Hill district · North Kerala
Wayanad Travel Guide: What to See, Where to Stay, How Many Days
Forest, coffee estates and wildlife in the hills of north-east Kerala. A different trip from the Munnar circuit, and one that rewards a slower plan.
Personalised Wayanad itinerary and quote within 24 hours
Updated 10 October 2026
How do you reach Wayanad?
Wayanad has no airport or railway station, so you reach it by road. The nearest airport is Kozhikode (CCJ), about 2.5 to 3 hours from Kalpetta up the Thamarassery ghat road; Kannur airport is similar for north Wayanad. From Bangalore it is roughly a 6-hour drive via Mysore. Plan three nights once you are there.
- Ideal stay
- 3 nights; 2 at a minimum
- Best months
- October to May
- Nearest airport
- Kozhikode (CCJ), about 3 hours
- Known for
- Edakkal Caves, Chembra Peak, wildlife safaris
What to do in Wayanad?
The main things to do in Wayanad are Edakkal Caves, a jeep safari in the wildlife sanctuary, Banasura Sagar Dam and the Chembra Peak trek. Wayanad is a whole district, not one town, and its sights are 20 to 60 km apart, so group them by area.
- Edakkal Caves (near Sulthan Bathery): prehistoric rock engravings inside a cleft high on Ambukuthi hill, reached by a steep climb.
- Chembra Peak (near Meppadi): a half-day trek to the heart-shaped lake. Daily trekker numbers are capped, so permits go early.
- Banasura Sagar Dam: a vast earth dam with forested islands in the reservoir and boating.
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: morning and afternoon jeep safaris at Muthanga and Tholpetty, where elephants, deer and gaur are often seen.
- Pookode Lake (near Vythiri): a small forest-ringed lake with pedal boats, good with children.
- Soochipara and Meenmutty waterfalls: forest walks to tiered falls; access depends on the season and forest department orders.
- Kuruva Island: river islets on the Kabini with bamboo rafts, closed in the monsoon and limited to a daily quota.
- Thirunelli Temple: an old Vishnu temple in a forest valley below the Brahmagiri hills.
Where to stay in Wayanad?
Choose one base, or two at most, by what you most want to see, because the district takes about two hours to cross.
| Base | Style of stay | Close to |
|---|---|---|
| Vythiri and Lakkidi | Rainforest resorts, tree houses, stream-side cottages | Pookode Lake; the first stop from Kozhikode |
| Kalpetta and Meppadi | Tea and coffee estate bungalows, hill-view resorts | Chembra Peak, Soochipara |
| Sulthan Bathery | Plantation stays and town hotels | Edakkal Caves, Muthanga; the first stop from Mysore |
| Mananthavady and Thirunelli | Quiet forest-edge lodges and homestays | Tholpetty safari, Kuruva Island |
How many days are enough for Wayanad?
Three nights is the comfortable answer, and two is the least that justifies the drive. Day one goes on arrival and Vythiri, day two on Edakkal and a Muthanga safari, day three on Banasura Sagar or the Chembra trek.
Can Wayanad be combined with Munnar and Alleppey?
It can, but not in a short trip. Wayanad is in north Kerala, roughly seven hours or more by road from Kochi, well away from the Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey loop. It pairs more naturally with Kozhikode, Coorg or Mysore.
That is why no published Melo Tours package includes Wayanad. We arrange it as a personalised private itinerary and send the plan and quote within 24 hours. For hills and backwaters together in five days, the Romantic Kerala honeymoon through Munnar is the better fit; our Munnar vs Wayanad guide compares the two. Travellers driving in from Karnataka can start with Kerala from Bangalore.
A north Kerala route with Wayanad
Wayanad works best on its own northern loop from Kozhikode, or as the Kerala end of a drive from Bangalore and Mysore. This is the usual order from the coast.
- 1
Kozhikode
Arrive by air or train, then about 2.5 hours to Vythiri up the nine hairpin bends of the Thamarassery ghat.
- 2
Vythiri or Kalpetta
Two nights for Pookode Lake, Chembra Peak and Banasura Sagar.
- 3
Sulthan Bathery
About an hour east, for Edakkal Caves and a Muthanga jeep safari.
- 4
Kozhikode or Mysore
Return to the coast for your flight, or continue about 3 hours to Mysore.
When is the best time to visit Wayanad?
October to May is the best time for Wayanad, with the clearest trekking weather from December to February.
| When | Weather | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | Green and fresh after the rains; waterfalls full | Very good |
| December – February | Cool and dry, misty mornings | Best for treks and safaris |
| March – May | Warm days, cooler than the coast; dry forest | Good; safaris and some treks may close in the fire season |
| June – September | Very heavy monsoon rain | For rain lovers only; many sites shut |
CURATED PACKAGES
Our Published Kerala Routes
Each card shows that package's own published route and starting price per couple. Where a route does not include Wayanad, we plan it as a personalised itinerary, quoted within 24 hours.
6 Nights · 7 Days
Kerala Grand Tour
Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Kovalam
from ₹39,999per couple
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Wayanad: Your Questions, Answered
How do I reach Wayanad from Bangalore?
Wayanad is roughly 6 hours by road from Bangalore, through Mysore and the Bandipur forest to Sulthan Bathery. The forest stretch is closed to traffic at night, from about 9 pm to 6 am, so start early enough to cross in daylight.
Is Wayanad safe to visit in the monsoon?
Wayanad receives very heavy rain from June to September, and the district administration closes treks, waterfalls and Kuruva Island when conditions demand it. Resorts in landslide-prone areas can be ordered to close during red alerts, and landslips can block the ghat roads. If you travel then, keep plans loose, avoid night driving and follow official advisories.
Munnar or Wayanad: which is better for a honeymoon?
Munnar is easier for a first Kerala honeymoon because it connects within a few hours to Thekkady and the Alleppey backwaters. Wayanad is quieter and more forested, with tree houses and estate bungalows, and suits couples arriving from Bangalore or north Kerala.
Can I see wild elephants in Wayanad?
Often, yes. Elephants are regularly seen on the jeep safaris at Muthanga and Tholpetty, and sometimes from the road through the sanctuary. Safaris run in the early morning and late afternoon with a limited number of jeeps, so reach the gate early.
Is the Edakkal Caves climb difficult?
It is steep but short. From the parking area you walk uphill for about a kilometre, then climb a long series of steps and metal stairways, which takes most people 30 to 45 minutes. It is unsuitable for anyone with knee or heart trouble. The caves are usually closed on Mondays.
Photos: Ravi Dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Vaibhavcho, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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