Best time
October to May is the season; October to February is cool and clear and the best time for Chembra and the viewpoints. The monsoon from June to September turns Wayanad deep green and misty with the falls at full flow, though the treks close.
- October to February, 15 to 28°C: The best months: clear, green, and the season for Chembra and the safaris.
- March to May, 18 to 33°C: Warm in the valleys, cool on the estates, and the quietest time.
- June to September, 18 to 26°C: One of the wettest monsoons in Kerala; Chembra and Kuruva island usually close.
What to pack
Light cotton with a jacket for the evenings, leech socks or closed shoes for the monsoon, a rain shell from June to August, and proper shoes for Chembra and Edakkal, which are both climbs rather than walks.
Mumbai to Wayanad
From Mumbai the practical way is a flight to Kozhikode (Calicut), about 100 km and two and a half hours from Wayanad, or to Bangalore and a six-hour drive. By road it is more than 1,000 km.