Spices And Tea Trails Trek In Kerala

• Day 1: Thekkaddy (30 kms, 1 hr) /Kambammettu to Pushpakandam ( 11 kms/ 4 -5 hours)

  After breakfast drive for one and a half hour from Thekkady to Kambammettu to begin the trek. Start trekking from Kumbummedu, following the jeep trail to Ramakelmedu, where we have spectacular views of the vast plains of neighboring Tamil Nadu. Massive statues of Kuruvan & Kurathy – two legendary tribal figures - make up the backdrop to the magnificent views below. The route is interspersed with tiny spice growing hamlets where the majority of spices of Kerala are grown. Lunch en route. Later, continue our walk through these small villages and farmlands until we reach our camp. Overnight: Pushpakandam Camp.

• Day 2: Pushpakandam - Chaturangapara( 17 kms/ 4-5 hours)

  After breakfast, start the trek through cardamom and pepper plantations. We will have an excellent opportunity to learn how these spices are grown from the local trackers who will be accompanying you. Overnight: Chaturangpara Camp.

• Day 3: Chaturangapara - Shantanpara ( 11 kms/ 3-4 hrs) and Drive to Korangani (2 hours)

  Start today’s challenging trek through sholas and cardamom forests that abound here. This is the capital of the world’s spice trade, known for centuries as the Cardamom Hills. Walk from Chaturangapara through thick cardamom forests and isolated spice growing villages. En route we will also be walking though great swathes of grasslands, through the spine of the mountains with spectacular views of the plains of Tamil Nadu hundreds of feet below. Reach Chadurangapara and drive to Korangani, explore Korangani village if time permits. Overnight in Korangani Village Resort.

• Day 4: Korangani – Top Station( 10 kms/ 5-7 hours)

  After breakfast we will start our trek to Top station, the trek will be through cotton, arrack nut plantations, rolling grasslands, patches of semi deciduous forests, coffee and cardamom plantations etc, this day most of our trail will be through the oldest corridor of the tribal people where the British/Scottish planters use to travel by horse or by foot from low land of Tamil Nadu to Kerala Lunch en route This slope is one of the areas where the first civilization is said to have started. Overnight at tents with campfire and dinner

• Day 5: Top Station - Footprint camp ( 18 kms/ 4-6 hours)

  Top station is the border village of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. After breakfast, walk a bit to visit the remains of Ropeway from the planters time and we will head to Camp Footprint through the ridges of Western Ghats eastern slope and Yellapatty Valley. Today’s trek passes through tea plantations, villages, ever green Shola forest, mountain forest, grassland etc. Lunch en route Our camp is surrounded by forest so this is one of the ideal campsites for one who interested in birds. Spot few of the endemic birds of Western Ghats Overnight in tents with campfire and dinner.

• Day 6: Footprint campsite - Rodho- Valley ( 17 kms/ 7-9 hours)

  Today the trek will begin with a descent to tea plantation through an evergreen forest and then continue the trek through tea plantations. After a short climb we will reach the shola grassland and trek to Rodho-Valley with a few interesting Zig Zag climb as well. Lunch en route. Rodho-Valley Camp is surrounded by valley of rhododendrons, streams, etc. Overnight in tents with campfire dinner.

• Day 7: Rodho-Valley - Kolukkumalai “the highest tea estate in the World” ( 9 kms/ 4-6 hours)

  The highlight of the trek as we as summiting the second highest peak in South India. Trek through the rolling grasslands, valley of pine forests, etc. summiting Meesapulimalai “the peak” and after admiring the views of majestic high ranges of Western Ghats. Descend down to the highest tea estate in the World, walk through shola forest and through tea plantations to the camp and time permitting visit to the tea factory today or visit it next day. Lunch en route. Camp is located at the eastern slope of Western Ghats as it offers a spectacular view of low land of Tamil Nadu. Since it’s situated at the eastern slopes we will have very early wake up call for the next morning sunrise. Overnight in tents with campfire and dinner.

• Day 8: Kolukkumalai - Suryanelly( 11 kms/ 4-5 hours)

  After the sunrise, have some time at leisure and will start our trek to Suryanelly camp through green carpeted tea fields with spectacular view around. Reach the camp overnight in tents with Cultural program by local people, campfire and dinner.

• Day 9: Suryanelly – Cochin airport transfer (145 kms, 5 hours)

  After breakfast transfer by vehicle to Kochi airport connect flight to onward destination.

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