Local Guides World
Too Xing Ji
1 reviews on 1 places
There was an absolute lack of information online on how to arrange or book a trek in the area. When we called the checkpost up, the border guard simply told us to turn up at 8am and a guide would arrive. This was a huge ask as we were staying 2.5 hrs away in Munnar but we rolled the dice after being swayed by the pretty pictures we saw online.
Woke up at 4am, got picked up at 5am, and reached the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala checkpost at 7+am. The guards waiting there told us that the trekking guides would come around 8 to 830. We sat at the checkpost and proceeded to eat our breakfast while fending off the very aggressive macaques (saw a big male actually break into a car that had stopped at the checkpost to make off with an apple. The occupants inside the car ran out screaming).
830 came and went. Enquired with the border guards again. They assured us the guides would come. We asked if they had a number to call, they said the guides were from the tribal areas and beyond the reach of cell reception.
At about 8.55am, the guides finally turn up, decked in camo uniform with CWS badges. We were taken into the ecotourism centre, where we paid 700 rupees each for a 3 hour trek (foreigner rate). We were issued a receipt.
Our guide then took us back to the checkpost and registered our trek with the border guards. We then proceeded off into the bush with our guide who took us on a 3 hour hike that included a climb up a watchtower.
During our trek, we saw elephants and gaur from a distance (and lots of their dung up close). The sounds they made could be heard across the valley. Our local guide had eyes that were preternaturally sharp and pointed out the wildlife to us that we would have otherwise missed.
Overall, the experience was great and I greatly enjoyed myself. The only downside was the scorching hot weather so please bring lots of sunblock, a wide brim hat, or even an umbrella. This was on 20 Feb 2023.
Anyway, for those looking to come here, my advice would be to reach the Chinnar Kerala checkpost at about 9 or 930am, when the ecotourism office should be open. Sign up with a local guide and you'll be on your way.
(Other online reviews of the checkpost talk about being robbed by the border guards, which honestly sounds quite scary. When we were there in the morning, the guards were entirely professional and polite, if somewhat punctilious about insisting that we do not wander around and stay put while waiting for the guides to turn up).
Woke up at 4am, got picked up at 5am, and reached the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary Kerala checkpost at 7+am. The guards waiting there told us that the trekking guides would come around 8 to 830. We sat at the checkpost and proceeded to eat our breakfast while fending off the very aggressive macaques (saw a big male actually break into a car that had stopped at the checkpost to make off with an apple. The occupants inside the car ran out screaming).
830 came and went. Enquired with the border guards again. They assured us the guides would come. We asked if they had a number to call, they said the guides were from the tribal areas and beyond the reach of cell reception.
At about 8.55am, the guides finally turn up, decked in camo uniform with CWS badges. We were taken into the ecotourism centre, where we paid 700 rupees each for a 3 hour trek (foreigner rate). We were issued a receipt.
Our guide then took us back to the checkpost and registered our trek with the border guards. We then proceeded off into the bush with our guide who took us on a 3 hour hike that included a climb up a watchtower.
During our trek, we saw elephants and gaur from a distance (and lots of their dung up close). The sounds they made could be heard across the valley. Our local guide had eyes that were preternaturally sharp and pointed out the wildlife to us that we would have otherwise missed.
Overall, the experience was great and I greatly enjoyed myself. The only downside was the scorching hot weather so please bring lots of sunblock, a wide brim hat, or even an umbrella. This was on 20 Feb 2023.
Anyway, for those looking to come here, my advice would be to reach the Chinnar Kerala checkpost at about 9 or 930am, when the ecotourism office should be open. Sign up with a local guide and you'll be on your way.
(Other online reviews of the checkpost talk about being robbed by the border guards, which honestly sounds quite scary. When we were there in the morning, the guards were entirely professional and polite, if somewhat punctilious about insisting that we do not wander around and stay put while waiting for the guides to turn up).