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Periyar Tiger Trail – 1 Night, Periyar Tiger Reserve
Camping & Trekking 1 Night / 2 Days

Periyar Tiger Trail – 1 Night

Periyar Tiger Reserve

Two days of trekking and a night in tents inside Periyar with community guides and forest staff — a maximum of six visitors, all meals included.

Quick answer

What is the Periyar Tiger Trail (1 night)?

It is a two-day trek with one night in tents inside Periyar Tiger Reserve, led by community guides and forest staff, for a maximum of six visitors with all meals included. At least two people must book together. Prakriti Escapes books it with the reserve on enquiry.

At a glance

Location
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, Kerala
Program Type
Camping & Trekking
Duration
1 Night / 2 Days
Minimum Participants
2 Persons
Starting Point
Forest Check Post / Ex-Vayana EDC Office
Accommodation
Tent Camping

Tiger Trail – 1 Night: trek and camp inside Periyar

The Tiger Trail is Periyar's best-known overnight programme: two days of trekking and a night in tents deep inside the reserve. It was created as part of the reserve's eco-development work, and many of the guides come from local communities whose families once depended on the forest in other ways — today they protect it, and their knowledge of animal movements is remarkable.

A maximum of six visitors walk with five guides and a forest department staff member. Days are spent tracking and observing; evenings at camp are filled with forest sounds, simple meals and stories. It is not a wildlife show — tigers are rarely seen — but few experiences in India let you spend this long on foot in a tiger reserve.

Programme fee (set by the reserve)

  • Tiger Trail 1 night (per person)

    Fee: ₹7,200

Fees are set by Periyar Tiger Reserve and can be revised. Park entry and bus charges are extra unless your quote says otherwise.

Guide leading walkers along the shore of Periyar lake
Long walks follow lake shores, ridges and forest trails

Two days in the forest

Day one begins after reporting and a briefing. You trek through varied habitat, stopping for lunch on the trail, and reach camp in the afternoon. Evenings are quiet — dinner, the sounds of the night and conversation with the guides.

Day two starts early, when wildlife is most active, with a morning trek before returning to the starting point. Expect to walk for several hours each day on uneven ground.

Wildlife you may see

  • Asian elephant
  • Gaur
  • Sambar deer
  • Wild boar
  • Nilgiri langur
  • Malabar giant squirrel
  • Many forest birds
  • Tiger — rarely, and never guaranteed

Included

  • Guided trekking for two days
  • Tent stay for one night
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Drinking water and toilet facility
  • Leech socks

Not included

  • Park entry fee and reserve bus
  • Personal gear and medicines
  • Travel insurance

How booking works

  1. Send your preferred date and the number of participants through the enquiry form on this page or on WhatsApp.
  2. We check availability with the reserve and share a written quote that shows the programme fee, park entry and our service charge separately.
  3. Confirm and share each participant's name, age, gender and photo ID details exactly as on the ID.
  4. We complete the booking and send the confirmation to you on WhatsApp and email.
  5. Report at the starting point with your confirmation and original ID.

Do's

  • Carry the original photo ID used for the booking
  • Report 15 minutes before the start time
  • Wear full-length trousers and shoes with good grip
  • Wear the leech socks provided, especially after rain
  • Walk in single file and stay close to your guide
  • Carry water and take all your waste back with you
  • Keep the campsite clean and quiet

Don'ts

  • Do not approach wild animals — keep at least 15 metres away
  • Do not feed, call or provoke any animal
  • Do not leave the trail or wander off from the group
  • Do not pick plants, seeds or flowers
  • No smoking, fires, alcohol or loud music
  • Do not wear bright colours or strong perfume
  • Do not leave the camp at night without a guide

What to carry

  • Original photo ID
  • Trekking shoes and slippers for camp
  • Two sets of quick-dry clothing
  • Warm layer for the night
  • Torch or headlamp
  • Personal medicines and toiletries
  • Small backpack

How to reach

  • 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

Policies & terms

Cancellation & refund policy

  • Programme bookings follow the cancellation rules of Periyar Tiger Reserve. As currently published, the refund on the programme fee is 100% if cancelled more than 30 days before the programme, 50% between 20 and 30 days, 25% between 2 and 20 days, and no refund within 2 days or after the programme starts.
  • If the reserve cannot confirm your programme for the requested date, the full amount you paid us is refunded to your original payment method.
  • The reserve can cancel or change a programme because of weather, wildlife movement, safety or government orders. Its decision applies, and we help you reschedule where possible.
  • Late reporting or a missed start is not refundable.

Terms & conditions

  • Prakriti Escapes is a private travel company and is not part of Periyar Tiger Reserve or the Kerala Forest Department. Programmes are run by the reserve's eco-tourism teams; we handle the booking steps for you.
  • Carry the original photo ID used for the booking. Entry can be refused if details do not match.
  • Park entry fees and the reserve's bus charges are separate from programme fees unless your quote says otherwise.
  • Age limits, minimum group sizes and fitness requirements are set by the reserve and are checked on the day.
  • Wildlife sightings depend on nature and are never guaranteed.
  • Visitors must follow the Wildlife (Protection) Act and every instruction from guides and forest staff.

Your ID details

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.

Frequently asked questions

Will I see a tiger on the Tiger Trail?

Very rarely. Tigers are shy and seldom seen on foot. The trail is about experiencing the forest with expert guides; other wildlife is seen more often.

How many people go on one trail?

A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 visitors, with five guides and a forest staff member.

What are the camping arrangements?

Tents shared by two people, with simple meals cooked at camp and basic toilet facilities.

How fit do I need to be?

You should be comfortable walking several hours a day on uneven forest ground.

1 night or 2 nights?

The 2-night trail goes deeper and includes bamboo raft crossings; it starts every Saturday. The 1-night trail is a good choice if your time is limited.

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