Kodaikanal Trek and Camping

Details

Your journey begins at Bengaluru when you are lost in the star-studded sky, with the city lights fading in the background. With excitement in the air, we begin with a few ice-breaking sessions - the best way to get to know your fellow trekkers and unwind from the long weekday stress. As the night lingers on, it’s best to settle down and fall into a short slumber - allowing your bodies and minds to get that much needed rest. Enjoy the calm and relax as we arrive at our start point for an exhilarating adventure ahead.

Details

As the first light breaks over the hills, we arrive in Kodaikanal — the Princess of the Hills. The chaos of the city fades away as we cruise through misty pine forests, winding mountain roads, and crisp morning air. We’ll stop en route for a hot, local breakfast — simple, satisfying, and just what we need to kickstart the adventure.

Our first major stop is at Trekkys Café, where the real offbeat experience begins. From here, we hop into rugged 4x4 jeeps that’ll take us deep into the mountains. It's an 8 km off-road ride through forest trails and open valleys — the kind of ride where the bumps are part of the fun and the views keep getting better.

We reach Valley Hideout, our exclusive forest campsite for the weekend. Tucked inside a 50-acre private estate, surrounded by wilderness on all sides, this is your unplug-from-the-world kind of place. No crowds, no network — just nature, peace, and that PTU vibe.

Once we check in and get settled, a freshly prepared lunch will be served at the campsite. After a bit of rest, we head out for a guided trek through the forest, crossing streams and winding through dense woods as we make our way to a hidden waterfall tucked inside the property. The trail is peaceful, shaded, and full of surprises along the way.

As the sun starts to dip, we’ll head out for a short sunset hike to a nearby ridge with panoramic valley views. It’s the kind of sunset that silences everyone for a moment — just sky, hills, and that golden-hour glow.

Back at Valley Hideout, we gather for a bonfire session (weather permitting). There’s something special about stories and laughter shared around a fire under a star-filled sky. A warm dinner follows, cooked fresh at camp, before we call it a night.

Your stay tonight is at Valley Hideout, in tented comfort right in the lap of nature. It’s quiet, cosy, and the perfect place to just be.

Details

The Kodai sun welcomes you to its golden glow as the hills celebrate the dawn with the fresh breeze of the morning and the smell of a freshly cooked breakfast. It is a new day and the mountains have not yet finished surprising with their magic.

Dress yourself in boots, lace them up and fasten the straps--we are going to climb to Dolphin Nose, a famous lookout vantage point where you get uplifting and heart-thumping glimpses of the valley opening out in unending vistas. Misty trails will take you to that very edge of the cliff, and you will feel that you are on the edge of the world.

Having completed the summit and with our spirits uplifted, we will walk down to town where we savour a delicious meal at a local cafe in Kodaikanal, the one that you would want to take your time to savor with its lovely atmosphere and local fare.

After completing the scenic hike to Dolphin’s Nose, we make a final stop at the iconic Upper Lake Viewpoint. Overlooking the star-shaped Kodaikanal Lake and the rolling hills around it, this spot offers one last panoramic view to take in before we say goodbye to the mountains. A perfect photo opportunity and a peaceful pause to soak in the beauty of this hill town — before heading back with memories that’ll stay long after the trip ends.

With the sun going down, we put away our memories and head back to Bengaluru, taking one last stop to have dinner on the way. You will arrive early on Monday morning fatigued, but full to the brim with tales, giggles, and the sweet solace of Kodai in your hearts.