Vagamon and Thekkady Highland Escape — 4 Nights / 5 Days
Two nights at Vagamon for the pine forest, meadows, Kurisumala and Marmala falls, then two nights at Thekkady for the spice plantations and the early Periyar Lake cruise.
About this itinerary
This 4 nights and 5 days highland package covers Vagamon and Thekkady, based on two nights at Vagamon and two nights at Thekkady. Day 1 drives to Vagamon through Erattupetta for the pine forest and meadows, Day 2 covers the meadows, Kurisumala, Marmala waterfalls and Vagamon Lake, Day 3 crosses to Thekkady via the Peermade tea country for a spice plantation walk and an evening cultural show, Day 4 is the early Periyar Lake cruise and the Kumily spice market, and Day 5 is the drive to Kochi or Madurai for drop.
Vagamon sits at around 1,100 metres and stays quiet because the big operators do not route through it, so the meadows and pine plantations give you a hill station without the Munnar crowds. The one activity to keep loose is paragliding: it is run by private operators, entirely weather-dependent and payable directly, so we never confirm it in advance.
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 1VagamonArrival day
Into Vagamon's Pine Forest and Meadows
Pickup and drive to Vagamon through Erattupetta, then check in with the evening at the pine forest and meadows.
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 hoursStay: Vagamon - Day 2VagamonSightseeing
Vagamon Meadows, Kurisumala and Marmala Falls
Vagamon meadows and Kurisumala, then the Marmala waterfalls and Vagamon Lake, with a paragliding point when conditions allow, payable directly.
The highlight of this day is the open grassland above the pine plantations, with almost nobody else on it.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: VagamonBreakfast included - Day 3ThekkadyTransfer day
Thekkady: Spice Plantations and an Evening of Kalari
Drive to Thekkady via the Peermade tea country, then an afternoon spice plantation walk and an evening cultural show.
The highlight of this day is crushing a fresh cardamom pod in your hand at the plantation, which is nothing like the shop version.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleTransfer duration: 1 hr 50 minsStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 4ThekkadySightseeing
Periyar Lake Cruise and Onward
The early Periyar Lake boat cruise, with optional bamboo rafting or the border hike, payable directly, and the evening at the Kumily spice market.
The highlight of this day is the first boat of the morning, when animals are still coming down to the water.
Transfer: Private AC vehicleStay: ThekkadyBreakfast included - Day 5Departure
Departure
Drive to Kochi or Madurai for 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 5 hoursBreakfast 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagamon | 2 | Cherry Homes Vagamon | |
| Thekkady | 2 | Green view Homestay | Deluxe, twin sharing |
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.
- Quoted on the Bed and Breakfast (BB/CP) plan: room with daily breakfast, twin sharing. Upgrades from standard to deluxe, 4-star or premium resort category, and from BB (CP) to MAP (breakfast plus dinner) or AP (all meals), are re-quoted. Any meal not listed for a day, including on the arrival day, is on request and payable directly.
- Paragliding at Vagamon is run by private operators, entirely weather-dependent and payable directly. If conditions allow on the day, your driver will take you to the point.
- Bamboo rafting inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve and the border hike are payable directly.
- A Madurai drop instead of Kochi works without doubling back, since Thekkady is close to the Tamil Nadu border. Tell us at the time of booking so the vehicle and the Day 5 plan are set up for it.
- The itinerary may be re-sequenced on the ground for weather, traffic or forest department closures, and the inclusions stay the same.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bamboo rafting | ₹2,200/- per person | Thekkady — Day 3 or 4 |
| Kathakali Show/Kalari Show | ₹300-600 per person per ticket | Thekkady — Day 3 or 4 |
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 Vagamon and Thekkady Highland Escape package cover?
Two nights at Vagamon for the pine forest, meadows, Kurisumala and Marmala falls, then two nights at Thekkady for the spice plantations and the early Periyar Lake cruise. Day 5 is the drive to Kochi or Madurai for drop.
What is included in this package?
Hotel or resort stay on twin sharing with daily breakfast, a private AC vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing, all fuel, toll, parking, permits and driver allowance, airport or railway station pickup and drop, entry tickets and ride charges for everything named in the day-by-day itinerary, and 24x7 on-ground assistance from our team in Kerala. Air and rail fare, lunch and dinner, paragliding, bamboo rafting and the border hike are not included.
Is paragliding at Vagamon included, and can you confirm it in advance?
No on both counts. Paragliding is run by private operators, it is entirely weather-dependent, and it is payable directly. We never confirm it in advance, because promising it and then standing on a hill in the wrong wind helps nobody. If conditions allow on the day, your driver will take you to the point.
Why is this the cheapest four night package?
Because there is no houseboat night. A houseboat is the single biggest line item in most Kerala packages, and dropping it keeps the starting cost down. What you get instead is a second night at Thekkady and two nights in a hill station that most operators skip. For walkers, that trade is usually worth making.
Is Vagamon actually less crowded than Munnar?
Yes, and the reason is simple. The big operators do not route through it, so the meadows and the pine plantations stay quiet even when Munnar is full. It sits at around 1,100 metres, which is lower than Munnar, so it is grassland and pine rather than tea estate.
Can we be dropped at Madurai instead of Kochi?
Yes. Thekkady is close to the Tamil Nadu border, so a Madurai drop works without doubling back. Tell us at the time of booking so the vehicle and the Day 5 plan are set up for it.
How do I book, and can I cancel?
50% of the package amount confirms the booking, and the balance is due before departure or on arrival. Payment is by bank wire transfer to our account. Dates may be changed, shortened or cancelled with 30 days' written notice, subject to availability. Cancellations made within 30 days of your travel date are non-refundable.
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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