Family Holidays

Family holidays at a glance

Alongside our yatras, our Dehradun team plans family holidays to four regions of India: Sikkim and Darjeeling, the Andaman Islands, Kerala, and Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal in the North East. They last 4 to 13 days, start at the nearest airport or railway station (Bagdogra, Port Blair, Kochi or Guwahati), and involve easy sightseeing rather than trekking. Where a great temple lies on the route, such as Kamakhya at Guwahati or Padmanabhaswamy at Thiruvananthapuram, we build darshan into the plan. We arrange hotels, vehicles, permits and vegetarian meals.

Which family holiday is right for you?

For a short first holiday, Gangtok–Darjeeling or a Munnar break is easiest. Families with young children enjoy the Andamans, where days are gentle and beaches are safe in season. Kerala suits elders who want comfort and a slow pace. The North East suits curious families, and the longer Sikkim and North East holidays reach high passes and remote valleys. The table lists every package in this category, from short and simple to long and adventurous.

Which region suits which season?

Sikkim and Darjeeling: permits and North Sikkim

All Sikkim holidays start at Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri (NJP) station near Siliguri. Gangtok is the base for Tsomgo Lake and Baba Mandir; Pelling and Ravangla bring monasteries and the great Buddha statue; Darjeeling adds the Tiger Hill sunrise and the toy train.

• Permits: Tsomgo Lake and North Sikkim are protected areas. Indian citizens need a permit, which we arrange. Carry an original voter ID, passport or driving licence and two passport photos; Aadhaar is not accepted for these permits. Children need a birth certificate or school ID.
• North Sikkim in 2026: tourist permits for Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake resumed in March 2026, after the October 2023 glacial lake flood cut the road for 887 days. Bridges allow one vehicle at a time and the route remains fragile after heavy rain, so we confirm road status before you travel.
• Altitude: Gurudongmar is above 17,000 ft. Children under five and anyone with heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions should skip it. Gurudongmar is open to Indian citizens only.
• Vehicles: only Sikkim-registered vehicles with local drivers may enter North Sikkim, so the vehicle changes at Gangtok.

Andaman Islands: ferries and names

Port Blair is now officially Sri Vijaya Puram, Havelock is Swaraj Dweep and Neil is Shaheed Dweep; you will see both old and new names on tickets. Indian citizens need no permit for these islands, only a government photo ID for ferries and hotels. Inter-island travel is by private catamaran with reserved seats; timings depend on weather, so we re-confirm tickets a day ahead. Flights to Port Blair from Delhi usually connect through Kolkata or Chennai. Cellular Jail's light and sound show is a moving evening for families.

Kerala: backwaters, tea hills and Padmanabhaswamy darshan

Kerala holidays begin at Kochi and move through Munnar's tea estates, Periyar at Thekkady, the backwaters of Kumarakom and Alleppey, and Kovalam beach. Several of our Kerala packages include a day in Thiruvananthapuram for darshan at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, where Vishnu reclines on Anantha.

The temple has a strict dress code. Men wear a mundu or dhoti and no shirt; women wear a saree, set-mundu, half-saree or long skirt and blouse. Dhotis can be rented at the entrance and may be worn over trousers or churidar. Entry is for Hindus only, and phones are not allowed inside. Eravikulam National Park in Munnar closes in February and March for the Nilgiri tahr calving season. For a temple-focused Kerala plan, see our Kerala Yatra and other south India yatras.

Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal: Kamakhya to Tawang

Our North East holidays start at Guwahati, where we include darshan at Kamakhya, one of the most revered Shakti Peethas, and Umananda on its island in the Brahmaputra. From there the road climbs to Shillong, the waterfalls of Cherrapunji, the clear Umngot river at Dawki and the living root bridges. Kaziranga's rhino safaris run from early October to about May.

For Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian citizens need an Inner Line Permit, applied for online through the state's e-ILP system; we obtain it for you. Tawang is at about 3,000 m and Sela Pass higher still, so our Mystic of North East India gains height gradually. For a dedicated Kamakhya yatra, see the Kamakhya Devi Darshan Yatra in our Shakti Peeth yatras.

What we arrange on a family holiday

We arrange hotels checked for families, a private vehicle with a driver who knows the route, ferry tickets and permits, vegetarian meals as listed in each package, and darshan timings where a temple is on the way. Optional activities such as water sports, cable cars and Bumla Pass are paid on the spot. Our Dehradun team stays on call throughout.

Frequently asked questions

Which family holiday is best with small children?

The Andaman Islands and the Gangtok–Darjeeling holiday are the easiest with small children. Days are short, hotels are comfortable, and there is no high altitude. Avoid North Sikkim's Gurudongmar with children under five. In Kerala, Munnar and the backwaters are gentle, though drives through the hills are winding.

Can we visit Kamakhya temple on a North East holiday?

Yes. All our Assam and Meghalaya holidays start or end at Guwahati and include Kamakhya darshan. Queues can be long on weekends, during Navratri and around the Ambubachi Mela in June, when the temple stays closed for three days. We plan the darshan for a quieter time where possible.

Is North Sikkim open for tourists in 2026?

Yes. Tourist permits for Lachen and Gurudongmar Lake resumed in March 2026 after the 2023 flood, and Lachung was also reported reachable. Roads remain fragile, bridges are single-lane, and monsoon landslides can close the route at short notice. We check status before travel and can switch to an alternative plan.

Do Indians need a permit for the Andaman Islands?

No. Indian citizens need only a government photo ID for flights, ferries and hotels in Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Shaheed Dweep (Neil). Foreign nationals receive a Restricted Area Permit on arrival. Tribal reserve areas remain off-limits to all visitors.

Can non-Hindus enter the Padmanabhaswamy temple?

No. Entry is for Hindus only, and the temple applies a strict dress code: a mundu or dhoti without a shirt for men, and a saree or similar traditional dress for women. Dhotis can be rented at the gate. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside. Non-Hindu members of a family can enjoy the rest of Thiruvananthapuram meanwhile.

Are flights included in your family holidays?

No. Packages start and end at Bagdogra or NJP, Port Blair, Kochi or Guwahati, so you can book flights from your own city. From Dehradun, most routes connect through Delhi. We suggest arrival and departure times that fit the first and last days of your plan.

Tell us where you would like to go, your dates and who is travelling, and we will send a clear day-by-day plan. Use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us; our numbers are on the Contact page.