Weather, Season and Driving Sense
You can do this drive right through the year, but the mood changes with the season. Planning around that—and not just around
hotel discounts—makes the day smoother.
Broadly:
- Oct–Feb: Cool, clear, best all-round mix for road conditions, views and outdoor time.
- Mar–May: It gets warmer downhill, but mornings and evenings stay comfortable.
- Jun–Sep: Monsoon turns slopes green and waterfalls flow, but brings rain, mist, and slower traffic.
Simple but useful road habits:
- Start around 7–8 AM to avoid the harshest sun and busier traffic.
- Fuel up in or near Munnar; don’t rely on finding a pump mid-route.
- Drive slowly on bends and honk before blind curves.
- Overtake only when safe.
- Carry water and snacks.
- In the rain, slow down and allow extra time.
- Not comfortable on ghats? A local driver who knows the route can remove a lot of stress.
Fitting Fragrant Nature Into the Plan
A nice stay at either end makes the drive feel like a holiday, not just a road trip.
Fragrant Nature Hotels & Resorts has scenic boutique stays ideal for this route.
Typically, you can expect:
- Properties built in naturally pretty locations, with views of hills, valleys or backwaters rather than just a car park.
- Stays built around experiences—guided walks, small local activities and quiet sit-outs instead of only a room and a restaurant.
- Ayurveda and yoga options that are especially welcome after days of hill driving and sightseeing.
- Architecture and interiors with a Kerala feel, using local styles and materials so you do not feel like you could be anywhere in the world.
One easy loop:
- Start with 2 nights in Munnar.
- Take a slow, stop-filled drive down to Thekkady.
- After Periyar, drop to their backwater resort near Kollam and wind the trip down by the water.
Self-Drive vs Hiring a Local Driver
When a Self-Drive Makes Sense
Taking the wheel yourself on the Munnar–Thekkady stretch works well if you are already comfortable with ghat sections and actually enjoy driving. This narrow, curvy hill road calls for patience, smooth braking, and good lane discipline—not speed.
Why self-drive can be a good idea:
- You decide the pace: stop for chai, a photo, or a random viewpoint whenever something catches your eye without checking with a driver.
- The drive feels like a personal road trip.
- Multi-day rentals are cheaper.
But there are trade-offs:
- Bends and hairpins tire solo drivers.
- Mist or rain can reduce visibility, forcing slow driving or stops.
- You may wait behind buses or trucks.
Self-driving suits those used to ghats and low-speed driving.
Why Many Travellers Choose a Local Driver
For many visitors, especially families or first-timers in the Western Ghats, hiring a local driver is the easier, calmer choice. You get the same views and stops, but your attention is free for the scenery, conversations and kids instead of every blind curve.
Upsides of going with a driver:
- Local drivers understand the bends, typical bottlenecks and how truck and bus traffic behaves on that route, which adds a layer of safety.
- You are not exhausted on arrival; you can nap, handle calls, entertain children or simply stare out of the window.
- No stress over navigation, wrong turns, foggy sections or getting stuck driving after dark on unfamiliar ghats.
Typical costs:
- Munnar → Thekkady taxis cost ₹3,000–₹3,800.
- Multi-day sedan rentals are ₹3,200–₹3,800/day, more for SUVs.
For two or more, splitting the cost makes it fair, and the comfort is often worth it.
A local driver is a strong choice if:
- You are travelling with children, elderly parents or anyone who gets anxious on hill roads.
- Your dates fall in heavy monsoon or during times when fog is common.
- You are not used to Indian driving styles or are visiting from abroad and do not want to learn “on the job” on a ghat section.
Why This Short Stretch Is Worth Planning Around
On a route map, the distance between Munnar and Thekkady barely looks like a line; it is short and easy to underestimate.On the road, it strings together tea slopes, spice gardens, forested hills, small high-range towns and that unhurried rhythm that people remember long after they leave Kerala.
Also Read: Discover the Best Places to Visit in Thekkady If you are chasing distance and kilometres covered in a few days, this may not look dramatic.If what you want instead is a road where you can keep the windows down, stop often and actually feel where you are, this is the kind of drive that quietly becomes a favourite. Make the Munnar–Thekkady drive part of your stay.
