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Heart-shaped lake in green grassland on Chembra Peak under a blue sky

Home › Treks › Chembra Peak

Wayanad, Kerala · India

Chembra Peak trek: grade, cost & permits

The heart-shaped lake near the top is the famous part; the ridge above it is better and most people turn round before it. Get to the permit counter before eight.

Photo: Ravi Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeEasy
Duration1 day
Highest point2,100 m
SeasonOct–Feb
Cost from base₹800per person
BaseMeppadi, 8 km

The heart-shaped lake near the top is the famous part; the ridge above it is better and most people turn round before it. Get to the permit counter before eight.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groups
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Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 6Next: Route
Your trip plan · PDF

Chembra Peak, planned for you

Day-by-day timings, the route, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.

  1. Day 1 Chembra Peak: the trek
    • TravelBase: Meppadi, 8 km
    • PermitPermits and entry
    • On the trailEasy trek to 2,100 m₹800

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The route

Tap a place: the map zooms to it.

On the map

Chembra Peak · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

900 m1200 m1500 m1750 m2100 m1750 m1000 m Start · 900 mEnd · 1000 m 2,100 m

How to reach the start

Bus to Kalpetta, local bus or auto to Meppadi, then a jeep to the forest gate.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 6Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: Forest department permit with a strict daily cap. The counter opens early and the quota is gone by mid-morning in season.

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 6Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 6Next: Cost

What it costs

Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.

Your group, from the base₹1,600
Couple · from Meppadi, 8 km
Per person₹800

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Meppadi is extra.

Step 6 of 6Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Chembra Peak trek?

Easy grade. It takes 1 day and climbs to about 2,100 m. The heart-shaped lake near the top is the famous part; the ridge above it is better and most people turn round before it. Get to the permit counter before eight.

Do I need a permit for Chembra Peak?

Forest department permit with a strict daily cap. The counter opens early and the quota is gone by mid-morning in season.

How do I reach the Chembra Peak trek?

Bus to Kalpetta, local bus or auto to Meppadi, then a jeep to the forest gate. Base: Meppadi, 8 km.

What is the best season for Chembra Peak?

Oct–Feb.

How much does the Chembra Peak trek cost?

From about ₹800 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Grip shoes, two litres of water, salt for leeches in the wet months.

Guides for Chembra Peak

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Nearby treks

Illikkal Kallu's rock pinnacle rising above grass and cloudIllikkal KalluModerate · Half day · up to 1,200 mFrom ₹400Green Banasura hills under rolling monsoon clouds, WayanadBanasura PeakModerate · 1 day · up to 2,073 mFrom ₹800Forested Brahmagiri hills rising above the green Thirunelli valley in WayanadBrahmagiriMedium · 1 day · up to 1,608 mFrom ₹900

Places to stay near by

Heart-shaped lake on the grassy slopes near Chembra Peak, WayanadWayanadRainforest, a 3,000-year-old cave, and a heart-shaped lake on top of a peak you need a permit for.From ₹1,100/dayPalm-fringed shoreline of Kappad beach near Kozhikode seen from the seaKozhikode & KappadWhere Vasco da Gama first landed in India, a halwa-and-biryani food scene locals will argue…From ₹900/daySafari boat on the Kabini reservoir below the Nagarhole forest edgeKabiniA reservoir on the edge of Nagarhole National Park where elephant herds come down to drink and…From ₹1,500/day

Sacred places near by

Theyyam performer in red costume dancing before chenda drummers at a Kannur kavuKannur Theyyam trail1–2 nights · from KannurFrom ₹3,000Tiered copper-clad roofs of the Guruvayur Sree Krishna TempleGuruvayur & the Krishna temples2 days · 1 night · from Kochi or ThrissurFrom ₹2,500Bird's-eye view of Bhagamandala town and temples among green Coorg hillsBhagamandala, Talakaveri & Irupu Falls1–2 days · from Madikeri (Coorg)From ₹2,000

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Ravi Dwivedi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Aneesh Jose · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · Photo: Dhruvaraj S from India · CC BY 2.0 · source

From the base · —
Cost