Wayanad Village Life Experience Tours by Responsible Tourism Cell
Do you like to learn more about the Village Life Experience Program at Wayanad? Learn more about this initiative by the Responsible Tourism department, which takes you through the villages of Wayanad and help you experience the true village life.
Wayanad has been a popular tourist destination for a long time. Most people visit Wayanad to experience the natural beauty of this hill station, including the curvy roads through the hills, beautiful lakes and the chilling weather. The tour packages to Wayand are generally focused on attractions like Pookote Lake, Edakkal caves, wildlife sanctuary and Kuruva Island. A road trip through the Wayanad district itself is a great experience.
Responsible Tourism
Responsible Tourism (RT) is an innovative program by the Kerala Tourism department focus mainly on three thematic areas of responsible tourism viz. Economic, Social and Environmental. RT cell aims at promoting low cost tourism, which promotes the cultural and social aspects of the real life in Kerala by guiding tourists through the villages and historical places in the state. RT cell works with various NGOs and tour operators to ensure that eco-friendly practices are followed in eco-sensitive areas like forest areas, rivers, lakes etc.
The RT cell at Wayanad currently offers package tours, which are widely enjoyed by the foreign visitors and international students who are keen on learning more about the culture and history of Kerala. If you are interested in enjoying the unexplored life of Wayanad and learn more about the culture of the tribes in the district, this is one of the most economical and safe options. 
In order to provide true village experience to tourists, RT cell has partnered with various local communities including the tribes. The fee collected from the tourists are distributed to the communities and tribes involved in the programs. 
Village Life Tour Packages, Wayanad
Currently the RT cell at Wayanad offers 2 tour packages:Package 1: NELLARACHAL PACKAGE
This package takes you through you through the villages and lets you watch various activities by the tribes in Wayanad. The package includes a visit to the Eucalyptus factory where you can see the complete process of extracting the Eucalyptus essence from the leaves. Also, you will get an opportunity to visit the home of a tribal person named "Mr. Govindan", who is the only person remaining in the tribal community who still makes the traditional bows and arrows. Since hunting is banned, the archery is not used in the real life but Govindan makes bows and arrows for sports and for demonstrations.
Another important thing to experience in this package is bamboo based handicrafts made by the tribal communities and the kudumbashree members.
Itinerary:
9.00 AM - Pick up from resort
9.00am - 9.45 - Travel to Govindan's House (Kuruma tribe Archery expert). Archery training for guest and interaction
9.45 - 10.00 - Travel to Eucalyptus factory
10.00 - 10.30 - To see the processing of Eucalyptus oil making in traditional factory.
10.30 - 10.45 - Travelling to Wayanad Heritage museum
10.45 - 11.30 - Museum visit
11.30 - 12.00 - Travelling to Azhagiri's house (Pot making )
12.00 - 12.30 - Pottery making experience @ Azhagiri's house
12.30 - 12.45 - Traveling to Blacksmith House
12.45 - 1.15 - Knife making experience @ Prabhakarans house.
1.15 - 1.45 - Travelling to Uravu Bamboo handicraft centre
1.45 - 2.00 - Interaction with employees of Handicraft centre and To see the handicraft making.
2.00 - Back to Resort.
NB:Lunch could be added in this package at Rs 250/- per head extra.
Package 2
The second package focuses on the village life demonstrated by a tribal person named "Raman". He has about 5 acres of agricultural land where several types of paddy are cultivated. You can also see baskets made using bamboos. If you like to taste the traditional tribal food, you can order food at Raman's home. The rate for lunch is Rs 250/- per head.
This package includes a visit to the historical Valliyoorkavu temple, which is visited primarily by the tribes of Wayand. There is a big festival once in a year, which is a holy festival for the tribal community. Most of the weddings in the community are performed during this festival.
The tour also includes a visit to a ruined Jain temple, which is no longer used for worship but is considered as a historical monument.
Itinerary:
9.00 AM – Pick up from resort
9.00am-9.45 - Travel to Krishnan's house
9.45-10.15 - Basket weaving experience @ Krishnan's house
10.15-10.45 - Travel to Chami's house
10.45-11.15 - Pottery making experience @ Chami's house
11.15-11.45 - Travel to Cheruvayal Raman's house
11.45-12.15 - Interaction with Cheruvayal Raman (The famous traditional verity rice protector.He is protecting 42 traditional rice varieties.)
12.15-1.30 Paddy field walk and activities
1.30-2.30 - Lunch @ Cheruvayal Raman's house (Rs 250 extra for lunch)
2.30-2.50 - Travel to Valliyoorkkavu temple
2.50-3.15 - Valliyoorkkavu temple visit- the land of old slave market
3.15-3.45 - Travel to Ruined Jain temple
3.45-4.45 - Ruined Jain temple visit
4.45-5pm - Tea & snacks
5pm-6pm - Journey to RESORT
Rates, hours and advance booking
Both the tour packages starts at 9 AM and ends in the evening. Tours are arranged on prior appointment and are available 7 days a week.
There is no vehicle provided by the tour operators. You must come with your own vehicle or arrange a cab. The travel is through the hilly village roads. A guide will accompany you throughout the tour and explain the village life and arrange demonstrations at the venues you visit.
Rs 2,000 is charged per group of up to 4 people. If there are more than 4 people, Rs 500 extra is charged per head. If you need lunch, it will be arranged during the tour and it will cost you Rs 250/- extra.
Booking contact number: 8547454647, 9544313351
Watch a video of the Wayand Village Life Experience program:
NOTE: The official website of Responsible Tourism still shows 2 outdated tour packages named "Road to the Fragrant Hill" and "Journey to the Soul of Nature". Those packages are no longer available and are replaced with the packages mentioned in this article.
Through these packages, tourists will an opportunity to interact with local farmers, tribes, traditional medicinal practitioners etc. These unique packages offer rare experience and fascinating ambience of villages in Wayanad and also distribute the benefits of tourism to the local community.
The Village Life Experience packages are day tours. If you are looking for overnight stay in Wayanad close to the nature, check out Orchard Holiday Resort. I and my family really enjoyed our visit to this fantastic resort that is spread across several acres of farm land.
Photo courtesy: Sijo Manual, Destination Coordinator, Kerala Tourism, Phone: 09544313351.
Also Read: Top Tourist Attractions in Wayanad
Brochures
we, a group of friends from banglore did the trip to wayanad. the tour was worth the money spend. only problem is that without tour operators or private vehicle for disposal, we'll find Wayanad hard to visit as the distance of various tourist interests are 20 to 30 kilometers. Kerala is truly wonderful and wayand - it's so close to Bangalore.
Can someone tell me if it is worth visiting Kannur Musupilangad drive-in beach and bekal fort for a two day trip?