Day trip to Coonoor from Ooty: Guided tour with Droog Fort

An 18th-century fort and a viewpoint shaped like a dolphin's nose sit on the same afternoon from Ooty.

This 8-hour guided tour departs Ooty for Coonoor and the surrounding Nilgiri Hills, visiting Droog Fort (an 18th-century outpost built by Tipu Sultan), Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint, Sim's Park botanical garden, Lamb's Rock, Catherine Falls and tea estates. A local guide who speaks English and Hindi travels with you in an air-conditioned sedan or SUV, and pickup from your Ooty hotel is included. Entrance fees to historical sites and lunch are at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day guided sightseeing in Coonoor

• Explore Ooty town and surroundings
• Visit Doddabetta Peak
• Tour Coonoor tea estates and Nilgiri Railway
• Walk through Sim’s Park gardens
• Explore historic Droog Fort ruins
• See Lamb's Rock viewpoint
• Visit Catherine Falls
• Enjoy Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint

The experience

You start from Ooty and drive into Coonoor town, where the tour centers on the tea estates and gardens that define the Blue Mountains. Sim's Park, laid out in 1874, holds ornamental trees planted over a century ago (the Bead Tree, Queensland Karry Pine and others), and sits at the heart of the morning stops. The guide handles the route and the timing, so you move through each site without arranging transport between them.

Droog Fort is the historical anchor: a ruin from the 18th century when Tipu Sultan used it as an outpost, now standing with only one wall intact on the slopes above the valley. Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint gets its name from the peak's shape, and from there you look out over the plains and the tea and coffee plantations that blanket the hillsides. Lamb's Rock and Catherine Falls (a double cascade) round out the afternoon, each one a vantage point or a natural feature the guide will explain.

The tour runs 8 hours total. You choose between a sedan car and an SUV at checkout. Both are air-conditioned and both include the guide. The guide speaks English and Hindi and offers local tips throughout the day. Bring cash for lunch and any entrance fees to the historical sites, as those are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned car (sedan or SUV, your choice at checkout).
• local guide who speaks English and Hindi.
• hotel pickup from Ooty.
• route planning and stops at Sim's Park, Droog Fort, Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint, Lamb's Rock and Catherine Falls.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sightseeing tour by sedanUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Hindi · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Budget city sightseeing lasting 8 hours, with snacks and a water bottle, in a sedan car; pickup is included

Sightseeing tour by SUVUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Hindi · 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Premium sightseeing tour lasting 8 hours, with water bottle and snacks, in an MUV or SUV; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to6h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yo Tours Goa

Is this one for you?Choose the sedan for a smaller group navigating tight hill curves, or the SUV if you need room for more passengers or prefer a roomier ride.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Droog Fort and why is it on this tour?

Droog Fort is an 18th-century ruin on the slopes of the Nilgiri Hills, built as an outpost by Tipu Sultan. It stands as one of the oldest structures in the region, though only one wall remains. The tour includes it as a historical landmark with views over the valley below.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included and is at your own expense. You can eat in Coonoor town or at a stop along the way. The guide can recommend places, but the meal and its cost are separate from the tour.

Do I need to pay entrance fees at Droog Fort and other sites?

Entrance fees to historical sites like Droog Fort are not included in the tour price and are at your own cost. Check with the guide on arrival for the current fees at each location.

What is Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint like?

Dolphin's Nose is a viewpoint on the slopes of the Nilgiri Hills where the peak's shape resembles a dolphin's nose. From there you see the valley below and the tea and coffee plantations that cover the hillsides.

Can I choose between a sedan and an SUV?

Yes. At checkout you select either a sedan car or an SUV. Both are air-conditioned and include the same guide and itinerary. The choice depends on your group size and preference.