Best Camping Tours in Wayanad

What You Should Know More About Camping in Wayanad

• Q. Where is Wayanad located? How can I reach Wayanad?

  Situated in Kerala, Wayanad is mainly known for its luxuriant forested lands enriched with misty valleys.

   

  By air: The nearest airport to reach Wayanad is the Calicut International Airport which is located around 65 km away. After landing, one can easily find taxis and cars that will take them directly to the Wayanad district.

   

  By road: If you are travelling by road, you can get access to the place through many roads from different parts of Kerala as well as Karnataka. Visitors can easily board KSRTC buses from cities like Bangalore, Mysore, Cochin and many other that will directly lead you to your destined place.

   

  By train: As per the information, the Wayanad district is not directly connected by the railway service so the visitors and the travelers can take a train till Kozhikode and after reaching can hire taxis and cars to travel to Wayanad.

• Q. How far is Wayanad from Bangalore? How to reach Wayanad from Bangalore?

  The distance between Bangalore (the most important city with an International Airport) and Wayanad is 282.7 kilometers via the NH 275 and NH 766. The aerial distance on the other hand is just about 217 kilometers. There are several direct buses to Wayanad that ply from Bangalore.

   

  The bus journey will take about 9 hours. The best way to reach Wayanad is however, driving your own vehicle. It will be a pleasant journey and you will be traveling across a highly scenic route. The roads are in good condition but you will need to be careful when driving through the ghats.

  There is no direct train between Bangalore and Wayanad. The closest you can reach Wayanad via train is by taking the Tirupati – Chamrajnagar Express from Banaswadi Station. Your stop will be Nanjangud, 109 kilometers from Wayanad. An alternative train route is reaching Kozhikode Station, which again is about 100 kilometers from Wayanad.

• Q. What is the best time to visit Wayanad for Camping?

  The best time for camping in Wayanad is between the months of October and May. This is when Wayanad is at its coolest and the temperature is comforting for all kinds of outdoor activities. While several people go to Wayanad in other months of the year too, rain could be a problem if you are planning to set your tent outdoors.

• Q. Can we do camping in Wayanad in monsoon also?

  It is possible to camp in Wayanad during the monsoons but rains are always discomforting when you are pitched outdoors. You can however, book a homestay in Wayanad that allows for both indoor and outdoor accommodations. You can always switch between your tent and an indoor room, depending on your needs.

• Q. What all should I carry while visiting Wayanad for camping?

  When on a camping trip to Wayanad, you should be carrying:

  • A bag that would be easy to carry on treks
  • Water bottle
  • Torch – it’s a must
  • Tents (you can also rent one at Wayanad)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Raincoats (if you are visiting Wayanad in the monsoons)
  • Small sling bag / shoulder bag
  • T-shirts
  • Jeans / cotton pants / tights (full length)
  • Sun cap / scarf
  • Hiking shoes
  • Rain proof shoes (wet shoes are discomforting)
  • Warm jacket – mornings in Wayanad are cold, regardless of the time of the year
  • Vomit bags – hope you won’t need to use them
  • Personal medicines
  • Mosquito repellants
  • Books
  • Toiletries
  • Sunscreen

• Q. What is the cost of camping in Wayanad?

  Tented accommodation for overnight camps come to around INR 12,500. However, there are a lot of homestays that offer cheaper camping opportunities. It is necessary that you enquire beforehand. Also, camping during the monsoons is cheaper than in the peak of tourist season that extends between the months of December and February.

• Q. Where all we can do camping in Wayanad? Is it worth visiting Wayanad for camping?

  Wayanad is a great place for camping, especially if you have the opportunity to set up your tent in the middle of the lust tea plantations. With the exotic hills all around and an ambience that is set to the harmony of nature, it’s an experience that you wouldn’t forget for the rest of your lifetime. Popular places for pitching up a tent in Wayanad include:

  • Pozhuthana
  • The Hill District Club
  • Blue Mango, Wayanad Camping
  • SeagotBanasura Resorts
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Wayanad Adventure Camp, Karlad Lake
  • Lakkidi
  • Jungle Retreat Wayanad

  Prices for camping start as low as INR 1,500 in some of these properties. However, you may have to carry your own tent. It is also advisable that you pitch your tent in dedicated camping spaces and not go about setting your camp anywhere in the wild.

• Q. Can we do cave camping in Wayanad? Which caves are famous for camping?

  It is necessary that you seek the permission of the forest department before setting up a camp. In some cases, you are even allowed to set up a bonfire and spend the night dancing, just like our early ancestors would have spent their nights.

   

  Cave camping in Wayanad is completely organized and you have amenities like guides, night treks, flashlights and welcome drinks. Alcohol and smoking during cave camping is strictly prohibited.

   

  Cave camping in Wayanad is a truly amazing experience. The caves are further naturally air conditioned and you would be sheltered from rain.

   

  The caves that are famous for camping include:

  • Makkamkunnu
  • Kothagiri
  • Edakkal Caves

• Q. What all things will be included in my camping package?

  Things that are usually included in your camping package are:

  • Sleeping bags
  • Breakfast / dinner
  • Cycles
  • Entry fees
  • Bike and helmets (if included in your itinerary)
  • Raincoats
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Guide charges
  • Separate tents for boys and girls (if sought for)

• Q. How to deal with any insects, animals or bad weather we might face during camping?

  Though the camping sites in and around Wayanad are carefully organized, it always helps to take your own precautionary measures. Here are the things that should protect you from insects and wild animals:

  • Insect repellants
  • Mosquito repellants
  • Flashlights
  • Good quality sleeping bags
  • Bottle of water

  The adventure lies in the constant excitement of being in the wild and encountering the small threats that might be lurking around. It is necessary that you take a good bath before getting into your sleeping bags.

   

  Sweating does invite insects and reptiles. Also, camping by a fire ensures that any kind of small animal, howsoever harmless is kept at bay.

   

  To protect yourself from bad weather, it is relevant to carry

  • Protective clothing
  • Raincoats
  • Warm jackets
  • Strong waterproof boots
  • Scarves / mufflers
  • Caps that protect you from drizzles
  • Umbrella

• Q. What if it rains while we are camping in Wayanad?

  Rains in Wayanad are usually encountered between the months of July and November. If you are traveling during this period, it is necessary that you are rightly prepared and are carrying:

  • Raincoats
  • Umbrellas
  • Several pairs of tees
  • Several pairs of underwear
  • Have space towels
  • Carry medicines for cold / headache

  The monsoons around these hills are pretty amazing and this is also the time of the year when the nature is at its best.

• Q. What sort of food will be there during camping in Wayanad? Will there be barbeque and bonfire as well?

  Most organized camps in Wayanad provide for breakfast and dinner. Depending on the itinerary / camping package you have bought, you can expect a range of dishes.

  Usually, camps offer:

  • Chappati (flat over cooked bread)
  • Kerala Porotta (authentic specialty bread from Kerala)
  • Chicken / vegetable curry (as per your needs)

  The menu for the dinner is however, highly dependent on the organizers. If you have booked a customized group camping trip, the food choices are more flexible.

• Q. What sort of clothes is preferable to be worn during camping?

  Camping, regardless of day or night camps, can be full of surprises. You first line of defense is always the cloth you are wearing.

   

  For mornings:

  • Tops / t-shirts
  • Long sleeve cotton tees
  • Slim sweat pants
  • Thermal leggings / wool leggings
  • Fleece jackets / sweatshirt with hood
  • Beanie

  For afternoon:

  • Tank tops / t-shirts
  • Lightweight denims, shorts or twill pants
  • Long sleeve tops for outdoors
  • Hat with brim
  • Bathing suits if you want to take a plunge

  For nights: (similar to mornings)

  • Thermal long sleeve cotton tees
  • Thermal leggings / twill pants
  • Fleece jackets / sweatshirts with hoods
  • Nylon jackets
  • Beanie

• Q. What all activities will we do during camping in Wayanad?

  The activities organized around camping trips in Wayanad include:

  • Cycling
  • Cave hunting
  • Waterfall explorations
  • Treks
  • Plantation walks
  • BBQ
  • Night trails / treks
  • Star gazing
  • Photography

  There are dedicated guides who ensure that you trip will be exciting and you will have a lot of memories to take back.

• Q. Can we drink and smoke while camping?

  Smoking and drinking during camps is strictly prohibited if you are in cave sites or in protected forest area. Several private camps however allow for drinking and smoking inside their compounds.

• Q. What sort of toilet facility will be there at campsite?

  Most campsites provide makeshift toilet facilities. This is as close to living a life in wilderness for a day. The toilets are well-established and clean enough to be used. Also, toilet facilities ensure that there is no harm to the environment or hygiene of the place.

• Q. Will we get medical aid in case of any medical emergency?

  Most camp organizers have a doctor on call. If you are likely to fall ill during outdoor camps, it is necessary that you enquire with the organizers beforehand. If on the other hand, you are camping in private compounds, such as homestays and resorts, there is always a doctor on call available.

  It is however recommended that you carry the basic medicines.

• Q. What other things I can do in Wayanad besides camping?

  There are a lot of things to do in Wayanad besides camping and top sites to visit include:

  • Trek to the Chembra Peak
  • Exploring the Edakkal Caves
  • Boating BanasuraSagar Dam, Kalpetta
  • A walk through the Bamboo Forest, Muthanga
  • Visiting the Chain Tree, Vythiri
  • Visit the Jain Temple, Sulthan Battery
  • Experience the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Explore the Kuruva Island
  • Take a plunge at the Soochipara Falls, Kalpetta
  • Bird watching at Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary
  • Experience the The Bamboo Factory, Uravu
  • Explore the Pookode Lake, Kalpetta
  • Trek to the Phantom Rock
  • Trek to the Meenmutty Waterfalls
  • Take a deep breath at the Lakkidi View Point
  • Visit the Thirunelli Temple, Thirunelli
  • Take a safari at the Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Go on the Spice Trail of Wayanad

• Q. Why Wayanad is so famous for camping?

  Wayanad is a paradise. Set in the laps of the picturesque Western Ghats, Wayanad is a place that offers the best of nature and wildlife. So close to the city of Bangalore and yet a completely different kind of place – Wayanad has been welcoming outdoor lovers all-round the year.

   

  It’s the natural beauty, the opportunity of so many adventure experiences and the very calmness of the hills that make Wayanad a perfect place for camping.

• Q. Which all places are good for sightseeing in Wayanad?

  Wayanad has got various places to visit and for sightseeing. Here are some of them:
  

  • Chembra Peak
  • Edakkal Caves
  • BanasuraSagar Dam, Kalpetta
  • Bamboo Forest, Muthanga
  • Jain Temple, Sulthan Battery
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kuruva Island
  • Soochipara Falls, Kalpetta
  • Pakshipathalam Bird Sanctuary
  • Pookode Lake, Kalpetta
  • Phantom Rock
  • Meenmutty Waterfalls
  • Lakkidi View Point
  • Thirunelli Temple, Thirunelli
  • Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary

• Q. Can we play loud music and dance at the campsite?

  Playing loud music is forbidden at the campsite. However, you can always bring down the decibels and have a party of song and dance. It is necessary to know your limits. At Wayanad, you share the forests with a lot of wildlife.

   

  It should come to you as to what is appropriate. There is however strict limits on the loudness of music you can play and the time limit for night parties outdoors.