Malnad is also called Malenadu in Karnataka and is one of the most popular driving destinations. If you love driving, exploring places, and staying at offbeat locations then it’s Malnad for you on the platter. Malnad is catering to all segments of tourists with a wide variety of options for staying at homestays, resorts, and hotels.
Malnad road trips are going to be incomplete if you are not staying at homestays. If you love driving in the beautiful terrains covered with hills, mountains, valleys, then you must visit the Malnad region. There are several holiday itineraries that can help you in planning a weeklong trip to the Malnad region.
If you are someone who loves to have itineraries handy while going for a trip, then options would be useful for you. Malnad road trip itineraries:
We have written these itineraries for our homestays and resorts guests. Please note that these are designed for people starting from Bangalore for their road trips to the Malnad region in their own cars or bikes. You can decide which itinerary is best suitable for you to cover during your trip.
Chikmagalur Trip Itinerary:
Day 1
The start time for this trip is ideally around 6 Am in morning. You do not have to worry about the breakfast as there are several hotels en route. You have to take the Nelamangala highway and deviate to Hassan highway. With pit stops, it takes around 5 hours to reach Chikmagalur from Bangalore. You will reach the homestay or resort for lunchtime. Your host will be waiting for your arrival to serve you hot lunch. Once you reach your stay you can have food and rest for a couple of hours. After 3 Pm you can visit nearby waterfalls and play in the water. You must be aware that many waterfalls are nestled in the deep forest and you have to walk or trek to reach them.
Evening; Once you are back from the waterfalls, you can have a nice coffee, tea, snacks and get freshen up. Some travelers also go for estate walks in the evening. Most of the homestays and resorts we offer you are nestled amidst the estates. After 7 Pm you will be given a campfire where you can do team-building games or play and have fun with your group.
Night: A sumptuous buffet dinner will be served and you can call it a day.
Day 2
Early morning walks will be very beautiful in the estates and villages of Chikmagalur. Your homestay or resort host can guide you to take the best walking route around their property. You can spend at least an hour going for a walk and come back for getting ready for the day. Have a nice breakfast and start your journey to Muliangiri peak or Baba Budangiri or even you can go to Kudhremukh. Once you do a nice trek at one of the hills you definitely need to recharge yourself. Come back to the homestay and take some rest. Your body needs sufficient rest to be active throughout the day. After your rest time is over, you can go for visiting other waterfalls and lakes nearby. If you are traveling during the coffee picking and curing season you can visit the processing unit.
Day 3
If you have not done a drive through the Kudhremukh forest range then you can try it and will be a nice experience. You can visit the Muthodi wildlife safari if you love to go on safaris. There are also water sports in Yagachi Dam which will love. Belur and Halebidu is also another option for you to cover. Belur and Halebidu temples are architectural wonders of the bygone era.
Sakleshpura Trip Itinerary:
Day 1
Sakleshpur is well connected by roads and there are several things to do and places to visit. You can reach Sakleshpur from Bangalore within 5 hours drive. The roads are very good in fact before reaching your accommodation you can cover Manjarabad Fort as well. Few people also cover Belur temple before reaching Sakleshpura. Or you can visit the homestay directly for lunch time. After lunch you can visit one of the waterfalls near to your stay and keep rest of the adventure activities for next day. At homestay you can play indoor and outdoor games or spend time around the campfire in the evening.
Day 2
Sakleshpura has several adventure trekking places for you. There is railway track trekking, yettina bhuja or bisle ghats trekking. You need ample time to cover these trekking spots and it is best to be started early in the morning. You would need at least half a day to cover trekking spots and waterfalls at Sakleshpura. You must plan your day accordingly and if required you can ask the host for packed lunch. You might not be able to come back to your stay for food and then again head for sightseeing.
Day 3
Sakleshpur is well known for meadows that are not lesser to any European countries. You will love to spend lot of time just lazing on the meadows and taking pictures. Out hosts can guide you to visit nearby places known for meadows and beautiful scenaries. There are hills that you cover on day 3 like Agani hills or Jenukal Gudda. Apart from these you have places like Shettihalli and Manjarabad fort to cover on Day 3.
Thirthahalli Trip Itinearay:
Day 1
You have several routes to reach Thirthahalli from Bangalore. You can take Tumkur to Arsikere highway, Hosdurga to Tarikere or Chanraypatna to Arsikere route to Thirthahalli. All roads are in very good condition and you have ample options for refreshments. You need at least 6 hours to reach this beautiful Malnad destination in Karnataka.
The stay packages begins from Lunch, so its best to start your trip early in the morning. You reach your accommodation by lunch time and you will get some time for resting in the noon. You can visit Kuppalli which is at a close distance from most of the homestays and resorts. It is well connected by road and evening will be the best time to visit the museum and Kavishaila (hillock near Kuppalli house).
Once you are back in the evening you can have coffee, tea, snacks and spend time playing games at the stay. You will be given nice campfire in the evening where some homestays and resorts will also serve veg and non veg starters.
Day 2
You can proceed to Mandagaddhe for bird sanctuary visit and nearby Sakrebylu elephant camp. You can do boating there, go for elephant ride and also give bath to elephants and play with them. If you love trekking then you must visit Kavaledurga or Kodachadri for adventurous trekking expedition. Since these activities take a lot of time, you must not club them with other sightseeing places. If you are not trekking today, then you can visit Chibbalagudde or Rameshwara temple in Thirthahalli.
Day 3
When you are visiting Thirthahalli it is easy to club your trip to Agumbe as well. Agumbe is only 27 Kms from Thirthahalli and you can do a trip for sunset visit or for Kundadri hilltop drive. While going to Agumbe you will find Bheemanakatte which is famous for hanging bridge and river beach. Nature lovers will love driving to Agumbe from Thirthahalli. Agumbe is also famous for trekking expeditions but you have to get necessary permissions from forest department before entering any forest in Agumbe region.
