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Araku Tour Packages from GoldBox Holidays take you to Araku Valley, a cool hill area in the Eastern Ghats about 110 km from Visakhapatnam. The valley is known for coffee, tribal culture, waterfalls and the rail journey on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul line, which runs through dozens of tunnels and over tall bridges. The Borra Caves, with huge limestone formations, lie on the way. This category has five packages: two one-day rail-cum-road trips from Vizag, two 3-day car tours from Vizag, and a 3-day bus tour from Hyderabad that also visits Annavaram.
Popular Araku Tour Packages
All five Araku trips are listed here.
- One Day Visakhapatnam to Araku Rail Cum Road Package - train one way and road the other, the classic way to see the valley in a day.
- APTDC Araku Rail Cum Road Tour Package - the Andhra Pradesh tourism version of the same idea, for those who like a fixed plan.
- 2 Nights-3 Days Visakhapatnam-Araku Tour Package from Vizag - two nights in the hills by car, with time for slow mornings.
- 2 Nights-3 Days Visakhapatnam-Araku-Simhachalam Tour Package from Vizag - adds the Simhachalam hill temple, a good pick for devotees.
- Vizag-Araku-Annavaram Tour Package From Hyderabad - 3 days by bus from Hyderabad, with the Annavaram temple on the route.
Places you will visit
The Borra Caves are around 90 km from Vizag, with lit walkways going deep into the hill. The railway line passes right above the caves. Galikonda viewpoint, the coffee estates near Ananthagiri and waterfalls such as Katiki are close to the ghat road. In the valley, the Tribal Museum shows local homes, dress and crafts, Padmapuram Gardens has flower beds and tree huts, and the coffee museum sells Araku coffee and chocolate. Annavaram, on the Hyderabad tour, has the Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy temple on Ratnagiri hill. For city and temple trips, see our Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Tour Packages, including the One Day Vizag To Araku Valley Tour Package By Car.
Best time to go
October to February brings cool days and cold nights, with foggy mornings in December and January. July to September is the wet season, when the valley is at its greenest and the waterfalls are full, though ghat roads can be slow. Summer here is milder than on the coast, which makes Araku a good break in April or May.
How to choose the right package
Pick a rail-cum-road day trip if you want the train ride and have only one day. The line has Vistadome coaches with glass roofs and large windows, so check the package page for the coach class booked. A 3-day car tour with nights in the valley suits elders and small children, as each day is shorter. From Hyderabad, the bus tour combines Vizag, Araku and Annavaram in one trip. Pack a light jacket, as evenings in the valley turn cold.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train ride from Vizag to Araku?
Around 4 to 5 hours. The line passes through about 48 tunnels on this stretch, and children usually try to count them.
Can I see the Borra Caves on a day trip?
Yes. The caves are on the route between Vizag and Araku, so most day trips stop there for an hour or so.
What food should I try in Araku?
Try bamboo chicken, which is cooked inside a bamboo stem over a fire, and buy local coffee and honey to take home.