Kerala Family Adventure And Activity Holiday, India

Tour Overview

Discover Kerala on a carefully curated family adventure that combines wildlife, nature, culture, and boutique accommodation in one of India's most welcoming and rewarding destinations. Perfect for families seeking an authentic and responsible travel experience, this two-week itinerary blends soft adventure with comfort, offering the ideal introduction to South India through meaningful experiences and unforgettable landscapes. Designed to suit your family's interests and pace, the holiday can be tailored with activities including wildlife safaris, guided forest walks, backwater kayaking, cycling through villages and plantations, visits to tea estates and spice gardens, and immersive cultural experiences. From the mist-covered Western Ghats and wildlife-rich national parks to the tranquil backwaters, historic Fort Kochi, and the golden sands of Marari Beach, every day offers opportunities to explore, learn, and create lasting family memories. Staying in handpicked boutique hotels, heritage properties, plantation bungalows, and charming beach retreats, you'll experience Kerala's renowned hospitality while supporting locally owned accommodation and responsible tourism initiatives. Exceptional regional cuisine, knowledgeable local guides, and genuine encounters with communities and nature combine to create a luxury family holiday that is as enriching as it is relaxing—an unforgettable journey through the very best of Kerala.

Kerala Family Activity Holiday

Day 1, 2: Fort Cochin: Your family adventure begins on arrival at Kochi International Airport, where you'll be met and transferred to your handpicked boutique hotel in the historic heart of Fort Kochi (approximately one hour). After time to relax, set out together to discover one of India's most fascinating heritage towns, where centuries of maritime trade have created a unique blend of Indian, Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish, and British influences. Explore Fort Kochi's atmospheric streets on foot or by colourful tuk-tuk, a favourite with children and adults alike. Wander past the iconic Chinese fishing nets, browse spice markets filled with the aromas of pepper, cardamom and cinnamon, and visit charming cafés, artisan shops and historic landmarks including the Paradesi Synagogue and the Dutch Palace. Every corner reveals stories of explorers, traders and cultures that have shaped Kerala's rich heritage. As evening falls, experience the vibrant colours, elaborate costumes and expressive storytelling of Kathakali, Kerala's world-famous classical dance drama—an unforgettable introduction to the traditions of South India that captivates visitors of every age. Tomorrow, your family will leave the city behind to explore Kerala's famous backwaters, paddling together through peaceful mangrove forests by kayak before enjoying a relaxing harbour cruise, the perfect start to your luxury family holiday in Kerala.
Day 3, 4: Lowlands of Thattekkad: After breakfast, travel to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, one of the finest wildlife destinations in the Western Ghats and a paradise for nature-loving families. Home to hundreds of species of birds, butterflies, and mammals, this remarkable rainforest offers children and adults alike the chance to discover Kerala's incredible biodiversity with the help of experienced naturalists. Following a traditional Kerala lunch at your riverside lodge, paddle together by kayak across the tranquil Periyar River to explore the rainforest. Keep watch for colourful Malabar Parakeets, the elusive Malabar Trogon, playful Malabar Giant Squirrels, and, if you're lucky, elephants in the surrounding forests. Later, enjoy a gentle walk-through a nearby farming village, where you'll meet local families and discover how spices such as pepper, ginger, and cardamom are grown. It's a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to experience rural Kerala and begin creating memories that will last long after the holiday ends.After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Thattekkad, a lowland forest. 57 species of fishes, 12 species of amphibians, 30 species of reptiles, 38 species of aquatic macro vertebrates have been recorded from sanctuary, besides 275 species of birds and 76 species of butterflies, many endemics among them. Wild animals like elephants, Sambar deer, Civet cats, Jungle cats, Travancore Flying squirrels, Slender Loris are also seen. Thattekkad Bird sanctuary is indeed a field laboratory for conservation education. Your stay would be at the resort set along the shores of the river Periyar opposite the sanctuary. After lunch, you will get an opportunity to go on the kayaks for a journey through to the rain forests on the opposite side of the river. Here if you are lucky, there are chances of sighting some of the endemic birds and mammals that live here. You can the brilliantly colourful Malabar Parakeets & the Malabar Trogons besides the endemic Malabar Giant Squirrels. After your return, there is a walk planned through the local village to see how the farming community lives amidst their plantations of rubber, coconuts & various spices like pepper.
Day 5, 6: Highlands at Munnar: After breakfast, travel into the cool mountain landscapes of Munnar, Kerala's famous hill station and one of the highlights of any family holiday in South India (approximately 3 hours). As the road climbs through rubber plantations, fragrant cardamom estates, waterfalls, and winding mountain roads, the scenery transforms into endless emerald tea gardens framed by the spectacular Western Ghats, a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot. Over the next two days, your family will discover why Munnar is one of Kerala's most loved destinations. Explore Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai), home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, an agile mountain goat found nowhere else in the world. These remarkable animals are remarkably accustomed to visitors and are often seen grazing on the grassy slopes, making them one of the easiest endemic mammals in India for children to observe and photograph in the wild. You'll also enjoy gentle walks through rolling tea plantations and scenic mountain trails, before visiting the fascinating Tea Museum to discover the story behind Kerala's world-famous tea. With its cool climate, breathtaking mountain vistas, and picture-perfect tea estates, Munnar is the perfect place for families to slow down, spend time together, and create lasting memories. Whether you're spotting Nilgiri Tahrs, walking through the tea gardens, or capturing family photographs against some of India's most spectacular scenery, Munnar offers unforgettable experiences for every generation.
Day 7, 8: Wildlife at Periyar Tiger Reserve: Your family now heads to the Periyar Tiger Reserve, one of India's finest wildlife destinations and a highlight of any family holiday in Kerala. Nestled high in the Western Ghats, this protected landscape forms part of the renowned Project Tiger conservation programme and is one of the country's most successful examples of community-led wildlife conservation. While the elusive tiger remains the reserve's most celebrated resident, Periyar is equally famous for its large herds of wild Asian elephants, which are frequently seen around the picturesque lake, along with gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, wild dogs, and a remarkable variety of birds. Over the next two days, your family will experience the reserve in a variety of exciting ways. Accompanied by expert naturalists and guides from local communities, enjoy gentle rainforest walks where children can learn to identify animal tracks, birds, butterflies, and fascinating forest plants. A peaceful boat safari across Periyar Lake offers one of the best opportunities to watch elephants, deer, and birdlife gathering along the shoreline, making it a favourite activity for families of all ages. Beyond its spectacular wildlife, Periyar offers a wonderful introduction to Kerala's mountain culture. Visit nearby spice plantations and highland farms to discover how cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and other spices have shaped the history and livelihoods of the region for centuries. Combining unforgettable wildlife encounters, meaningful conservation experiences, and activities the whole family can enjoy together, Periyar promises memories that will remain long after your holiday comes to an end.
Day 9, 10 & 11: Beach at Marari: Leaving the forests of the Western Ghats behind, travel to the tranquil shores of Marari Beach, one of Kerala's most beautiful stretches of coastline and the perfect place for families to unwind after days of adventure. En route, discover the quieter side of the famous Kerala Backwaters with an immersive village experience that offers a fascinating glimpse into local life. Enjoy a traditional Kerala lunch served on a banana leaf before exploring the backwater village with your guide. Visit a local school, learn about the region's rich cultural heritage at a traditional temple, and discover the centuries-old craft of coir making, where coconut fibre has long been transformed into ropes, mats, and household products that supported Kerala's thriving backwater communities. These authentic experiences provide children and adults alike with a meaningful insight into everyday life and the traditions that continue to shape rural Kerala. The final days of your holiday are spent at Marari Beach, where swaying coconut palms, golden sands, and the warm waters of the Arabian Sea create the perfect setting for quality family time. Whether building sandcastles, swimming, cycling through nearby fishing villages, watching local fishermen bring in their daily catch, or simply relaxing together at your boutique beach resort, Marari offers the ideal balance of relaxation and cultural discovery. It's the perfect ending to a luxury family holiday in Kerala, leaving you with unforgettable memories of wildlife, nature, culture, and time well spent together.
Day 12: Farewell Kerala!: After a leisurely breakfast, you'll be transferred to Kochi International Airport for your onward journey, bringing to a close an unforgettable family adventure through Kerala. Carefully paced to balance exploration with relaxation, this thoughtfully curated holiday has taken your family from the misty tea-covered hills of the Western Ghats and wildlife-rich forests of Periyar and Thattekad to the tranquil Kerala Backwaters and the golden sands of Marari Beach, ensuring that every generation has had the opportunity to experience the very best of South India. Today you will head down to the plains, passing through numerous spice growing villages of Kerala, rubber estates and paddy fields before arriving at the white sandy beaches of Marari for the end of this tour. You stay will be at a resort on the beach. There you can enjoy the beach and the sea, relaxing or visiting the surrounding areas on cycles, giving you a good chance to interact with local people or just laze around on the beach.

Inclusions

Accommodation in Boutique hotels, resorts, Forest Lodges
Most meals
Varied activities suited for children
All transfers by aircon vehicle
English speaking guide/ driver
All walks & safaris

Holiday Feedback

We had the most amazing time in Kerala & loved every single second of our trip, Vipin & Rajeev looked us so well & we really enjoyed our time with them. Everything was so well organised- all the guides were friendly & knowledgeable & we really enjoyed all the activities. The accommodation was really nice & comfortable, & all the food was delicious- we have been missing Indian food so much since being home! Overall the whole experience from making contact with Kalypso, to booking & going on the trip has been wonderful, I will be recommending Kalypso to anyone thinking of travelling to India. It was a very special trip for us & thanks to Kalypso, it lived up to all our expectations, India was everything we thought it would be and so much more and I very much hope that we can return one day.Jo Sandes 2024-10-10

This was the holiday 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 trecks 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. Hugh Garling 2016-08-21

The most exciting part of our holiday was having a varied programme with a mixture of activities ( kayaking, swimming, hiking and cycling) interspersed with fantastic scenery and wildlife and very friendly and informative staff. It was a wonderful family orientated holiday, with fun activities, beautiful countryside, helpful staff and excellent food. We made some wonderful memories; I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend. Dinah Perry 2017-01-16

I wanted to give a quick trip wrap up and how much we appreciate Kalypso's help in making our summer adventure a GREAT SUCCESS! Basically, we loved it. I wanted to highlight how much we appreciated Deepu. He truly became like a member of our family. He was always looking to make our experience more memorable and meaningful. He has the knowledge of the area and flora and fauna better than some of the guides! The boys were the most impressed when after our night hike he was plucking the leeches off our boots with his bare hands while wearing sandals!! Also, I mentioned we never felt unsafe with his driving. He drove confidently and efficiently without ever taking unnecessary risks. Overall we give Deepu a SOLID 5 stars and any guest would be lucky to have him as their guide! We really enjoyed all our activities and the guides were exceptional. Unanimously we voted our best meals were at the Kalypso campsite!!! We hope to be back for the tuk tuk adventure someday :) Alison Schutt 2023-07-31

For me and my three teenage children, this was the trip of a lifetime. Seeing the elephants and monkeys in the forests in Periyar was the most exciting part of the holiday, 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. Our guide and driver were very skilled and knowledgeable and they accomodated any requests we had by making small adaptations to the schedule to make things even more enjoyable. By the types of accomation we stayed in and the types of guided trips we went on, I do believe that our holiday has reduced environmental impact, benefited local people and supported conservation.Angele Jobse 2023-12-10

We have just returned from a wonderful 10 day tour with Kalypso Adventures with our two children aged 14 & 11 years and had a brilliant time, from start to finish! Our tour guide Jeffin and our driver Santosh were super professional, helpful, courteous, kind and ensured we had a great time! Our kids loved them! The tour started in Kochi and we packed in the Indian dance show, but of shopping and lovely meals at our hotel- Casino. We then travelled to Hornbill Camp and had a wonderful couple of days there, kayaking, walking, mountain biking and bird watching in this beautiful area. The food and service was was super and our son loved playing cricket with our tour guides and staff! We travelled to Munnar and stayed at Olive Brook- another brilliant small hotel with excellent standards in service and wonderful food! We felt very spoilt! Loved the walks here around the tea plantations and incredible views. We then travelled to the back waters and had one night on a house boat which was fab- beautiful water front views and home cooked food! The local temple music was pretty lively but fun! Then onto Turtle Beach hotel in Marari for 3 nights which was a perfect ending as we got to relax and enjoy this beautiful Oasis. The butterfly garden was next to our rooms and we were amazed by the wonderful butterflies! The food here was excellent too and we ate so much! The spa treatments were super too and the swimming pool. The beach is a very natural beach- wonderful views and fishermen setting off every morning. Be careful of the beach dogs as they have no owners and are friendly but they did chase me when I went running! Ended our trip having a wonderful lunch in Malabar hotel in Kochi- a beautiful oasis in this bustling city! We we so well looked after and can’t wait to return! Reviewed on TripadvisorRachel 2018-12-27

We had an incredible trip with Kalypso, made perfect by our wonderful guides Alphin and Satheesh and driver Tenzing. Everything was a a dream. So kind and and thoughtful. They made our experience one we will never forget. Munnar, the Western Ghats, Alleppey and Kochi are incredible. Kalypso Adventures makes sure you get the absolute best experience in Kerala. Lorraine Perks 2024-10-19

I wanted to write to thank you for what has been an incredible holiday and tour. Everything that you planned was meticulous, well advised & led to a fantastic experience for all of us.A worthy and special mention must go to Deepu – what a lovely, kind, and genuine man, who really cared for and looked after all my family’s needs.He went above and beyond, to do absolutely anything we might need, even anticipating and following up on what we might like or might have mentioned a few days before. He really is quite a special person and the care and attention to detail he gave to us all is exemplary.When my daughter was unwell for a couple of days he was genuinely concerned for her as if she were his own and took the trouble to come to our hotel to see how Ellie was.It was like we had a 4th member of our party on holiday with us who had been a friend for years Thank you, Thomas, for everything We`ll be back & I`ve already recommended you to a number of friends who asked about our trip.Andrew Lewis 2025-02-07

We had a fantastic week in the Western Ghats, amazing scenery and wildlife, and the tour made it very easy and relaxing for us. We want to express our huge appreciation for Vipin and Rahul, as they are really excellent guides, who did a great job organising everything without ever looking stressed (or getting annoyed with my kids!) and were fun to be with. Vipin was there for othe first two days and was very knowledgeable and friendly. We then had five days with Rahul - he has excellent knowledge of the wildlife and seemed to really enjoy helping us find animals. He also enjoyed surprising us with interesting snacks to try! He was well organised and looked after us really well, made sure the trip went very smoothly. We also appreciated how friendly and courteous he was to all the people we came across in the mountains. But overall he was great company for our whole family - always cheerful and laughing, and we were sad to say good bye at the end of the trip. Everyday was different and special. At Periyar, it was amazing to walk past elephants, gaurs and a great hornbill. The rainforest, cardamom plantation, and peaks on the first day were also incredible, and it was so great to be away from the crowds. One way we supported the local communities was by having local guides (at the National Parks, tea plantations, cardamom plantations) as well as our Kalypso guides. Our accommodation were very luxurious and we really enjoyed the comfort and great food and slept well. Lee Skerratt 2026-02-18

Route Maps

Gallery

Kalypso Family Activity Holiday in Kerala

Kalypso Family Activity Holiday - Mountain walk

Kalypso Family Activity Holiday - Village walk

FAQs

Q. Do I Need A Visa To Travel To India?
Yes. Please see : https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html

Q. When Is The Best Time To Visit Kerala for this tour?
The best time to visit is from August to May.

Q. Should I take out Travel Insurance Before travelling for this tour?
Yes, it is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance before travelling to India, covering any medical situation, hospitalisation, cancellation and loss of your baggage. We cover your causality evacuation to the nearest hospital which is included in the cost. However, this does not cover the cost of medical treatment at the hospital.

Q. Do I have a guide for this tour?
You would have a driver cum guide who is proficient in spoken English. For sightseeing & special side tours, we provide specialist guides.

Q. What are the health risks?
There are very minimal health risks if you follow our instructions on drinking only certified bottled water and food from safe sources identified by us.

Q. Is this holiday safe for children?
Yes, absolutely. We arrange only those activities considered safe for children.

Q. What are the age limits for children?
Technically all ages, but to get a feel of this holiday, it would be better for the child to be above 6 years.

Q. Can this tour be tailor-made?
Yes

Q. Is First Aid available?
Yes, the driver carries a comprehensive First Aid bag. For those suffering from allergies or require any special medication will need to bring those along. All our staff have undergone St John’s Ambulance First Aid Training course and are qualified. In case of serious injuries or emergencies, we have identified hospitals nearest to the tour routes to safely evacuate you to the nearest hospital.

Q. Are banking services easily available in areas visited?
Yes. Banking services and numerous ATMs available throughout South India

Q. Can I use my credit Card during this trip?
Yes, all the resorts & most shops in locations mentioned in this itinerary accept credit cards

Q. Is South India a good destination for a Beach Holiday?
Definitely yes & this tour has a beach element built into this.

Kerala Family Activity Holiday

Activity

Comfort

Cost per Person

US$ 1680

Tour Overview

Kerala Family Activity Holiday

Inclusions

Holiday Feedback

Route Maps

Gallery

FAQs

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