India Farm plantation visits Trips

A 'full-on' trip, with a very knowledgeable guide, who also had a good sense of humor and was very passionate about his country. He took us on a fascinating tour of historic sites, local culture and culinary delights. Would recommend this tour to anyone!

We enjoyed a sparklingly varied two weeks in Southern India! Abhi, our guide, was a treasure. Always upbeat, great fun and he went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a good trip - reuniting travellers with lost hats, kindles, and even souvenirs they wish they had bought at previous stops! We felt safe and well informed throughout. My personal highlights included experiencing the tranquility of the ashram in Puducherry, thali in Srirangam, the martial arts display in Thekkady, and the early morning temple visit in Mysuru. The trip was fast paced, with a lot of early mornings but it was a great way to see a LOT of the region! There were moments for peace and relaxation amongst the riot of noise and colour - a beautiful ayurvedic massage, a chilled houseboat cruise, gorgeous sunsets, and a little free time for independent exploration and shopping. There was also time out between safari game drives to enjoy the pool. We didn't spot any tigers on our safari, but the scenery, elephants, and birds were wonderful to see. The bus was comfortable (the A/C was very welcome after the hot city walks), there was always fresh drinking water available, and 'TT' (tea & toilet) breaks were as frequent as required while we were on the road. Most of the hotels were great - there was the odd uncomfortable mattress/tired fixtures, but the rooms were always clean (and all except the houseboat had a kettle). The food was great - Abhi was always happy to interpret menus and give recommendations. Breakfasts were plentiful, and no Delhi belly! I'd recommend this trip to anyone looking to dip their toes into Southern India, for a taste of the culture, food, and nature in the area.

This was an absolutely incredible trip and two weeks away felt like a month due to the immersive nature of the holiday and the fullness and variety of the itinerary and accommodation. India is an amazing country and to cycle through it with Explore is the best and most fun way to see it. The weather was perfect, as was the food-lovely to have so much choice as a vegetarian! Local people were very friendly and it felt safe. Our guide Sam worked hard to spot extra adventures for us, and one of the most special was stopping the coach to see an elephant being washed, dressed and paraded as part of a Hindu festival. This trip was graded as leisurely to moderate, but was definitely more on the leisurely side with some painfully slow cycling days and some very short cycles. So if you’re a seasoned cyclist, do manage your expectations. Nonetheless, we did still get a better pace and some good hills in on some days. This holiday wouldn’t be suitable for anyone who is nervous cycling around potholes or busy traffic and roads.

The trip was as described. Kerala is beautiful and varied. Good mix of settings and activity: treks (2), ambles, houseboat mini-cruise, cookery class, dance performance, bit of sightseeing and shopping time. It was a good group: they always are. The food was great. Tour leader was excellent, hardworking and fun and he project-managed a complex roster of guides, cooks, drivers and hosts. One or two glitches e.g. accommodation were quickly sorted.

A fabulous trip with some truly spectacular scenery on the hikes. The camping was superb, a real highlight, as were the hotels and itinerary. My only 2 critiques would be that the 3rd and 4th hikes were classed as moderate, but at altitude and in the heat, they were quite challenging - although totally worth it! Also, the houseboat was a little grubby and the delicious Keralan cuisine a little watered down in terms of spice to cater for a more international palette! Kerala is a dream and thank you to Tinu for keeping our large group in check and showing off his beautiful home state to us all. We had a fabulous trip, our love affair with India continues and we can’t wait for our next adventure with Explore!

It was a fabulous group of people. The leader of the group was amazing. Unfortunately, we had to leave the trip early because my mother passed away while we were in India. I hope to finish the trip someday.