This Kerala Wildlife Tour is built for travellers who want to see the real wild side of South India. Over two weeks, you move through tiger reserves, tea hills, misty forests and one ancient port city.
The trip covers Periyar, Munnar, Ooty, Nagarhole, Madikeri, Mysore and Bandipur. Each stop adds a different shade of nature, from Kerala's Western Ghats to Karnataka's dry deciduous forests.
This is a great fit for travellers from the US, UK, Canada, UAE and Mexico who want depth over speed. You get real wildlife, quiet hill towns, and enough time at each stop to actually settle in.
Why this Kerala Wildlife Holiday works well:
Keep your travel plans flexible — reserve your spot with pay on arrival.
English, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Japanese
Get quick access to monuments without waiting.
14 Days
Only your group will participate
Hotel / Airport pickup in Delhi, Noida & Gurgaon
Land at Cochin airport, where our representative receives you and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight. Overnight stay in Cochin.
Start with a half-day Cochin sightseeing tour. Visit the Jewish Synagogue, closed on Saturdays, the Dutch Palace, closed on Fridays, St. Francis Church, the Chinese fishing nets and Willingdon Island.
In the afternoon, drive to Periyar. This marks the start of your Periyar Bandipur Wildlife Tour. On arrival, check in at your wildlife resort and settle in for the evening. Overnight stay in Periyar.
After breakfast, head into the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India's richest biodiversity zones and a protected tiger and elephant reserve. This is the heart of your Periyar Tiger Reserve Tour.
Inside the sanctuary lies a scenic lake, where you can take a boat ride or an elephant ride through the forest. Return to your hotel afterwards and relax. Overnight stay in Periyar.
Leave the forest behind and drive to Munnar, a hill town known for its rolling green hills and rich plant life.
Your Munnar visit includes a full tea tour. Stop at the Tata Tea Museum, closed on Mondays, walk through a working tea factory, and stroll across the tea gardens. Evening at leisure in your hillside resort. Overnight stay in Munnar.
Munnar once served as a summer retreat for British officials. Today it is best known for Eravikulam National Park, closed in February and March, home to rare and endangered species.
Eravikulam holds UNESCO-recognized ecological value, with 26 species of mammals, 132 species of birds and 19 species of amphibians. Spend the rest of the day admiring hill views from your hotel. Overnight stay in Munnar.
After breakfast, drive toward Ooty. Known locally as Udhagamandalam, Ooty holds the title of Queen of Hill Stations. It sits dotted with coffee estates and tea plantations across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Key spots in Ooty include Ooty Lake, Dodabetta Peak and colonial-era buildings. Do not miss the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Relax at your resort for the evening. Overnight stay in Ooty.
After breakfast, take a scenic drive from Ooty to Nagarhole National Park. This leg of your Kerala and Karnataka Wildlife Tour shifts you from hill views to dense forest cover. On arrival, check in and relax at your resort. Overnight stay in Nagarhole.
Nagarhole was declared a national park in 1947. It is considered one of the best habitats for Asian elephants in the country. Enjoy a guided jeep safari through the reserve, along with birdwatching and a nature walk.
The rest of the day is yours to unwind at your wildlife resort inside Nagarhole. Overnight stay in Nagarhole.
After breakfast, drive to Madikeri, a popular hill station known for coffee and spice plantations. Its markets and rugged Western Ghats scenery add real charm.
Highlights here include Raja's Seat, Madikeri Fort, Omkareshwara Temple and the scenic Abbey Falls. Enjoy your evening with sweeping mountain views from your hotel. Overnight stay in Madikeri.
A day at leisure. Explore Madikeri's markets and viewpoints at your own pace, or simply relax at your hotel and enjoy the cool hill air. Overnight stay in Madikeri.
After breakfast, set off toward Bandipur National Park. On the way, stop in Mysore, a city that sits at the foothills of the Chamundi Hills.
Visit the grand Mysore Palace and the hilltop Chamundeshwari Temple before continuing your drive. This stretch forms a key part of your Kerala Karnataka Wildlife Tour. On arrival, settle in for your stay at Bandipur.
Spread across 874 square kilometres, Bandipur protects several of India's endangered species. It offers one of the best options for a Bandipur National Park Safari. Set out on a thrilling jeep safari through the forest.
Back at your resort, you can also arrange an elephant safari. Quieter options like nature walks and birdwatching are available close to your hotel too. Overnight stay in Bandipur.
After breakfast, begin the long drive back to Cochin in Kerala. On arrival, check in at your hotel and rest after the journey. Overnight stay in Cochin.
After breakfast, transfer to Cochin airport to board your flight for your onward journey home.
The weather affects the entire trip, from visibility for safari tracking to travelling between hill stations. Knowing what to expect from every season will facilitate your preparation.
October to February brings the most pleasant weather across Periyar, Munnar and Ooty. Days stay cool and dry, and forest visibility improves. This stretch counts as peak season for most wildlife lodges in the region.
As for the period between March and May, it is getting warm, especially in the low-lying regions such as Bandipur and Nagarhole. During this season, water holes become smaller and locally affect elephants and other animals.
As for the June-September period, it is the time of the southwest monsoon season in Kerala. Periyar and Munnar get green and lush, although the forest tracks may become blocked for some time.
For live weather updates before you travel, check the India Meteorological Department. It issues regional forecasts for Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Quick seasonal guide:
This itinerary connects two very different forest ecosystems. Periyar sits in Kerala's Western Ghats, while Bandipur and Nagarhole belong to Karnataka's dry forest belt. Together, they offer a wide range of species.
In Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, expect elephants, gaur, sambar deer, wild boar and langurs. Periyar is also officially a tiger reserve, managed under the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department. Tiger sightings remain rare and depend on luck.
In Nagarhole National Park, look for large elephant herds, along with tigers, leopards and over 250 recorded bird species. Nagarhole's lakes and rivers draw wildlife closer during the dry months.
In Bandipur National Park, watch for elephants, gaur, spotted deer, sloth bears and dhole, also known as Indian wild dogs. Bandipur remains one of Karnataka's most visited reserves for a reason.
In Eravikulam National Park, the star attraction is the Nilgiri Tahr. This mountain goat lives only in these hills and is listed as an endangered species.
Species commonly seen across this circuit:
For verified figures on tiger populations and conservation efforts across India's reserves, visit the National Tiger Conservation Authority, which oversees both Periyar and Bandipur under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
A 14-day trip across three states needs a bit of planning. These tips come from the small details that make the biggest difference on a long wildlife circuit.
Book safaris and boat rides in advance. Periyar's boat rides and Bandipur's jeep safaris both run on limited slots, especially during peak season. Early booking protects your preferred time.
Pack layers for changing altitudes. You will move between warm lowland towns and cool hill stations like Munnar and Ooty, sometimes within the same day. Layered clothing handles this shift well.
Carry a valid photo ID at every checkpoint. Forest entries and hotel check-ins across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka require identification, particularly for international travellers.
Respect local forest guidelines. Avoid loud noise on safaris and never feed wild animals. Always follow your guide's directions inside protected areas managed by state forest departments.
Break up the long drives. A few travel days on this route run 5 to 9 hours. Plan for rest stops, and consider carrying snacks and water for the journey.
For general travel planning across Kerala and Karnataka, check the official Kerala Tourism website and the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India portal. Both are reliable government resources.
Pioneer Holidays has guided travellers from across the globe through India's forests, hills and heritage towns for years. We use private vehicles, experienced local guides, and itineraries shaped around what actually interests you.
If tiger reserves, tea-covered hills and quiet elephant corridors sound like your kind of holiday, this Kerala Wildlife Tour is ready for you. Every stop, from Periyar's lake to Bandipur's forest trails, can be shaped around your pace.
Reach out to Pioneer Holidays today and start planning your Kerala Wildlife Tour 14 Days journey through South India's finest wildlife country. Your safari seat is waiting, and the forests of Kerala and Karnataka have quite a lot to show you. Contact us now to check availability and secure your preferred travel dates.