Tours of India

On all Explore tours we take you under the skin of the country you’re visiting and introduce you to real, authentic local life. But on some tours we make this the main focus of the trip: fully immersing ourselves into local life and experiencing how the local people live. These tours are designed to take every opportunity to discover traditional life and rub shoulders with local people. We visit local communities, sometimes eating with them or even staying overnight with them. We may travel by local transport and visit local markets, festivals or local projects. We also hope to experience local culture and witness music, dance and other traditions. To experience first-hand the way of life enjoyed by other cultures around the world, interacting with local people who have little contact with the world of tourism, can be immensely inspiring and enriching – not just for us but also for the host communities.

Backwaters and Beaches

Tour Map of Backwaters and Beaches

Jungle treks, curry lessons and traditional dancing are all part of this journey to the tropical Indian state of Kerala. We cycle through local fishing villages, meet elephant trainers and cruise along India’s backwaters on a houseboat. We trek through the jungle in Periyar National Park and travel to the exotic coast to relax on its sandy beaches.

It's a wonderful world and there's no better way to experience its magic than by taking your family on an family adventure holiday. Travelling with children is incredibly rewarding as they see, hear and are in awe of the small things that us adults can sometimes take for granted. With 30 years history of running adventure travel holidays, coupled with our experience of travelling with our families, we know exactly what it takes to make a family adventure. Each of our family adventures has been designed to ensure that both parents and children get the most out of their holiday. Whether you are a regular KE client looking to share your pioneering spirit with the children, or you are dipping your toes in the waters of adventure travel for the first time, you should find your perfect holiday amongst our family adventures. Exotic cultures, breath-taking natural environments and amazing historical treasures have never been more accessible for the whole family to enjoy.

Southern Spice - Family Holiday in Kerala

Located on the Malabar Coast, at the southern tip of the Indian Subcontinent, Kerala is a magical place, well-loved by travellers. Our family adventure begins in Kochi (Cochin), known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, where our sightseeing tour includes a visit to the harbour area with its huge ‘Chinese' fishing nets. Here, too, we can attend a performance of the unique costumed dance form known as Kathakali. We visit an elephant training camp before driving up to the hill-station of Munnar in the Cardamom Hills and have a couple of days to explore amongst tea plantations and shola forest. Driving across the Western Ghats, we will visit the tiger reserve at Periyar and enjoy wildlife spotting in this beautiful park, both from a boat on the lake and on foot. There will also be the chance to take a ride on elephant-back, and we have a cooking session with the chef on local dishes. Descending to the famous Keralan 'backwaters' we have an overnight cruise on a splendid houseboat. The holiday ends with 2 days for relaxation at Kovalam, a charming and very laid back beach resort. This holiday offers an endless visual feast and will entertain and amaze the whole family.