Wayanad’s tea state and coffee plantations offer another face of this beauteous region. Set against the backdrop of the Sugandhagiri Mountain Range in its western expanses, the valley offers some unique walking experiences along trails leading through coffee and tea plantations.
Wayanad is one of the most charming places in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the eight “hottest hot-spots” of biological diversity in the world. The district is known for its pleasant and healthy climes are legendary for their rich endemism and about 30% of its area is under forest cover.
This 3-hour half-day walk in the Sugandhagiri hills is measured by a slow-paced ramble through tea gardens and light jungle. The walk, which can be enjoyed all year-round, begins near the zipline and follows an easy trail cutting through verdant expanses that meet the lush greenery of the tea estate for about a kilometre.
From here, you will veer off to an even quieter trail that leads one across the hill to the other side. Soak in the magic of the folds of green hills marching towards the Sugandhagiri mountain range rising into the skyline in the distance.
The trail circles the tea estate and then enters a swathe of coffee plantations. A short walk through a coffee estate brings you to the edge of the jungle and a mountain stream.
Relax by the stream and enjoy the sound of the flowing water. Or, if it’s the dry season and you’re feeling adventurous, you can try river tracing—walking along the stream, climbing over rocks and splashing through pools. It’s a fun activity, and the accompanying guides will be there to help you stay safe. Looping back, you return from where you began your little adventure.