Cumbum & Thekkady 4-Night Holiday Package from ₹4,600

The Journey

Four nights across the Western Ghats, from the Meghamalai hairpins to the laterite cliffs of the Arabian Sea, and back

Day by Day

Your itinerary

A thoughtfully paced journey, designed not rushed.

Cumbum

Theni up the 18 hairpins to Meghamalai, down to Cumbum

Leave Theni early, because the Meghamalai forest gate past Chinnamanur only lets vehicles up in daylight and turns them back in the late afternoon. It is only about 52 km, but budget two to two and a half hours: the last stretch is a single-lane climb through 18 named hairpin bends, second gear for much of it, broken tarmac in places. There is no petrol pump on the plateau and mobile signal is patchy, so fill up at Chinnamanur. The day itself is tea gardens, the Highwavys dam and the Cumbum Valley dropping away below viewpoints such as Maharaja Mettu. Start down by mid-afternoon rather than racing the gate, then run to Cumbum for the night, roughly an hour via Uthamapalayam.

Thekkady

Ramakkalmedu wind, then Periyar and the spice estates

Cross into Kerala early on the Cumbum-Kumily ghat, then carry on north-west to Ramakkalmedu. The Kuravan and Kurathi statues stand on an exposed ridge above the Cumbum plain, and the wind here is relentless, which is why the valley below is full of turbines. On a clear morning you are looking straight back at Tamil Nadu, at the country you drove through yesterday. Head back to Thekkady for the afternoon: a Periyar lake boat, then a working spice estate in Kumily where cardamom, pepper, nutmeg and vanilla all grow within a few metres of each other. Book the boat online before you travel, because the slots do sell out.

Vagamon

The short slow drive to Vagamon and its meadows

The shortest driving day of the trip and the one to enjoy rather than endure. It is only about 45 to 50 km from Kumily to Vagamon via Peermade, but the road curves continuously through tea estates and takes closer to two hours than one. Vagamon is grassland rather than forest: bare rolling meadows, a planted pine stand, and a set of ridges that fall straight into the valley. Walk the Pine Forest, which charges a nominal ticket and closes in the early evening, spend time on the meadows, and go out to the Kolahalamedu side for the paragliding ridge, where the launch point doubles as the best viewpoint whether or not anyone is flying.

Varkala

Out of the Ghats and down to the Varkala cliff

The first of the two long days, and the one where you swap altitude for sea level. It is roughly 145 to 155 km to Varkala, and while mapping apps will quote under three hours, plan for four and a half, sometimes five. The time does not go on the hills. It goes on the descent to Erattupetta and Pala, then Kottayam town, then the run down through Kollam, all of which is populated, commercial and slow. Leave early, take one proper break rather than four short ones, and you will make the cliff with the afternoon intact. Varkala's payoff is immediate: a red laterite cliff running above the sea, a footpath along the top, and the sun going down straight ahead.

Cumbum

Kappil backwaters, then the long road home through Tenkasi

Get the coast done early, because the drive home is the longest of the trip. Kappil Beach sits about 7 km north of Varkala, where the Edava-Nadayara backwater runs parallel to the sea behind a thin sand spit, and small boats go out onto the lake. Papanasam Beach below the cliff is the alternative if you would rather not move the car. Be on the road by around 10:00. The route home is Kollam, Punalur, the Aryankavu ghat through the Shencottah gap, then Shenkottai, Tenkasi, Rajapalayam and Cumbum into Theni, roughly 250 to 260 km and five and a half to six and a half hours. The ghat section is the pretty part. The rest is a driving job.

On the ground

Things to do

Rated by travellers on Google, near where you stay.

Wildlife, Boating and Spice Tours in Thekkady and Periyar

· Thekkady

Periyar National Park

· Thekkady

Tandem Paragliding in Vagamon

· Vagamon

Cliff Paragliding in Varkala

· Varkala

Surf Lessons and Camps in Varkala

· Varkala

Ratings and place details from Google. Listed to show what is near your stay. Entry, tickets and opening times are arranged directly at each place unless your itinerary says otherwise.

The route

How you travel

221 km on the road, about 7.1 hours of driving in total.

Cumbum → Thekkady25 km by road · about 0.8 h
Thekkady → Vagamon48 km by road · about 1.8 h
Vagamon → Varkala148 km by road · about 4.5 h

Iconic

The unmissable

Vagamon Meadows

Tourist Attraction rated 4.4 out of 5 by 12,283 visitors on Google.

Elephant Camp

Tourist Attraction rated 4.2 out of 5 by 11,425 visitors on Google.

Varkala Beach

Tourist Attraction rated 4.6 out of 5 by 4,741 visitors on Google.

YODHA CULTURAL VILLAGE

Cultural Center rated 4.8 out of 5 by 2,576 visitors on Google.

Karikadu View Point

Tourist Attraction rated 4.4 out of 5 by 4,863 visitors on Google.

Ramakkalmedu

Tourist Attraction rated 4.6 out of 5 by 2,757 visitors on Google.

Suruli Falls

Charming natural destination featuring cascading waterfalls & pools amid a lush green landscape.

Jenis Grapes

Vineyard rated 4.1 out of 5 by 3,086 visitors on Google.

The Details

What's included

Included

Private vehicle with driver for the full Theni to Theni loop, with reasonable ground clearance for the Meghamalai climb
Four nights accommodation on the route: Cumbum, Thekkady, Vagamon and Varkala
Daily breakfast at each stay where the property provides it
Fuel, tolls, driver batta and interstate vehicle permit for the Tamil Nadu and Kerala crossings
Assistance with advance booking of Periyar lake boat tickets
Spice estate guided walk in Kumily
All road-route planning, including the ghat-road timing and forest gate hours

Not included

Flights and train travel to and from Theni. This is a road trip from Theni
Lunches, dinners and anything at the Varkala cliff cafes
Periyar Tiger Reserve entry ticket and boat fare, which are paid at the counter or online in your own name
Entry and parking charges at Ramakkalmedu, Vagamon Pine Forest, the paragliding viewpoint and Suruli Falls
Paragliding at Vagamon, which is a separately booked operator activity and weather-dependent
Boat hire at Kappil backwaters
Jeep safaris, nature walks or trekking programmes inside Periyar
Travel insurance, personal expenses, tips and anything not listed under inclusions

Good to Know

Before you go

Best time

December, January, February, March. Avoid June, July, August

Currency

Indian Rupee (₹)

Visa

Handled by your expert

Pricing

₹4,600 pp · twin-share

Common Questions

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Cumbum, Thekkady, Vagamon, Varkala?

December, January, February, March. Avoid June, July, August

How much does Hills to Coastal Cliffs: Theni to Varkala by Road cost?

From ₹4,600 per person, twin-share. Includes accommodation only. Flights and ground transfers are NOT included.. This is an indicative From price built from live supplier fares and rates; your NxVoy travel expert confirms the final figure against your exact dates and party.

What's included in this 4-night itinerary?

Private vehicle with driver for the full Theni to Theni loop, with reasonable ground clearance for the Meghamalai climb; Four nights accommodation on the route: Cumbum, Thekkady, Vagamon and Varkala; Daily breakfast at each stay where the property provides it; Fuel, tolls, driver batta and interstate vehicle permit for the Tamil Nadu and Kerala crossings; Assistance with advance booking of Periyar lake boat tickets; Spice estate guided walk in Kumily; All road-route planning, including the ghat-road timing and forest gate hours.

What is not included in Hills to Coastal Cliffs: Theni to Varkala by Road?

Flights and train travel to and from Theni. This is a road trip from Theni; Lunches, dinners and anything at the Varkala cliff cafes; Periyar Tiger Reserve entry ticket and boat fare, which are paid at the counter or online in your own name; Entry and parking charges at Ramakkalmedu, Vagamon Pine Forest, the paragliding viewpoint and Suruli Falls; Paragliding at Vagamon, which is a separately booked operator activity and weather-dependent; Boat hire at Kappil backwaters; Jeep safaris, nature walks or trekking programmes inside Periyar; Travel insurance, personal expenses, tips and anything not listed under inclusions.

How many days is Hills to Coastal Cliffs: Theni to Varkala by Road?

5 days and 4 nights, across 4 destinations.

Which places does Hills to Coastal Cliffs: Theni to Varkala by Road cover?

Cumbum, Thekkady, Vagamon, Varkala. The day-by-day plan on this page shows exactly how the nights are split and how you travel between them.

What are the must-see highlights of Cumbum, Thekkady, Vagamon, Varkala?

Vagamon Meadows; Elephant Camp; Varkala Beach; YODHA CULTURAL VILLAGE; Karikadu View Point; Ramakkalmedu.

Who is Hills to Coastal Cliffs: Theni to Varkala by Road best suited to?

Couple travellers.

Do I need a visa for Cumbum, Thekkady, Vagamon, Varkala?

Visa requirements depend on your passport and residence. Your NxVoy travel expert advises on visas and handles the paperwork as part of your tailored quote.

Can this trip be customised to my dates and travellers?

Yes. Every NxVoy journey is fully tailored to your dates, group and budget. Share your preferences on WhatsApp and our experts (with Shasa AI) adjust the itinerary, stays and pace to suit you.

How do I book Hills to Coastal Cliffs: Theni to Varkala by Road?

Start from this page and a NxVoy travel expert confirms your dates, party and final price before anything is paid. Flights, stays, transfers and experiences are booked together, so the ₹4,600 From price covers a real, connected trip rather than a room rate.