Kerala

Thekkady Periyar Wildlife Stay

Wildlife & Nature
Thekkady Periyar Wildlife Stay
Duration4 Days / 3 Nights
Trip TypePrivate & customisable
Best Time to VisitSep – Mar
PaceRelaxed
ThemesWildlife & Nature
Starting From$380

Route Covered

Overnight stops in day order
1Thekkady (Periyar)Day 1-3 · 3 nights

Overview

This private Thekkady wildlife stay lasts four days and keeps you in a single Thekkady hotel in Kerala for three nights, next to the 777 sq km Periyar Tiger Reserve. Flights land and leave at Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Families and nature lovers will enjoy it most from September to March.

Who it suits

Families and nature lovers who want one base, short drives and a mix of lake, forest and plantation time

Highlights

Periyar Tiger ReservePeriyar Lake boat tripGuided forest nature walkBamboo rafting optionBorder hiking optionSpice plantation walkKumily spice shopsCardamom auction, KumilyTribal heritage visit

Good to know

Booking

Places on boats and forest programmes go through the reserve's online booking, and weather can alter what is available

Sightings

Wild animals are not guaranteed; the boat trip watches from a distance

Mornings

Pack a light jacket: the early hours in December and January can drop to about 13 C

Drive days

Day 1 and Day 4 each have a road transfer of roughly 150 km to or from Madurai airport

Day-by-Day Itinerary

DAY 1 · OVERNIGHT · Thekkady (Periyar)

Madurai airport to Thekkady, Kerala

  1. 1Meet your driver at Madurai airport
  2. 2Drive about 150 km into Kerala, with a stop for lunch on the way
  3. 3Check in at the hotel near the reserve
  4. 4Rest and an early dinner before a morning start
Madurai airport to Thekkady, ~150 km, ~3 hrs
Periyar Lake boat trip and a forest walk
Highlights
  • Guided forest nature walk
  • Periyar Lake boat trip
  • Lake shoreline wildlife
Thekkady (Periyar): 1 upcoming event, 2 more to be confirmed
DAY 2 · OVERNIGHT · Thekkady (Periyar)

Periyar Lake boat trip and a forest walk

  1. 1A guided nature walk on a forest-department trail, with eyes open for birds and butterflies
  2. 2Midday break at the hotel
  3. 3Boat trip on Periyar Lake, the water that the 1895 dam created
  4. 4Watch the shoreline for deer, bison and elephants coming to drink
Local sightseeing in Thekkady
Kumily spice plantation and a forest programme of your choice
Highlights
  • Bamboo rafting or green walk
  • Spice plantation walk
  • Kumily spice shops
  • Cardamom auction
Thekkady (Periyar): 1 upcoming event, 2 more to be confirmed
DAY 3 · OVERNIGHT · Thekkady (Periyar)

Kumily spice plantation and a forest programme of your choice

  1. 1Start with a forest programme picked together with the forest department, such as bamboo rafting, a green walk or a longer hike, depending on places
  2. 2Stroll around a Kumily spice plantation
  3. 3Visit the spice shops of Kumily, 4 km from Thekkady
  4. 4Stop by the cardamom auction if it is running
  5. 5Evening free
Local sightseeing in Thekkady and Kumily, ~4 km
Thekkady to Madurai airport
Highlights
  • Spice shopping
DAY 4 · TRIP ENDS

Thekkady to Madurai airport

  1. 1Breakfast and a last stroll or spice purchase
  2. 2Check out and meet your driver
  3. 3Drive about 150 km back into Tamil Nadu to Madurai airport
  4. 4Leave 3 hours or more for the road before your flight
Thekkady to Madurai airport, ~150 km, ~3 hrs
Starting from$380Twin sharing, 3-star hotels, private car with driver, excludes flights.

Indicative — varies with season and hotel category.

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Trip Facts

Activity LevelEasy to moderate. The boat trip is seated, the forest walk is on foot over a few kilometres, and the optional rafting or hiking programmes are longer.
What to PackLight cotton clothes in muted colours, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for cool mornings, a rain jacket for the monsoon months and binoculars if you have them.
Local CustomsForest activities run under Forest Department rules, so follow your guide's directions. Dress modestly when visiting villages or any temple.

Local Activities & Events

Updated Oct 3, 2026

Kerala — across your trip

November 2026

Vettukadu Feast

festival

Madre de Deus Church in Thiruvananthapuram marks the feast of Christ the King over ten days, with worshippers of several faiths attending.

November 2026

Champions Boat League: Kayamkulam

sports

A snake-boat race at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, a round of the 2026 Champions Boat League.

November 2026

Kalpathy Ratholsavam

festival

Chariot festival in Kalpathy, Palakkad, where decorated chariots are pulled through the village streets from the Viswanatha Swamy Temple.

November 2026 - January 2027

Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season

festival

Pilgrim season at the Ayyappa temple in Pathanamthitta district, from the Mandalam opening through Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku to closing in January.

November 2026

Champions Boat League final and President's Trophy Boat Race

sports

The league's closing round on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, held together with the President's Trophy Boat Race.

November 2026

Guruvayur Ekadasi

festival

Eleventh-day observance at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur, with strict fasting and elephant processions.

December 2026

Bekal International Beach Festival

cultural

Beach festival at Bekal in Kasaragod district with music, dance and arts; the state calendar lists it for December to January.

December 2026

Thiruvananthapuram flower show

seasonal

A seasonal flower and plant exhibition in the capital over the Christmas and New Year period; exact dates not yet announced.

Events are reviewed by our team before publishing and drop off after they end. Please confirm timings and availability with us before your trip — local schedules can change without notice.

What's Included & Excluded

Included
3 nights' accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Thekkady, twin sharingDaily breakfastPrivate air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and local sightseeingAirport pick-up and drop-off at MaduraiPeriyar Lake boat ticketEnglish-speaking guide on the forest and plantation days
Not included
FlightsMeals other than breakfastFees for forest programmes other than those listed (bamboo rafting, border hiking, night walks)Camera fees at some sitesTips and personal expenses

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