Airport transfer
Cochin Airport to Ooty Taxi
Seven hours to the Nilgiris, ending with thirty-six numbered hairpins up the Kallar ghat. Tamil Nadu, so the permit is arranged in advance and included. It is a long drive and the last hour of it is the memorable part.
- Distance
- 280 km
- Drive time
- about 7 hours
- From
- ₹11,603
- Via
- Thrissur, Palakkad
What it costs
Every vehicle we run to Ooty, priced
One-way drop from Cochin International Airport. Each figure includes tolls and 5% GST, and it is the figure you pay — we confirm it in writing before you travel.
| Vehicle | Seats | Bags | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire Sedan · AC | 4 | 2 | ₹11,603 |
| Toyota Innova MUV · AC | 6+1 | 4 | ₹14,637 |
| Innova Crysta Premium MUV · Dual AC | 6+1 | 5 | ₹17,459 |
| Tata Winger Van · AC | 12 | 10 | ₹19,576 |
| Force Urbania Luxury van · Dual AC | 17 | 14 | ₹25,927 |
| Force Traveller Mini coach · AC | 26 | 20 | ₹31,571 |
What is included — the drive, the driver, fuel, tolls on this route and 5% GST. The car returns to Nedumbassery empty and you are charged for part of that run, not all of it.
Night running — driving between 10pm and 6am adds ₹315 once, shown as its own line. An airport pickup at 2am counts.
Flight delays — give us the flight number and we track it. The driver waits and the fare does not change.
Stops on the way — the ones named below cost nothing extra. Tell the driver at the start so he paces the drive.
Worth knowing
What we tell people booking Ooty
The route runs via Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Kallar ghat. These are the things that actually change how the day goes.
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Thirty-six hairpins between Mettupalayam and Coonoor, all numbered. Anyone prone to car sickness should sit in front and eat lightly beforehand.
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The Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam to Coonoor is a UNESCO site and worth doing one way. We can drop you at Mettupalayam and meet you at Coonoor — say so when booking.
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Ooty is genuinely cold in December and January, down to single figures at night. Kerala clothing will not do.
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Wildlife crossings through the Nilgiri reserve are common at dusk. The road has a night ban in the Bandipur section on the Karnataka side — not our route, but relevant if you carry on to Mysore.
Questions
Cochin airport to Ooty, answered
How far is Ooty from Cochin airport?
About 280 km via Palakkad and Coimbatore. Seven hours, including the climb up the Kallar ghat.
Is the Tamil Nadu permit extra?
No. It is arranged before departure and already inside the fare quoted here.
Can we take the toy train instead of driving up?
Yes, and it is worth it. We drop you at Mettupalayam, you take the Nilgiri Mountain Railway to Coonoor, and the car meets you there with your luggage.
Other transfers