First, one night in Kochi
Eighth Bastion
Stay at Eighth Bastion, Fort Kochi — a CGH Earth boutique hotel on the old fort line, walkable to the Chinese fishing nets, on our Kerala tours.
Kochi · Boutique · Premium★★★★
Premium Accommodation7 NightsPremiumHill Station
Kerala Hills & Highlands Explorer — Premium
About This Journey
Kerala Hills & Highlands Explorer — Premium
Seven nights that climb through the Western Ghats in stages: Wayanad's forested plateau, Munnar's tea hills and Thekkady's cardamom forest, each a genuine change in altitude and landscape rather than a repeat of the last.
From Kochi, the road rises through the Thamarassery Pass into Wayanad, then crosses the high ranges to Munnar's tea estates, and finally descends to Thekkady, ending with a dawn boat ride on Periyar Lake. It is a route for travellers who want the Ghats' full vertical range, not just one hill station.
- 01
The Thamarassery Pass into Wayanad
The drive up from Kochi climbs through the Thamarassery Pass, a genuine change in landscape as the plains give way to Wayanad's forested plateau.
- 02
The Chembra trail and Banasura Sagar
A full day at Wayanad covers the Chembra trail and Banasura Sagar, one of India's largest earthen dams, before the road turns toward Munnar.
- 03
High-ranges drive to Munnar's tea estates
The crossing from Wayanad to Munnar runs through the high ranges themselves, arriving at tea estates and old plantation machinery, with a stay at Windermere Estate.
- 04
A dawn boat ride to close the trip
The final morning is a boat ride on Periyar Lake at dawn, staying at Spice Village - A CGH Earth Experience at the forest's edge.
Chapter Two — Where You'll Stay
4 Real Stays, In Order
Handpicked along your own route — not a hotel chain repeated city to city.
Next, 3 nights in Wayanad
Vythiri Village Resort, Wayanad
A 30-acre rainforest resort near Vythiri at 2,600 feet, with Kerala-style cottages, pool villas, a Nawa Ayurveda spa and a canopy zip-line.
Wayanad · Resort · Premium★★★★
Next, 2 nights in Munnar
Windermere Estate
A family-run tea and cardamom estate resort near Munnar, with plantation walks, hill views, and just 18 rooms.
Munnar · Boutique · Premium★★★★
Finally, one night in Thekkady
Spice Village – A CGH Earth Experience
A CGH Earth spice-garden resort on the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, with cottages, pools, and Ayurveda spa.
Thekkady · Resort · Premium★★★★
Chapter Three — Day by Day
Real Kerala Attractions in This Itinerary
6 of your 8days — the full itinerary follows below. Scroll to travel the route.
Day 2 · Kochi → Wayanad
Kochi to Wayanad — Up the Thamarassery Pass
The drive to Wayanad takes about four and a half hours and climbs the whole second half. The road up from the coast turns nine tight hairpin bends through the Thamarassery pass. Rubber gives way to coffee, then to forest. Wayanad is Kerala's only plateau, held high in the Western Ghats. By the time you reach the resort the air is cool and the light is going.
Day 3 · Wayanad
Wayanad — Wildlife Sanctuary & Edakkal Caves
A dawn jeep safari through Muthanga or Tholpetty, booked through the forest department. Elephant, gaur and deer are the usual sightings; tiger and leopard are here and rarely seen. Later you climb to the Edakkal Caves, two rock shelters on Ambukuthi hill. Their walls are cut with carvings that are thousands of years old, some among the oldest in India. The last stretch is a steep set of stairs and iron ladders.
Day 4 · Wayanad
Wayanad — Chembra Trail & Banasura Sagar
The morning is a guided walk on Chembra, the district's highest hill, past a small heart-shaped lake said never to dry. Numbers are capped each day and the upper section is often closed for weather or fire risk. The afternoon is Banasura Sagar, the largest earthen dam in India. Its reservoir has flooded the low hills into islands, and a speedboat runs out among them. The Banasura ridge stands behind the whole scene.
Day 5 · Wayanad → Munnar
Wayanad to Munnar — Across the High Ranges
This is a long transfer, six to seven hours, and a scenic one. The road drops off the Wayanad plateau, crosses the low country, then climbs again into the high ranges. Coffee and forest turn to cardamom and then to tea. Munnar sits at around 1,600 metres, in a bowl of estates first planted in the 1880s. You arrive in the late afternoon with the tea light at its best.
Day 6 · Munnar
Munnar — Tea Estates & the Old Plantation Machinery
Munnar is tea, and has been since the 1880s. Spend the morning walking a working estate with a planter who can explain what you are looking at. The Tata Tea Museum houses the original rollers and a functioning miniature factory. Afternoon at Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point.
Day 7 · Munnar → Thekkady
Munnar to Thekkady — Along the Cardamom Hills
Three and a half hours south through the Cardamom Hills. The road is good and the views are constant. You can smell the plantations before you see them. Thekkady sits on the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve, so the last stretch runs through genuine forest.
Chapter Four — The Full Itinerary
8 Days, In Full
Every day, start to finish — including the transfers the day-by-day chapter above skipped.
Kochi
Arrival in Kochi — Fort Kochi & the Spice Quarter
Your driver meets you at Cochin airport. The road runs out to Fort Kochi, where four centuries of trade left their mark on one small peninsula. Walk the lanes on foot. St Francis Church, the Dutch Cemetery, the godowns of Jew Town still stacked with ginger and pepper. Evening is free for a Kathakali performance if you want one.
Kochi → Wayanad
Kochi to Wayanad — Up the Thamarassery Pass
The drive to Wayanad takes about four and a half hours and climbs the whole second half. The road up from the coast turns nine tight hairpin bends through the Thamarassery pass. Rubber gives way to coffee, then to forest. Wayanad is Kerala's only plateau, held high in the Western Ghats. By the time you reach the resort the air is cool and the light is going.
Wayanad
Wayanad — Wildlife Sanctuary & Edakkal Caves
A dawn jeep safari through Muthanga or Tholpetty, booked through the forest department. Elephant, gaur and deer are the usual sightings; tiger and leopard are here and rarely seen. Later you climb to the Edakkal Caves, two rock shelters on Ambukuthi hill. Their walls are cut with carvings that are thousands of years old, some among the oldest in India. The last stretch is a steep set of stairs and iron ladders.
Wayanad
Wayanad — Chembra Trail & Banasura Sagar
The morning is a guided walk on Chembra, the district's highest hill, past a small heart-shaped lake said never to dry. Numbers are capped each day and the upper section is often closed for weather or fire risk. The afternoon is Banasura Sagar, the largest earthen dam in India. Its reservoir has flooded the low hills into islands, and a speedboat runs out among them. The Banasura ridge stands behind the whole scene.
Wayanad → Munnar
Wayanad to Munnar — Across the High Ranges
This is a long transfer, six to seven hours, and a scenic one. The road drops off the Wayanad plateau, crosses the low country, then climbs again into the high ranges. Coffee and forest turn to cardamom and then to tea. Munnar sits at around 1,600 metres, in a bowl of estates first planted in the 1880s. You arrive in the late afternoon with the tea light at its best.
Munnar
Munnar — Tea Estates & the Old Plantation Machinery
Munnar is tea, and has been since the 1880s. Spend the morning walking a working estate with a planter who can explain what you are looking at. The Tata Tea Museum houses the original rollers and a functioning miniature factory. Afternoon at Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point.
Munnar → Thekkady
Munnar to Thekkady — Along the Cardamom Hills
Three and a half hours south through the Cardamom Hills. The road is good and the views are constant. You can smell the plantations before you see them. Thekkady sits on the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve, so the last stretch runs through genuine forest.
Thekkady
Thekkady — Periyar Lake at Dawn, then Onward
The first boat onto Periyar Lake leaves at half past seven. Dead trees still stand in the water, drowned when the dam went up in 1895, and elephant and sambar come down to drink along the shoreline. Bring a long lens. Afterwards you continue on or head for the airport.
Guest Stories
What Our Travelers Say
Real words from real journeys — rated 5.0 across 310 Google reviews.
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Nothing short of magical. Brijesh crafted a seamless itinerary that balanced sightseeing, culture, and relaxation, making our journey truly special.
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Excellent hotels and tour guides. Our driver Manish was superb in every way — reliable, and full of local knowledge.
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Chapter Five — Terms & Conditions
Straightforward, In Writing
Cancellation windows, refund timing, and rescheduling terms for this journey follow our one sitewide policy — nothing package-specific to dig through.
Read the Return & Refund PolicyFrequently Asked
Before You Book
How is this different from the Wildlife & Nature Expedition on the same route?
The stops and days are identical. This version is framed around the landscape and altitude change through Wayanad, Munnar and Thekkady rather than the wildlife itself.
How much walking is involved at Wayanad?
The Chembra trail is a moderate walk rather than a technical trek. Pace and distance can be adjusted with your guide on the day.
Chapter Six — Similar Journeys
More of Kerala, Privately
Before you go
Planning Kerala
Kerala Travel Guide
Wayanad Travel Guide: Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak, Banasura Sagar and When to Go
Destination GuideKeralaPlanning Guide
Kerala Travel Guide
Thekkady Spice Plantation Visit: What to See, Buy and Avoid
Destination GuideItinerary InspirationKerala
Kerala Travel Guide
Thekkady in 2 Days: Periyar, Spice Gardens and Culture
Destination GuideItinerary InspirationKerala
Why Choose Us
The Same Trust, Sized to This Trip
01
Planning, Built Around You
This route was shaped around Kerala's real places, not lifted from a fixed template.
13 years — Brijesh Sharma, Bespoke Itinerary Specialist
02
Handpicked Hotels
Every stay on this trip was chosen in person, not off a ratings page.
4 real stays, 4★
03
A Private Fleet, Always Yours
One driver, air-conditioned, for the whole route — no shared shuttle.
Premium sedans & SUVs · One driver, the whole trip
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