Thekkady is a scenic gem surrounded by lush green forests and spice-scented plantations of Kerala. Nestled amidst the Western Ghats mountains, this quaint hill town attracts tourists with its peaceful and calm atmosphere. And the one-day Thekkady Kerala tour introduces you to the natural bounties and vibrant traditions of the town.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the highlight of this Thekkady tour. It’s one of the finest wildlife reserves in the country, with vast acres of verdant forests to explore. It’s an excellent place for nature lovers who love fun, adventure and wildlife.A One Day Thekkady Sightseeing Tour also offers an immersive experience of Kerala’s culture. It’s an exciting trip across wild streams, lush forests, and rolling hills. The chill and pleasant climate of Thekkady will refresh your mind and body.
Quick Menu
Highlights of Thekkady Sightseeing Tour by Cab
- Full-day Thekkady local sightseeing tour
- Duration: 8 to 9 hours
- Tour by Private Cab (not shared with others)
- Pickup & Drop: Thekkady Hotel / Home
- Places Covered: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Spring Valley Mountain/Kurisumala, Elephant Camp, Spice Garden, Mudra Cultural Centre, and Kadathanadan Kalari Centre.
Package Price for 1 Day Thekkady Sightseeing by Cab
Amaze / Etios / Dzire
4 Seater / Sedan
₹ 2,999/-
Maruti Ertiga
6 – 7 Seater / SUV
₹ 3,499/-
Toyota Innova
6 – 7 Seater / SUV
₹ 3,999/-
Toyota Innova Crysta
6 – 7 Seater / SUV
₹ 4,499/-
Tempo/ Force Traveller
12 Seater / LCV
₹ 4,999/-
Mini Bus
21 Seater / LCV
Price on Request
Book your 1 Day Thekkady Sightseeing Tour Package!
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Good to know
What’s included
- Pick and drop from Hotel / Home in Thekkady
- Cab for Thekkady sightseeing as per the above Itinerary
- Vehicle Parking Charges
- Toll-gate Charges if any
- Driver Allowance
What’s not included
- Entry Ticket Fee at tourist places in Thekkady
- Breakfast, Lunch or any meal
- Lodging / Accommodation at Thekkady
- Vehicle beyond the mentioned time duration
- Vehicle beyond the designated tour route
What to Expect on your Thekkady Sightseeing Trip
This One Day Thekkady Sightseeing Tour by Car offers an exciting journey through the natural wonders and cultural treasures of this vibrant, hilly town. We’ll start the trip with a morning pickup from your location in Thekkady.
Our first stop will be the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can enjoy a peaceful boat ride on Periyar Lake or a jeep safari in the wild. Afterwards, we’ll head to Spring Valley Mountain for panoramic views of the region. It’s an excellent spot for photos and relaxation.
Next, we’ll drive to the nearby Spice Garden to explore Thekkady’s famous spice plantations. Here, you can learn about the cultivation of the common spices of the region.
Later, we’ll visit the Elephant Camp, where you can see elephants up close and interact with them. Then, we’ll head to Mudra Cultural Centre to enjoy the traditional Kathakali dance. We’ll also check Kadathanadan Kalari Centre to see a Kalaripayattu martial arts performance.
As evening falls, we’ll drop you back at your location after a day full of sightseeing. You’ll get to enjoy the best of nature, culture and adventure with this full-day Thekkady tour itinerary.
Itinerary of One Day Thekkady Sightseeing Trip
Pickup from your Hotel in Thekkady at 9:00 AM
| S.No | Sightseeing Place | Recommended Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary | 150 minutes |
| 2 | Spring Valley Mountain/Kurisumala | 40 minutes |
| 3 | Elephant Camp | 60 minutes |
| 4 | Spice Garden | 40 minutes |
| 5 | Mudra Cultural Centre | 40 minutes |
| 6 | Kadathanadan Kalari Centre | 50 minutes |
Drop back at your Hotel in Thekkady by 5:30 PM
PLEASE NOTE: Guests can visit all the tourism places near Thekkady listed above or remove any of the places that they don’t want to visit. In order to include any other sightseeing place, guests can check with their cab provider while booking this Thekkady city tour by private car.
Similar Tours
- Kochi Sightseeing tour
- Wayanad Sightseeing tour
- Kottayam Sightseeing tour
- Calicut Sightseeing tour
- Thiruvananthapuram Sightseeing tour
Places to visit in one day in Thekkady by private car
This private tour takes you to some of the most prominent tourist places in Thekkady in one day.
1. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the must-visit tourist destinations in Thekkady. Known for its tranquil Periyar Lake, this sanctuary is home to royal tigers and majestic elephants. Other wildlife and bird species can also be spotted in this tiger reserve.
The place offers a variety of wildlife activities like boating in the lake, jeep safari and hiking. It’s a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. You can get breathtaking views of dense forests from various vantage points, along with a peaceful ambiance.
- Must See / Things to Do: Take a boat ride on Periyar Lake and spot animals and birds in their natural habitat.
- Timings: 6 AM – 7 PM
- Entry Fee: ₹45 for Indian adults and ₹15 for kids, and ₹500 for foreign adults and ₹180 for kids.
2. Spring Valley Mountain/Kurisumala
Spring Valley Mountain (locally known as Kurisumala) is a part of the vast Periyar Sanctuary. It’s known for its picturesque views and calm environment. Located amidst dense forests, it overlooks the entire sanctuary. From the viewpoints, you can see the pine forests, tea gardens and distant dense plantations.
The serene landscapes and misty hills create a rejuvenating experience, perfect for taking a break from the daily hustle. If you trek to the summit, you’ll be welcomed by cool mountain air. It’s an ideal spot for birdwatching as well.
- Must See / Things to Do: Enjoy a short trek to the summit and enjoy Thekkady’s lush surroundings.
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Entry Fee: Free
3. Spice Garden
The Spice Garden tour provides a glimpse into the fascinating spice plantations of Thekkady. This guided tour offers plenty of insights into the cultivation and history of the local spices. The lush garden houses various spices, including cardamom, pepper and cinnamon. This Thekkady spice plantation tour is a sensory experience of vibrant colours and enticing aromas.
A stroll through the spice garden is both relaxing and enriching. It’s one of the best things to do during a Thekkady tour. Apart from spices, you might also get to see vanilla, coffee and tea plantations during this tour.
- Must See / Things to Do: Take a guided tour, savour the aromas, and purchase fresh local spices.
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Entry Fee: Free
4. Elephant Camp
Elephant Camp offers a memorable opportunity to pet and play with the elephants. The visit provides you a mix of education and entertainment. The camp allows you to interact with these friendly animals, observe their routines, and feed and bathe them.
Set amidst scenic surroundings, this experience is heartwarming and unforgettable. It’s ideal for families and animal lovers who would love some insights into the elephants’ lives and care. An elephant ride through the surrounding lush forests is also available in the camp.
- Must See / Things to Do: Feed and bathe the elephants, take photos, and learn about elephant care.
- Timings: 7 AM – 8.30 PM
- Entry Fee: ₹500 per person
5. Mudra Cultural Centre
Mudra Cultural Centre, located near Elephant Camp, is famous for showcasing cultural events of Kerala. It’s renowned for its captivating Kathakali performances, the traditional dance form of the region. You can enjoy this classical dance-drama, with all its colourful costumes, intricate facial makeup, and expressive storytelling.
Kathakali performances here are both mesmerising and informative. They’re accompanied by a brief introduction that explains the art’s history and significance. You can also witness the laborious preparations the artists have to go through for their spectacular performances.
- Must See / Things to Do: Watch a Kathakali performance and learn about Kerala’s classical dance form.
- Timings: 9 AM – 8 PM
- Entry Fee: ₹200 per person
6. Kadathanadan Kalari Centre
Kadathanadan Kalari Centre nearby is a must-visit spot in this Thekkady one-day tour. It’s a renowned centre of the ancient form of martial arts, Kalaripayyattu. This traditional art form is unique to Kerala, and it’s considered the oldest martial art in the world.
This unforgettable experience brings Kerala’s cultural heritage vividly to life. Kalaripayyattu performances here highlight the artists’ combat techniques, flexibility and discipline. It’s both immersive and electrifying.
- Must See / Things to Do: Watch an action-packed Kalaripayattu performance and learn about its history.
- Timings: 8 AM – 10 PM
- Entry Fee: ₹200 per person
Related Tours
- Varkala Sightseeing tour
- Alleppey Sightseeing tour
- One Day Kerala Temple tour
- Calicut to Wayanad One day tour
- Munnar Sightseeing tour with Attukad Waterfalls
Things to Do on your Thekkady Sightseeing Tour
The one-day Thekkady tour plan also allows you to enjoy several activities.
What to Shop during your Full Day Thekkady Sightseeing Tour by Car?
Thekkady is a paradise for spice lovers. The region is known for its rich and authentic spices, and you can buy aromatic spices here. Among the must-buy items are cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and cloves. Besides spices, Thekkady has a variety of handicrafts crafted from coconut shells, bamboo and wood. These unique items are ideal for decor or thoughtful gifts.
For those interested in Ayurveda, Thekkady’s herbal products are also worth exploring. Locally made oils, soaps and herbal remedies are widely available. Locally grown tea and coffee can be bought as well.
What to Eat during your One Day Thekkady Sightseeing Trip by Taxi?
This one-day Thekkady sightseeing tour also lets you explore the delightful Kerala cuisine. One must-try is the Kerala Sadhya, a traditional vegetarian meal on a banana leaf. It includes a variety of dishes such as rice, sambhar, avial, thoran and payasam, capturing the essence of Kerala’s rich culinary heritage.
Seafood lovers can try Karimeen Pollichathu, Pearl spot fish grilled in wrapped banana leaves. Appam (a soft rice pancake) with stew is another local favourite. Parotta with beef curry is also a popular delicacy. Then, there are banana chips and jackfruit chips for snacks.
Terms & Conditions
Travelers are requested to follow the given itinerary for 1 day Thekkady city tour package. Ideally this full day tour package cannot be customized, however if guests prefer to visit different set of places during this Thekkady sightseeing tour by private car, they can check the possibility of the same with the above listed car rental companies and request for a custom quote.
We recommend our guests to stick to the time spent at each tourist attraction in Thekkady as per the Itinerary schedule. In case of any delays or additional time spent at a particular place, driver or car rental company will not be responsible to cover all the places mentioned in the itinerary.
Please also note that if a particular sightseeing place is closed on the scheduled day of the tour, it may not be covered from the list of sightseeing places. Please check the possibility of visiting an alternate place with listed cab vendor before you book the tour.
FAQs
Ideally, no. However guests can check if it’s possible to customize the tour with the above listed Thekkady cab vendors before booking the trip. Additional charges might apply.
This One Day Thekkady Sightseeing Tour is a wonderful way to experience the town’s diverse natural beauty, wildlife and culture. From the wilderness of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to the traditional performances at Mudra Cultural Centre, this tour provides a glimpse into Thekkady.
Taking a car is the ideal choice to explore the attractions of Thekkady. It’s a convenient way to explore the town without worrying about transportation hassles.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the day tour for a full refund.
Learn more about cancellations.