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Ooty & Kodaikanal · Tea, Trains and Lakes in the Clouds

Two queens of the Western Ghats, one Nilgiri toy train ride

4.5921 reviews
5 Nights / 6 Days(5N/6D)
India, Tamil Nadu
easy pace
Great for family, couples, senior

Destinations: Coimbatore → Coonoor → Ooty → Kodaikanal

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Overview

About this Ooty & Kodaikanal trip

This classic Tamil Nadu hill-station pairing gives you two very different moods. Ooty in the Nilgiris is all rolling tea gardens, colonial bungalows and the UNESCO-listed Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which we ride between Coonoor and Ooty. You'll see the Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta peak, Pykara lake and the tea factory at Coonoor. Then you drive south through the plains and up the Palani hills to Kodaikanal — boating on the star-shaped Kodai Lake, cycling around it, Coaker's Walk, the misty Pine Forest, Guna Caves and the Pillar Rocks. Comfortable hotels and an unhurried pace make it ideal for families, seniors and honeymooners.

Toy train to Ooty, tea gardens, Coonoor, then the lakes and misty pine forests of Kodaikanal.

Duration: 5 Nights / 6 Days
Stay: 3-star hotels
Transport: Private AC sedan/SUV throughout; Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train Coonoor–Ooty
Best time: October to June (avoid heavy rain in July–August)
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why travellers pick this combo

Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train seats included (Coonoor–Ooty)
Two hill stations with distinct landscapes in one trip
Unhurried 3 nights Ooty + 2 nights Kodaikanal plan
Honeymoon add-ons: candlelight dinner and room décor on request
Same driver for the whole trip, from Coimbatore to Madurai
Senior-friendly — no treks, short walks only

Trip highlights

Nilgiri toy train ride
Ooty Botanical Gardens & Rose Garden
Doddabetta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris
Tea factory visit in Coonoor
Kodai Lake boating & cycling
Pillar Rocks and Pine Forest

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Ooty & Kodaikanal

6 days, planned end to end

D1
- Pickup from Coimbatore airport/station
- Drive up the Nilgiri ghat road to Coonoor
- Sim's Park and Dolphin's Nose viewpoint
- Toy train Coonoor–Ooty (subject to seat release), check in
D2
- Government Botanical Gardens and the Rose Garden
- Doddabetta peak and the tea museum
- Boating on Ooty Lake
- Evening at Charing Cross market for home-made chocolates
D3
- Pine forest and Shooting Point on the Pykara road
- Pykara falls and boating on Pykara lake
- Optional Avalanche lake eco-tour (forest department permit)
- Free evening at the hotel
D4
- Early breakfast and drive via Palani (approx. 7–8 hrs)
- Optional darshan at Palani Murugan temple by winch/rope car
- Climb the Palani hills past Silver Cascade falls
- Check in at Kodaikanal and evening walk to Kodai Lake
D5
- Coaker's Walk and Bryant Park in the morning
- Pine Forest, Guna Caves and Pillar Rocks
- Boating or cycling around Kodai Lake
- Shop for eucalyptus oil and Kodai chocolates
D6
- Breakfast and check out
- Drive down to Madurai (approx. 3.5 hrs)
- Optional Meenakshi Amman temple darshan if time permits
- Drop at Madurai airport or station

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

3 nights in Ooty (3-star / heritage-style hotel)
2 nights in Kodaikanal (3-star lake-view hotel)
Daily breakfast and dinner (MAP)
Toy train tickets Coonoor–Ooty (subject to availability)
Private AC car from Coimbatore pickup to Madurai drop
All sightseeing as per itinerary
Driver allowance, tolls, parking and interstate permits
Honeymoon kit (cake & flower décor) for couples on request

Not included

Flights/trains Hyderabad–Coimbatore and Madurai–Hyderabad
Lunches
Entry tickets, boating and camera fees
Avalanche eco-tour and Palani rope car charges
Personal expenses and tips

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

3-star hotels

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Private AC sedan/SUV throughout; Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train Coonoor–Ooty

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Coimbatore → Coonoor → Ooty · Ooty sightseeing · Pykara & Avalanche · Ooty → Kodaikanal · Kodaikanal sightseeing · Kodaikanal → Madurai

Route

Route map

7 stops from start to finish

CoimbatoreStart
2CoonoorStop 2
3OotyStop 3
4PykaraStop 4
5PalaniStop 5
6KodaikanalStop 6
MaduraiFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

October to June (avoid heavy rain in July–August)

Things to carry

Woollens and a light jacket
Comfortable walking shoes
Umbrella
Motion-sickness tablets for ghat roads
Sunscreen
Cash for small shops and boating

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is the toy train guaranteed?

Toy train seats are released by IRCTC and often sell out quickly. We book as soon as your dates are confirmed; if unavailable, we drive the same route and you can ride a short stretch from Ooty to Ketti as a joy ride if operating.

Do we need an e-pass for Ooty or Kodaikanal?

The Tamil Nadu government has required e-passes for tourist vehicles in peak seasons. We arrange it for your car — just share ID details in advance.

How cold does it get?

Ooty and Kodaikanal range from about 5–20°C in winter and 12–25°C in summer. Evenings are cool year-round.

Is it good for a honeymoon?

Very. Lake-view rooms, misty mornings and a relaxed pace make it a favourite. We can upgrade to a boutique cottage stay on request.

Can we start or end in Bengaluru instead?

Yes. Bengaluru–Ooty is about 7 hours via Mysuru and Bandipur; we'll adjust the first day and pricing.

Reviews

What travellers say

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4.5

921 traveller ratings

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Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

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