Therikadu Desert Off-Road Track – Tamil Nadu

📍 About this Trail

I have driven through deserts in the UAE and Oman many times, but finding a desert-like landscape in Tamil Nadu still feels a little strange every time I see it.

This time, we headed from Thoothukudi towards the Therikadu desert with a group of more than 40 vehicles.

And this wasn't a small convoy.

We had a fantastic mix of vehicles: Jimnys, Thar Roxx, 3-door Thars, Fortuners, Hilux and MM550s all coming together for a morning of off-road exploration.

We started early, around 5:30 AM, with a proper briefing before entering the desert. The briefing covered basic desert driving, how to approach the sand and, more importantly, how to recover a vehicle if someone got stuck.

Once everyone was ready, we started moving from Thoothukudi towards the desert.

After reaching the Therikadu area, we continued driving for a little over an hour.

The track itself was relatively simple and easy to explore. There were no major technical challenges during our drive, which made it a comfortable route for a large group with different levels of off-road experience.

I was driving a Suzuki Jimny, and honestly, it surprised me time and again.

The little Jimny performed really well on the sand. Its compact size and lightweight body made it enjoyable to drive, especially when moving through the softer sections.

With more than 40 vehicles moving together, the atmosphere was probably as exciting as the drive itself.

Watching Jimnys, Thars, Fortuners, Hiluxes and MM550s moving across what looks like a desert landscape in Tamil Nadu was something I won't forget easily.

After completing the drive, we all came together for breakfast before heading back.

And that's probably what stayed with me the most.

I've spent plenty of time exploring deserts outside India, but seeing a landscape like this inside Tamil Nadu still makes me curious.

You don't always have to travel thousands of kilometres to find something different.

Sometimes, there are landscapes much closer to home that we simply haven't taken the time to explore.

💡 Gypsy Overlanding Family Tip

I've driven through some incredible deserts outside India, so I honestly didn't expect to get the same feeling so close to home.

But standing there with 40+ vehicles spread across the Therikadu sand, watching Jimnys, Thars, Fortuners, Hiluxes and MM550s moving through the landscape, I had to stop and think.

How is there a desert like this in Tamil Nadu?

That's what makes Therikadu interesting for me.

You don't always need to cross a border to find a new adventure.

Sometimes the next great trail is hiding in your own backyard.