Eco-Tourism Activities

People oriented community based and park centered ecotourism is the hallmark of Periyar Tiger Reserve. These programmes are conducted by locals who are responsible for the surveillance. By taking tourists along they not only interpret the values of Periyar and enhance the visitor experience but also add to the protection of the park and earn a livelihood out of it. Hence, when a visitor joins in all these programmes is directly contributing to the cause of conservation and community welfare.

ONGOING

Boating in Periyar Tiger Reserve 

Timings: 7.30 am, 9.30am, 11.15am, 1.45pm, 3.30pm

The Periyar Lake formed by the construction of the dam across the Mullaperiyar River in 1895, the lake harbors within itself a unique aquatic ecosystem. The numerous little islets in the lake are witness to the intricate inherent interrelationship among the terrestrial aquatic and subterranean life forms. A boat cruise on the Lake is perhaps the best way to watch the wildlife in the reserve.The duration of boating is one and half hours.

Jungle Jeep Safari@Gavi

Timings: 5.30 am, 3.30 pm

Gavi is an eco-tourist spot in Kerala which has widely become popular after ‘Alistair International’ the world acclaimed tourism major listed it among the leading eco-tourism centres and one of the must-see places in India. A must visit place for all nature lovers as Gavi is preserved in its natural scenic beauty untainted by the mighty hands of modernity.

Gavi is mainly known for its wildlife. Endangered species including the Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed macaque are often sighted at the outskirts of Gavi. Kerala’s very own treasure elephants can be sighted abundantly. If you are the bird watcher, Gavi is the place for you. With more than 260 species of birds including the great pied hornbill, woodpecker, and kingfishers, Gavi is a heaven for birdwatchers.

A splendid spot to be visited at least once for all those who love nature.

Morning

8.00- 8.30 AM: Register yourself and your family or friends at KFDC for a day trip. Get recharged with good breakfast. The day starts with plantation visit under trained guide to fully enjoy the natural beauty of Gavi.

Noon

12.30: Return from plantation visit for a sumptuous south Indian vegetarian lunch. The first half of the day is balanced with a relaxing row boat ride after lunch. Then proceed for a visit to the cardamom plantation and inhale aromatic whiffs of cardamom and then to the curing house. Sabarimala viewpoint is the next spot in the itinerary, the scenic beauty spot to capture the panoramic view of the Sabarimala hills and the pilgrim spot. Later proceed to the Museum where the skeletons of the animals are preserved.

Evening

Return to the registration spot after a day full of enjoyable sightseeing. Indulge yourself for to a refreshing tea break before dispersing at 4.30 pm.

 

Nature Walk and Green Walk

Timings: 7.00 am, 7.30 am, 10.00 am, 10.30 am, 2.00 pm,2.30 pm (Six Sloats )

It is an interpretive sandal protection trekking programme offering excellent opportunity of watching birds, butterflies and other wildlife through a range of habitats during the 4-5 km 3-hours walk. These programme are offered between 7 am to 3 pm in different nature trails inside the Park. A maximum of 5 persons can go for trekking at a time along each trail accompanied by a trained tribal guide. It is a programme where one can feel nature’s whispers and her sighs!

Jungle Patrol/Night Trekking 

Timings: 7.00 pm, 10.00 pm, 01.00 am (Three Sloats )

This is a regular night patrolling programme in the fringes of the ecodevelopment zone of the Tiger Reserve in the company of armed guards between 7 pm and 4 am. This programme injects excitement into the experience while keeping smugglers at bay. One really feels like a cop protecting the precious forest wealth. Of course, this best suits younger visitors fit and disciplined enough to walk in the silence of the night.

Border Hiking

Timings: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm 

It is day-long range hiking programme along the borders of Periyar Tiger Reserve. The route passes through undulating terrains and altitudinal ranges of 900 m to 1300 m where the trekkers can glimpse the lofty escarpments bordering the park, watersheds and the vast stretches of Cumbam Valley below. Gaur, sloth bear, elephants are often sighted apart from birds and butterflies. A maximum of 10 tourists can take part in the programme in 2 different groups. The trekkers along with two guides and an armed forest guard participate in the programme which starts at 8 am and ends in the evening.

Bamboo Rafting

Full Day – Timings: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm

Half  Day – Timings: 7.30 am to 12.30 pm , 9.30 am to 2.30 pm 

This is the dust to dawn hiking and rafting programme through some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. It starts at 8 am through a mosaic of habitats and forest rich in bird life, arboreal animals like Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri langur, herds of elephants and gaurs. The rafting is of about 3 hours duration where one gets a panoramic view of the forest clad hills reflected on the lake. Five tourists accompanied by 2 guides and an armed guard par taking the programme. This programme caters to a maximum of 10 tourists per day.

Periyar Tiger Trail

 Check in – 9.00 AM Check Out -12.00 noon (One Night & Two Night )

In the Tiger Trail, nature lovers are in the hands of a team of guides hardy and dependable who know the forest and its ways intimately. They were once poachers who have been transformed into the protectors of the forest and now part of the protection force of PTR. This is an adventurous camping and trekking programme of one-night – two-days and two-nights – three-days duration. The team consists of a maximum of 5 visitors, 5 guides and one forest official. Normally a distance of 20 to 35 kms is covered  during the trail.