If you and your children are searching for something a little different to the standard family holiday, look into what India has to offer. The country is full of fascinating sights and attractions, so there will be plenty to keep you and the little ones busy.
In fact, there is so much to see and do here it can be hard to know where to start. Booking an organized tour, like those offered by Explore Worldwide, is an excellent way to not only see some of the most important attractions, but to also remove the stress of organizing the finer details of your trip.
That means mum and dad can enjoy the break just as much as the kids, as they won't have to worry about transport, hotel bookings or anything else for the duration of the holiday.
To convince you that a family adventure holiday in India is right for you, here are a few of the highlights you can look forward to on a family trip to Kerala. You can book a tour like this with Explore Worldwide starting from £730 without flights.
Stay on a houseboat
Kerala is famous for its backwaters, which are, unsurprisingly, best explored by boat. Children always love experiencing something out of the ordinary, so spending a night or two sleeping on a houseboat will certainly grab their attention.
These vessels are relatively simple - they've been converted from former rice barges - but they're the ideal mode of transport for discovering the backwaters. As you drift along the canals and through lagoons, you'll pass other boats carrying supplies to villages, as well as having the chance to step ashore and explore.
Among the places you can visit as you cruise around the Alappuzha backwaters are a stunning Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Vaikom, and Fort Kochi. The latter is a fascinating city to visit where you can see a number of churches dating from the period of colonial rule in India, including the St Francis Church, which dates from the early 16th century, making it one of the oldest in the country.
Trek in the jungle
There's nothing quite like pretending that you're an explorer when you're a kid, and children will definitely feel as though they're uncovering new lands on a trek in the Kerala jungle. The forest in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to all manner of exotic creatures that kids will love looking out for.
Around the shores of Lake Periyar, you can spot animals such as elephants, mouse deer, sambars (a type of deer), lion-tailed macaque monkeys and bison. There are also more than 200 species of bird in the reserve, including flycatchers, drongos and woodpeckers.
For an extra treat, you can visit an elephant camp, where you can see how these gentle giants work alongside their handlers, how they're trained and find out more about the festivities that the elephants take part in - where the animals are usually in brightly-coloured costumes.
Visit a local village
One of the appeals of traveling to unusual destinations with your children is to introduce them to new cultures, and as there are numerous traditional villages dotted across Kerala where you can do a home-stay, you'll have ample opportunity to immerse yourself and your kids in local life.
Mancombo Village, which is accessed via the backwaters, is just one example. Banana and coconut plantations surround the settlement, along with a variety of other fruit and medicinal flora. You can also choose to paddle to nearby temples in canoes - allowing you to travel just like the locals.
A further highlight of a village home-stay is the food, as you'll be served up delicious local cuisine prepared using locally-produced ingredients and incorporating a range of rich and tasty flavors.
(Photos via [ThinkStock - iStockphoto])
That means mum and dad can enjoy the break just as much as the kids, as they won't have to worry about transport, hotel bookings or anything else for the duration of the holiday.
To convince you that a family adventure holiday in India is right for you, here are a few of the highlights you can look forward to on a family trip to Kerala. You can book a tour like this with Explore Worldwide starting from £730 without flights.
Stay on a houseboat
Kerala is famous for its backwaters, which are, unsurprisingly, best explored by boat. Children always love experiencing something out of the ordinary, so spending a night or two sleeping on a houseboat will certainly grab their attention.
These vessels are relatively simple - they've been converted from former rice barges - but they're the ideal mode of transport for discovering the backwaters. As you drift along the canals and through lagoons, you'll pass other boats carrying supplies to villages, as well as having the chance to step ashore and explore.
Among the places you can visit as you cruise around the Alappuzha backwaters are a stunning Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Vaikom, and Fort Kochi. The latter is a fascinating city to visit where you can see a number of churches dating from the period of colonial rule in India, including the St Francis Church, which dates from the early 16th century, making it one of the oldest in the country.
Trek in the jungle
There's nothing quite like pretending that you're an explorer when you're a kid, and children will definitely feel as though they're uncovering new lands on a trek in the Kerala jungle. The forest in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is home to all manner of exotic creatures that kids will love looking out for.
Around the shores of Lake Periyar, you can spot animals such as elephants, mouse deer, sambars (a type of deer), lion-tailed macaque monkeys and bison. There are also more than 200 species of bird in the reserve, including flycatchers, drongos and woodpeckers.
For an extra treat, you can visit an elephant camp, where you can see how these gentle giants work alongside their handlers, how they're trained and find out more about the festivities that the elephants take part in - where the animals are usually in brightly-coloured costumes.
Visit a local village
One of the appeals of traveling to unusual destinations with your children is to introduce them to new cultures, and as there are numerous traditional villages dotted across Kerala where you can do a home-stay, you'll have ample opportunity to immerse yourself and your kids in local life.
Mancombo Village, which is accessed via the backwaters, is just one example. Banana and coconut plantations surround the settlement, along with a variety of other fruit and medicinal flora. You can also choose to paddle to nearby temples in canoes - allowing you to travel just like the locals.
A further highlight of a village home-stay is the food, as you'll be served up delicious local cuisine prepared using locally-produced ingredients and incorporating a range of rich and tasty flavors.
(Photos via [ThinkStock - iStockphoto])
(This post was written by Hari Apostolides)
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