travel with us again
From one jeep in the Nilgiris to a family of explorers
Misty Trails began in 2012 when our founder, Arun, started taking friends of friends on weekend drives through the tea estates of Ooty in his old jeep. The trips were unhurried, full of local food and quiet viewpoints — and word spread quickly.
Today we're a team of 28 trip designers, naturalists and drivers based in Chennai, Ooty and Kochi. We still plan every itinerary by hand, still stay in places we've personally visited, and still believe that travel should leave a place better than we found it.
Years of experience
Happy travellers
Trip experts
Trees planted
Mission, vision & values
Our Mission
To craft personalised, fairly priced journeys that connect travellers with the real South India — its people, food, forests and stories.
Our Vision
To be South India's most trusted name in responsible travel, where every trip supports local communities and protects fragile ecosystems.
Our Values
Honesty in pricing, care in every detail, respect for nature and culture, and the warmth of a friend who happens to know the way.
Milestones along the trail
- 2012
The first jeep trip
Weekend tea-estate drives around Ooty for a handful of friends.
- 2015
Kerala calling
Opened our Kochi desk and launched Munnar and Alleppey houseboat trips.
- 2018
Going green, officially
Introduced plastic-free travel kits and the "one trip, one tree" programme.
- 2021
Beyond the hills
Added Andaman, Hampi and coastal Karnataka with trusted local partners.
- 2025
18,500 happy travellers
Crossed 9,800 saplings planted and 120 local partners across four states.
The Misty Trails difference
Budget Friendly
All-inclusive quotes and no hidden charges — ever.
Personalised
Itineraries built around your pace and interests.
24/7 Support
A real person on WhatsApp throughout your trip.
Safe & Verified
Licensed drivers, vetted stays and GPS-tracked vehicles.
The people behind your trips
Locals, naturalists and hospitality pros who've walked every trail we recommend.
Arun Natarajan
Founder & Chief Explorer
Lakshmi Prasad
Head of Trip Design
Joseph Mathew
Kerala Operations
Nandini Rao
Naturalist & Trek LeadOur eco promise
Tourism can protect the places we love — or wear them down. These are the commitments we make on every single trip, no matter the size.
Travel with purposeOne trip, one tree
Native saplings planted with local forest communities.
Local first
Homestays, guides and cooks from the communities we visit.
Plastic-free
Steel bottles, cloth bags and refill stations in every vehicle.
Wildlife-first
No animal rides, no feeding, and safaris only with licensed operators.