Tuskers and The Nilgiris Train
A nature lover's delight and a joy for birdwatchers, this tour visits some fine natural habitats along the fabled coast of Malabar, including the relatively unknown Parambikulam and the better known Nagarhole, home to wild tuskers and tigers.
The tea and coffee laden hills of Nilgiris and Wayanad form part of the journey, which ends at a relaxing beach resort in the remote parts of north Kerala. A trip on the "toy train" to Coonoor adds to the rich experience. The accommodation used here is in the higher range along with a comfortable mid-range farm stay.
Recommended Itinerary
Day 1 Flight
Fly to Kochi (Cochin)
Days 2, 3 & 4 Malayatoor
Arrive in the morning and transfer to Malayattoor Forest; stay 3 nights at Quiet by the River, an elegant lodge on the banks of the Periyar River. You are at leisure to enjoy nature; you can explore the area on a canoe or on foot. The forest is near the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and is home to 250 species of birds.
Days 5 & 6 Sethumada
Drive for a farm stay at Banyan Tree in Sethumada, near the Parambikulam Sanctuary; you have the option of visiting the historic town of Kodungaloor on your way. You can visit the wildlife sanctuary and go cycling inside the vast farmland.
Days 7 & 8 Coonoor
Drive today to the foothills of Nilgiri Hills; stay 2 nights at the Kurumba Village Resort. You can explore the tea country, visiting a couple of estates to sample their tea. We will arrange a trip on the Toy Train that traverses between Ooty and Mettupalayam.
Days 9 & 10 Wayanad
Move on to the coffee country of Wayanad; stay two nights at Wayanad Wild; explore the wilderness, maybe visit the Edakkal caves.
Days 11, 12 & 13 Nagarhole
A short drive to one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in the region, the Nagarhole National Park. It is home to wild tuskers, tigers, leopards, dhole or the wild dog, sloth bear, gaur (Indian bison), and a variety of birds. Stay at Evolve Back for three nights. Enjoy jungle visits and boat rides on the Kabini River.
Days 14 & 15 Neeleshwar
Drive to the Bekal Beach in North Kerala for a couple of days at the Neeleshwar Hermitage; there is quality Ayurveda and yoga available in this luxury resort.
Day 16 Kochi (Cochin)
Take a 7-hour train journey to Kochi, along the Malabar Coast, stay the night at an airport hotel, or in Kochi itself.
Day 17 Flight
Fly back home.
Extensions
Beach
Stay on at your beautiful beach resort for some more days before the return home.
Gallery
Testimonials
“Just a note to thank you and your team for all the wonderful arrangements made for our memorable trip. We truly appreciated the variety of the hotels we stayed in”