Munnar, Thekkady & Idukki · Tiger reserve and spice town
Thekkady (Periyar) group trip guide
Thekkady (Periyar): Tiger reserve and spice town in Munnar, Thekkady & Idukki, Kerala. From Kochi it is 153 km by road, 4–5 hours with stops. Groups give it 1–2 days. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Kochi costs ₹14,000–17,100 for a 2-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.
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Photo: Sreedevi512, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Kochi
- 153 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1–2 days
- Best season
- October to May
- Fare from Kochi
- ₹14,000–17,100 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Kochi (COK) or Madurai (IXM)
Thekkady is the gateway to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, where boats on the Periyar lake pass elephants, bison and deer at the water's edge.
The reserve runs boating, nature walks, bamboo rafting and border-hiking programmes, and Kumily town around it is known for spice gardens.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Thekkady (Periyar) from each city, from the tables below.
Fits your group
Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)
13–17 or 10–17 seats
₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)
Palakkad → Thekkady (Periyar)
₹15,200–18,700
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 250 km one way · 2 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
The wildlife stop on the Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey circuit, with a spice-garden tour and a Kathakali or martial-arts show at night.
Wildlife & forestsHill stations & tea
How far is Thekkady (Periyar)
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palakkad | 250 km | 6–8 h | Route: Palakkad to Thekkady (Periyar) |
| Kochi | 153 km | 4–5 h | Route: Kochi to Thekkady (Periyar) |
| Kozhikode | 316 km | 8–9 h | – |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 201 km | 5–6 h | – |
Group fares from Kochi
Round trip with driver, 2 days, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 2 days |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹9,800–12,900 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹11,900–15,000 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹14,000–17,100 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹16,100–20,300 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹30,200–40,700 |
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a round trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.
When to go and how long
- Best season: October to May.
- Time to give it: 1–2 days.
- Who goes: Families, Nature lovers, International visitors.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Thekkady (Periyar)
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Kochi (COK) or Madurai (IXM).
- Nearest railway station: Kottayam.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Thekkady (Periyar)
Approved operators who take groups to Thekkady (Periyar). Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
250 km by road from Thekkady
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
Serves Thekkady
Fleet details on request
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Thekkady
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
496 km by road from Thekkady
Fleet details on request
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.
Questions groups ask
Kochi-il ninnu Thekkady (Periyar)-lekku ethra dooram? (How far is Thekkady (Periyar) from Kochi?)
153 km by road: 4–5 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.
Thekkady (Periyar)-lekku tempo traveller-inu ethra rate aakum? (What does a tempo traveller to Thekkady (Periyar) cost?)
Round trip from Kochi (153 km one way, 2 days) with driver: 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100, 40–49 seater bus ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.
What does a group trip to Thekkady (Periyar) cost?
Round trip from Kochi with driver: SUV / Innova ₹9,800–12,900; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹11,900–15,000; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹14,000–17,100; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹16,100–20,300; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹30,200–40,700. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.
How many days do we need for Thekkady (Periyar)?
1–2 days. With the drive from Kochi, plan 2 days in all. The wildlife stop on the Munnar–Thekkady–Alleppey circuit, with a spice-garden tour and a Kathakali or martial-arts show at night.
When is the best time to visit Thekkady (Periyar)?
October to May.
Which vehicle for our group?
4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.
How do we reach Thekkady (Periyar) from abroad?
Nearest airport: Kochi (COK) or Madurai (IXM). Nearest railway station: Kottayam. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- Compare itemised quotes
- Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
- Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved