The Best 2-Week South India Itinerary for Nature Lovers
South India has so much to offer the curious traveller, and this itinerary focuses on the best nature in the region: from the emerald forests and glittering backwaters to the ethereal hill stations and golden beaches, nature lovers rejoice! You are in for a real treat in South India.
The best 2-week itinerary for nature lovers begins in Karnataka, and weaves through the Western Ghats to teeter into Tamil Nadu, before deep diving into Kerala; a place so beautiful that people believe God himself chose to live there, which is why Kerala is lovingly referred to as “God’s Own Country”.
I have crafted this itinerary after 8 visits to South India, and I believe it includes the best that nature has to offer in a 2-week timeframe, but if you have more time you can absolutely stay longer.
CONTENTS
About South India
The states considered part of South India are typically Telangana, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa and Kerala. South India is known as being 'India-lite', as it is much easier to travel there when compared to the chaos of much of the North!
The region is famous for its spice production, flavourful cuisine, being the home of ayurveda, abundant coconuts, a dewy tropical climate, a well-educated and progressive population, a laid-back and welcoming feel, and of course, endless beautiful natural spaces.
RELATED POST: A Pre-Departure Checklist for Travel to India |
|---|
Packing Essentials for South India
There are a few essentials I would never travel to South India without:
Sweat Rags - I always keep one of these in my pocket, as even in the cooler months the humidity can be overwhelming.
Sunblock - I like this zinc solid sunblock as it doesn’t make me sweat and it lasts for ages.
Odomos - This is a non-toxic mosquito repellent cream that you can purchase from most chemists in India.
Sarong - A sarong comes in super-handy for covering up your legs or shoulders when needed, I often also use mine as a beach towel.
Scrubba—This is an awesome 'washing-machine bag' for handwashing your own clothes while travelling. It comes with a clothesline and laundry soap. (It only weighs 150g!)
Lifestraw—This filtered bottle allows you to drink rainwater and sometimes boiled tap water instead of constantly buying plastic bottles. It is made of stainless steel, so it can be taken inside National Parks that have banned plastic (there are many, including Bandipur!).
Check out my full backpacking packing list for India here: The Only Female Backpacking Packing List You'll Ever Need
When to Visit South India
Weather in South India can be a bit extreme, so for this 2-week itinerary for nature lovers I would recommend you travel between September and March, but you can still expect a bit of rain in September, October, and November.
South India is affected by two monsoons, the main one is the Southwest monsoon that moves up the country starting in late May. June and July see a hell of a lot of rain and it is difficult to travel around during this time.
The second smaller monsoon comes from the Northeast in mid-October and lasts around one month, but downpours tend to be lighter and shorter and only occur in the evening.
Before the main Southwest monsoon, it is incredibly hot in South India, so I would strongly advise not visiting in April or May, as the humidity is suffocating.
The peak travel season in South India is December and January, although this 2-week South India itinerary is a little off the beaten path so I wouldn’t worry too much about that!
RELATED POST: Is India Safe for Female Travellers? |
|---|
Getting Around in South India
This itinerary uses a combination of bus, train, and taxi to get around - but if you prefer to drive that is also a fine option.
South India is very well serviced by super cheap and scarily efficient government buses that do not need to be booked ahead, I am forever impressed by them. Train is also a great way to travel and there are a variety of class options for every budget. Taxis and autos (tuktuks) can be used to fill in any gaps.
The Best 2-Week South India Itinerary for Nature Lovers
Bandipur
1 night
Taxi - 1 Hour
Coonoor
2 nights
Bus - 4 Hours
Meppadi, Wayanad
3 nights
Bus - 3 hours
Kappad, Kozhikode
3 nights
Train - 3 hours
Malarikkal, Kottayam
2 nights
Train - 1 hour
Munroe Island
2 nights
RELATED POST: The Best One-Month Backpacking Itinerary for North India |
|---|
Bandipur National Park - Best for Wildlife
Getting There
You can start your 2-week South India itinerary for nature lovers in Mysore, or just as easily, Bangalore, to have access to our first stop: Bandipur National Park! Bandipur, which is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, can be easily reached by taxi or bus from both of these cities.
Where to Stay in Bandipur NP
The Bandipur National Park is nestled at the foothills of the Nilgiris - 'The Blue Mountains', and was once the private hunting ground of the Maharaja of Mysore.
It is now one of the best-known wildlife sanctuaries in India and has the highest density of the world’s Asiatic elephant population and a sizable number of tigers. You can stay onsite in the park itself by booking here.
Things to Do in Bandipur NP
There are lots of activities in Bandipur, including jeep safari, trekking and bird watching, so it depends on your interests! Whatever you do, early in the morning is best. So fall asleep to the sounds of nature and get up bright and early for wildlife spotting!
RELATED POST: A Yoga Student’s Travel Guide to Mysore (Mysuru) |
|---|
Coonor - Best for Tea & Hills
Getting There
To get to Coonoor from Bandipur National Park, you can take a taxi one hour to Ooty, and then jump on the famous toy steam train to take you down the hill to Coonoor! The train will need to be booked ahead of time.
Where to Stay in Coonoor
I stayed at Ibex Stays and Trails, which is a small resort housed in a British colonial bungalow set in the middle of the tea plantations of Leewood Estate.
If you’re at all interested in colonial history this will be very exciting to you, as all of the furniture, artwork and even the books on the shelf are original pieces from the days of the British Empire.
The location is beyond beautiful and considering how grand everything feels, Ibex Stays and Trails is still quite budget-friendly.
Things to Do around Coonoor
Coonor is a beautiful hill station in Tamil Nadu, and as nearby Ooty’s popularity has soared (along with its traffic jams) - Coonor can offer an idea of what Ooty once was, a cute colourful village nestled in the hills.
Apart from admiring the magnificent views you can cycle around the tea plantations, take the iconic steam train up the hill to Ooty, or visit the nearby Sims Park.
For travel insurance, I have put my trust in Safety Wing, and I use their 4-week rolling policy as it is affordable and covers almost every country. They have been great so far!
Meppadi, Wayanad - Best for Views & Treks
Getting There
If you’re not driving, state buses will take you along the winding mountain roads for 3.5 hours from Coonoor to Wayanad.
The journey is simply gorgeous, but you won't be able to enjoy it if you suffer from any type of travel sickness, on my journey even the locals were vomiting out the window as the hairpins were sharp and the buses took them incredibly fast!
If you think you need to, be sure to bring travel sickness medication for this journey and enjoy the jaw-dropping scenes.
Where to Stay in Wayanad
I stayed at Namaha Homestay, and truthfully it's probably one of the nicest places I have ever stayed in my life. The house is set at the end of a quiet laneway in Rippon, a small village only a few kilometres from Meppadi.
The views are to die for, and the infinity pool overlooking the mountains is pure bliss. All the amenities are of the highest quality, yet Namaha maintains that personal touch you don’t find in fancy hotels, you can only get this type of warmth and care from a homestay.
Mini and Balachandran (+919847004709) are excellent hosts and Mini is a very talented chef. They serve only pure veg food, familiar recipes with a creative twist, and the dishes were so elevated! I felt like I was in a fine-dining restaurant.
Things to Do in Wayanad
There are lots of things to do in this area of Wayanad, but truth be told I only selected a couple of activities as I wanted to enjoy the beautiful setting of Namaha Homestay.
After finding out that the nearby Chembra Peak is now 8000rs to hike for foreigners (this fee is for 5 people, but as a solo traveller you would have to pay the whole whack) I found another hike called Cheengeri Mala which I attempted just before sunrise. It is quite steep and in some places, you need to pull yourself up with rope, but as you ascend above the clouds just in time for sunrise, the views are spectacular. The hike was 50rs and took me 2 hours altogether, including my time at the top.
Nearby are the ancient Edakkal caves which also require a bit of hiking, I paid 50rs to climb the 3000 stairs to see the cave markings, which are an unbelievable 3000 years old! The walk up to the entrance is like a ghost town with lots of shuttered-up stalls and only a few desperate sellers hanging on for some shreds of business, as tourism has dropped so drastically since the landslide.
Yes, in July the Meppadi area suffered a landslide which wiped out three villages. It was tragic and several hundred people died, and since then many tourists have stopped coming to Wayanad.
What you must know though is that Wayanad is a huge district and this landslide affected a very localized hillside, which has seen a lot of deforestation in recent years, hence why the land destabilized with heavy rains. Wayanad is now completely safe, and the people who rely on tourism to survive need you to visit now more than ever.
RELATED POST: A Guide for Independent Travel in Kerala |
|---|
Kappad - Best for Beaches
Getting There
If you can get yourself to the main hub of Kalpetta in Wayanad by taxi or bus, there are several buses per hour from there to Kozhikode, otherwise known as Calicut. From Calicut bus station, it's a 30-minute auto to Kappad Beach.
Where to Stay Near Kozhikode
I stayed at The Beach Cottage Kappad (+918884445070) - this is a traditional Kerala-style house right by the beach, with gorgeous design and decor. I ate all my meals at The Beach Cottage and the talented chef made me lots of local seafood specialities.
It is one of my favourite places I have ever stayed in Kerala, a little slice of luxury opposite what is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in India. I went as a solo traveller, but they have three rooms so The Beach Cottage is ideal for bigger families or groups who want to rent out the whole place.
Things to Do in Kozhikode
Kappad is Kerala’s only Blue Flag beach, which is an internationally recognized standard of hygiene, water quality, and beauty. The main beach is paid entry and it is great for families with playgrounds and cafes, the adjoining two free beaches are also really nice and ideal for sunset beach walks. This is a very quiet neighbourhood and a lovely place to spend a few days relaxing.
If you are more activity-focused, you can choose from a boat ride through the mangroves, a walking tour around the Big Bazar in Kozhikode, or catch a local Kalari martial arts show, wander through the Sargaalaya arts and crafts village, try your hand at kayaking, or visit the local tile factory!
Malarikkal - Best for Blooms
Getting There
Malarikkal Village is in Kottayam, which is serviced by Kottayam Railway Station. Train is my preferred mode of transport in India where possible, and you can read all about the nuances of taking the train here in my guide: How to Buy a Train Ticket in India as a Tourist & Train Classes.
After you've jumped on a train from Kozhikode to Kottayam, you can grab an auto to your hotel/homestay, or directly to Malarikkal Village.
If you prefer to drive, there is paid parking by the Pink Lagoon, just search 'Malarikkal Tourist Village' in Google Maps.
Where to Stay near Malarikkal
There are a couple of places right by the lakes, however they felt overpriced for what they were, so I chose to stay in Kottayam Town at Akkara Homestay. This is a beautiful old mansion right on the river and I paid 2000rs for a huge double AC room with breakfast included. There are plenty of other options on booking.com.
Things to Do
The best thing to do in Malarikkal is to visit the amazing pink lagoons - but remember the lilies only bloom in August, September, and October, which is the tail end of India's monsoon season.
It is best to visit the lagoons between 6am and 9am, because as the day heats up the lilies wilt and droop and do not look as pretty. As with most famous attractions, it normally pays off to be the first one there if you want to avoid the crowds.
The first lake you reach is where the shared boats take off for 100rs per person. If you want a private boat keep walking to the furthest lake, where you can pay 1000rs for your own canoe and the boatman's photography skills for an hour (whether you ask for a photoshoot or not, you will get one.)
It really is as beautiful as the pictures, and none of the photos in this article are edited, it was amazing! Millions and millions of bright pink lilies as far as the eye can see!
RELATED POST: How to See the Pink Lilies of Malarikkal, Kerala |
|---|
Munroe Island - Best for Backwaters
Getting There
The train is the best option to reach Munroe Island and there are three nearby railway stations.
Munroturuttu (walking distance)
Sathsankotta (6km plus canoe river crossing)
Kollam (25km)
Where to Stay on Munroe Island
I chose to stay at Munroe Island Backwaters Homestay, and I am so glad that I did. Vijeesh and his family are very perceptive hosts, and their approach to hospitality is relaxed yet thoughtful. They have a cute place just a minute's walk to the water's edge, where they take you out in their canoe, kayaks, or paddle boards.
Vijeesh's mum is an excellent cook, and the meals she prepared for me were some of the best I have ever had in India.
Things to Do on Munroe Island
I arrived at Munroe Island in the early afternoon, and after an extraordinary banana-leaf lunch followed by a Siesta, we went out on the kayaks. We navigated through small tunnels, winding canals and expansive mangrove lakes. With the echoes of traffic noises left far behind towards Kollam, we could enjoy the sounds of the birds and Vijeesh is an excellent wildlife guide, he knows the names of all the different species. My favourites were the iridescent blue kingfishers.
The following morning, Vijeesh's father took me out on his canoe for a sunrise tour of a different part of the backwaters, way out onto Ashtamudi Lake. We left bright and early at 5:45am and we were the only ones on the water for most of our 3-hour circuit.
There are also options to go paddle-boarding, try a fresh fruit juice at Munroe mocktail, do a circular walk of the island, or catch a fantastic sunset at the Dutch church.
RELATED POST: 48 Hours of Serenity on Munroe Island |
|---|
Thank you for reading my post: The Best 2-Week South India Itinerary for Nature Lovers
If you enjoyed the read, please consider subscribing to my blog where I post articles once per week filled with travel tips, inspiration, and stories from my adventures around the world.
Happy Travels
xx
Disclosure:
Comments