13 Best Nature Weekend Tours In and Around Karnataka

Karnataka is one of those states that offer rewards for the spontaneous traveller. Forests, waterfalls, hill stations, wildlife reserves, heritage ruins and rocky plateaus are all sites within a few hours of one another. For anyone living in or travelling through South India, this state has more options of weekend getaway destinations in one geography than many people realise.

This guide covers 13 of the best nature-focused weekend tours in and around Karnataka, ranging from well-known favourites to a few that stay quietly backstage to outshine them.

1. Coorg (Kodagu)

Coorg is Karnataka’s finest retreat. Thick coffee and cardamom plantations, misty mornings and rivers cutting through forested valleys make this district perfect for a two night stay. Madikeri is the base town and from here you can commute to places such as Abbey Falls, Raja’s Seat, Brahmagiri Hills, and Namdroling Monastery without much struggle. Coorg also offers estate stays, which are really good value, making it popular with families, couples, and solo travellers alike, especially as part of a Mysore Coorg Ooty tour package.

Best for: Hill station lovers, nature walks, coffee estate experiences. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 250 km, hardly 5 hours by road

2. Bandipur and Nagarhole: Karnataka’s Wildlife Safari Country

For anyone serious about a Karnataka wildlife safari Bandipur and Nagarhole, these two wildlife reserves offers experiences that feels worlds apart. Both are Project Tiger reserves and one of the largest contiguous wildlife habitats in South India, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Bandipur is closer to Mysore and Ooty, whereas Nagarhole is contiguous to Coorg and Wayanad.

Morning and evening jeep safari gives you a real chance of spotting elephants, gaur, spotted deer, and if you are lucky, leopards or tigers. The forest roads between the two parks are in themselves worth the drive. For travellers looking to combine wildlife with a larger trip to Karnataka, the Karnataka Wildlife Tour package offered by Memorable India covers both these reserves and the highlights of the region.

Best for: Safari lovers, wildlife photographers, and forest lovers. 

Distance from Mysore: Bandipur distance is about 80 km; Nagarhole is about 95 km

3. Chikmagalur

Chikmagalur is located at the foot of the Mullayanagiri range, which harbors some of the highest peaks in Karnataka. The region is synonymous with coffee, but has much more to offer. Baba Budangiri, Hebbe Falls, Kudremukh National Park, and Kemmanagudi hill station are all at an easy distance from Chikmagalur town.

This is one of the better destinations for trekkers who want trails that have actual altitude and forest cover, and not just gentle walks. The homestays and boutique resorts here have improved significantly, and it is a good choice for a two-night nature weekend.

Best for: Trekking, coffee plantation trails, nature photography. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 245 km, about 5 hours

4. Kudremukh National Park

Kudremukh is one of the most important biodiversity zones of Karnataka, which is a part of the Western Ghats. The park boasts a rich ecosystem of shola forests, and the Kudremukh peak itself is a famous trek. The name translates to “horse face” in Kannada is refers to the silhouette of the peak as it is seen from certain angles.

Entry to the core area requires permits, and overnight camping is usually not allowed inside the forest for safety reasons. Day treks are the norm, and the Gangamoola region, from where the Bhadra, Tunga, and Netravati rivers originate, is worth the trouble to reach.

Best for: Serious trekkers, nature conservationists, and birding. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 95km

5. Agumbe

Agumbe in the Shimoga district is one of the wettest places in India, and the setting for many of the stories of R.K. Narayan’s Malgudi Days. It is also home to the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station that focuses on the conservation of king cobras. In the monsoon season, the forests here are exceptionally lush, and the sunset from Sunset Point draws attention of visitors even in pouring rain.

It is a stopover rather than a multi-day tour; along with nearby places of Sringeri and Udupi, it is a great road trip through the Malnad region.

Best for: Rainforest lovers, off-season monsoon travel, road tours. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 340 km

6. Hampi

Hampi is a class in itself for being a Karnataka heritage and nature tour destination. The ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire is sprawling over a boulder-studded land along the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Hampi UNESCO heritage tour Karnataka is one of the most compelling things you can do in the whole Deccan region.

Beyond the Virupaksha Temple, the Vittala Temple complex and the royal enclosures, Hampi rewards the walkers who explore the quieter corners: banana plantations, ancient stepped tanks and coracle rides across the river to Virupapur Gadde. The combination of granite landscapes and medieval monuments is something quite rare.

Best for: History lovers, photographers, and architecture lovers. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 340 km, roughly 6 hours by road

7. Jog Falls and the Sharavathe Valley

Jog Falls is the most famous waterfall in Karnataka, and also one of the highest waterfalls in India. The views of the monsoon from the viewpoints located across the gorge are dramatic, although the steps down to the base can be difficult. The nearby Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary adds a forest dimension to the visit.

The road to Jog through the Malnad region is itself scenic, with rubber and areca nut plantations on both sides and a crossing of the Western Ghats escarpment.

Best for: Waterfall lovers, scenic road trips, nature walks. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 375 km

8. Mysore

Mysore serves as both a heritage destination and a base for a broader Karnataka tour package of nature, wildlife, and culture. The Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, and Brindavan Gardens are the major attractions in the city, but Srirangapatna, Somnathpur, and the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary are all between 30 and 50 km.

Mysore is also a natural connect between both Coorg and Bandipur, and is an ideal central stop on a longer Mysore Coorg Ooty tour package across Karnataka. Travellers who wish to visit all three on a single trip will be able to manage the road connectivity between these destinations in four to five days.

Best for: Families, heritage seekers, Birdwatching at Ranganathittu. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 145 km, around 3 hours

9. Nandi Hills

Nandi Hills is one of the easiest nature escapes from Bengaluru and it finds a spot in this list because an early morning experience here is actually quite good. The cloud sea that emerges in the valley below the fort before sunrise is worth the 4 AM drive for those who are willing to make it.

The fort and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple complex, as well as the cycling trails around the base, make this more than just a viewpoint visit.

Best for: Day Trippers from Bengaluru, morning clouds, cycling. 

Distance from Bengaluru: about 60 km, about 90 minutes

10. Kabini

Kabini is located on the southern corner of Nagarhole National Park and the Kabini river forms a backwater, where there are phenomenal concentration of wildlife, especially elephants and leopards. The forest lodge experience here is one of the better wildlife accommodation setups in South India and the boat rides in the reservoir provide a different perspective to the forest.

Kabini is a bit of a premium destination because of the lodge options, but it is worth it by those who budget appropriately for it. Karnataka holiday packages that incorporate Kabini often combine it with Coorg for a nature and plantation splendor.

Best for: Safari purists Couples Wildlife photographers. 

Distance from Mysore: Around 80 km

11. Dandeli and the Kali River

Dandeli in the Uttara Kannada district is the adventure nature centre of Karnataka. The Kali River flows through the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, providing white water rafting along with forest safaris that are not too crowded like Bandipur or Nagarhole.

Dandeli is rewarding to birdwatchers in particular. The forest here has a high diversity of birds, including the Malabar pied hornbill and the crested serpent eagle. The Syntheri Rocks, a dramatic outcrop of limestone on the Kaneri River nearby, are worth a short detour.

Best for: Adventure seekers, rafting, and serious birdwatchers. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 455 km, better approached from Hubballi

12. Shivanasamudra

Shivanasamudra is located on the Cauvery River between Bengaluru and Mysore and contains one of the first hydroelectric stations in India and a pair of dramatic, wide waterfalls. The Barachukki and Gaganachukki falls can best be attended between August and November when the river is full.

The gorge vista here is great, and the temple island of Srirangapatna is close enough to make it into the same drive.

Best for: Short getaways, visiting the waterfalls, and road trips from Bengaluru. 

Distance from Bengaluru: Around 130 km

13. Ooty: The Cross-Border Extension

Ooty in Tamil Nadu is located within a few kilometres of the southern edge of Karnataka, such that it is a regular part of Karnataka Mysore Coorg Ooty itineraries. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, the Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta Peak and Ooty Lake are the norms. The drive through the Nilgiri Hills between Coorg and Ooty is one of the most picturesque stretches of road in South India.

For those who are planning to make a broader south India nature circuit, South India with Backwaters tour from Memorable India covers Mysore, Bandipur, Coorg and Ooty in sequence with the onward travel into Kerala to have a natural flow to a longer itinerary.

Best for: Families, couples, people mixing Karnataka and Tamil Nadu or Kerala. 

Distance from Coorg: Around 120 km via Hunsur and Gundlupet

Planning Tips for Karnataka Nature Weekends

• Best travel season: October to February is the best time for exploring most destinations. For waterfalls and rainforests, July to September is ideal, but expect it to disrupt roads.
• Wildlife safaris: Book wildlife safaris at Bandipur and Nagarhole in advance, particularly for weekends.
• Road conditions: The road conditions most routes from Bengaluru and Mysore are well-maintained. The Malnad routes (Chikmagalur, Agumbe) have a few narrow stretches in which one needs to drive comfortably.
• What to pack: Light layers, a waterproof jacket, good walking shoes and binoculars for the wildlife spots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the best nature weekend destinations near Bengaluru in Karnataka?

Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nandi Hills, Kabini and Shivanasamudra are among the popular ones. Each of them is approachable within 3 to 6 hours from Bengaluru, and gives a different experience of nature, from coffee estates to wildlife safari.

Q2. Is the Hampi UNESCO heritage tour suitable for a weekend trip?

 Yes. Hampi can be done for two nights. It is a combination of ancient ruins, boulder landscapes, and river scenery that can be achieved in a 2-day visit. The best time to go is from October to February.

Q3. Which Karnataka wildlife safari, Bandipur or Nagarhole, is better for first-time visitors?

Both the parks are excellent, but Bandipur is more accessible from Mysore and Ooty and gets more number of visitors. Nagarhole and Kabini tend to provide you with a slightly quieter safari experience with good sightings of wildlife near the Kabini reservoir.

Q4. Can I combine the Mysore Coorg Ooty tour in a single trip?

Yes, this is one of the popular South India circuits. A 5 night itinerary is great for two nights in Mysore, including a Bandipur safari, two nights in Coorg, and one night in Ooty before returning or going ahead to Kerala.

Q5.When is the right time to book Karnataka nature tour packages for wildlife?

 The best time for a Karnataka wildlife safari in Bandipur Nagarhole circuit is November to May. The forest cover is less and animals congregate around the water sources and sightings are more reliable. Avoid the monsoon months if you are going on safari as parks may have restricted access during these months.

Karnataka offers enough natural variety to fill an entire year of weekends without repeating yourself. Plan your next getaway with the right itinerary and you will return with a good deal more than just photographs.

Planning a Karnataka trip? Explore our Karnataka nature tour package or get in touch with the Memorable India team for a customised nature or heritage itinerary tailored to your travel dates and preferences.