A 2-day Thekkady trip costs roughly Rs 2,100 to 3,000 per person on a tight budget, Rs 3,800 to 6,100 per person for a comfortable mid-range trip (1 night, room shared by two), excluding transport to get to Thekkady. The big line item is the Periyar boating: Rs 255 per adult plus a Rs 45 reserve entry fee, so about Rs 330 per person all in. Book your boat slot online before you reach Kumily, because peak-season slots sell out.
Thekkady is a two-activity town: the Periyar Lake boat cruise and everything that grows in the hills around it. Two days is exactly enough for both, and it pairs naturally with Munnar (85 km away). Below is a day-by-day plan built around the actual fees the reserve charges, followed by stay tiers and a line-item budget.
Arrive in Kumily by early afternoon. Thekkady town is small, so check in and head straight to a spice plantation for a guided walk. Entry to most plantations is free, and guided tours run about Rs 100 to 500 per person for a 1 to 2 hour walk through cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and clove plantings. Guides explain the cultivation and you can taste and buy at the plantation shop; prices there run higher than the local market, so compare before you stock up.
In the evening, catch one of Thekkady's cultural shows. The Kathakali and Kalaripayattu centres in Kumily sell tickets separately for each show at Rs 200 per person, about an hour each. Book at the counter a day ahead if you want good seats, since popular shows sell out. Have dinner in Kumily town, where restaurants serve Kerala meals, appam and stew, and North Indian staples at town prices.
Take the earliest boat slot you can get. Boats run at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:45 PM, and 3:30 PM, and the cruise lasts about 90 minutes. Arrive at least 30 minutes early: private vehicles cannot go past the parking area, and you need to clear entry, the forest shuttle bus, and the boarding queue. Morning and late-afternoon slots give the best wildlife odds; expect elephants, sambar, and wild boar on the banks, and go for the scenery, because tiger sightings from the boat are rare.
If you stayed a second night, the reserve also runs guided nature walks (3 hours, Rs 350 per person) and bamboo rafting (Rs 1,800 per person), both bookable through the Periyar Foundation eco-tourism desk. Otherwise, head out after lunch. Distances: Munnar is about 2.5 hours, Alleppey about 3 hours, and Kochi about 5 hours by road.
These are the fees published by Kerala Tourism for the reserve. Online pre-booking is strongly advised; recent travellers report collecting entry and shuttle-bus charges together at booking, and it costs a little more online than at the counter.
| Item | Indian adult | Indian child | Foreigner adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve entry fee | Rs 45 | Rs 15 | Rs 500 |
| Forest shuttle bus (to boat landing) | Rs 30 | Rs 35 (age 5-11, reported) | n/a |
| Boat safari, Forest Department boat | Rs 255 | Rs 85 (below 11) | Rs 800+ (reported) |
| Still camera fee | Rs 45 | ||
| Video camera fee | Rs 335 | ||
| Car parking | Rs 85 per car | ||
The Periyar Foundation runs these eco-tourism activities through its Kumily booking desk. Tariffs below are indicative 2026 figures reported by travel sites, not a published official tariff, and sources disagree on some (bamboo rafting is listed anywhere from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,800); confirm the current rate at the booking desk before planning around it:
| Activity | Duration | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Nature walk | 3 hours | Rs 350 |
| Green walk | 3 hours | Rs 350 |
| Bamboo rafting | 5 hours | Rs 1,800 |
| Border hiking (min 2 people) | 9 hours | Rs 3,600 |
| Tiger Trail trek | 1 night / 2 nights | Rs 5,500 / Rs 7,500 |
| Tribal dance show | 1 hour | Rs 300 |
Most stays are in Kumily town, a few minutes from the reserve entry. These are typical October-season ranges on booking platforms, not official tariffs, so check live prices for your dates.
| Tier | Typical price per night | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (guesthouse, homestay) | Rs 1,100 - 1,800 | Clean room, fan or basic AC, breakfast sometimes included |
| Mid-range (3-star hotel) | Rs 1,500 - 3,500 | AC rooms, in-house restaurant, near Kumily town; e.g. Treebo-type properties list in this band |
| Premium (resort, plantation stay) | Rs 7,000+ | Spice-estate setting, pool, activities; prices swing widely in peak season |
Staying close to the reserve entry matters if you have a 7:30 AM boat: the parking and shuttle add 30 to 45 minutes to your morning.
Kumily is well connected by KSRTC buses, and private taxis run the hill routes easily. Road distances:
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Munnar | 85 km | 2.5 hours |
| Alleppey | 139 km | 3 hours |
| Kochi | 174 km | 5 hours |
| Kovalam | 218 km | 4.5 hours |
Madurai in Tamil Nadu is also about 4 hours away, which is why many travellers enter Kerala through Thekkady from the Tamil Nadu side.
For two people sharing one room, 2 days and 1 night. Figures marked "typical" are ranges, not official tariffs.
| Line item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (1 night, split by 2) | Rs 600 - 900 | Rs 1,500 - 2,500 |
| Food (2 days, typical) | Rs 700 - 1,000 | Rs 1,200 - 1,800 |
| Boating: entry 45 + bus 30 + boat 255 | Rs 330 | Rs 330 |
| Spice plantation tour | Rs 100 - 200 | Rs 200 - 500 |
| Kathakali or Kalari show | Rs 200 | Rs 200 - 400 (both shows) |
| Local autos, tips, misc | Rs 200 - 400 | Rs 400 - 600 |
| Total per person | Rs 2,130 - 3,030 | Rs 3,830 - 6,130 |
Yes, for the highlights. The boat cruise plus a spice plantation and one evening show fit neatly into two days. Add a third day only if you want a bamboo rafting session or a tiger trail trek, both of which need half to a full day.
Yes. Both the Forest Department and KTDC offer online pre-booking, and slots, especially the 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM ones, sell out in peak season (October to February). Carry a valid ID and keep the ticket handy on your phone.
Rs 255 per adult and Rs 85 for children under 11 on Forest Department boats, plus the Rs 45 reserve entry and about Rs 30 for the forest shuttle bus. KTDC boats cost roughly Rs 450 per person.
October to February is the sweet spot: cool, clear weather and good wildlife sightings. The monsoon (June to September) brings lush greenery but rain can interrupt boat schedules. For the full month-by-month picture, see our best time to visit Kerala month by month guide.
Yes. The boat cruise is calm, the plantation walks are easy, and children under 5 ride the boat free. The Kalari show is usually the bigger hit with kids than Kathakali.
If you have 4 days, yes: Munnar first for the tea hills, then Thekkady for wildlife and spices. Our Munnar 2-day itinerary budget guide uses the same line-item format, so you can price the combined trip.
Last updated: October 2026
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