Thekkady Wildlife Tour Packages And Attractions

Boat Ride Periyar Lake

Tourists staying only one night in Thekkady do not have time for a full-day program in the forest. In such cases, they can share an hour and a half of sailing across Jungle Lake. It's an opportunity to see animals drinking water, swimming in the lake, playing with their babies, and wandering around the lake. You can also enjoy the astounding natural beauty. 
Time slots: 7.30 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. | 9.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. | 11.15 am to 12.45 a.m. | 1.45 am to 3.15 a.m. | 3.30 to 5.00 p.m.

Tariff: Adults: ₹255 | Child 5 to 11 years: ₹85

Nature Walk:

The Nature Walk package offers a unique opportunity to see the flora and fauna of the Periyar wildlife sanctuary. This trek includes several tracks that run through the wildlife habitat. A walk through the trail, which turns its way through incredible scenery encompassing deciduous and evergreen forests sprinkled with wet grasslands, offers a unique opportunity to observe real nature's manifold glories.

Time slots: 7 am | 7.30 am | 10 am | 10.30 am | 2 pm | 2.30 pm | Duration 2½ hours

Tariff: ₹350/person | minimum charge ₹1400 for four people.

Starting at: Boat land | A group of 4 people will accompany security guards.

Green Walk

Green Walk is an informative trekking program through various landscapes such as meadows, evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests, ideal for nature enthusiasts. Listen to the innumerable sounds of nature and marvel at the variety of wildlife that the woods offer. A maximum of 6 people is allotted to each time slot, with three slots each along two different routes through the Reserve.

Time slots: 7 am | 7.30 am | 11 am | 11.30 am | 2 pm | 2.30 pm | Duration 2½ hours

Tariff: ₹350/person | minimum charge ₹1400 for four people.

Security guards will accompany a group of 4 people.

Jungle scout/night trekking

This program envisages a three-hour trek during the night hours, providing a rare opportunity to observe some exciting nightlife of Periyar Tiger Reserve, such as civets, mouse deer, flying squirrels, and various nocturnal bird species. Visitors will go with the company of forest watchers and trained guides. Those intending to participate in this program are expected to have an adequate level of physical and mental fitness required for travelling through the wilderness at night. Three slots are offered along two routes.

Time slots: 7 pm to 10 pm | 10 pm to 1 am | 1 am to 4 am.

Tariff: ₹1200/person | minimum charge ₹2400 for two people.

Cloud Walking

The program is a trek of 3 to 4 hours. Starting from Gandhi Park at Kolathupalam, it passes through Kurisumala Viewpoint, descends to the Tribal Heritage Museum in the Mannakudi Tribal Settlement and ends at Anavachal. From the vantage points, you can see grasslands, evergreen, deciduous and riverine forests, and the areas of waterless land irrigated by the Periyar River.
Visitors can see the luxuriance of Cumbam Valley, the dizzy heights of Mangaladevi, and Kumarikulam, other escarpments of the Fort of Periyar, the prestige of Palni hills farther away from the viewpoint, the habitat of special birds and butterflies, including domestic birds like the Nilgiri Pipit, broad-tailed grass bird, tree nymph, etc. 
This program is available in two-time slots each day, forenoon and afternoon. Duration 3-4 hours.

Bullock cart discoveries

It is a guided bullock cart program to visit farmlands and watch birds. This program allows the participation of seven persons, including children. The package involves food and refreshments. A bullock cart will take the tourists to the farms of a village behind the mountains of Periyar Tiger Reserve. You can see here various crops and several species of birds. With vineyards, various crops of mangoes, tamarind, onions, sunflower, jasmine, and many other vegetables, the village will capture your heart in all senses. The guides will explain how farming and the life of the natives are delicately formed. The rich bird diversity offers new explorations for serious ornithologists while providing a precious start for new bird watchers.

This package starts at 6 am and ends at 2.30 pm.

Border Hiking:

It's a guided trek, starting at 8 am and ending at 5 pm, covering 15 km. The route passes through undulant territories. It covers an altitude up to 1300 meters, and trekkers catch sight of the lofty escarpments bordering the park, watersheds, and the vast plains below. Apart from various birds and butterflies, also Gaur, sloth bear, elephant, etc. are sighted along your way.
Up to ten tourists in 2 different teams can participate in this trek. The trekkers will go along with two guides and an armed forest guard.

Bamboo Rafting

It is an 8 am to 5 pm full-day hiking and rafting program through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Rafting lasts for about three hours. Tourists can see a sweeping view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. While hiking, you can see animals like elephants, gaurs, sambars, etc. The group returns to the boat and the landing point at about 5 pm. An armed guard and four guides will accompany a maximum of 10 tourists. Tea, snacks, and packed lunch will be served during the trip. It is an excellent program for serious nature lovers to explore flora and fauna in a thick forest, and also to feel the beauty of Nature.

Time slots: 7.30 am to 12.30 pm (half-day) | 9.30 am to 2.30 pm (half-day) | 8 am to 5 pm (full-day)

Tiger trail and camping

Tiger Trail is an adventurous trekking and camping program offered in 2 types of packages; one night's stay and two nights' stay. The Forest Department conducts this program with the help of a team of rehabilitated poachers, hardy and dependable individuals with a profound knowledge of the forest terrain. In this program, many indigenous wild animals, who know, even the tiger, are sighted.
The guards will pitch your tents for your stay at night and prepare veg meals. Here is your chance to listen to the former poachers' unusual adventure stories, now your guides and protectors of the forests. The team consists of a maximum of 5 visitors, five guards, and one forest official.
One night and two days, @Rs. 6500/- per person (Minimum Rs. 10000/- per camp)
Two nights and three days: Rs. 9500/- per person (Minimum Rs. 13000/- per camp)
Time slots: Twice a week, starting at 9 am.

Jungle Camping

At Vallakkadavu in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, visitors can camp in tents amidst picturesque forested surroundings.
This ecotourism package includes a safari to Gavi, wildlife film shows, bird watching, trekking, and a complimentary boat trip on the famous Periyar Lake. This package includes dinner on the first night and breakfast and lunch on the second day. You can avail of complimentary boating after the checkout time.
The total number of camps: 15 nos (double occupancy) | Maximum persons: 2 nos./hut | Check-in: 3.30 pm | Check-out: 2.00 pm | Price for a night: 5000 rs / 2 persons in a camp.

Jungle Inn

In this program, you need to stay inside one of the watchtowers constructed in the forest with minimal creature comfort. The Jungle Inn at Kokkara, about an hour's walk from the Forest check post, is an ideal place to board two people wishing to feel the quietness of the jungle night. Here, you could relax, read a book, listen to the cicada, or watch the forest outside.
One of the best parts of the program is the demonstration of various forests where wildlife is more active. One can watch troops of langurs, giant squirrels, etc., besides many birds along this stretch. Who knows, if you are fortunate, a tiger could come out of the bushes chasing a herd of sambar deers! Trained guides will accompany tourists. 
Start at 3 pm | End at 9 am | Food and double-bedded accommodation provided | Time slots: 3 pm to 9 am. | Group size: Two persons per night | ₹ 2000/- per person.

Bamboo Grove: Bamboo Huts: Ecco Lodge:

It is an eco-lodge run by the Forest Department to support local communities. Between bamboo thickets are 15 bamboo huts with modern furnishings and hygienic conditions. The ambience of Bamboo Grove provides an occasion to listen to the whistling of bamboo culms, the chirping of birds, and the flow of small streams. Bamboo Grove has a centrally positioned conference hall with audio-visual facilities offering an eco-friendly environment to conduct seminars, symposiums, workshops, and training programs. The Bamboo Grove package comprises an orientation program, a visit to a tribal colony, wildlife film shows, bird watching, trekking, a complimentary boat ride on the Periyar Lake, lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Group size: Two persons per cabin | Maximum capacity: 30 tourists in 15 cottages.The seminar hall (Kalari): ₹ 3000/- per day, for a maximum of 50 persons.Tariff: Without package: ₹ 1800/- per cottage/ 2 person with package: ₹ 4000/- per cabin/ 2 personExtra-person with package: ₹ 1200/-.

Pugmark Trail

It is a self-guided soft trekking program that begins from the office premises of the Deputy Director, Periyar Foundation. You can explore several endemic trees and an informative display board to explain each tree's characteristics at every tree along the way. Keep walking until you reach the end of the route and come back that way. The trail is short, but it is definitely worth the effort. Kids are allowed with parents in this program. It is a perfect soft trekking program for the whole family.

Tariff: ₹ 100/- adult | ₹ 20/- child