Explore Beyond

Explore Beyond

As more Indians travel the world, they are choosing destinations that offer an experience of a lifetime. It’s no longer about only having fun. It’s about learning more, connecting to your roots, understanding the culture of a place, getting to know a community and so on. With festivals and holiday seasons coming up, many of you would be making plans about your next best travel destination. To help you choose, we, along with travel experts, have curated a list which can come handy and give you that memorable holiday you have been looking for.  

Vibrant Vietnam
Vietnam is full of unforgettable experiences because the country has a lot to offer to tourists. Ruchika Gupta, founder, Blue Duck Holidays, says that Indian travellers, in particular, like to soak in the richness and culture of the place that they travel to, which makes Vietnam a preferred choice. “An activity that one simply cannot miss out on is cruising in traditional boats along the beautiful Halong Bay. The refreshing crystal clear water is breathtaking and has a calming effect on you,” says Gupta.

While in Hanoi one shouldn’t also miss out visiting the limestone mountains and caves in the region. “The world’s largest natural cave Son Doong Cave houses many limestone grottoes, stalactites and stalagmites. Set within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, the cave is a natural gem,” says Gupta, adding, “What the children will truly enjoy is camping inside the caves, because a little bit of thrill is what they like!”

Pro tip: Make booking for camping as it sells out fast.


Back to the roots
Akash Dahiya, co-founder, SanKash, says that when it comes to Indian families travelling with children, they are not just opting for fancy holidays. “Parents want the journey that they take to be fruitful for their children, in a way that they can learn and even get to experience the culture,” says Dahiya. 

Talking about a trend that has picked up is the Ramayan Tour, which is organised by IRCTC and many other travel companies, focusing on and touching all the cities in the Ramayan circuit. He says that the train tour is similar to the Palace on Wheels and is quite an experience not only for children but also for grandparents if they too are accompanying. 

“Children do enjoy these religious experiences because there’s an excitement to live on a train for several days together and covering various destinations from one point to another,” says Dahiya. With a little bit of adventure, it also gives kids a chance to learn about their cultural roots. The regions that this particular tour covers are Ayodhya, Sitamarhi, Janakpur (Nepal), Varanasi, Allahabad and regions even down South like Hampi, Rameswaram and Madurai.

Pro tip: Train booking can be made directly from IRCTC site, but it has limited boarding options.

Best of Budapest
Think Budapest, think thermal baths. “Thermal baths are one of the most relaxing experiences of travelling to such a beautiful location,” says Shikha Jain, business head, Ratandeep Travels. She explains that Budapest is divided into two parts, ‘Buda’ being the hills and ‘Pest’ being the flat land. Jain explains that the capital city of Hungary exquisitely blends history with contemporary style. “There is a wide range of to-do things for different age groups, right from museums to thermal spas, and  ruin bar crawls to spending a good time at the flea markets. If you are a fan of local produce and want to taste some authentic food, flea markets are the best place to be. Along with food you can find tiny treasures here that you can take home,” she says. 

One must definitely visit the Buda Castle and the famed Great Synagogue. “One can opt for a guided tour to know more about the lives of the local Jewish people in Hungary at the museum,” she says. 

Pro tip: With fewer people visiting Europe during winter, you can save on hotel and travel expenses. 

Hello, Hong Kong
Think Hong Kong and the first thing that comes to mind is the busy skyline, swelling shopping crowds and the famed Disneyland. Hari Ganapthy, co-founder, PickYourTrail, says that even today Disneyland and Ocean World in Hong Kong are in great demand because of the beautiful experiences that these theme parks offer, especially for children. But Hong Kong is more than that.

“If you are planning some quality time with your family and want to indulge in activities, go for the hiking and trekking trails in the region,” says Ganapathy. He says that Hong Kong has an alter-ego — a green and eco one —  where individuals can ditch tall skyscrapers and huge malls and enjoy a quiet moment instead. 

“Arrange for a hiking trip to Victoria Peak, which is at the eastern tip of the island, the reason it is child-friendly is because it comes under the category of beginners’ trek or hike and it does have a proper path which makes it easy for all age groups to walk up to the peak,” he says. 

Visitors should not miss out on this peak because from the top people can see the whole of Hong Kong, gaze at the beautifully painted skyline and watch in amazement a gorgeous sundown behind the buildings. 

However, Ganapathy says that if you are travelling with kids, you must take them to the clean beaches and also keep aside one entire day for either Disneyland or Ocean Park, and not combine the two because it is extremely tiring to cover both on the same day. 

Pro tip: Even though Indian passport holders don’t require a visa to enter Hong Kong, they must complete their pre-arrival registration online for hassle-free travel. 


Chasing The Sun  
South Africa and safaris are synonymous. “Obviously, the safari is something you cannot miss out on if you are travelling to South Africa, but there are several other activities that a family can take part in,” says Roxanne Bamboat, who curates tours for  Quantum Holidays. 

Citing an example, she says that a family can have an entire day to themselves at the southernmost tip of the continent at the Cape of Good Hope. “Enjoy the hues of the setting sun and indulge in some delicious local delicacies,” says Bamboat adding that it is an excellent choice for a single day tour. 

One can also visit Boulders Beach that has something extra to offer to visitors. “A colony of African penguins smartly dressed and waddling right around you. It is a fantastic sight,” says Bamboat. 

However, she says that a safer option for tourists is to explore the regions with certified and trusted tour guides for security reasons and to understand the culture of the region well. She also points out that tourists should opt for pre-paid taxis rather than taking local cabs. 

Pro tip: Travelling to South Africa is expensive, however, the stay and local food are more budget friendly. 

Top of Thailand
Thailand is popular for its nightlife. But set sail to explore different facets of Thailand up north. Durgesh Nandann, head of growth and the global community, Ithaka, says that Northern Thailand has a very different positive vibe to it. He explains that the region has been culturally inspired by dominant indigenous ethnic groups like Lanna, Shan and Karen. “The best part of visiting Chiang Mai is that the locals are extremely friendly, and you can also interact with the Karen tribe, known for their elongated necks,”  says Nandann. 

The city offers great food and a memorable stay at affordable rates. A good place to visit, along with children, is the Golden Triangle, where three countries – Thailand, Myanmar and Laos — meet. “It is absolutely fun watching kids go berserk when they see this — three countries right in front of their eyes,” he says. 

Northern Thailand is also home to a lot of tea plantations and vineyards so one can have a walking tour to immerse in the local culture. Loi Krathong, the festival of sky lanterns, and Yi Peng, the festival of candlelit boats, cannot be missed if you are travelling November onwards. 

Pro tip: Covering most of Northern Thailand is affordable, but winter being the best time to visit, prices can be slightly higher than the regular rates.


The French Way 
Apoorva Uniyal, co-founder, France by French, says that one of the best things to do during Christmas is to visit France. “The magical lights, the decoration at the famed markets and on the streets and the festival treats make December a beautiful time to have a splendid holiday in France,” says Uniyal. 

You can have a lovely dinner prepared by a chef or even learn how to cook the local cuisine and enjoy a set dinner table at one of the castles around a Christmas tree decorated by your family. 

“Kids love this experience the most as they get to pick their own decorations to put on the tree.  It adds a bit of a personal touch to the entire holiday,” she says.

Holiday goers can also take walking tours of vineyards and have an exclusive wine tasting, mulling and a masterclass where the entire family can come together to cook a meal and enjoy a crisp afternoon under the winter sun. 

Pro tip: Christmas time is peak season in France so make your reservations at the earliest as last-minute arrangements will be expensive.

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