A family trip to India is one spent with your eyes open wide, in awe at the country’s beautiful surroundings and the rich tapestry of culture that abounds. Travel shapes the young and children will return from your India family holidays with their minds expanded and their imaginations ignited. Spend your time riding camels in the desert; searching for treasures in warren-like bazaars; seeking out hidden Buddhist temples; standing in wonder before the epic Taj Mahal; and visiting the national parks that inspired The Jungle Book – there’s a different adventure for every day of the week in India. Children will be delighted to get up close and personal with graceful elephants at a sanctuary. Watch them frolic in the water and listen to the cosmic stories, myths and folklore that surround one of India’s most famous animals. From the beaches of Kerala to the vibrant city of Jaipur, the animal-abundant lands of the national parks to the easy breezy atmosphere of Karnataka – a family holiday in India is everything you could ever hope for and more.

India Family Holiday Ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Our India holiday collections

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India Family Holidays Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

India Testimonials

14 reviews
4.9 / 5
"Our driver Sonu Deepesh was amazing! Always on time with the cleanest car and gave good information on route. There are too many memorable moments! The Kite Festival, Varanasi, Agra, visiting the village in Shahpura, the street tour in Jaipur, entry by tuk tuk into Jophur and nearly hitting an elephant, the people, and the colours. It was all wonderful."
Julianus - Kent
Published on 30th January 2025
"Frances listened and understood everything we wanted from our first trip to India. The reason for our trip was my birthday - a big one - and Original Travel pulled out all the stops. OT's organisational qualities are excellent. Our driver, Jebin, was great! So charming, so helpful and going above and beyond for what we asked of him. Staff in the London office are so helpful and easily contactable even down to booking a restaurant for us before we left. We love the fact that you care about the world and choose hotels that look after our planet too."
Eric - Derbyshire
Published on 28th November 2024
"The planning and organisation of the trip was perfect. All the local reps and guides were great, without exception. Having a local WhatsApp contact was really helpful. The driver was excellent. We would not have changed the itinerary at all, Frances did an excellent job. She listened to our needs and had the knowledge / experience to address them. We had a bit of down time, but not too much or little."
Nick - Oxfordshire
Published on 26th November 2024

What you can find on India family holidays that you won't find anywhere else?


You might not instantly think of India as a family holiday destination but the sub-continent caters fantastically for any children who like buzzing cities, beasties, battlements and beaches - so pretty much all of them, then. The obvious place to introduce the family to India is Rajasthan with its unparalleled vibrancy, colour and remarkable cities. We defy any child not to get thoroughly over-excited by seeing elephants, visiting a massive fort or a tuk tuk trip in Jaipur, Jodhpur or Udaipur, while the city of Jaisalmer bears a more than passing resemblance to a huge sandcastle in the desert, with the chance to ride camels and camp in the desert all adding to the magic.

Then, of course, there's the full Jungle Book experience available in India's beautiful national parks. In Rajasthan, Ranthambhore National Park is easily combined with the famous cities, and seeing shere khan-like tigers and some of the other cast of characters in the flesh and in the wild is about as memorable as it gets, particularly on an adventurous 4x4 drive from a characterful jungle tented camp.

There are other superb national parks in Central India and in Karnataka, and Kerala, to the south of Karnataka, is another wonderful state for family holidays. For a more conventional coastal holiday many of India's best beaches are here, and the pace of life is far less frenetic than in the Rajasthan. Exploring the backwaters of Alleppey on an overnight cruise aboard a converted rice barge is a pretty magical family experience, and older children may also find a visit to a tea plantation interesting.

Wherever you decide to go in India, we know all the most family-friendly hotels from which to explore the fascinating country and retreat back to for some well-earned R&R and parental pampering time. That will be particularly relevant if your trip coincides with the fun festival of Holi (in February or March every year), when the children will have free licence to throw powdered paint as India becomes an even more kaleidoscopic riot of colour. Just make sure the hotel has a decent laundry service.

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