If you need to slow down, breathe in deeper, and reconnect with the great outdoors (and perhaps yourself), Coorg could be that pause button your life requires in 2025. Nestled in Karnataka's verdant Western Ghats, Coorg (also Kodagu) is more than a hill station. It's an experience. Misty dawns, meandering coffee plantations, and the gentle hum of nature make it the sort of place that makes you unplug, naturally and slowly. These are the 10 things you really shouldn't miss this year in Coorg. A solo traveller, a couple, or family in need of some quiet break will find something in this lot.
1. Wake Up in a Homestay Nestled Amongst Coffee Plantations
Avoid the run-of-the-mill hotels. Coorg is best known from a local homestay or green resort. Wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, singing birds, and vast greens. Being surrounded by nature can ground you more, especially if you have been stuck in the mayhem of city life. Having trouble locating a peaceful spot? Take a look at 3hills.
2. Go on a Coffee Plantation Tour
You've drunk coffee. But ever walked through the fields where it's cultivated? A stroll on a coffee estate led by a local is enough to provide you with greater appreciation of all that goes into each cup. And the added bonus? You'll get to taste some of the most recent brews in the place it's cultivated.
3. Trek to Tadiandamol Peak
For the adventurous ones, this is Coorg's highest peak. The hike isn't grueling, but it's not a cakewalk either. What you have at the summit is worth it: panoramic views, a gentle breeze, and that peaceful sense of accomplishment at having worked your way to the view.
4. Sunrise at Mandalpatti
Waking up at 4 AM isn't exactly like a holiday morning, but just believe us: seeing the sky change from pink to gold across misty valleys is worth missing an hour's sleep. It's a jeep ride up 4x4, giving that little bit of adventure to the experience.
5. Dip Your Feet in Abbey Falls
This isn't about running after the largest waterfall, it's about being there, hearing the water crash, and feeling the mist on your face. The hike to Abbey Falls is brief but invigorating, particularly during or immediately following the monsoons.
6. Explore the Namdroling Monastery (Golden Temple)
This serene Tibetan monastery in Bylakuppe is another world in itself. The golden idols, prayer mantras, and general ambiance make it a lovely place to sit back and contemplate, even if you are not a spiritual person.
7. River Rafting at Barapole (Seasonal)
If you're the type of person who requires an adrenaline shot on every vacation, don't miss this. River rafting here is not extreme, but it provides just the right level of thrill to break the monotony between your slow nature walks.
8. Taste the Local Kodava Cuisine
Coorg has its own unique cuisine: think Pandi Curry (pork), bamboo shoot curry, and Akki Roti (rice roti). Even if you’re vegetarian, the flavors here are unlike anything you’ve had before. Look for home-cooked meals or small eateries where the recipes are passed down generations.
9. Watch the Rain with a Hot Cup of Coffee
If you're there for the monsoon, don't let the rain "ruin" your vacation. Some of the best moments in Coorg are when you simply sit by a window, have something hot in your hand, and watch the world slow down.
10. Do Nothing (Really)
In Coorg, no plan is the plan. Occasionally the greatest memories are not from a to-do list, but from slow mornings, leisurely meals, and discussions beneath starry skies.
Before You Pack…
Coorg is not about checking things off a list of tourist destinations. It's about feeling lighter, breathing easier, and coming back home a little more at peace. Be selective about where you stay. Select a place that allows you to enjoy the land, not merely the room. Searching for that type of stay? Give 3 Hills – a serene retreat into nature a try
