Blackberry Hills Munnar Nature Resort & Spa: My Honest Review

Disclosure: I paid for this stay myself and the opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Stayed: May 2026. Last updated: 26/09/26

A landscape that changes by the hour, an infinity pool perched above the valley, and staff who made solo travel easy — my honest take on two nights at Blackberry Hills.

As part of a six night solo wellbeing trip in Kerela, I spent two nights at Blackberry Hills Resort, close to Munnar.

➜ Read more about my 6 night Kerala Wellbeing Trip here

My review covers the accommodation, food, accessibility, the solo travel experience and what it was like as a wellbeing stay.

A hillside resort near Munnar, Kerala

Blackberry Hills in a hillside nature resort set across a 10-acre hillside estate in Pothamedu, Munnar, with small accommodation blocks scattered among trees, plants and winding pathways.

The lush green views stretch across the valley towards tea plantations and woodland.

It’s also has an interesting environmental history: what began as an attempt to restore a damaged piece of land eventually developed into an eco-conscious nature resort.

My first impression of Blackberry Hills

I arrived at Blackberry Hills after a fantastic tuk-tuk ride through tea plantations and increasingly cool, damp mountain air, as I left my first stay at Tulsi Village Retreat, Kallurkaty Dam.

I was warmly welcomed at reception and one of my first impressions was just how lovely the staff were – they were the nicest hotel staff I’d met in India.

I was offered a glass of gooseberry juice on arrival, an Ayurvedic drink. It was exactly what I wanted after the journey: warming and good for digestion (so I am told).

From reception, I entered the estate through a rustic wooden archway bearing the name ‘Blackberry Hills’ and the resort began to unfold down the hillside.

A resort that feels part of the landscape

Blackberry Hills isn’t a resort where you walk from one large hotel block to another. The accommodation, pathways and facilities are spaced down the hillside, surrounded by trees, flowers and plants. Along with butterflies, frogs and dragonflies and the sounds of nature

The resort’s own philosophy is very much about working with the natural contours of the mountain, and you can see this in the way it’s been designed.

Small details add to the charm: an old-fashioned red letterbox, Buddha figures, and signs explaining some of the plants, wildlife and sounds you might encounter.

The story behind Blackberry Hills

What makes Blackberry Hills particularly interesting is its history.

According to the resort’s own account, the property began with six people concerned about the condition of the land. Years of farming and neglect had left the mountainside badly eroded, with significant topsoil loss, chemical use, and trees cut for charcoal.

Rather than simply build a hotel on the land, they bought the property with the intention of restoring it. The resort eventually became a way of funding that restoration, with organic farming, soil conservation and biodiversity becoming central to its story.

There’s a real sense that the land itself has been cared for.

The Blackberry Hills infinity pool – wow

As you make your way down the hillside, you reach the pool.

Perched on the edge, the infinity pool looks straight out across the valley below.

It’s not a huge pool, but honestly, it doesn’t need to be – the whole point is bathing while looking out over the mountains and tea-covered landscape beyond….bliss!

Is there anything better than an infinity pool over a magnificent landscape to give you that sense of freedom, aliveness and possibility?

In the evening, it’s illuminated and takes on a completely different atmosphere, glowing against the darkness of the hillside.

It’s a difficult view to walk away…

My Valley View Suite at Blackberry Hills Munnar

My room was reached via my own little bridge off pathway shaded by overhanging black berry trees (not the blackberries common to the UK).

Inside, there was a large seating area with a swing (an interesting touch I didn’t quite understand!), along with the usual facilities such as a kettle, fridge, wardrobe and safety box.

A wooden door led through to the bedroom, which had a lovely, cosy feel, with warm lighting and something of an antique character. I found it lovely to retreat to in the evenings.

Both the sitting area and bedroom had views over the valley.

But for me, the balcony was a highlight — I bought local tea from my tea factory trip, chocolate made locally and loved just sitting and watching the changing landscape.

And Munnar’s landscape does change very quickly!

Sunshine to rain, and then mist rolling across the hills, changing everything within minutes. Staff advised us to close the windows and doors at 4pm, as the mist comes daily and will genuinely drift into the rooms.

I loved watching the mist gradually shroud the landscape, it felt mysterious and ethereal.

The bathroom was pleasant enough, although I found the shower never quite got as warm as I’d have liked.

⟶ Learn more about Blackberry Hills resort here

The Hornbill Restaurant

Another highlight was Hornbill Restaurant, which looks a little like a wooden railway carriage perched on the hillside, with trailing plants covering the entrance. Inside, I loved sitting beside the windows, looking out over the landscape while eating. It certainly encouraged a slower way of eating.

The food was fresh, seasonal and delicious. Indian and continental choices were available at breakfast, and the buffet was generous, with plenty of choice.

There were lovely little touches too, including heart-shaped candles on the tables and Ayurvedic-inspired touches such as warm water being served, said to aid digestion.

⟶ Learn more about Blackberry Hills resort here

Evening fire

In the evenings, a fire was lit in a small fire pit beside the pool. I loved this simple touch.

Sitting outside in the fresh Munnar air, with the fire glowing beside me and the mountains around me, gave me a lovely sense of being grounded and completely free.

Blackberry Hills Munnar Spa: My Experience

Blackberry Hills has its own spa, offering a range of Ayurvedic and other treatments. This was actually the part of my stay I was least impressed with.

The massage itself was fine, but the treatment room felt cold. When I mentioned this to the therapist, a towel was placed over me, but it felt damp rather than warm. The treatment was followed by a steam, but the wooden steamer wasn’t hot when I got in — it took several minutes to warm up, leaving me sitting in the cold again. I also felt the changing room was in need of updating, it was quite grubby.

I spoke to the manager afterwards, who was apologetic and very receptive to the feedback. They refunded the cost of the treatment and acknowledged the importance of making sure staff have things like heaters and warm towels ready in advance on cooler days.

I appreciated how the complaint was handled, and I hope those changes have since been put in place. I suspect that on a warmer day my experience might have been very different, but on the cool, damp day I visited, the spa didn’t live up to the standard of the rest of my stay.

What I loved about Blackberry Hills

• the infinity pool overlooking the valley
• sitting at Hornbill Restaurant watching the landscape
• the warmth of the staff
• the little historical and natural details throughout the grounds
• the abundance of plants, flowers and wildlife
• watching the mist roll in and gradually envelop the trees, paths and pool
• the evening fire

There were moments when the sunshine disappeared, the rain arrived and the mist settled over the hillside, and I could simply retreat to my room or the restaurant and watch it all happen. That, for me, was a large part of the appeal.

What I wasn’t so keen on

• the spa experience
• the main sitting room, which felt cold and damp in the evenings (I visited in May, just before the monsoon season)
• clothes becoming slightly damp in the cool, humid conditions
• slippery pathways, particularly where berries had fallen
• the shower not feeling quite warm enough

Accessibility at Blackberry Hills

The steepness of the resort is something to be aware of. There is a buggy service to help guests get around, but it only goes so far, and you’ll still need to walk down steps to reach the restaurant, pool and some other areas.

Some paths can also become quite slippery, particularly where fallen blackberries have been crushed underfoot. This could be challenging if you have limited mobility or find steep slopes, steps or uneven surfaces difficult.

Is Blackberry Hills good for solo female travellers?

Yes. I felt very safe and comfortable at Blackberry Hills, and the staff were exceptionally welcoming – they really helped make my stay. Whenever I phoned or sent a WhatsApp message, they responded almost immediately, which was particularly reassuring as a solo traveller.

I visited in May during the Indian school holidays, so there were quite a few families staying, and I only met one other international guest. Even so, I felt very comfortable travelling alone and was made to feel welcome.

I would have felt comfortable arriving alone in the evening, but the steep paths, steps and occasionally slippery areas would make arriving in the dark less than ideal. If possible, I’d arrange to arrive during daylight so you can get your bearings.

Things to do at Blackberry Hills

There are plenty of places to walk around the hotel and Munnar is only a ten minute tuk-tuk ride away. I visited Lockhart Tea Factory, Munnar Botanical Gardens and Munnar town whilst I was there.

The hotel also advertises a range of activities, including tea tasting, daily nature walks and organised hikes into the surrounding area, as well as day trips to tea plantations and other Munnar attractions.

I liked the idea of the daily nature walk, but when I saw the steep downhill path it followed, I decided it was more than I wanted to tackle at the time. If you have any mobility or balance issues, it’s worth asking about the terrain before joining.

Book organised tours & experiences in Munnar

When I travel I tend to use Get Your Guide or Viator to book trusted tours and experiences. They are great for solo travellers, not only as a way to discover places but also as a way to meet people.

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