India

India family holidays

India is like nowhere else on earth, a constant kaleidoscope of colour and noise that assails the senses. India family holidays are exciting, rewarding, challenging and immensely entertaining. You’ll be able to see timeless wonders like the perfect marble Taj Mahal, the majestic Moghul forts of Rajasthan and the intricately carved temples of the South. But there are also lush jungles where tigers prowl and remote Himalayan kingdoms where Buddhism flourishes.

Across the country, there really is an extraordinary diversity of landscapes, rich history, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. On a family holiday in India you’ll be dodging holy cows that weave in and out of the traffic, stopping for a blessing in a village temple and drifting down a palm-fringed canal on a converted rice barge. You’ll be admiring the sunset from the battlements of a Rajathani fort and riding a camel cart through the fields.

India family holidays - teenagers in front of Taj Mahal, Half term holidays

Tick off one of India’s world-famous sites on our Wonders of Rajasthan itinerary

Accommodation on a family holiday in India is wonderfully varied, and you can stay in traditional Maharajah’s palaces, wildlife lodges and friendly boutique guesthouses. Travel will sometimes be by car, but you will also move around by train, camel, auto-rickshaw (tuk tuk), cycle-rickshaw, bicycle, and perhaps a bullock cart.

The Indians are enormously welcoming and friendly and you will find that having children with you will open all kinds of doors, whether that means being invited into a shop for a steaming cup of spicy chai or asked to come into a school for some impromptu English lessons. The one thing that you can pretty much guarantee about an India family holiday is that the children will never be bored.

Why take the kids to India?

Your time in India will be crammed full of colour, activity and excitement. Here are some of our favourite activities to include on your family holiday in India;

Scooting around Old Delhi aboard a rickshaw
Riding to out-of-the-way villages in Rajasthan on the back of a camel
Feeding and washing Indian elephants in Jaipur
Exploring Kerala’s backwaters on a converted rice barge
Searching for tigers, leopards and sloth bears on a safari
Staying in converted Maharaja’s palaces
Exploring the magical Taj Mahal (ideally at dawn!)

All of these activities are set against a lively backdrop where camels, rickshaws and sacred cows jostle for space in the bustling markets, hawkers display mounds of scented spices and gaudy temples draw the faithful in a continuous parade of lively spirituality.

India family holidays, kids enjoying a tuk-tuk ride - India with kids itinerary

Travelling by tuk-tuk is fun and a quick way to get around

Where to go in India

India stretches from the lofty snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya to the lush beaches and jungles of Kerala. There are swathes of thorny scrubland and rolling sand dunes in the Rajasthani desert and then the sprawl of mega cities like Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).

With such variety, how do you even begin to choose? This is where our team of family travel experts can provide the answers to your India family holiday questions! We have travelled extensively around the sub-continent and can discuss the finer details of Jodhpur versus Jaipur and how you can combine Tigers with the Taj.

Our main piece of advice is don’t try to do too much. India is a country that you can return to time and again so pick one section and explore this in detail. First time visitors will love the colour, forts and palaces of Rajasthan but those who have been before might like to head up into the foothills of the Himalaya. Have a chat with one of our team to decide what is right for you and your family.

Stubborn Mule family on converted rice barge in Kerala

Kick back and explore Kerala’s picturesque backwaters on a converted rice boat

Family holiday itineraries to India

All of our itineraries are bespoke which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget and so on.

However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in India, have a look at our sample itineraries, Wonders of Rajasthan and Kerala Family Holiday.

Also, check out some of the other places that you might like to visit on your trip and if you need further inspiration, have a look at our Photos of India blog post, packed with pictures sent to us by our clients.

Lastly, don’t forget to check what the weather will be like at the time that you want to travel. Or simply give us a ring and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best India family holidays for you.