Trekking in Madikeri

Trekking in Madikeri can be done at any time of the year. You can choose the apt time for yourself depending on your favorite season. The best time for trekking in Madikeri during monsoon is from July to September. The best time to visit during the winter season is from December to February. However, the temperature during winters dabbles between 14 degree Celsius and 29 degree Celsius.

If you want to soak in the sunshine of the valley and witness the lush green hills dotted with vibrant flowers, then go here between March and June. The average temperature during this time is 21 degree Celsius and 34 degree Celsius.

Most of the treks in Western Ghats can be completed in one day, or maximum, two. You don’t need to have to be extremely fit to finish your trek to Madikeri. Even so, it is advisable to get your heart rate and breathing tested before going for one of the trekking tours in Madikeri.

A few weeks before trekking in Madikeri, you can start with some easy exercises, such as walking, running, cycling, breathing techniques, yoga, etc. In case you want to take it up a notch, you can try climbing and squatting as well. A normal fitness routine is also enough to match this trek.

When you go on a hike, you sweat a considerable amount of minerals. In the same way, demands you to stay hydrated until it is completed. It is quite tricky to know the exact amount of water needed for Madikeri trekking, but carry at least 2 liters of water per person.

As much as it is fun, trekking also comes with unseen troubles and difficulties, such as harsh weather, bad condition of trails, acute mountain sickness, blisters, cough and cold, swollen joints, etc. However, a well-prepared mind and body is an answer to all the difficulties that come across during trekking. Remember to dress according to the weather and keep extra clothing. If the climate demands, wear good quality hiking shoes, take the required medicine to avoid any kind of sickness. Trekking is already a challenging activity no matter how adventurous it seems. So, make sure that you are well-prepared to face any difficulty that comes your way during these hikes.

We have a strong policy against waste pollution. We don’t support littering waste or garbage before, during, or after trekking in Madikeri. To avoid littering, we carry eco-bags to carry the waste during treks. It is also requested to collect any waste found during the trek and dispose it in a dustbin.

Even though this trek is an easy one, you must be prepared for anything and everything that comes your way at the time of hiking. For this very reason, you must gear yourself up with some important trekking equipment.Some of the necessary equipment that you must buy includes a light trekking backpack, camping tent, hiking shoes or boots with good grip, insect repellant, trekking poles, eco-friendly waste bags, sleeping mat, powerbank, smartwatch, torch or flash light, etc. 

Before you go ahead with the purchase of your trekking gear, please keep in mind that you do not need to bring everything with you on the trek. Try to carry equipment that you feel are absolutely necessary for you. Keep it light and easy.

If it’s Madikeri or any other trek, it should be your own responsibility to carry a medicine kit or first-aid kit. You do not have to carry a whole box of medicines with you, but make sure that you have some basic medicines with you all the time. Some of the must-carry medicines on a regular trek are Crocin, Allegra, Combiflam, Vomistop (only for high altitude), Strepsils, Antibiotics, Avomine (for motion sickness), mosquito/insect repellant, Spasmonil (for abdominal cramps), Dcold, and Cetirizine (for allergies).

You must also keep crepe bandage, band-aid, and antibiotic ointment. For altitude sickness, you can carry Diamox, Nifedipine, and Dexamethasone, but do not forget to ask for your doctor’s advice before taking any medicine.

The average cost for trekking in Madikeri ranges from 6,000 to 8,000 per person. The cost of trekking also depends on the package you choose. For one night and two-day stay, the price ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 per person. For two-night and three-day stay, the charges applicable would be between 5,000 and 7,000, and so on.

It is absolutely safe for anyone to go for trekking in Madikeri. It is the perfect trek for solo travelers as well. Even women solo travelers can enjoy hiking through the forest trails of Madikeri. Even so, one must always take care of his or her surroundings, and it is advisable for anyone trekking in this area to avoid going for the trek during late hours.

On an average, there are 5-6 trekkers in one group. However, high number trekkers in one group are safer, better and definitely more fun. There is no set limit for a number of trekkers required to start a trek, but the minimum number should be around 5 and the maximum should be around 15.

There are many local restaurants and food joints available near Madikeri trek. In case, you are looking to have food during the trekking hours, it will be packed stuff, such as energy bars, chips, sandwiches, burgers, along with beverages. The food will be served warm and cooked at the time of your stay, in hotel, homestay, or tent.

There aren’t a lot of trekking tours in Madikeri that offer night treks in the area. Tourists usually opt for day trekking since it takes about 24 hours to complete the whole hike. However, a night trek can be arranged on request for those who are interested. You can even pitch a tent amid the wilderness and enjoy a night full of stars in Madikeri.

The best hiking clothes are made of synthetic material. Synthetic is known to absorb sweat quickly. Thus, this will help your body cool down during long hours of hiking during the trek. Since trekking in Madikeri is an easy one, you can wear normal T-shirt and pants. It is advisable to wear full sleeved T-shirt and pants/ trekking suit/ tights/ etc. since in the wilderness, you never know what kind of insects or plants you might come across. Do not forget to carry a rain jacket, coat, pullover, etc. since the temperature keeps changing in Madikeri. It’s best to wear three-layered clothing in case you are trekking during the winter season.

There are few points to keep in mind when you are choosing shoes for trekking activity –grip, waterproofing, and breathability. We all are aware about the grip part, that is, to avoid slipping on the trails. Please note that it is quite usual for the trekking trails to be damped or worse, flooded. Thus, it is better to splurge on trekking shoes that are waterproofed, than save on the ones that aren’t. Also, for Madikeri trekking, it is highly recommended that you buy shoes that easily allow moisture to pass through. The weather changes dramatically there, and so, this is an important factor to consider when buying trekking shoes.

Madikeri trekking is quite safe for trekkers. Even so, every trekker must stay aware about his or her surroundings during the trek. You might come across wild animals during the jungle trails, but that’s quite rare since most of them are deep down in the forest, and probably more scared of you than the other way around.

The trek is safe even for solo women trekkers, but is still recommended to not go into the woods alone during late hours. Remember to carry a jacket or coat during your treks, since the weather in this region is quite unpredictable. Keep water bottles and munchies with you to be on the safer side.

The trek of Madikeri is not a difficult one. However, it is advisable to carry some of the equipment that would contribute in making your trek comfortable. Some of the important things to carry at this trek are Water bottle; munching and food items such as chocolates, chips, dry fruits, and energy bars; a good backpack; an extra pair of trekking shoes; a multi-purpose tool set such as Swiss knife; torch or flashlight; hand sanitizer, mouthwash, extra pair of jacket, cap, and other woolen clothes, sunscreen, lip balm, first-aid or medical kit, trek map, compact camera, phone, phone charger, sunglasses, medicines for mountain illness, etc.

It is advisable to not drink or smoke during trekking hours since your body loses a lot of sweat, moisture, and salt when you are hiking through the dense forest. It is actually very crucial for you to stay focused at the time of trekking. There is however, no restriction as such on smoking or drinking.