast at the stayBreakfast at the homestay. Included in the package.
- 9:00 AMTea & Chocolate FactoryTaste freshly brewed Nilgiri tea and locally made dark chocolate, and see how both are made.
- 11:00 AMDolphin's Nose Viewpoint, Coonoor (a highlight)Stand at the edge of a dramatic cliff with views over deep valleys and rocky gorges, with Catherine Falls in the distance (seen from the viewpoint).
- 1:00 PMLunch at a local restaurantLunch at a local restaurant. Self-sponsored.
- 2:30 PMNilgiri Toy Train ride (a highlight)Ride the famous Toy Train through tunnels, over bridges and around hairpin bends. Tickets are subject to availability and paid separately.
- 5:00 PMEvening at Ooty LakeGo boating, cycle around the lake, try horse riding (all paid on the spot) or simply walk by the water as the sun sets behind the hills.
- 7:30 PMCampfire night at the stayMusic, food and long conversations around the campfire (weather permitting). Dinner is self-sponsored. Overnight at the homestay.
Pine Forest, Shooting Spot & Pykara Lake
Wake up to a cool mountain morning, have breakfast and check out. We walk through the Pine Forest, stop for lunch, visit the Shooting Spot and end the day at Pykara Lake. In the evening we start the drive back, reaching Bangalore early on Monday morning.
- 8:00 AMBreakfast & check-outBreakfast at the stay (included), then pack up and check out.
- 9:30 AMPine Forest walk (a highlight)Walk among towering pine trees set against the Nilgiri hills, one of the most photographed spots around Ooty.
- 12:30 PMLunch at a local restaurantLunch at a local eatery on the way. Options are limited here, so we eat wherever is available. Self-sponsored.
- 2:00 PMThe Shooting SpotA hilltop meadow made famous by Hindi and Tamil film shoots, with open views of the mountains all around.
- 3:30 PMPykara Lake (a highlight)Relax by the scenic Pykara Lake or take an optional boat ride (paid on the spot).
- 6:00 PMDrive back to BangaloreStart the overnight drive home with rest stops, reaching Bangalore early on Monday morning.
What’s included
5 items · extras
Gear & extras, 5 items
- Breakfast on Day 1 and Day 2
- Driver allowance, interstate taxes, tolls and parking charges
- Round-trip transport from Bangalore by non-AC tempo traveller or mini bus with push-back seats (based on group size)
- Trip leader throughout the trip
- One night in a cosy homestay, on triple or quad sharing
Not included, 7 items
- Costs from situations beyond our control, such as bad weather, landslides or public protests
- Anything not listed in the inclusions
- Personal expenses of any kind
- Lunches, dinners and any meals not listed in the inclusions
- GST @ 5%
- Travel, accidental and medical insurance, and medical expenses
- Toy Train tickets, boating, cycling, horse riding and any entry fees
Questions about this trip
What should I carry?
A soft copy of your Aadhaar, a backpack plus a small day pack, comfortable clothes, one warm layer (fleece or sweatshirt), a rain jacket or poncho, a cap and sunglasses, shoes with good grip, flip-flops for the stay, toiletries, sunscreen, any personal medication, snacks, a reusable water bottle, a power bank, polybags for wet clothes, and cash for meals and activities that are not included.
What is the stay like, and when can we check in?
One night in a cosy homestay on triple or quad sharing. We reach Ooty early on Saturday, but weekend check-in at Ooty stays is only after 11 AM, so we freshen up in the stay's washrooms, have breakfast and head out. Meals provided are basic and vegetarian.
What costs extra on the trip?
Breakfast on both days is included. Lunches, dinners, the Toy Train ticket (subject to availability), boating, cycling and horse riding at Ooty Lake, the optional Pykara boat ride, any entry fees and personal shopping are paid on the spot.
Is it safe to travel with strangers?
Yes. A trip leader stays with the group from pickup to drop, pickups are at busy public points, and most groups are a mix of solo travellers, friends and first-timers. Women travelling solo join these trips regularly.
Are there any rules on the trip?
No alcohol, intoxicants or smoking at any point during the journey or the stay. Please have dinner before boarding, carry back your litter and keep your valuables with you. The campfire depends on the weather, and timings can shift with traffic or vehicle delays.
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