Kolukkumalai Trek and Camping
If you’re a tea and trek lover, then Kolukkumalai should be on your list of must visit places. Kolukkimalai is famous for being the highest organic tea estate in the world and even today serves tea made in the most traditional way.
The trek involves camping on the eastern edge besides the tea plantations so that you can wake up to the sun knocking your tent door first thing in the morning
DAY 0
- Depart from Bangalore by 7 PM
DAY 1
- 2:00PM: Reach Suryanelly and begin the bumpy ride in the Jeep to Kolukkumalai Tea estate.
- 4:30 PM: Reach the base camp and briefing session.
- 5:30 PM: Witness the amazing sunset at “Singapura”
- 7:00PM: Have the delicious dinner, share stories over bonfire and duck yourself to a good night’s sleep in the camping tents.
DAY 2
- 4:30 AM: Knock! Knock! Knock! Wake up call for the sunrise trek.
- 5:00AM: Begin the Sunrise trek to Kolukkumalai Peak, this is totally optional and you can choose to stay back in the tents. Our camp situates in the Eastern Slopes we will have a spectacular Sunrise so our day will start from the sunrise.
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast time
- 9:00 AM: Guided Tour of a 1930’s tea factory built by the British.
- 12:00 PM: Drop back to suryanelly.
- Leave for Bangalore
DAY 3
- Reach Bangalore by 5 AM (Approx)
STAY
- Accommodation in tents on sharing basis
- Separate for men & women
- Sleepings bags/blankets available
MEALS
- Tea, Snacks & Dinner on Day 1.
- Breakfast on Day 1 and Day 2.
- All meals included will be Veg
TRANSPORT
- Non A/C Tempo Traveller or Mini-bus with push back seats depending on group size
- Bangalore to Bangalore
- Jeep Transfer from Suryanelly and back.
OTHER INCLUSIONS
- Trek Leads from Plan The Unplanned Team
- Camping equipment/Sleeping Bags
- Forest Guide
- Off-road jeep ride
- Campfire
- Entry fees to all locations
OTHER EXCLUSIONS
- Lunch on Day 1 and Day 2
- Dinner on Day 2
- Any kind of insurance
- Personal Expenses (snacks, mineral water etc)
- Anything not included above
GROUP SIZE
- 12-21 Members
- We have an equal male to female ratio for most of our treks
- We require a minimum of 8 members to confirm the event
- In case we fail to obtain the required minimum, full refund or the option to transfer to any other event will be provided. (Option of transfer shall be subject to payment/refund of balance amount if any)
DAY 0 – Depart for Kolukkumalai
- Depart from Bangalore by 9 PM
DAY 1 – Jeep Ride to Kolukkumalai Tea Estate & Sunset Hike
We’ll start from Bangalore on Day 0 itself and reach Suryanelly at around 2 PM after which you’ll be transferred to a jeep which will take you to the highest tea estate in the world by about 4 PM, in what I would call as a jumpy and bumpy ride. You’ll be briefed about the base camp & we will then start the trek to witness the amazing sunset at Singapara by 5:30 PM.
Share your stories over the bonfire before which the dinner will be served at the campsite by around 7 PM. Duck yourself tight in the tents and sleep well.
DAY 2 – Trek to Kolukkumalai Peak
The day starts pretty early at around 4:30 AM and we’ll fresh up and start the sunrise trek to Kolukkumalai peak. Our campsites are on the eastern slopes so for those of you who want to sleep back, you will get an hour of extra sleep before the sun comes knocking on your tent door.
Delicious breakfast will be served by about 8:30 AM post which you will be taken on a guided tour to a 1930’s traditional tea factory built by the British.
And you’ll be safely dropped back at Suryanelly by 12 PM.
DAY 3
We expect to reach Bangalore by 5 am the next morning.
NOTE:
- If you prefer a more comfortable mode of travel, you could book any bus via Redbus and accordingly plan your travel.
- Please plan your travel 3 days in advance to avoid last minute surcharge.
- The trek is for the ones who love staying close to nature and are flexible with anything that is provided. So do not keep a lot of expectations as regards the amenities that we provide.
- The facilities provided shall be very basic so do not expect any luxury.
- The trek that range around the region are moderate, beginners could either choose to challenge themselves or prefer to stay at the campsite.
ADVISORY
- the entire course of the journey and the trek. Kindly co-operate with us to make the experience more fun.
- Do not expect any luxuries on the trip. The locations that we host are at remote places and we do our best to arrange the basic facilities. The goal is to be outdoors.
- The Food that shall be provided will be Basic Veg Food. We do not serve Non-Veg Food.
- Put Litter in its place, do not trash your travel.
- Plan The Unplanned shall not be responsible for any of your belongings, valuables, jewellery etc. Kindly do take care.
- In the case of traffic delays or breakdowns, expect a little delay in reaching the destination.
