6 Days Safari, Nilgiri Tea Tasting, and Motorcycle Tour in India

Motorcycle enthusiasts can take the thrilling option of a guided motorcycle tour in a Royal Enfield Classic. Families can choose to experience this private and guided tour in an SUV, while couples can do this in a car. Groups can choose the coach option which again comes with a full-time guide.

5 Sense Tours provides the legendary Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycles for all tours. When it comes to stimulating all the senses, no other motorcycle comes even close to a Royal Enfield. The Enfield journey began in 1890 in the United Kingdom at Redditch, Worcestershire. These motorcycles played a role in the world wars as well. Special models were built which had machine guns fitted into sidecars for shooting at low flying aircrafts and with the ability to be dropped along with a parachute of airborne troops.

The Royal Enfield motorcycles have been selling in India ever since 1949, creating a record for the longest production run for a motorcycle. The legendary “thump” is a unique experience and makes for a memorable ride. Possessed of a character, a world war era legacy, an old world charm and the legendary “thump”, Royal Enfield motorcycles are an ideal partner to undertake 5 Senses Tours.

While the recommended itinerary is mentioned below, this is a customizable tour where guests can decide the duration, departure points, nature of activities, and places to stay. This is an all-inclusive trip where 5 Sense Tours takes care of transport, stay, all meals, activities, and the services of a full-time tour guide.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Bandipur forest (220 kilometers / 136 miles)

The tour departs from Bengaluru (other cities also available) at 6:30 a.m. You will go past rustic villages and the towns of Kanakpura, Malavalli, and Bannur before reaching Mysore by 11:30 a.m. You will go past Mysore and Nanjangud to enter the magnificent forests of Nilgiri biosphere with its breathtaking scenery.

You are expected to reach Bandipur around 1:30 p.m. Your stay is planned inside the Bandipur forest which is both a tiger and an elephant reserve. Gaur, deer, leopard, bisor, dhole, sambhar, boar, and sloth bear are the other inhabitants. The wildlife safari is planned in the evening when the animals come to the waterhole.

Day 2 - Mudumalai forest and Theppakadu elephant camp (100 kilometers / 62 miles)

Today, you will begin the day by visiting Theppakadu elephant camp. You will get to see how the elephants are bathed, fed, and taken care of. Safari at the Mudumalai forest reserve is the other agenda of the day.

Day 3 - Ooty and Coonoor (100 kilometers / 62 miles)

After the breakfast, you will leave Bandipur and ride past the forests of Bandipur and Mudumalai once again and head to Coonoor. This two-hour journey will take you past the popular hill station of Ooty. In Ooty, you will make a brief stopover. First, you will visit the incredibly beautiful botanical gardens. Spread over 22 hectares the garden has a 20-million-old fossilized tree trunk, an arboretum, and thousands of species of plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal, and bonsai plants.

Next, you will ride to the tribal research center at Ooty, which is dedicated to the various tribes that inhabit the Nilgiri mountain ranges like the Todas, Kotas, and Paniyas. The museum here provides a good account of the culture and lifestyle of these tribes by way of tribal artifacts, books, and audio-visual material.

You will proceed towards Coonoor which will be your home for the next three days. Your stay is planned in a working tea estate. After the lunch, the rest of the day is at leisure. The local cuisine of Badaga community will be served at the dinner.

Day 4 - Plantation walk and tea tasting

Today is dedicated to the legendary Nilgiri tea. Nilgiri tea is an intensely aromatic, fragrant, and flavored tea. The elevation over 6000 feet, soil type, and climate of Nilgiris give the tea a unique balance of flavor and strength. You will start the day with a walk around the tea gardens and neighboring forests.

The guided walk tour will help you appreciate the eco-system of the Nilgiris. This will be followed by a tea tasting session. This will be the highlight of the tour. You will get to taste a wide range of Nilgiri tea varying in levels of strength and flavor.

Day 5 - Toda tribal experience (30 kilometers / 18 miles)

Today, you will visit a real Toda Village. Todas are the native tribes of Nilgiris. They are a pastoral people and revere the buffalo. Buffalo milk products like cheese, yogurt, and buttermilk form their staple diet. You will get to see their unique huts and life in the hamlet. They usually wear a single piece of cloth like the plaid of a Scottish Highlander over the dhoti and skirt.

Day 6 - Return journey (300 kilometers / 186 miles)

You will check out after the breakfast and drive back towards Bengaluru. You will go past Ooty, the forests of Mudumalai and Bandipur, Mysore, and reach Bengaluru by 5:00 p.m. to bring an end to this tour.

Skill level

Beginner

• Can ride for two to three hours
• Minimal riding experience
• Assistance required
• Comfortable with curves and leans
• Basic experience with unsurfaced roads
• Short distance ascents and descents

During this tour, you will visit Bandipur and Mudumalai forests, Theppakadu elephant camp, Tribal research center, tea gardens, and Toda Tribal Village.

The tour will take place in India.

Coonoor

Coonoor is a lovely hill station in the Nilgiris and most famous for the Nilgiri tea. Located just 19 kilometers away from the more famous Ooty, Coonoor is quieter and less crowded. The elevation over 6000 feet, soil type, and climate of Nilgiris give the tea a unique balance of flavor and strength. Tea grown in Coonoor is dark, intensely aromatic, fragrant, and flavored.

Orange Pekoe is the highest grade of Nilgiri tea and is hand-picked without using any machines. Nilgiri tea has multiple health benefits. It burns fat, is good for the heart, lowers blood pressure, and reduces blood sugar levels as well. The best way to experience Coonoor is through tea plantations. Sims Park is a beautiful botanical garden in Coonoor. Spread over 12 acres, it has a lovely rose garden and a group of exotic trees like rudraksha, Queensland Kary pine, turpentine, tree ferns, and camellia.

Coonoor is also home to the Nilgiri tribe called Todas. These indigenous people were the first inhabitants of the Nilgiris. They lead a pastoral life and revere the buffalo. A visit to a Toda village is a fascinating experience. Located 1850 meters above sea level, Coonoor has great trekking destinations. Droog is a fort located at a height of 6000 feet on top of a hill and makes for an enjoyable trek.

In ancient times, it is supposed to have been the abode of the demon Bakasura, while the Droog was a military outpost for Tipu Sultan during the 18th century. The hidden valley is another popular trekking destination which provides breathtaking views of valleys and ravines.

The best part about visiting Coonoor is the scenic and colorful route from Bengaluru. A motorcycle ride from Bengaluru to Coonoor will be an assault on all your senses, as you pass through the royal city of Mysore, the forests of Bandipur and Mudumalai and the charming hill station of Ooty.

• Mentioned activities and experiences
• 5 nights accommodation
• All meals
• Services of a tour guide
• Royal Enfield Classic for single or SUV for families
• Motorcycle, helmet, fuel, and escort rider
• Entrance charges

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.