Trekking in Munnar

The best time to visit Munnar for a vacation is from October to March. Being a hill station, it may attract tourists in summers but the monsoon unpredictability in South India is a big reason to visit it after October. The winters aren’t harsh like the north Indian hill stations and make a perfect time to visit and experience Munnar trekking.

Yes. Guides will definitely be available to assist the trekkers during trekking in Munnar. They will be there to help the trekkers pass through the difficult trails and cope up with any kind of situation which comes up.

Munnar, a quaint hill station in the south Indian state of Kerala, is one of the most popular holiday spots in the country. Lying next to the awe-inspiring Western Ghats, the hill station has been a popular spot for trekking, camping, and wildlife spotting. MunnarTrekking are filled with fun and excitement. And, they are extremely safe. Additionally, the level of treks varies from one terrain to another, meaning anybody can enjoy trekking in the lush green valleys of Munnar.

Tents will be provided for the accommodation of the trekkers in Munnar. They will have all kinds of required facilities like bathrooms, mattresses and more. The tents can be on sharing basis or individual which depends upon the type of booking the guest has made for Munnar trekking.

Munnar is a hill station in the Western Ghats of the state of Kerala, on the Kannan Devan Hills to be exact. You can get to Munnar in the following ways:

1. By Road- Munnar lies on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway, about 130kms from Cochin
2. By Train- Nearest Railway stations are Ernakulam and Aluva (approx 140 km by road)
3. By Air- The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport (110 kms by road)

Munnar in Kerala is approximately 475 kms from Bangalore in Karnataka

Animals like tiger, gaur, sambar deer, Indian giant squirrel, Champak squirrel, and panther can be spotted while trekking in Munnar. Adding to that, you will find around 184 species of birds in Munnar.

Food will be provided during the trek. You will have to carry water yourself. It is advisable to take at least a bottle for 2 liters for the trek.

There are six different types of treks available near Munnar which are listed below:
1. Chokramudi
2. Idukki
3. Chumar
4. Kannan Devan Hills 
5. Chithirapuram 
6. Lakshmi Hill Trek
You can opt for any one of the treks and book a package from Thrillophilia. All the arrangements will be made by the campsite and you can carefreely enjoy your trekking and camping in Munnar.

The difficulty level in Munnar trekking varies from the trek to trek.

1. Treks like the Idukki trek and the Chummar treks are pretty easy as they go through tea plantations and the lush green strips that do not involve steep climbing or any issues.
2. The Kannan Devan trek and Chokramudi trek after a point become quite difficult. They involve steep climbing and passages where you might need the help of a local guide to reach the top of the trek.
3. The trek to the Anamudi peak, that is, the highest peak in Munnar is extremely difficult. It involves slippery grass strips with steep climbing. It is so difficult that the officials allow only trek up to 2kms of the peak for tourists.      If  you want to climb to the top, you have to get special permission from the authorities at the Eravikulam National Park.

No. You do not need training for trekking. The only thing you will need is a basic level of fitness, which you can easily attain by watching your diet and infusing light physical exercise in your daily routine.

It is suggested that you take care of the following things during Munnar trekking:
1. Comfortably fitting sports shoes
2. Track pants
3. Cotton t-shirts
4. Slippers
5. Hat
6. Sunglasses
7. Torch
8. Water bottle
9. Mosquito repellent

The fitness level of participants is dependent on the trek you are choosing. But nevertheless, the main thing you need to work on is stamina and endurance. The easier treks are anyway quite easier with mostly just walks and no steep climbs. For the more difficult treks, the participants must have good stamina, strength, and endurance, as, without it, things may get tougher with the ascent.

The cost for trekking in Munnar is something that will depend on the package you choose. Options for only trekking will start somewhere at INR 700/- and average at around INR 1200/-, while options for treks with camping will start at INR 2200/- and go as high as INR 4500/- based on the number of days and amenities provided in the package.

Yes, all the treks in Munnar are completely safe. All these treks pass through lush green strips with tea plantations and easily walkable stretches. There are no unsafe passages throughout the trek except the Anamudi peak where you need some expertise to tackle the harsh route.

The wildlife is known to be distant as well. The weather conditions in Munnar are generally great for trekking and they do not get harsh like the north Indian hill stations. It can get difficult in the monsoons but otherwise, Munnar trekking is completely safe.

Winter months from December to February Are the best time for trekking in Munnar. It is post-monsoon months when the surrounding beauty is at its best just after the monsoon. You will find greener grass, better flora, and gushing waterfalls. Moreover, this is the best time for rock climbing as well.

The climate in Munnar is usually warm and humid. However, if we talk season-wise then summers are warmer with slight rainfall which is still fine if you are from North India. Winters are pleasantly cool with the beauty of the surroundings at its best after the monsoon. Though monsoon receives very heavy rainfall which is not as pleasant for traveling as other seasons.

Anamudi Peak, with the height of the summit at 2,695m above sea level is the highest point for trekking in Munnar, and is also the highest peak in the entire southern India

No. Families, group of friends, or even a solo traveller can trek in Munnar without a guide. However, it is advised to stay away from hills at night and avoid venturing into unknown paths if you are on your own.

Yes, camping can be done in Munnar along with trekking. Tents can be set up in a double or triple sharing basis. Moreover, they are quite comfortable along with sleeping bags and basic amenities nearby.

Not really. Munnar Trekking is extremely exciting and adventurous. It is also home to a wide variety of wild animal species. But, unless you are taking a special trek or tour to a designated area for wild animals, there is very little to zero chances of facing a dangerous wild animal. You could come across a few gaurs or elephants once in a while. It is best to either take a guide with you or not trek alone at night to avoid any kind of mishaps.

• Woolen clothes including gloves, warm socks, hats, jackets, and warm pants
• Trekking shoes – wearing appropriating shoes for trekking is a must to avoid any kind of injury
• Pack a torch/headlamp, a refillable water bottle, a blanket (in case you need to camp put in the middle of nowhere)
• Make a mix of mustard oil and tobacco leaves and apply them over your legs and shoes to avoid being bitten by leeches
• A map for the trekking route (if you are going without a guide), and
• All your essential medicines

Things that you must carry with you on your Munnar trekking are-

1. Any personal medication
2. Backpack of 20 liters
3. 2 liters of water
4. Energy Food (Chocolate bars, flavored milk, Electrolyte drinks – Glucon-D, etc)
5. Sports shoes (for better grip)
6. Camera (optional)
7. Rain Coat (Suggested)
8. Torch

Yes. Munnar is one of the safest places in the country to trek. It is often visited by families and group of friends but the hill station sees its fair share of solo female travellers from time to time. The people of Munnar are known to be very kind and hospitable.

You will get the local food which, depending on the duration of the trek, will either be packed for shorter durations, or will be freshly prepared.

You can rest assured that the sleeping bags provided on the trekking expedition would be clean, comfortable and waterproof.

• Visiting a tea estate 
• Wildlife Safari - Spotting Wildlife such as Indian Flying Fox, Sloth Bear, Tigers, Indian Elephants, and much more. 
• Waterfalls such as Nyayamakad Waterfalls and Attukad Waterfalls. 
• Botanical Gardens such as Carmelgiri.
• Viewpoints

You can find a lot of variety in Homestays in Munnar. There are nature homestays, Tea Estate homestays, wild homestays and hilltop bungalows that you will easily find in almost every corner of the hill station

Yes. There are at least 7 buses that go straight from Bangalore to Munnar which you can avail to get here. Apart from that, you can take a train from Bangalore to Salem and then take public transport to reach Munnar. Or if you wish to take the fastest way there, then a flight from Bangalore to Ernakulam, and then a road transfer to Munnar will get you there in slightly above 5 hours.