Periyar Tiger Reserve
A morning in Periyar with 3–4 hours of guided trekking and about an hour on bamboo rafts — slots at 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM, packed food included.
Quick answer
It is a morning in Periyar Tiger Reserve with three to four hours of guided trekking and about an hour on bamboo rafts across the lake. Slots start at 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM, and packed food is included. Prakriti Escapes books it with the reserve on enquiry.
The half-day bamboo rafting programme packs Periyar's two best experiences — walking in the forest and drifting on the lake — into a morning. You trek for three to four hours through mixed forest and grassland with guides, then board bamboo rafts for about an hour on Periyar lake before returning by early afternoon.
It is ideal if you want more than the standard boat ride but cannot give a full day. The trek is fairly strenuous, so basic fitness is needed, but the rafting section is calm and quiet — good for watching elephants, gaur or sambar at the water's edge and birds such as darters and kingfishers.
Daily
Report 15 minutes before the start at the Tribal Trackers office near Bamboo Grove.
Bamboo rafting half day (per person)
Fee: ₹2,200
| Option | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bamboo rafting half day (per person) | ₹2,200 |
Fees are set by Periyar Tiger Reserve and can be revised. Park entry and bus charges are extra unless your quote says otherwise.
The trek crosses forest, grassland and lake shore, with guides stopping to show tracks, plants and birds. The pace is steady and some sections are uneven.
The raft section is unhurried: the guides pole the bamboo rafts along the shore, and everyone keeps quiet to give the best chance of animals at the water. Life jackets are worn throughout.
Thekkady / Kumily hotels to Bamboo Grove
Distance: 3–5 km
Travel time: 10–15 minutes
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thekkady / Kumily hotels to Bamboo Grove | 3–5 km | 10–15 minutes |
| 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 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.
See our privacy policy for how we store and protect your information.
About five hours in total: 3–4 hours of trekking and around an hour of rafting.
The 7:30 AM slot is cooler and usually better for wildlife; the 9:30 AM slot is easier if you are coming from further away.
The trek is fairly strenuous. Basic fitness is needed; the rafting part is relaxed.
Children under 12 are not allowed.
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Periyar Bamboo Rafting – Half Day
Which Periyar activity should you choose? A clear guide to lake boating, bamboo rafting, nature walks, the bird song trail, border hiking, night jungle patrols, the Tiger Trail and the Gavi safari in Thekkady — with timings, who each suits and tips.
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