Kerala Offbeat Grand Tour: Nilambur to Ponmudi — 9 Nights / 10 Days
The deepest offbeat route we run, from Nilambur's teak forests down to Ponmudi above Trivandrum, taking in Wayanad, Fort Kochi, Vagamon's meadows, the Gavi forest, Thekkady and Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam. Three of these places are forest or plantation controlled and capped, so the booking is built around them. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets and daily breakfast are included.
About this itinerary
This 9 nights and 10 days Kerala tour package covers Nilambur, Wayanad, Kochi, Vagamon, Gavi, Thekkady, Kollam and Ponmudi, based on a Nilambur night, two nights in Wayanad, a Fort Kochi night, a Vagamon night, a night in the Gavi forest, a Thekkady night, a Kollam night and a Ponmudi night. Day 1 is the Nilambur teak forests, Day 2 climbs to Wayanad, Day 3 is the Edakkal Caves and Wayanad sights, Day 4 descends to Fort Kochi, Day 5 is Vagamon's pine meadows, Day 6 is the drive into Gavi, Day 7 is the Gavi wildlife drive and the transfer to Thekkady, Day 8 is Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam, Day 9 climbs to Ponmudi, and Day 10 is the descent to Trivandrum.
Two constraints shape the booking. Gavi is capped daily by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation with compulsory advance reservation, and Ponmudi access is controlled by the forest department with a fixed last-entry time, so we confirm both first and build the other eight days around them. This is not a first Kerala trip: it suits repeat visitors, trekkers and photographers who have already done Munnar, Alleppey and Kovalam.
Everything below is included unless it is listed under Add-ons.
Day-by-day itinerary
Every day below can be moved, shortened or swapped. Replanning is free — you only pay the difference in what you change.
- Day 1NilamburArrival day
Nilambur Teak Forests and the Nedumkayam Rainforest
Pickup at Kozhikode and the drive to Nilambur, Conolly's Plot teak plantation, the Teak Museum and the Nedumkayam rainforest.
The highlight of this day is Conolly's Plot, planted in the 1840s and still the oldest teak plantation in the world.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs from Kozhikode airportStay: Nilambur - Day 2WayanadTransfer day
Up the Ghat into Wayanad
The drive up into Wayanad with a stop at the Lakkidi viewpoint, then check in.
The highlight of this day is the Lakkidi viewpoint, where the whole ghat you have just climbed falls away behind you.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3 hrs to WayanadStay: WayanadBreakfast included - Day 3WayanadSightseeing
Wayanad: Edakkal Caves, Waterfalls and Banasura Dam
A full day around Wayanad covering the Edakkal Caves, the Soochipara waterfalls, the Banasura Sagar Dam and Pookode Lake.
The highlight of this day is the rock carvings inside Edakkal, cut into the stone thousands of years before anything else you will see on this trip.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: WayanadBreakfast included - Day 4KochiTransfer day
Down to Fort Kochi for a Heritage Walk
The descent to Kochi, an evening Fort Kochi walk and an optional Kathakali show.
The highlight of this day is the Chinese fishing nets at dusk, still worked by hand by teams of four.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 6 hrs to KochiStay: KochiBreakfast included - Day 5VagamonTransfer day
Into Vagamon's Pine Forest and Meadows
The drive to Vagamon, the pine forest and meadows, Kurisumala and the Marmala falls.
The highlight of this day is the pine forest at Vagamon, planted in rows and completely unlike anything else in Kerala.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrs to VagamonStay: VagamonBreakfast included - Day 6GaviTransfer day
Exploring Gavi
The drive to Gavi through the Ranni forest belt, a guided trek and lake activities, then an overnight in the forest.
The highlight of this day is that Gavi caps its visitor numbers daily, so the forest here stays genuinely quiet.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrs to GaviStay: GaviBreakfast included - Day 7ThekkadyTransfer day
A Gavi Wildlife Drive, Then On to Thekkady
An early Gavi morning wildlife drive, then the transfer to Thekkady and an optional evening cultural show.
The highlight of this day is the early drive out of Gavi, when elephant and Nilgiri langur sightings are most likely.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 2 hrs to ThekkadyStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 8KollamTransfer day
Periyar Cruise, Then Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam
An early Periyar Lake boat cruise at Thekkady, then the drive to Kollam for the Ashtamudi Lake sunset and the Thangassery lighthouse.
The highlight of this day is sunset over Ashtamudi, an eight-armed lake that sees a fraction of Alleppey's boat traffic.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 4 hrs to KollamStay: KollamBreakfast included - Day 9PonmudiTransfer day
Up Twenty-Two Hairpin Bends to Ponmudi
The drive to Ponmudi via the Kallar river and the 22 hairpin bends, an afternoon on the Ponmudi meadows and the Golden Valley.
The highlight of this day is the Golden Valley stretch on the Kallar river, where the road runs beside clear rock pools.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 3.5 hrs to PonmudiStay: PonmudiBreakfast included - Day 10Departure
Down to Trivandrum for the Drop
The descent to Trivandrum, with an optional stop at the Neyyar Dam or the Agasthyakoodam base, then the drop.
The highlight of this day is a relaxed final morning before the transfer, with no early checkout rush.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: About 1.5 hrs to Trivandrum, then dropBreakfast included
Hotels on this package
Rooms are held on twin sharing with daily breakfast. Switch the category to see the properties it puts you in — the tab you pick here also sets the price shown at the top of the page and on the enquiry form.
The base category — comfortable, well-run properties in walkable locations, picked for reliable power, water and staff more than for the view.
| Stop | Nights | Standard category | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nilambur | 1 | Hotel City Palace Residency | |
| Wayanad | 2 | Hotel Bonita Banasura | |
| Kochi | 1 | Emerald Inn | Deluxe, twin sharing |
| Vagamon | 1 | Cherry Homes Vagamon | |
| Gavi | 1 | Bb Hotels Apartments | |
| Thekkady | 1 | Green view Homestay | Deluxe, twin sharing |
| Kollam | 1 | Chandra Inn | |
| Ponmudi | 1 | Hill View Stay Inn |
Notes
- This package is available with or without flights. To add flights or trains, call us for current fares.
- Customization option is available.
- Extra bed, child with or without bed, and single supplement are quoted separately. Upgrades to deluxe, 4-star or premium and to MAP or AP are re-quoted.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB) plan: room with daily breakfast, twin sharing, land only. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- Gavi is capped daily by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation and advance reservation is compulsory, and Ponmudi access is controlled by the forest department with a fixed last-entry time. We confirm both first and build the rest of the itinerary around them, so send your dates as early as possible.
- Both Gavi and Ponmudi are weather-dependent and the forest department can close access at short notice. If that happens we re-sequence on the ground and your inclusions stay the same, which is one reason we run this route from October to March rather than through the monsoon.
- The Gavi stay is inside the forest, so the accommodation is simple and quiet rather than a full-service hotel, with a guided trek, lake activities and a morning wildlife drive around it.
- Entry rules and dress codes at temples, and permit rules inside forest areas, are set by the authority concerned and can change at short notice.
Popular add-ons
Priced per person unless noted, and added to your quote only if you want them. Everything below can also be booked on the ground once you are there.
| Add-on | Price | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Wayanad — Day 2 or 3 |
| Ziplining, Wayanad | ₹400-1100/- per person | Wayanad — Day 2 or 3 |
| Ayurveda spa | ₹999/- onwards | Kochi — Day 4 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Kochi — Day 4 |
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 7 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — Day 7 |
What’s included
Included
- Hotel or resort stay on twin sharing, BB (CP) plan: room plus daily breakfast
- Private AC vehicle for all transfers as per the itinerary
- Airport or railway station pickup and drop
- Experienced local driver cum guide who knows the routes
- All fuel, toll, parking, inter-state permit and driver allowance
- Sightseeing as per itinerary
- Houseboat night on full board: welcome drink, lunch, evening tea with snacks, dinner and next-morning breakfast, which is standard practice on Kerala houseboats
- 24x7 on-ground assistance from the trip2keralam team in Kerala.
Not included
- Air and rail fare
- Lunch and dinner except where houseboat full board is stated
- Any site, ride or activity not named in the day-by-day itinerary, including wildlife safaris, bamboo rafting and adventure activities
- Ayurveda treatments and spa unless listed, camera fees, tips and personal expenses
- Extra bed, child with or without bed, and single supplement, all quoted separately
- Travel insurance
- Early check-in and late check-out beyond standard hotel timings
- GST as applicable on tour packages
- Anything not mentioned under inclusions
Good to know before you book
- 50% of the package amount confirms the booking. The balance is due before departure or on arrival.
- Prices are per person on twin sharing, land only, and do not include air or rail fare. Adding flights or trains will move the price up.
- Rates move during peak dates: 20 December to 5 January, Onam, Christmas, New Year, festive holidays and long weekends.
- Quoted rates hold for the hotel category confirmed at booking. Room and meal plan upgrades are re-quoted.
- Standard hotel check-in is around 2 PM and check-out by 11 AM or 12 noon. Early check-in and late check-out depend on availability and are not guaranteed.
- Guests must carry a valid government photo ID at every hotel. Foreign nationals must carry a passport and visa.
- Houseboats stop cruising by evening and anchor for the night, as required by Kerala government rules, with air-conditioning running for fixed night hours. This is standard across all operators.
- The itinerary may be re-sequenced on the ground for weather, traffic, forest department closures or temple and festival restrictions. Inclusions stay the same.
- Entry rules and dress codes at temples, and permit rules inside forest areas, are set by the authority concerned and are not within our control.
- Costs arising from events beyond our control, including hartals, floods, landslides, roadblocks and other natural calamities, and from any delay or change they force, are borne by the guest and are not refundable.
- The vehicle is provided as per the itinerary. It is not at disposal for unplanned running.
Cancellation and Payments
- Payment by bank wire transfer to our account. Confirmation follows receipt.
- Confirmed dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice to the company, subject to availability.
- Eligible refunds are processed to the original bank account within a reasonable period after cancellation. Bank or wire transfer charges are deducted from the refunded amount.
- Inside 30 days, the reservation cannot be changed, postponed or cancelled, and the package amount is retained in full.
- No-shows are not eligible for any refund.
- No credit is given for unused nights or an early departure.
- Peak-date bookings (20 December to 5 January) may carry stricter hotel cancellation terms, which we confirm at the time of booking.
Traveller reviews — 4.9 average from 412 trips
Questions about this package
What does the Kerala Offbeat Grand Tour cover?
The deepest offbeat route we run: Nilambur's teak forests, two nights in Wayanad, Fort Kochi, Vagamon's meadows, a night in the Gavi forest, Thekkady, Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam and Ponmudi, from a Kozhikode pickup to a Trivandrum drop. Hotels, a private AC vehicle, sightseeing, entry tickets and daily breakfast are all included, with the guided Gavi trek and lake activities built into the day.
How far in advance do I need to book because of Gavi?
As early as you can. Gavi is capped daily by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation and advance reservation is compulsory, so the Day 6 and Day 7 dates are the fixed point of the whole itinerary. We confirm Gavi and the Ponmudi entry first, then build the other eight days around whatever we manage to get for your travel dates.
Why is there no houseboat on this itinerary?
Because the route deliberately avoids the Alleppey circuit. You get Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam instead on Day 8, an eight-armed lake with a fraction of Alleppey's boat traffic. If you would like a houseboat night added, tell us at enquiry and we will re-work the route and re-quote, though it does pull the trip back towards the standard circuit it was built to skip.
Is this trip suitable for a first visit to Kerala?
Not really, and we would rather be straight about it. Nilambur, Gavi and Ponmudi are quiet, forest-controlled and light on conventional sightseeing. If this is your first Kerala trip, the classic Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey route will serve you better. This one is built for repeat visitors, trekkers and photographers who already know the state and want something quieter than the usual trail.
What happens if Gavi or Ponmudi closes because of rain?
Both are weather-dependent and the forest department can close access at short notice. If that happens we re-sequence the days on the ground and your inclusions stay the same. It is one of the reasons we run this route from October to March rather than through the monsoon, when the forest roads and hairpin climbs are at their most unreliable.
What is the accommodation like at Gavi?
Gavi is deep inside a forest, so the Day 6 stay is simple and quiet rather than a full-service hotel. Expect clean, basic rooms, with a guided trek, lake activities and a morning wildlife drive built around your night there. It is the trade-off for staying inside a forest that deliberately caps how many visitors it lets in each day.
Are wildlife safaris and adventure activities included?
The guided Gavi trek and lake activities and the Periyar Lake boat cruise on Day 8 are included, as is every other ride named in the day-by-day itinerary. Separate wildlife safaris, bamboo rafting and adventure activities are payable direct and sit outside the package, so tell us at enquiry if you want any added and we will fold them in and re-quote.
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Want this trip on your dates?
- The same day-by-day plan, priced for your dates and hotel category
- Your houseboat blocked the moment your trip is confirmed
- Free replanning — swap Thekkady for Kumarakom, add nights, upgrade the boat