10 Best Luxury Resorts in Wayanad for a Scenic Mountain Stay

Choosing among the best luxury resorts in Wayanad depends on the kind of mountain stay you want:
a rainforest at your doorstep,
a spa weekend,
or a high-altitude retreat with long valley views.

The district’s luxury stays cluster in three pockets: Vythiri in the south, the Banasura and Padinjarathara side in the north, and Sulthan Bathery in the east.

This guide compares ten of the top resorts in Wayanad by location, accommodation and the experience each is built around. Wild Planet Bana Heights publishes this guide and is listed first, so we have kept every description factual and noted the trade-offs worth weighing before you book. We chose the resorts for setting, accommodation, facilities and access to Wayanad’s main sights; beyond the first entry, the order is not a ranking.

What makes a Wayanad mountain resort worth the drive

Five factors matter most.

• Altitude and view. Elevation shapes temperature, mist and the quality of valley views.
• Distance to your itinerary. Wayanad is spread out. Banasura Sagar Dam, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves and the sanctuaries sit 15 to 70 km apart. Choose a base that suits your top two or three plans.
• Room type. Standalone cottages with a sit-out or balcony offer more privacy than corridor-style rooms.
• On-site experiences. A pool, activity area, plantation walk or good restaurant matters most on a rainy evening. Ask what is included and what is charged extra.
• Access rules. Check final-stretch road conditions and arrival-time limits.

10 best luxury resorts in Wayanad at a glance

1. Wild Planet Bana Heights, Vellamunda

Best for: high-altitude views, families, adventure and honeymoons

Set on the Mangalassery Hills at 5,500 feet, Wild Planet Bana Heights is a Wayanad mountain resort and hill view resort overlooking the Banasura hills and the Western Ghats. Rooms come in four categories: Valley View Honeymoon Cottages, designed for privacy; themed Exotic Cottages (Cave, Garden, Craft, Wooden and Fountain); Valley View Premium Cottages with balconies or sit-outs; and Mountain View Rooms.

The resort works as a destination in itself. There is a hilltop swimming pool, archery, pole climbing, monkey crawling, a floating bridge, a mini theatre, a kids’ play area and football and cricket grounds, along with plantation walks, bird watching and guided hikes to Thavalappara, Chirapullu and Kurishu Mala. It is one of the resorts near Banasura Sagar Dam, 17 km away, with Meenmutty Waterfalls 16 km away, Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary 41 km, and Chembra Peak and Edakkal Caves about 52 km.

Worth knowing: the access road has a muddy stretch, so take care if you travel with elderly guests or during pregnancy. Entry is permitted only until 6 pm because of animal movement, and guest vehicles stop at the parking area, where the resort’s own vehicle completes the transfer. Check-in is at 1 pm and check-out at 11 am. Tripadvisor placed the resort among the top 1% of hotels worldwide in 2025.

Plan your stay: see the Honeymoon Cottages, Exotic Cottages, Premium Cottages and Mountain View Rooms, or message us on WhatsApp to check dates. Travelling as a couple? Read our guide to the best honeymoon resorts in Wayanad.

2. Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa, Vythiri

Best for: spa stays and villa-style privacy

Near Vythiri, the 61-room Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa pairs the service of a major luxury hotel brand with a full-service spa offering Ayurvedic therapies, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. Its two-bedroom Presidential Villa covers 254 square metres and has a plunge pool. Banasura Sagar Dam is roughly a 15-minute drive away.

3. Vythiri Resort, Lakkidi

Best for: an immersive rainforest stay

Vythiri Resort has operated since 1994 across roughly 150 acres of rainforest, with a mountain stream running through the property. Accommodation includes treehouses, stilt cottages and villas, some with private pools, and the resort offers an Ayurveda centre, guided rainforest walks and bird watching. Expect a jungle setting rather than open mountain views.

4. Banasura Hill Resort, Vellamunda

Best for: quiet stays in earth-built rooms

Banasura Hill Resort offers earth rooms, suites, log huts and twin villas, with indoor and outdoor pools and hiking trails. Some guest reviews praise the cool mud-built rooms, while others note it is far from the rest of Wayanad’s sights, so allow for longer drives.

5. Wayanad Silverwoods Resorts, Padinjarathara

Best for: pool views over Banasura

This 25-room resort describes an infinity pool overlooking Banasura Peak and the dam, along with villas such as the Emperor Villa.

6. Banasura Island Resort, Padinjarathara

Best for: a compact stay close to Meenmutty Falls

Banasura Island Resort has 16 rooms, an outdoor pool, barbecue facilities and a restaurant, and sits about 2.3 km from Meenmutty Falls. It is a smaller property than most here, so compare room categories against your expectations before booking.

7. The Woods Resorts, Chethalayam

Best for: private villas on the eastern side

The Woods Resorts is near Sulthan Bathery, the usual base for Edakkal Caves and the Muthanga side of the district. It offers private villas and a swimming pool. Choose it if your plans lean east rather than towards Banasura.

8. GReaT Trails Wayanad

Best for: coffee-estate immersion

GReaT Trails Wayanad sits within a coffee plantation and builds its stays around the estate: nature walks, guided treks to Churathode Waterfalls, curated picnics, treehouse dining and cookery sessions. It suits travellers who want slow, experience-led days rather than a fixed resort schedule.

9. Flora Vythiri Resort, Vythiri

Best for: easy access to Pookode Lake

Flora Vythiri Resort has an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and gardens, about 3.7 km from Pookode Lake. It works well for first-time visitors who want a conveniently placed base in the Vythiri area.

10. The Windflower Resort & Spa, Vythiri

Best for: spa-led stays with Chembra views

The Windflower occupies around 25 acres of plantation land with views of Chembra Peak. It offers suites and villas, some with private jacuzzis, and a spa inspired by Ayurvedic and international therapies.

Which luxury resort in Wayanad fits your trip

• Families and first-time visitors: Wild Planet Bana Heights for its activity range and kids’ play area, or Flora Vythiri for convenience.
• Couples and honeymoons: Wild Planet’s Honeymoon Cottages, Taj villas or Windflower’s jacuzzi villas.
• Spa and wellness: Taj Wayanad, Windflower or Vythiri Resort.
• Forest and plantation immersion: Vythiri Resort or GReaT Trails.
• Quiet and remote: Banasura Hill Resort or Wild Planet.

Getting to North Wayanad

For Wild Planet Bana Heights, the nearest airports are Calicut and Kannur. By road, it is 102 km from Calicut via Vythiri, 92.4 km from Kannur, 231 km from Coimbatore via Ooty, 278 km from Cochin and 279 km from Bangalore via Mysore and Mananthavady. Plan to arrive before 6 pm.

FAQs about luxury resorts in Wayanad

• Which is the best luxury resort in Wayanad for couples?
  Look for private cottages with valley views. This list includes Wild Planet’s Honeymoon Cottages, the Taj villas and Windflower’s jacuzzi villas.
  
• Which resorts are near Banasura Sagar Dam?
  Wild Planet Bana Heights is 17 km from the dam. Banasura Hill Resort, Wayanad Silverwoods and Banasura Island Resort are also on the northern side of the district.
  
• Can I reach Wild Planet Bana Heights after dark?
  No. Entry is permitted only until 6 pm because of forest conditions and animal movements.

Final word

The best luxury resort in Wayanad is the one that fits your route, your pace and your company. Rates, room counts and amenities change, so confirm details directly with each resort before booking.

Ready to plan your stay? Call +91 94008 39000, message us on WhatsApp or email reservation@wildplanetresort.com for availability, room categories and packages.