Kotagiri Trek – Camp Amidst The Nilgiri Hills

Kotagiri Trek – Camp Amidst The Nilgiri Hills
Kotagiri Trek – Camp Amidst The Nilgiri Hills
Kotagiri Trek – Camp Amidst The Nilgiri Hills
Kotagiri Trek – Camp Amidst The Nilgiri Hills

About The Trip

Let us connect to the roots of raw nature and spend some time making new friends, camping, watching the beautiful sunset and stare up at the starry skies. Covered with a vast expanse of lush green forests, the Kotagiri Trek is the perfect amalgamation of nature, serenity and cuisine. A typical forest trail crosses emerald blue lakes, frothy waterfalls and a large ambit of tree plantations. It is characterised by very rich plant diversity and exotic and endemic animal species along with two endangered animals – Lion-Tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Tahr. Pack your bags to wander in the wilderness and be mesmerised by the beauty of sheer beauty of the Nilgiri mountain range. Experience the cool weather and be bewitched by the aroma of tea gardens. Spend a night in a tent, under a star-lit sky and share some exciting stories with strangers over the barbeque. Travel! Before you run out of time.

Brief Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

Day 0

Leave from Bangalore by 10:00 PM

Day 1

  • Reach the Campsite by 8:30 AM – freshen up and have breakfast
  • Start the Kotagiri Ridge Trek and secret falls
  • Have packed lunch during the trek
  • Explore the Tea Estates
  • Enjoy the sunset from Nilgiri Valley
  • Return to the Campsite by evening
  • Have dinner around a bonfire and spend the night stargazing

Day 2

  • Freshen up and Breakfast
  • Visit Catherine Falls
  • Depart for Bangalore, and have a self-sponsored lunch on the wayl
  • Reach Bangalore By 11 PM

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

  • Accommodation in homestay ( rooms/dorms ) on multiple sharing basis separate for men and women
  • 2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
  • To and fro Transport from Bangalore ( Non A/c )
  • Inter-state Taxes, road permits, and Tolls
  • Guide and entry charges for the trek
  • Campfire ( only if weather permits )
  • Local Guide & Outdoor Leader from Plan The Unplanned
  • Experience that you gain

Exclusions

  • Any other meals not included above
  • Any kind of personal expenses
  • Any kind of insurance (health, medical, life accidental,etc )
  • Anything not included above

Pickup Points

Chinnaswamy Stadium

Show Directions

House of Licious Domlur

Show Directions

Udupi Grand, Teacher's Colony, HSR Layout

Show Directions

Detail Itinerary


Meals Not Included | (No Dinner break)


Details

We start our journey in Bangalore as strangers, but that won't last long because our fun and energetic trek leaders have some exciting icebreakers up their sleeves that will turn you all into the best of friends overnight! Some call it magic, but we just think of it as another aspect of the Plan The Unplanned experience. Once you've all gotten to know each other, spend the night playing fun games, engaging in interesting conversations, or simply relaxing and looking forward to an exciting journey ahead.



All Meals

Trek

Tents | (Multiple sharing basis separate for men and women Doms / Rooms / Tents)


Details

We will reach the campsite by 8:30 AM approx), and after some rest and a hearty breakfast, we will start the Kotagiri trek. Explore the adventurous trail with lush green forests and streams entangled around it and pamper yourself with the natural bliss of the Kotagiri hills. We will be given packed lunch during the trek. After a breathtaking ridge trek, we will head to the tea estates. Experience the intensely aromatic tea grown there and after having a sip, we will wait to witness the enchanting sunset scene from Nilgiri Valley.

Then, we will head back to the campsite, and after some rest and dinner, we will sit under the starry skies and be spellbound by the beauty of the glittery sky.



Breakfast | (Lunch self sponsered , No Dinner break)

Private Vehicle | (Non-AC Push Back Seats Vehicle)

Stay Not Applicable


Details

We will kick-start the day with a visit to the double-cascaded Catherine Falls. We plan to return back to Bangalore by 11:00 PM.

Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show. Every mountain is within reach if you travel. Be enchanted and coddiwomple to a world of fantasy. Be a traveler and a storyteller.


Things To Carry

  • Soft Copy of your Aadhar/Voter ID (Mandatorily required for permits)
  • Small backpack to carry your essentials during the trek
  • Power Bank
  • Warm Layer 
  • Water bottles – 2 (1 litre each)
  • Lunch Box & Spoon to carry your packed lunch
  • Raincoat/Bag covers in case of rains
  • A comfortable pair of shoes with good grip for trekking
  • Flip-flops for lazing around the campsite
  • Torch/Headlamp to be used at night
  • Portable chargers for your electronics
  • Extra pair of clothes to change into once wet
  • Polybags to pack your wet clothes
  • Extra cash for meals not included in the itinerary

Policy and Terms

Refund/Cancellation Policy – Weekend Trips from Bangalore

In the event that YOU cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:

Intimation Period*

Cancellation Fee**

7 days or more

10% of the total invoice value

Between 3-6 days

50% of the total invoice value

Between 0-2 days

100% of the total invoice value

  • *Intimation Period means the number of days before the tour is scheduled to start
  • **Cancellation Fee is the amount of money that will be deducted from the total billing amount before offering the refund.
  • Refund/Cancellation requests are accepted only by email at [email protected] and not via call or Whatsapp.

NOTE:

  • Cancellations on the day of departure or a day prior due to work/family emergencies, health issues, etc. would not be entertained, and no refund or transfer to further dates shall be allowed for the same. 

  • If you are wanting to cancel out on the day of departure and move the trek to a future date an additional charge of RS 1500 would have to be incurred to make the movement to a future date. This can be availed only within 3 months from the date of the actual trip departure.

  • Additional charges would be deducted (based on from where you booked) if you cancel the trek at any given date (along with the scenario described above), as payment gateway/event listing charges.

Transfer of Dates Policy

  • If you wish to shift your date of booking due to any unforeseen circumstances, the same should be intimated to us not less than 72 hours before the date of the event. (Not valid for group or corporate bookings)

  • Only one transfer per booking shall be permitted. Your booking shall stand canceled if you fail to join the event on the transferred dates.

  • Once the option of data transfer is made, the booking amount shall be held as credits with us, and in no case will a refund be made further on.

  • Transfer of Dates is not valid for Bhutan, Meghalaya, Himalayan Treks, Spiti or any other event worth is above 5000/- INR.

  • Transfer of dates on the day of departure shall be possible at an additional charge of 1500/- per person  (applicable for few events).

In the pandemic everything is unpredictable, and we are doing our best to give you the finest services. We are also abiding by guidelines laid by government for everyone’s safety. In this, if the government issues a lockdown notice 24 hours before the departure date, we will issue full refund. The money will be directly credited to your account.

In another scenario, if lockdown notice is imposed on the departure date, we will secure your amount in the form of credits that you can use for further bookings. Consider it your bank for future bookings. Your money is safe with us.

For all the above choices, you can transfer your tickets to your friends. We would be more than happy to have them on board and you could save your hard-earned money.

Himalayan/ Backpacking Trip Refund/Cancellation Policy

Intimation Period*

Cancellation Fee**

30 days or more

10% of the total invoice value

Between 15-29days

50% of the total invoice value

Between 0-14 days

90% of the total invoice value

  • *Intimation Period means the number of days before the tour is scheduled to start

  • **Cancellation Fee is the amount of money that will be deducted from the total billing amount before offering a refund.

NOTE:

  • Last-minute cancellations due to work, health issues, etc., any kind of emergencies will not be entertained and no refund or transfer shall be allowed for the same.

  • You can transfer your bookings to anyone who is willing to join the event to avoid loss of money!

  • The tickets once booked cannot be moved to any other dates.

In the pandemic everything is unpredictable, and we are doing our best to give you the finest services. We are also abiding by guidelines laid by government for everyone’s safety. In this, if the government issues a lockdown notice 48 hours before the departure date, we will issue full refund. The money will be directly credited to your account.

In another scenario, if lockdown notice is imposed on the departure date, we will secure your amount in the form of credits that you can use for further bookings. Consider it your bank for future bookings. Your money is safe with us.

In the rare event that we cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:

During/After the Trek: In case of extreme weather conditions, considering trekkers’ safety, a day can be cut or the trek can be called off altogether. There will be no refund in any case whatsoever.

Before the trek: In case we cancel a trek because of natural calamities (thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes) or unexpected political unrest, curfews, local riots, government orders, forest department orders, Plan The Unplanned shall issue a VOUCHER for the full amount of your ticket.

Note: The Voucher has a validity of 1 year and it can be redeemed at any point in time.
A prior intimation as regards which trek you wish to join can be communicated to us over mail or phone

In a case where we cancel your trek, due to a limited number of bookings for a particular batch or we do not have the minimum number of required people:

PLAN THE UNPLANNED shall offer a 100% refund of the trek fee ( No transactional/internet handling charges shall be deducted)

On/After the Trek

 

New Year Event Cancellation Policy

Weekend Trips from Bangalore ( 30th Dec -3rd Jan New Year Events )

All the events from Bangalore under the following link shall be applicable for the below-mentioned policy

In the event that YOU cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:

Intimation Period*

Cancellation Fee**

10 days or more

15% of the total invoice value

Between 5-10 days

50% of the total invoice value

Between 0- 10 days

100 % of the total invoice value

  • *Intimation Period means the number of days before the tour is scheduled to start

  • **Cancellation Fee is the amount of money that will be deducted from the total billing amount before offering the refund.

NOTE:

  1. We shall not accept any reasons whatsoever for the cancellation, we request everyone to abide by the policy.

  2. There shall be no transfer of dates possible for any reason if you cannot make it to the event once the booking is confirmed.

  3. The tickets are transferrable to any person, in case you cannot attend the event. 

If Plan The Unplanned cancels the trek due to limited/no bookings for the trek, we shall offer a full refund and the same shall be credited to the original mode of payment within 7 days from the date of initiation of refund.

In the rare event that we cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:

During/After the Trek: In case of extreme weather conditions, considering trekkers’ safety, a day can be cut or the trek can be called off altogether. There will be no refund in any case whatsoever.

Before the trek: In case we cancel a trek because of natural calamities (thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes) or unexpected political unrest, curfews, local riots, government orders, forest department orders, the announcement of a lockdown Plan The Unplanned shall issue a 50% refund of the overall amount and remaining 50% shall be given as a  VOUCHER to use it in the future.

For Instance:

Trek Amount is Rs 100, Rs 50 shall be refunded back to your account and trek voucher of Rs 50 shall be given to be used anytime in future.

How to Reach

Please select your preferred pickup point from the drop-down list while booking Any change in Pick up locations/ timings would be updated via mail 24 hours before the start of the trip Drop-off points shall be same as the pick-up points.

FAQ's

Well, most of our treks are usually confirmed by Thursday and you would receive a BON VOYAGE mail that would contain details as regards Pickup Points ( Location and Timings ), Outdoor Leader ( Point of Contact ), Do’s and Don’ts. You’ll be added to Whatsapp Group for all the further updates.

Yes, the Bon Voyage mail would contain a link for Whatsapp Group through which one can join and interact with fellow travelers and outdoor leaders.

The interesting thing about travelling alone is that you get to meet new people from diverse backgrounds, and towards the end, you are no longer strangers. Hence solo travellers are always welcome to join us on our trips. Read more about solo travelling here and get inspired! https://www.plantheunplanned.com/solo-yet-accompanied/

Safety and security are our priority at all times. Hence it is safe for women/girls to join us on our treks and travels. Our trek leaders accompany the team at all times, and our campsites are secured and safe for accommodation. We also have female trek leaders who accompany us on most of our treks.

Not at all. You could keep all the extra luggage back at the campsite/homestay and carry only the necessary stuff for the trek (Raincoats, Torchlight, Waterbottle, lunchbox, and your valuable)

Well, you are in the mountains and none of our trails have a washroom facility during the trek.

Yes, we do have options for picking a traveller on board with a few locations provided they are on the route to our destination. The following are the same: - Croma Store, Sony World Signal - Trinity Circle Metro Station - Yeshwanthpur Metro Station - Goraguntepalya Metro Station - Nayanadahalli Metro Station

Details for availing discounts are mentioned in the following link, https://www.plantheunplanned.com/membership/

Well, if you select this option, all the travel arrangements for your entire itinerary must be managed by yourself, and Plan the Unplanned crew will not be managing anything related to your travel. We recommend you come via car for a smooth travel experience to, from and within the destination.

We are extremely sorry, you cannot postpone to any future date in case you fail to attend the trek on the mentioned date for any reasons whatsoever ( family/health/work emergencies ). You can write to us at [email protected] as regards and our team will get in touch with you on the same

The Kotagiri trek is an easy trek, with the majority of the track passing through tea farms and river trails. It can be done without difficulty by men, women, and children who are physically fit.

Yes, it is possible to leave your luggage at the homestay/tents and carry the necessary things on your trek.

You may not have cellphone network coverage for a significant portion of your walk to Kotagiri. The only cellphone networks that usually function along the journey are Vodafone, BSNL, and Airtel. Even yet, there are irregularities in these networks. Because Kotagiri is at a decent height, only a few spots along the trail have unreliable network coverage.

No, it is not filled with leeches.

The months of December to May are regarded as the best for trekking in Kotagiri since the weather is mild and pleasant. The misty environment, cloudy skies, and moist walking routes all add to the entire experience.

No, you cannot camp anywhere along the trail.

Yes, it is possible to trek Kotagiri during the monsoon season.

Additional Information

 

  • Consumption of alcohol, intoxicants and smoking would not be tolerated during the entire course of the journey and the trek. Kindly co-operate with us to make the experience more fun.
  • Do not expect any luxuries on the trip. The locations that we host are at remote places and we do our best to arrange the basic facilities. The goal is to be outdoors.
  • The Food that shall be provided will be Basic Veg Food. We do not serve Non-Veg Food.
  • Put Litter in its place, do not trash your travel.
  • Plan The Unplanned shall not be responsible for any of your belongings, valuables, jewellery etc.  Kindly do take care.
  • In the case of traffic delays or breakdowns, expect a little delay in reaching the destination.

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From : INR 3199/-

INR 2899/-

per person



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Kotagiri Trek – Camp Amidst The Nilgiri Hills
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