Periyar Tiger Reserve
A hard full-day trek through deep evergreen forest on another sector of Periyar's border — for fit, experienced walkers who want a long day on foot.
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It is a hard full-day trek through deep evergreen forest on another sector of the border of Periyar Tiger Reserve, led by guides over rugged terrain. It is meant for fit, experienced walkers who want a long day on foot. Prakriti Escapes books it with the reserve on enquiry.
Thondiyar border hiking is a full-day trek along another sector of Periyar Tiger Reserve's boundary. Where the Brandipara route is known for open ridges and long views, Thondiyar spends more time in forest: tall evergreen and semi-evergreen trees, bamboo, streams to cross and steep forest slopes where the path is often little more than an animal trail.
It is graded as a hard trek and is meant for fit, experienced walkers. You walk in a small group with reserve guides who know the area intimately. Wildlife encounters on foot — elephants, gaur, sambar, Nilgiri langurs, Malabar giant squirrels — are possible, and the forest sounds and smells change constantly through the day.
Full-day border hiking
Fee: ₹2,000 per person
| Option | Fee |
|---|---|
| Full-day border hiking | ₹2,000 per person |
Fees are set by Periyar Tiger Reserve and can be revised. Park entry and bus charges are extra unless your quote says otherwise.
Walking in elephant country changes how you move. Guides go first, stop often, and choose the route based on fresh signs. You may cross streams on rocks, push through bamboo and climb short, steep sections. Rests are taken where the forest opens out or near water.
Bring a sense of patience: on foot, the forest often reveals itself through sounds and signs rather than sightings — the crash of a gaur moving off, langurs calling an alarm, or a giant squirrel flashing maroon in the canopy.
Kumily town
Distance: About 4 km
Travel time: 10–15 minutes
Kottayam (railway station)
Distance: About 110 km
Travel time: About 3.5 hours
Madurai (airport)
Distance: About 140 km
Travel time: About 3.5 hours
Kochi (Cochin airport)
Distance: About 190 km
Travel time: 4.5 to 5 hours
| From | Distance | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Kumily town | About 4 km | 10–15 minutes |
| Kottayam (railway station) | About 110 km | About 3.5 hours |
| Madurai (airport) | About 140 km | About 3.5 hours |
| Kochi (Cochin airport) | About 190 km | 4.5 to 5 hours |
The reporting point and time are shared with your booking confirmation.
The reserve needs the name, age, gender and photo ID details of every participant to confirm a programme. We collect these only to make your booking and to contact you about it, and share them only with the reserve.
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It is graded hard. Expect a full day on uneven forest paths with stream crossings and steep sections.
It is not recommended for first-time trekkers. Start with the Nature Walk or a bamboo rafting programme instead.
Elephants, gaur, sambar, wild boar, Nilgiri langurs, Malabar giant squirrels and many birds use this forest. Sightings depend on luck.
October to March offers the most comfortable walking. The monsoon brings heavy rain, slippery ground and many leeches.
Brandipara is more about open ridges and views; Thondiyar is deeper forest. Both are full-day hard hikes.
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