10 independent reviews for Kerala family activity vacation, India
Reviews for Kerala family activity vacation, India
Angele Jobse review 17 Dec 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing the elephants and monkeys in the forest in Periyar was the most exciting part of the vacation, though almost everything else was very memorable too - the spice farm visit, the kayaking, learning about local culture, history, nature, and food from our guide and the local guides... Our guide and driver were very skilled and knowledgeable, and they accommodated any requests we had by making small adaptations to the schedule to make things even more enjoyable.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Try the local food whenever you can! It's delicious. Be prepared that in many places (other than hotels) you will be expected to pay cash, especially small amounts.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
By the type of accommodation we stayed in and the types of guided trips we went on, I do believe that our vacation had a reduced environmental impact, benefited local people and supported conservation.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
For me and my three teenage children, this was the trip of a lifetime.Clare Sutton review 31 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The ability to make last minute changes to our itinerary on a tailor made vacation allowed my family to enjoy some fantastic extra experiences. For example, when I asked if I could try on an Indian sari, we were taken to a sari shop and our guide changed our lunch venue to a local lady's home so that my host lady could help me get dressed into my sari.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Consider opting for at least one Homestay accommodation during your vacation. Staying 100% in hotels risks keeping you at a distance from the local population.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. All the hotels were local ones. We also visited protected wildlife reserves.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Outstanding. Far better to use a local travel company than our previous experiences with UK package tours like Explore and Family Adventure Company.jane Dymott review 20 Apr 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
So many things difficult to chose one. Our enthusiastic guide and driver, the animals (monkeys, birds and elephants). Beautiful scenery, friendly people, wonderful food. Hotels were lovely and we were looked after so well everywhere.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We went in April when the weather was at its hottest as this was the only time we could go. Our children coped well with the heat, but if you can chose to go in the cooler months I think that would be preferable. If the hotter months are the only time you can make it, I would still recommend visiting Kerala.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, the guides organised an elephant interaction, washing and feeding elephants, they seemed really well cared for and content. Most of the hotels were small and locally owned.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic trip of a lifetimeRachel Gardner review 17 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Everything! From the moment that our tour guides picked us up - Jeffin & Santosh - who were AMAZING & our kids loved! Kerala is stunning, the food, the people - we loved it! All the places we stayed were wonderful, we got so we’ll looked after by everyone! The excursions were fab. We didn’t want to leave!!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book it asap!! Open to families or couples or single travelers. Suitable for everyone.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely as we paid direct to the local hotels and restaurants and places we visited.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
AMAZING and looking to rebook for December 2019!Philip Hesketh review 4 Jan 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
There are so many great memories of the vacation, that will live long in the memory. In no particular order: The smile on the face of my daughter as the helped wash an elephant in the river, the scenery around Munnar was beautiful, the homestay at Dewalokam was just great - jumping and swimming in the river, elephant riding in Perriyar, cruise on the backwaters, swimming in the warmest sea ever! The interaction with so many friendly local people2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It's a great vacation - expertly managed by this operator. The guides were knowledgeable and managed to get the right balance of sight seeing and down time. Pack light as it makes it easier when traveling between locations. Stay at the old Harbour in Cochin - great place. Our children age 13 and 10 thoroughly enjoyed it - and absolutely no issues with anything while they were there.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes in as much as we stayed at smaller locally owned hotels. Two grew their own organic vegetables. Local guides were used.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Overall it was superb, Brijesh and Tensing were excellent guides. They were great hosts, nothing was too much trouble for them. The pace of the tour was spot on with a great mix of time for ourselves and being guided by Brijesh. We had great banter with both of them, and their knowledge of the area made the trip.Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for the wonderful review of the family vacation we were privileged to arrange for you & your family.
Keeping in mind the Responsible Travel policy regarding elephant trekking / riding, we will be removing this feature on future family tours.
Rachel Gatehouse review 1 Sep 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing all the different bugs, birds and animals up close. Bananas!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be fit! We walked and kayaked for miles each day. It is a full on, active vacation. Take a camera with a zoom lens and/or a pair of binoculars.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes to all.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
An amazing, unforgettable experience allowing us to see the natural side of Kerala and keep us constantly entertained. We hate sitting still! The team looked after us really well and were flexible and attentive to our needs. We could ask lots of questions and understand more about Indian than we would of as a tourist normally. Our driver was fantastic. He made us feel safe and kept us supplied in water and snacks. He could name all the birds and advised us where to go and what to do.Sarah Griffin review 17 Apr 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
For me just looking out of the window of the mini van at everyday stories of peoples lives. For my husband lazing in the hot water of a slow moving river at the Dewalokam home stay for over 6 hours watching fish nibbling his feet. For my 11 year old girl the animals small and large from lizards to elephants and swimming. For my 79 year old mother-in-law the gardens and farms packed with colour and meeting a local family at their house and enjoying chats and home cooked food.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you go at Easter expect great heat and humidity also you will be sharing some of the sights with the Indian people as they will be on vacation too this actually made the experience better for us. There will be long distances between the destinations but expect delightful places once you get there. We went without any computer games or mobile phone and found that improved the experience for us as our child engaged with the country if she was bored she slept and that proved to be the best use of her down time. Other parents with older children found that their children where happy to stay their rooms with air con and wifi and that was missing the point of taking them, but its your call. If you need to contact home all hotels had free wifi and computer access.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All the shops we where recommended where co-operatives and run by small family firms. All the hotels had recycling and water conservation policies many of which had there own small farms with vegetable growing and cow milking making the food fresh and organic. The indian vacation industry has already got sustainability and low impact as part of its charter but if you want a very deeply researched and detailed environmental vacation you must ask more questions before booking. but we felt that we where not taking more form the country that we should have. All guides where local, elephant ride was from a recognised firm that have their animal welfare at heart.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A brilliant first time experience of India for a family. Safe but still experiencing the full life of India. The vacation was well paced by the end of the vacation we where all ready for just relaxation and contemplation and that is what we got at the last coastal resort and on the rice boat night stay. Having a guide and a driver made it possible for us to see so much in 15 days without hassle. They looked after our safety and hydration! we where watched over by them also my child found them a great source of continuity while we moved around so much. Indians love children and they spoilt her with sweets and cookies i think they where missing there own kids. We saw art, dance, martial arts, religion, village life, city life, countryside, mountains, the indian ocean, working animals, wild animals and lots of water from elephant showers to mineral salt swimming pools. Now I'm looking back on the trip and I wonder how we did so much but felt so at ease at the same time.Jenny Wells review 14 Aug 2015
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
This was our first visit to India and we were a little anxious about how things might go but we needn't have worried - we had an amazing time! Particularly memorable was the homestay at Dewalokum - a wonderful experience. We were looked after so well and experienced warm hospitality, delicious food and some fascinating day trips. We also had the most wonderful guide, Deepu, who was with us for the whole trip. His excellent knowledge of Kerala, safe driving and great sense of humour really made our vacation. Nothing was too much trouble and we genuinely left India feeling we had made a good friend. Our children - 18, 16 & 12 would probably rate the elephant ride and 'washing' in Periyar as top of their list!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be ready for a full on itinerary but if you need to rest by the pool or just take an afternoon off, just say so. We had some great food throughout the trip and didn't suffer any 'tummy troubles' which was a great relief! We stuck to bottled water only and kept hand sanitiser at the ready and were fortunately ok. Some mosquito bites but not many.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes - lots of organic farming and drives to be self -sufficient - we were very impressed with the use of methane gas in the kitchen straight from the slurry tank! Apart from at the coast, Kalypso had selected small, family run accommodation where you sensed local people were very much involved.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was fantastic. The travel company was great to travel with and I would definitely recommend them.hugh garling review 21 Aug 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
This was the vacation of a lifetime that we will hold dear in our memories. The quality and variety of the experiences in the itinerary of the family tour in Kerala were hugely enjoyable, informative and unforgettable. We really felt that we had immersed ourselves in the beauty and culture of Kerala. The quality of the accommodation organised was luxurious and exciting and staff were consistently kind, friendly and informative. Highlights were the time with elephants, the treks in many different parts of Kerala, the quality and luxuriousness of the accommodation, time spent at Dewelakom organic farm and the consistent charm of our guide Deepu.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The expertise and professionalism in supporting us in the organisation of the tour by Thomas, the representative at Kalypso was exceptional. He made the process of navigating the steps of arriving in Kerala seamless and straight forward. This was an unprecedented journey for us, not without anxiety, and the concise, exact and careful guidance he gave us was invaluable3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Professor Jose and his lovely family at Dewalakom organic farm made us feel so welcome and cared for and illuminated so thoroughly the ethos of the environmental and eco aspects of the tour. Staff at the hotels were consistently informative and inspiring on issues of the environment and an eco ethos.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I would thoroughly recommend it. We have no experience of this kind of undertaking and we had an exceptional time that catered perfectly for a family of 4 including an 11 year old girl and 14 year old boy who all valued the tour immeasurably.Sarah Bland review 23 Apr 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
There were so many but to name a few; elephant washing in a river, massages in the Monsoon, having a tea stop watching the mist over the tea plantations as the sun rose, a jungle walk spotting langurs, elephants and huge butterflies as well as leeches (!), a colourful fairground and flower show, the back waters of Kerala, shopping for dresses for the children to celebrate Vishu, all the homestays and meeting the people, the temple visit in Arunmula and the wild Arabian sea at sunset.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
The driving distances are not far but can take a long time as the roads are sometimes small and busy. We asked for stops for the children to stretch their legs and experience a little of the busy Keralan towns. Lots of mozzy cream/spray is useful. We talked to our lovely driver, Deepu, a lot and learnt so much about South India, the elections taking place, the culture and traditions. Leave any preconceptions of India behind and be prepared to be amazed!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Apart from the flight and car usage throughout Kerala, I felt the vacation was geared towards eco-tourism. The home stays employed local village people, tips where always shared out equally, organic and local produce used and wildlife seemed to be responsibly conserved. India had a lot less plastic and rubbish than when I visited in 1999, which was a joy to see.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Absolutely incredible! The children loved it (age 8 and 5) as well as the parents, we had so many rich experiences and wonderful stories to take home. Thank you very much to Thomas, the tour operator, Deepu our driver and to Responsible Travel for pointing us towards this vacation!Holiday Reviews
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