Journal

Despite having been to India many times, when Aurelia (our Director of Travel) visited the subcontinent again last year it was a completely different experience. Travelling with her 18-month-old son, she got to experience India in a new way – through the eyes of her child.

“One myth was that India is not a family-friendly destination, and that came up a lot. People think it’s noisy and hectic (which it can be), but we spent a lot of time in rural areas which are the complete opposite, and I did that on purpose because I think they are much better suited to children. Indians adore children, and they are so sweet and caring and that makes travelling really fun. The great thing was that everywhere we went the hotel staff were extra kind and my son was so well looked after.”

Travelling across such a large state with a young child, many parents would naturally be concerned. Will they complain the whole time? Will they be engaged? Will they be comfortable? But, as Aurelia found out, there was no need to worry.

“I had travelled domestically in India before so I knew what to expect, but this time we were in a really comfortable car with a phenomenal driver and guide, so it was much more pleasant. Travelling on the road is an experience in itself and you can learn so much about the country by just looking out a window. For a young child, the roads are a feast for the eyes: cows napping in the middle of the road, camels pulling colourful tractors (which our driver called 'disco taxis') and whole families dressed in colourful saris all travelling together on one motorbike. And so, while kids need to be entertained with books and toys, they can actually just love seeing the world go by.”

“What I love about the rural Indian experience is the countryside: it’s so varied and offers so much. When we were staying at SUJÁN Jawai Camp, we were surrounded by these huge granite boulders, on which leopards love to nap. To the west you have the magnificent Thar desert and the fort city of Jaisalmer, while further south you have Udaipur and its seven magical lakes. And in the countryside you can do so many activities: hiking, biking, quad biking, various forms of safaris. Rajasthan is also famous for its Marwari horses which are absolutely beautiful, and horse riding is a really lovely way to see the countryside. So from an active perspective, there's so much to do. And it's great for all ages too.”

Making family memories

Reflecting on her time in India, we asked Aurelia what her experience was travelling with a young child and what she would recommend to other parents considering visiting the country. 

“The countryside is probably best suited, but if you want to visit the cities, there are some amazing hotels which can act as a base for you to explore and do a tour for example of the old city. We can arrange excellent nannies to look after younger kids, but older kids will probably find it fascinating to get an insight into what real city life is like. 

“While we were staying at SUJÁN Jawai, we had the chance to go out on game drives to find the (not so, it turns out) elusive leopard. My husband and I weren’t sure how Caspian would feel, and I was initially a bit nervous about him joining us, thinking he wouldn’t like how bumpy and dusty it was. But he absolutely loved it! We were about a metre away from a leopard who was drinking from a stream, and when Caspian suddenly made a noise, she turned around and looked at us and it was just incredible. I don't think there are many 18-month-olds that you can say have been on safari and seen a leopard. I’m so glad we pushed our boundaries and took him with us.”

How to do India right

There are so many ways to see and experience India, but for those who are visiting for the first time or who want to visit multiple areas, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where we come in. There are the classic routes across Rajasthan ticking off the major cities, palaces, and other tourist hot spots, but we’ll see you weaving in some of the more remote locations and exclusive experiences to take your trip to the next level. 

“It’s about being creative with how you see, travel, and experience India. It can be exhausting if you’re constantly going from place to place, hectic city to hectic city. Finding balance is key and we can do that really well. There are ways of exploring India and the richness that it has to offer, and that’s where we come in. We create bespoke hyper-personalised trips, elevating it with specialists and insider access, so we can ensure that our clients see some of the highlights but have a complete balance and can also relax.”

“Our military planning and logistics are also key, getting people from A to B smoothly and ensuring that there are contingency plans in place. People want to try and do everything and sometimes it can be overwhelming, so you need to make sure that the pace is right. And if they want to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, then we ensure that we include private jets to save time. 

“Add to that, the relationships on the ground we have set us apart, and the guides we bring in offer a different perspective and can open your eyes to a new side of India. We can privatise some of the forts and pull off extraordinary private dining experiences to make it feel extra special. We also know the best markets and places to buy beautiful Indian homeware.”

Inspired to visit India?

Get in touch with Aurelia and our Travel Team to start planning your own unforgettable experience in India.