Night 1-8
Camping and hotels in Kerala
Enjoy sleeping under the stars! You’ll camp in beautiful locations along the trail, where all necessary equipment will be provided. Enjoy one night in a hotel to refresh.
Spices and Tea Trails Trek
Prices
Highlights
Discover the plantations tucked into the Western Ghats on foot
Traverse the rolling, lush hills undulating through the Western Ghats in Kerala, India, on the rewarding Spices and Tea Trails Trekking Tour. But this journey isn’t like any other! Aside from the charming, tropical, mountainous views, your guide will also take you through dreamy villages to an array of spice, tea, and coffee plantations. The Spices and Tea Trails Trek seamlessly fuses storytelling—detailing the plantations—with outdoor adventure.
End each day of your trek by letting your body relax while the campfire connects you with your fellow hikers and the crew journeying alongside you. Book the Spices and Tea Trails Trekking Tour today!
Spices and Tea Trails Trek Itinerary
Day 1 Travel from Thekkady to Kambammettu
Meet your guide after breakfast in Thekkady for a drive to Kambammettu. After 1.5 hours, get out of the vehicle for the start of your trekking adventure. Admire the statues of Kuruvan & Kurathy, two tribal figures, eyeing you with their watchful eyes as you wind through the lush landscape. On your way to Pushpakandam, you’ll pass several small spice plantations dotting the path. Eventually, you’ll reach your destination for the night.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Pushpakandam
- Distance
- 4-5 hours, 11 km
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 Cardamom and Pepper Plantations
Get ready for another lush, pleasant day of walking, but this journey will lead you to pepper and cardamom plantations. Learn about these plantations in detail from the local trackers accompanying you on this hike.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Chaturangpara
- Distance
- 4-5 hours, 17 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Head to Korangani
Prepare for a challenging trek ahead, but keep in mind that you can let your body sink into a comfortable bed at Korangani Village Resort once it's over. Begin your hike by winding through cardamom forests and sholas. Note that you're walking through Cardamom Hills, where the popular spice has grown for centuries. Amid the spice-growing places peppering the land (pun intended), you'll also catch a spectacular view! At one point, you'll get to admire the plains of Tamil Nadu sprawled below. Upon arrival in Chadurangapara, you'll transfer to Korangani by car (2 hours).
- Overnight Location
- Hotel in Korangani
- Distance
- 3-4 hours, 11 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Hike to Top Station
Enjoy a delicious breakfast before tying up your laces and hiking to Top Station. Traverse varied settings en-route as you hike through cotton, arrack nut, coffee, and cardamom plantations. Appreciate the rolling grasslands coated in lush grass and pretty forests. One of the slopes is believed to be one of the spots where civilization began. Enjoy sharing stories around the campfire before spending another night in your tent.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Top Station
- Distance
- 5-7 hours, 10 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Hike to Footprint Camp
Walk along the ridges of the Western Ghats and Yellapatty Valley after consuming a tasty breakfast. Hike through a collection of tea plantations and villages, while also winding through an array of scenery, from mountain forest and grassland to sholas and more. Upon arrival, spend time basking in the fresh forest air while you keep a lookout for birds.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Footprint Camp
- Distance
- 4-6 hours, 18 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Hike to Rodho Valley
Expect to encounter a panoply of tea plantations en route to Rodho Valley. Amid the tea plantations, you’ll hike through lush forests as you zigzag up to your destination. Admire the lovely rhododendrons and stream nearby.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Rodho Valley Camp
- Distance
- 7-9 hours, 17 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Highest Tea Estate in the World
Prepare to summit the second highest mountain in South India today: Meesapulimalai. From the top, marvel at the Western Ghats rolling below. After soaking in the views, descend down to the highest tea estate in the world. Spend the night camping in Kolukkumalai along the eastern slope of the Western Ghats.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Kolukkumalai
- Distance
- 4-6 hours, 9 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Hike to Suryanelly
Spend another day hiking in rolling hues of green before reaching your campsite for the night. In the evening, there will be a cultural program performed by the locals.
- Overnight Location
- Camping at Suryanelly
- Distance
- 4-5 hours, 11 km
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Travel to Cochin International Airport
Enjoy breakfast before travelling for 5 hours to Cochin International Airport. The tour ends here.
- Overnight Location
- None
- Distance
- None
- Meals
- Breakfast
Spices and Tea Trails Trek Price and Dates
This guided walking tour to Kerala is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price depends on the size of your group. Please note that the prices might increase during public holidays.
Prices below are per person:
- Guided Groups of 2: $1,395USD per person
- Guided Groups of 3: $1,268USD per person
- Guided Groups of 4-6: $1,010USD per person
- Guided Groups of 7+: on request
Accommodation on Spices and Tea Trails Trek
This tour will have you staying in a combination of hotels and alpine tents at overnight campsites. When you’re not camping, expect to stay in 2-4-star hotels. The hotels provided come with modern amenities that elevate your comfort. Do note that rooms are double occupancy, but you can always upgrade to single occupancy for an additional fee. Single travellers are also required to pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may be swapped for other similar accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $565USD to have a private room in a hotel. It’s also possible to match single travellers up.
Hotels on Standard Tour
What’s included in the Spices and Tea Trails Trek?
Meals
8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 8 dinners are included on this tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 8 nights is included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation is included for transfers to the different locations, pick-up, and drop-off spots throughout the tour.
Also Included
- Guide
- Trekking arrangements: tents, cook, ponies, helpers, one-inch mattresses
- Toilet tent
- Camping fees
Not included
- Flights to and from Cochin International Airport
- Any additional nights before or after the tour
- Tour guide gratuity
- Personal necessities such as drinks during mealtimes and laundry
- Sleeping bag
- Entrance fee to Korangani - $60USD per person
Optional Extras
- Extra night in Cochin
- Sleeping bag rental – around $13USD per daily
Frequenty Asked Questions about Spices and Tea Trails Trek
How hard is the Spices and Tea Trails Trek?
This tour is rated as a 3 / 5. You will spend the majority of this tour hiking, so some fitness is required.
Do I need a visa to travel to India?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Are meals included on the Spices and Tea Trails Trek?
8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners are included on this tour.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.
How do I get to Thekkady to start this tour?
You can fly into Cochin International Airport and hire a cab to reach Thekkady.
Is the Spices and Tea Trails Trek in English?
Yes, the tour guide speaks English.
Where does the Spices and Tea Trails Trek end?
The tour ends at Cochin International Airport, where you will catch your flight home.
Do I need special vaccines to travel to India?
Check with your family doctor.
Are there any travel restrictions for India?
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
When is the best time to travel to India for this tour?
The best time to travel to Kerala for this hike is from September to March, when there is pleasant, less humid weather.
Reviews
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What travellers say
Stephen L.
I’ve been using 10A route guides for a while, but had never booked a tour. My wife and I booked a self-guided hike in Greece and were so impressed with how we were able navigate the route without a guide with the detailed and easy to follow itinerary. We enjoy travelling independently, and 10A made that happen.
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Erika S.
I just got back from backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, and WOW. What an unreal journey! The alpine meadows, waterfalls, and the lakeside camping spot were memorable highlights! I wonder what other tours 10Adventures has to offer. That one went so well that I am now convinced I need to book another!
Robert D.
I'm not a big fan of traveling because of my fear of flying, but my girlfriend convinced me to go on the Aurora Borealis Tour in the Yukon. I will never forget the mesmerizing northern lights. Such a romantic (and cold) getaway. I would highly recommend it.
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Why 10Adventures?
Rated 4.9 on Google Reviews
Tour Difficulty
This tour is rated as a 3 / 5. You will spend the majority of this tour hiking, so some fitness is required.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
Local guide
Rajiv
New Delhi, India
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