Paithalmala Trek, Kerala
Paithalmala, also called Vaithalmala, is a popular hill station, and only a few know that it exists in the Kannur region in the state of Kerala. The station is one of the few where nature is not largely affected by the human population. The location is said to be a treat for all the nature lovers, photographers, selfie lovers and the same goes for all the adventure lovers. Ditch the basic tourist destinations in Kerala for this unexplored and unexploited spot. Hurry up before it becomes a tourist hub!
Paithalmala is more than your ordinary trek, as one can visit an observatory tower located at the hilltop, a 45min walk from the Paithal Valley.
DAY 0
- Depart from Bangalore by 10 PM.
DAY 1
- Reach Homestay
- Freshen Up Breakfast
- Start the Trek
- Packed Lunch
- Descend
- Jeep Ride to Palakayyam Thattu
- Reach Homestay for high tea and snacks
- Dinner and Bonfire
DAY 2
- Wake Up early morning
- Freshen up
- Head to Kannur
- Explore Kannur Fort and Beaches!
- Reach Bangalore by Monday early morning 5 AM
DAY 3
- Reach Bangalore by 5 AM (Approx)
STAY
- Accommodation in tents/homestay on sharing basis
- Separate for men & women
- Sleepings bags/blankets available
MEALS
- Dinner on Day 1.
- Lunch on Day 1 and Day 2
- 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
- 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 Paithamala
We leave behind the city life of Bangalore at night for the quiet life of Paithamala, which is situated around 300kms away. The trek leaders start with the introductory part and the most awaited part of it all – the icebreaker session which is absolutely essential for fully enjoying the 2-days’ journey.
DAY 1 – Explore Paithamala
We reach the homestay in Paithamala early morning, freshen up and have breakfast to finally begin our day. Lunch shall be provided during the trek. Mind you, the trek is an absolute favorite for adventure lovers, but don’t worry, beginners will enjoy it too. The initial trek involves a forest trail, plain land and an observatory. A piece of advice for the trekkers, carry good shoes and salt to avoid getting leech bites during the course. The observatory provides the trekkers with a majestic view of the nearby villages, hills, and forests. The course of Paithamala is a very scenic and peaceful one. We also undertake a jeep ride to Palakkayum Thattu, an hours’ journey.
Palakkayum Thattu’s beauty is intensified due to several waterfalls and mountains which resides there. Palakkayum receives a good amount of rain throughout the year, hence avoid the rainy seasons. The ideal time to visit Palakkayum is from June to October and January to March. We return back to our homestay just about time for high tea and snacks. We end our day gathering for a bonfire sharing the day’s best memories and moments and sharing a few laughs.
DAY 2 – Return via Kannur
We wake up early morning in order to get started with our day. After freshening up and eating a good breakfast, we leave for Kannur an approximately 50km hr journey. Reaching Kannur, we spend the day exploring the beaches and forts of the area. Kannur houses a number of beaches, giving us a tough time in order to decide which one(s) to explore, these include the Muzhappilangad drive-in beach, the Payyambalam beach, the Thottada beach, and the Meenkunnu beach to name a few. Other famous sites include the Mridanga Saileswari temple, Arakkal museum, Dharmadam Island, Fort. St Angelo, Cannanore lighthouse. The magical view of Kannur makes it an off-beat destination for tourists. One can rarely find crowds in popular places of the region- the Fort St Angelo and Muzhappilangad drive-in beach.
Muzhappilangad Drive-In Beach is the longest Drive-In Beach in India and is featured among the top 6 best beaches for driving in the world, and also considered as the longest drive-in beach in Asia. After a very productive day spent on exploring the Kannur region of the state, we board the bus leaving for Bangalore. Take a good much-required sleep in order to be fresh when we reach Bangalore by early morning the next day.
DAY 3
We expect to reach Bangalore by 5 am the next morning.
ADVISORY
- Consumption of alcohol, intoxicants and smoking would not be tolerated during 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.
