South India has two premier coffee-country weekend escapes within striking distance of Bengaluru: Coorg (Kodagu) in Karnataka and Wayanad in Kerala. Both have misty hills, coffee plantations, wildlife, and homestays. But they're different enough to be different trips entirely.
I've done both multiple times. Here's the breakdown.
Coorg (Kodagu): Karnataka's coffee capital at 900-1,750m elevation. Known for the martial Kodava culture, pepper-and-coffee plantations, Abbey Falls, and elephant camps. Center: Madikeri town.
Wayanad: Kerala's hill district at 700-2,100m elevation. Known for ancient Edakkal Caves, bamboo forests, Banasura Sagar dam, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (connected to Mudumalai-Bandipur corridor). Center: Kalpetta town.
| Route | Coorg | Wayanad |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 260 km | 280 km |
| Drive time | 5-6 hours via Mysore | 6-7 hours via Mysore-Gundlupet |
| Road quality | Good highway to Mysore, winding after | Decent but narrow ghat roads |
| Bus | KSRTC to Madikeri, INR 500-800 | KSRTC/private to Kalpetta, INR 600-900 |
| Best approach | Own car or hired driver | Own car or hired driver |
Winner: Coorg, slightly closer and better roads in the last stretch.
Both districts grow Arabica and Robusta. But the experiences differ.
Coorg produces about 30% of India's coffee. Plantation stays are the signature experience — sleep in a working estate, tour the bean-to-cup process, and buy estate-fresh coffee (INR 300-800/kg). Tata's Plantation Trails offers luxury versions. Family homestays offer authentic Kodava meals alongside the coffee.
Wayanad is more focused on spice-and-coffee combinations. Estates grow cardamom, pepper, and vanilla alongside coffee. The multi-crop approach means the plantation walks are more diverse — you'll see five different crops in one field.
Winner: Coorg for pure coffee immersion. Wayanad for the multi-spice experience.
Coorg is India's homestay capital. Family-run plantation homes (INR 1,500-4,000/night) serve authentic Kodava meals — pandi curry (pork in kachampuli vinegar), akki roti (rice flatbread), bamboo shoot curry. Luxury option: Evolve Back (INR 20,000+/night).
Wayanad has a growing homestay scene but stronger resort infrastructure. CGH Earth's Wayanad Wild (INR 8,000-15,000) overlooks the wildlife sanctuary. Budget treehouse stays are a Wayanad specialty (INR 2,000-5,000).
Winner: Coorg for homestays. Wayanad for treehouses.
Coorg: Dubare Elephant Camp (government-run, bathe elephants 7:30-9:30 AM, INR 200-500). Nagarhole National Park is adjacent — tiger reserve with safari options. Coorg's forests have elephants, gaur, and deer, but dedicated wildlife infrastructure is limited.
Wayanad: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary connects to the larger Mudumalai-Bandipur elephant corridor — one of the largest continuous wildlife zones in South India. Better chances of seeing wild elephants, deer, and occasionally leopards. Night safaris available at some lodges.
Winner: Wayanad for serious wildlife.
Coorg: Tadiandamol Peak trek (1,748m, 8 km round trip, moderate), white-water rafting at Barapole River (INR 800-1,500), and coracle rides on the Kaveri at Dubare.
Wayanad: Chembra Peak trek (2,100m, heart-shaped lake at the summit), Edakkal Caves hike (ancient petroglyphs from 6,000 BCE), and bamboo rafting at Kuruva Island.
Winner: Wayanad for variety. The Edakkal Caves alone — prehistoric rock art at 1,200m — are worth the trip.
Coorg food is distinctive and meat-heavy. Pandi curry (pork), kadambuttu (rice balls), bamboo shoot curry, and homemade wines from jackfruit and ginger. Vegetarian options are limited at traditional homestays.
Wayanad food is Kerala-style — rice, sambar, avial, fish curry, and appam. More vegetarian-friendly. Wayanad's bamboo biryani (rice cooked inside bamboo) is a unique local specialty.
Winner: Coorg for unique cuisine. Wayanad for vegetarian-friendly options.
| Category | Coorg | Wayanad |
|---|---|---|
| Homestay | INR 1,500-4,000 | INR 1,200-3,000 |
| Resort | INR 5,000-20,000+ | INR 3,000-15,000 |
| Meals | Included at homestays | Often included |
| Activities | INR 200-1,500 | INR 200-1,200 |
| Car rental/day | INR 2,000-3,000 | INR 2,000-3,000 |
Winner: Wayanad, slightly cheaper overall.
| You Are... | Go To... |
|---|---|
| Coffee purist | Coorg |
| Wildlife enthusiast | Wayanad |
| Meat lover | Coorg (Kodava pork) |
| Vegetarian | Wayanad |
| History buff | Wayanad (Edakkal Caves) |
| Honeymoon couple | Coorg (romance factor) |
| Adventure trekker | Both (different peaks) |
| Photographer | Coorg (mist + coffee) |
| Budget traveler | Wayanad |
Coorg to Wayanad is about 5-6 hours by road through beautiful Western Ghats scenery. A combined 5-6 day trip works well:
For more practical details, check out our complete guide to Coorg.
Bengaluru → Coorg (2 nights) → Wayanad (2 nights) → Bengaluru
Or extend to include Mysore and/or Ooty for a full South Indian hills circuit.
