Have you heard of this place called ‘Rakchham’ in Himachal Pradesh, India? If not, then you’re not alone. I planned the whole Spiti trip for over a month and still had no idea that such a magical place existed. It was Day 6 of our Spiti valley road trip and as per the itinerary we were supposed to take an overnight halt in Chhitkul. I had really high hopes from the famous ‘Last village of India’ but it failed to impress me. Well, not the place actually. Would you believe me if I tell you that we spent more than 3 hours searching for a decent accommodation in Chhitkul? But still couldn’t find anything satisfactory.

Spiti Valley Circuit Map

And, that led us to this serene village just 10 kms from the last inhabited village. Let me share some reasons why it’s a better idea to stay in Rakchham and not Chhitkul.

After several days of exploring the rugged beauty of Spiti Valley, we were looking for a place to unwind and soak in nature’s charm, and Rakchham did not disappoint.

You may also read: 15-Day Spiti Valley Itinerary!

Skip Chhitkul, Stay in Rakchham – Here’s Why

Here’s why I think Rakchham is a much better place to stay, whether you’re traveling with kids, parents, or even solo.

1. Less Crowded and More Peaceful

Chhitkul is often busier due to its popularity as the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibetan border. Rakchham, on the other hand, remains relatively untouched and tranquil. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway without the usual tourist buzz, Rakchham is ideal.

2. Proximity to Chhitkul

Rakchham is just about 10 km before Chhitkul. You can easily visit Chhitkul during the day and return to the more peaceful surroundings of Rakchham for the night. You get the best of both worlds, proximity to the attractions without the crowds.

3. Scenic Beauty

Rakchham is nestled between towering mountains along the Baspa River, offering breathtaking landscapes. The village provides stunning views of snow-capped peaks. And, its proximity to the river adds a unique charm that sets it apart from Chhitkul.

4. Better Accommodation Options to Stay in Rakchham

Chhitkul has limited stay options due to its remote location. Also, the ones which are really good are even lesser. Rakchham, however, offers a range of stays, including homestays, and riverside camps. The interesting thing about these stays is that these are equipped with modern amenities. I personally felt that the accommodation in Rakchham is more spacious and suitable for families, especially those traveling with kids of elderly.

Camp Stay in Rakchham

You may also read: Tips to choose the best kid-friendly Hotel!

5. Local Culture and Village Life

Rakchham provides an authentic Himachali village experience. It’s a great place to immerse yourself in local culture, interact with villagers, and experience their lifestyle. For families or those looking to explore the region’s cultural heritage, Rakchham offers a more intimate connection with local traditions.

6. Great for Leisure and Adventure

Rakchham offers a balance between relaxation and adventure. You can take leisurely walks along the Baspa River or go on short treks nearby. Rakchham offers more variety in activities compared to Chhitkul, where options are a bit limited.

7. Less Altitude Stress

Chhitkul is at a higher altitude than Rakchham, which can make it harder for some people, especially kids and seniors, to acclimatize. Rakchham is slightly lower in altitude, which helps reduce the risk of altitude sickness. It still offers stunning views and a true mountain experience.

For travelers, especially families with kids or senior citizens, Rakchham serves as a quieter, more comfortable base while allowing easy access to Chhitkul’s attractions.

Exploring Rakchham: A Hidden Gem

Rakchham may be a small village, but it is surrounded by natural beauty and offers several things to explore. It turned out to be the ideal spot to wrap up our Spiti adventure. While Spiti itself offers stark, rugged beauty, Rakchham gave us a softer, greener landscape that was easy on the eyes and soothing for the soul. After settling into our hotel, we decided to take a stroll through the village to get a feel of the local life.

The village is incredibly picturesque, with traditional wooden homes, apple orchards, and fields of mustard flowers. The cool mountain breeze, coupled with the sound of the river and the sight of towering snow-capped peaks, created a surreal environment for us to unwind.

One of the staff members at our hotel suggested a short trek to a nearby mountain. We were in the mood to explore, so we went for it. The trail wasn’t marked, but the area was open and easy to navigate. It was slightly uphill but not too difficult, even for my mom. We walked through wide fields, slowly making our way to the top. And the view from the top? Totally worth the climb! We could see the entire Rakchham village below, with the Baspa River flowing gently through it. It was one of those views that make you pause and smile.

On our way back, we took a slight detour through an open meadow. A narrow stream was flowing through it, the water coming straight from melting snow up in the mountains. It had carved a small path through the grass before joining the mighty Baspa. A few cows were grazing nearby, totally at peace. We sat there for a long time, doing nothing—just watching the water, the cows, the sky. It felt like time had slowed down.

You may also read: How to Travel Stress-free with Kids?

We spent a lot of time near the river, where Nemit enjoyed skipping stones and simply running around. It was the kind of quiet, peaceful day that was much needed after the hustle of our earlier stops in Kaza and Kalpa. My mother loved sitting by the riverside, making stone towers, admiring the scenery and soaking up the sun.

A Day Trip to Chhitkul

While we chose to stay in Rakchham, Chhitkul is just a 20-minute drive away, making it an easy day trip. The drive from Rakchham to Chhitkul is nothing short of spectacular. The road winds through lush green valleys with the Baspa River flowing alongside, and the sight of Chhitkul’s snow-capped mountains emerging in the distance is breathtaking.

Chhitkul is often referred to as the last village on the Indo-Tibetan border and is the highest inhabited village in the Sangla Valley. We visited the local Chhitkul Monastery, Mathi Temple and spent some time walking through the village, admiring the traditional wooden houses and the stone fences that line the streets.

One of the highlights of our day in Chhitkul was having lunch at the famous Hindustan Ka Aakhiri Dhaba. As the name suggests, it’s the last Indian restaurant on the road leading to the Indo-Tibetan border. We enjoyed a simple yet hearty meal of rajma, kadhi and chawal, which kept us warm in the cool mountain air.

You may also read: 7 Best Family Adventure Trips to Plan with your Kid!

For anyone visiting Chhitkul with kids, I’d recommend taking it slow and enjoying the natural surroundings rather than rushing through the itinerary.

Final Thoughts

Our stay in Rakchham was the perfect conclusion to our family’s road trip to Spiti Valley. It offered us a chance to slow down and reflect on the incredible journey we had just experienced. For anyone planning a trip to Spiti, I’d highly recommend adding Rakchham to your itinerary. It’s a peaceful retreat, away from the crowds, where you can connect with nature and enjoy quality time with your loved ones.

Whether you’re looking to explore the last village of India, Chhitkul, or just relax by the river with a cup of chai in hand, Rakchham has something to offer everyone. It’s the kind of place that lingers in your memory long after you’ve returned home.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Ratna Prabha.

The post Stay in Rakchham: Hidden Gem near Chhitkul, Himachal Pradesh appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

You guys know how much we love to travel and explore new places with our son Nemit. We have been traveling with Nemit since he was a baby. His first long trip was a road trip to Amritsar when he was just 2 months old. Since then we have been doing all kind of travels with him. Be it international or domestic, by train or by road, relaxed vacation or adventure trip, we have done it all. But there’s no limit to traveling and there’s still so much that we need to experience. But the question is, “is it really possible to travel stress-free with kids?”

Every time I share about our travels, there’s always someone who’s surprised to know how seamlessly we manage our trips with a child. They often wonder how we handle the logistics, keep Nemit entertained, and ensure he is safe and comfortable throughout our journeys. It’s always a pleasure to share our tips and stories, showing that traveling with kids can be as enriching and enjoyable as traveling solo or as a couple.

And as I always say, traveling with kids is not easy at all. However, with right mindset and proper planning you can make it happen.

Earlier I used to think that parents have this doubt only when it comes to traveling with little kids. To address this fear, I even wrote a post where I shared tips for traveling with babies and toddlers. These tips were based on our own experiences and learnings.

But if you still have similar doubts even though your kids are much older now then worry not. As today, I am here to help you take that dream trip with your kids which you have been postponing for long.

10 Tips to Travel Stress-free with Kids

Planning a family vacation with kids can seem like a daunting task, but with a little preparation and some insider tips, it can turn into a memorable adventure for everyone. Here’s how we turned our potentially chaotic trips into fun, stress-free family vacations.

Packing

Ah, packing for a family vacation and that too when you have big kids with their own preferences. I miss those days when Nemit was a little baby and packing meant putting those cute little outfits in a suitcase and calling it a day. Those days are long gone. Now, it’s a strategic operation involving checklists, negotiations, and a bit of magic.

1. Make a list and check it twice

I can’t emphasize this enough—make a packing list. Include everything from clothes to toothbrushes to that one stuffed animal/superhero figurine/book your child can’t sleep without. It’s easy to forget the little things in the hustle and bustle, and trust me, you don’t want to realize you’ve forgotten your child’s favorite toy when you’re halfway to your destination.

Pro Tip- Ask your child to make a packing list for their stuff. Sit with them and go through the list again cutting short whatever that’s not necessary. Now, give them the responsibility to pack their own bags. It makes them feel involved!

Here are 5 Simple Packing Hacks for Traveling with Kids!

2. Pack Smart, Pack Light

Easier said than done, right? I used to pack for every possible scenario, but I’ve learned that less is more. Pack versatile clothing that can be layered, and don’t overdo the toys. A few favorites and some travel-friendly games or books are all you need. And always keep a change of clothes, essential toiletries and first-aid kit in your carry-on. You never know when you might need them.

Pro Tip- Decide on the number of bags you want to carry beforehand and then pack accordingly. We usually pack 1 suitcase and 1 backpack for small trips (1-3 days long); 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks for for 4-6 days long trips and 1 suitcase and 1 backpack for each person for longer trips.

The Journey

Once you are packed, the next challenge is the journey itself. Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking a train, keeping kids entertained and comfortable is key.

3. Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks

Hungry kids are cranky kids. Bring a variety of healthy snacks to keep them satisfied. Think fruit, roasted foxnuts, chakli, bhakarwadi, banana/tapioca/jackfruit chips and some treats for when you need a little bribery. And don’t forget to bring a refillable water bottle for everyone.

Pro Tip- If you want to travel stress-free with kids then sometimes ditching the healthy food rule works the best.

You may also read: Tips to choose the best kid-friendly Hotel!

4. Entertainment On-the-Go

Kids can go from bored to cranky in a matter of minutes. So, you need tools to keep them entertained during long travels. I would suggest to pack some hands-on activities like coloring books, puzzles books and story books. For road trips, music, story books and children’s podcasts work the best. And don’t forget the headphones—trust me, you’ll appreciate the quiet time.

Pro Tip- Tablet/phone loaded with some educational and fun games, movies, and shows can be a lifesaver on those odd days.

5. Breaks Are Your Friend

If you’re on a road trip, plan for regular breaks. Let the kids stretch their legs, run around, and burn off some energy. It makes a world of difference. On flights, encourage little walks up and down the aisle when it’s safe to do so.

Pro Tip- Look for pit stops with open spaces. They are perfect for a quick, energy-burning break.

Destination

You’ve arrived! The fun really begins once you have reached your destination. Here’s how to keep things smooth and enjoyable.

6. Stick to a Routine (Sort Of)

Try to keep some semblance of your child’s daily routine. Bedtimes might be a bit later and meal times more flexible, but familiar patterns help kids adjust to new environments. A well-rested child is a happy child.

Pro Tip- Don’t expect your child to adjust to the new setting immediately. Let them take their own time, and provide the comfort and support they need.

You may also read: How to make Traveling with Kids a fun family affair?

7. Plan Kid-Friendly Activities

Involve your kids in planning the itinerary. Let them pick a few activities they’re excited about. This gives them something to look forward to and helps avoid meltdowns. Research kid-friendly attractions, parks, and family-friendly restaurants in advance.

Pro Tip- Have a mix of planned activities and free time. This keep the schedule flexible and fun.

8- Be Flexible and Go with the Flow

Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Sometimes the most memorable moments are the unexpected ones, like meeting locals or making new friends.

Pro Tip- Don’t depend completely on fixed and planned activities. Embrace the new experiences!

You may also read: Weekend Getaway from Delhi? Where to go, Himachal or Uttarakhand?

Back to Home

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more travel related content!

Do you have any tried and tested tips to make family travel with kids stress-free? Share them with others in the comments below.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.

The post How to Travel Stress-free with Kids? appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

This post has been selected as the Top Post at Blogchatter.

Yes, you can travel to Lakshadweep with kids, and it is a safe destination for family vacations. Lakshadweep boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the country, making it suitable for solo travelers as well. It is particularly easy to travel with children above 5 years of age, and if you opt for government packages, the planning process becomes even more convenient. These packages take care of everything, from obtaining entry permits to arranging airport transfers, boat transfers, and comfortable accommodations on your chosen island.

Once you arrive at the island, you have the option to relax and rejuvenate or engage in exciting water sports activities. Lakshadweep offers a variety of experiences for the entire family whether you prefer tranquil serenity or thrilling adventures.

If you are traveling with children under 5 years old, a little extra vigilance is required. Moreover, it is essential to pack all the necessary items for your baby since there are limited shops available on the islands.

You may also read – Essentials to pack in a Baby Travel Bag!

Based on my observations, the people of Lakshadweep are exceptionally kind, helpful, and friendly. They extend their care and hospitality as if you were part of their own family.

If you would like my suggestion on which island to visit with kids, I recommend Agatti or Bangaram Island. These islands provide beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a range of family-friendly activities. If you are visiting Lakshadweep for the first time or if your kids are not accustomed to extensive travel; opting for a stay on either of these islands especially would be beneficial.

Left to Right, Agatti Island & Bangaram Island

For detailed information on planning your trip to Lakshadweep and selecting the right island, please refer to the post “How to Plan a Trip to Lakshadweep? Which Island to Visit?” It contains all the necessary details about the islands that are open for tourists.

8 Things to keep in mind for your Travel to Lakshadweep with kids

There are a few things you should keep in mind when you plan a travel to Lakshadweep with kids.

1. Safety: Lakshadweep is a safe place for family travel, making it an ideal destination. The friendly locals and low crime rate create a secure atmosphere. You can explore the islands with peace of mind when traveling with your kids. Additionally, to ensure their safety, it is important to keep a close eye on them, especially near the beaches and water. Moreover, it is crucial to follow lifeguards’ instructions and adhere to safety guidelines for water sports activities.
2. Traveling with Infants: If you are traveling with infants or younger children, extra caution is required. Packing all the necessary items for the baby is crucial, as there aren’t many shops available on the islands. It’s better to be prepared and carry all the essential supplies to cater to the needs of your little ones.
3. Govt. Packages: Opting for government packages can make your trip even more convenient. These packages take care of almost all the required arrangements, including entry permits, airport transfers, boat transfers, and accommodations. This way, you can enjoy a hassle-free vacation without worrying about the logistics.
   

   You may also read: How to do the Bookings for Lakshadweep and get the Entry Permit?

   To visit Lakshadweep, you need to obtain a permit from the Lakshadweep Administration. One can get these permits through authorized travel agents or online. Also, make sure to include the names and details of all the family members, including the children, while applying for the permits.

4. Medical Facilities: Lakshadweep has limited medical facilities, so it’s essential to carry necessary medications and basic first aid supplies for your children. If you have specific medical requirements, consult with your doctor before the trip.
5. Activities: Lakshadweep offers various activities suitable for families with children. You can explore the pristine beaches, go snorkeling or scuba diving to witness the vibrant marine life, enjoy water sports like kayaking, or simply relax and unwind amidst the natural beauty of the islands. These activities provide an opportunity to explore the vibrant marine life and create memorable experiences for your children.
6. Rest and Relaxation: Lakshadweep offers a tranquil and serene environment, perfect for unwinding with your family. You can choose to spend quality time on the beaches, enjoying the scenic beauty and soothing waves. The islands provide a peaceful atmosphere that allows both adults and kids to rejuvenate and recharge.
   

   You may also read – What is the Best Way to Reach Lakshadweep with Kids?

7. Warm Hospitality: The people of Lakshadweep are known for their warm hospitality. You can expect a friendly and welcoming atmosphere throughout your stay. The locals are always ready to assist and make you feel like a part of their extended family. They will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for you and your kids.
8. Recommended Islands: If you are unsure about which island to visit with kids, Agatti or Bangaram Island are excellent choices. These islands offer beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters. And, a range of family-friendly activities. If your kids are not accustomed to extensive travel then staying at either of these islands is a convenient option.

You may also check out this video –

Remember to plan your trip in advance, considering the specific needs and preferences of your children. It’s always a good idea to check the latest travel advisories and guidelines from the authorities before visiting Lakshadweep or any other destination.

Enjoy your trip to the stunning Lakshadweep islands with your children, creating lasting memories and immersing yourselves in the natural beauty of this enchanting destination!

This post is part of the Lakshadweep Travel Series, I am doing on my blog. You may also check out the Lakshadweep Playlist on our YouTube channel.

The post Is It Safe to Travel to Lakshadweep with Kids? Things to Know appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hi guys, I am doing a Travel Series on Lakshadweep on my Blog, growingwithnemit.com and YouTube channel, @GrowingWithNemit. And, this is the 3rd post of the series. Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands, out of which only 10 are inhabited and tourists can stay only on 5 of these islands. But entry to Lakshadweep is restricted and entry permit is compulsory to visit these islands even for the Indians. No doubt, people have so many questions about visiting Lakshadweep. So, is it really difficult to visit these islands? How to get the entry permit? Can we take kids to Lakshadweep? How to do the bookings? Which island should we visit? I will take up all these questions and do this post in 2-3 parts. In today’s post (Part-1), I will discuss about which island to visit in Lakshadweep. So, let’s plan a trip to Lakshadweep with kids!

The planning for Lakshadweep trip can be a little tricky and may get tiresome if you decide to do everything on your own. This is what we did because we like to plan things on our own. And, this is also the reason I am in a position to share my experience and learnings with you all. Hopefully, I will be able to help you in clearing all your doubts regarding Lakshadweep Travel.

Before moving forward, if you are still in the process of deciding which beach destination to visit, then do check out the first post of this series.

Andaman or Lakshadweep? How to Choose the Perfect Beach Destination?

Let’s talk about what all islands are open for tourists and which island to visit.

Which Island to Visit in Lakshadweep with Kids?

As I mentioned earlier, there are only 5 islands which are open for tourists with stay options. To apply for Entry Permit, first you need to decide which island/s you want to visit.

1. Agatti (No Govt. authorized hotel/resort)
2. Kadmat
3. Kavaratti
4. Minicoy
5. Bangaram

I have also made a video on the same topic, you may check it out here-

Let’s talk about each of these islands one by one so that you will get an idea about what to expect.

1. Agatti Island

Agattti island is quite famous as it’s the only island with the airstrip and an airport in Lakshadweep. So, anyone coming to Lakshadweep by flight, will be getting down at Agatti only. Also, the island has one of the most beautiful lagoons in Lakshadweep full of fascinating corals and multicolored alluring fishes.

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts of this series that tourism in Lakshadweep is managed by the Govt. authority, SPORTS. They also provide well maintained accommodation on the islands. However, Agatti is the only island that doesn’t have any govt. authorized hotel or resort facility for the tourists.

Agatti Island

When we were in Agatti, we saw a few private resorts on the Airport road that are open for tourists. Upon enquiring, we got to know that one can book these resorts directly or through travel agents.

Here are a few resorts (with their contact numbers) that you may want to check out-

• Seashells Resort – 094477 57006 (They have their own website too)
• White Pearl Beach Resort – 085477 03595
• Kasims Beach Villa – 011 3467 9515
• R Guest House – 081389 77917

These private stay options are comparatively cheaper than the Govt. run resorts. Since we were visiting Lakshadweep for the first time, we didn’t want to take any risks hence we chose the Govt. authorized resort for our stay on a different island.

But we are quite sure now that for our next visit we are definitely going to explore the private stay options as well. I feel if you are traveling with very young kids and you are not very sure about traveling by boat then simply choose to stay at Agatti.

All the other 4 islands have Govt. run resorts for stay. And, to reach those islands, one has to take a boat from Agatti island.

2. Kadmat Island

Kadmat is about 76 kms from Agatti. One can reach Kadmat by boat (2-3 hour ride) which operates only on Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

There are no private resorts on the island. Only one Govt. authorized property, Kadmat Island Beach Resort for which pre booking is mandatory.

Only BSNL network works on the island and there’s no internet connectivity. Also, consumption of alcohol is not allowed on any of the islands except Bangaram. Don’t even think about carrying your own booze with you!

I feel the boat ride to Kadmat from Agatti would be too tiring and a bit boring for kids.

3. Kavaratti Island

Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep and the headquarters of the Administration. It is also the most developed island in Lakshadweep and offers many exciting activities and places to explore. The island has 52 mosques, an aquarium, a museum and a of course a light house as well. Kavaratti offers a lot more to the visitors than just the pristine beaches.

So, if you want to get the local experience, learn more about the people of Lakshadweep and explore the local cuisine then Kavaratti is where you should go. So, if you want to plan a trip to Lakshadweep and want to explore the other side of Lakshadweep then, you may consider Kavaratti Island.

There are 2 ways to reach Kavaratti –

• By ship (Samudram Cruise) where you get to spend 1 day on the island, no night stay option available on the island with this package.

I have shared all the details for Samudram Cruise here – What is the Best Way to Reach Lakshadweep with Kids?

Do check it out.

• Take a boat (2.5 hours ride) from Agatti. You need a confirmed booking at one of the resorts on the island.

For stay, you can either book a private accommodation (many options, please check on Google) or book the Govt. authorized resort (Kavaratti Beach Resort/Paradise Hut Resort).

Here are the charges for the Govt. resort at Kavaratti-

You may get better network and internet connectivity on Kavaratti. Again reaching Kavaratti could be a bit tiresome but considering that you get to explore a lot more of Lakshadweep here as compared to any other island, the journey seems like doable.

Still, it’s your decision so plan wisely as per your family’s interest!

4. Minicoy Island

Minicoy is the second largest and one of the few inhabited islands in Lakshadweep. It is known for the unspoiled and untouched beaches. And, it’s famous for having remarkable resemblance to the beaches of Maldives and Mauritius.

There is only one way to reach Minicoy Island and that’s by Ship from Kochi.

As this island is quite far from Agatti, no tourist ships/boats operate from there.

So, you can either book the Samudram package where you get to enjoy the cruise as well you get to spend a day at Minicoy and other 2 islands. No night stay.

Or, you can book the Swaying Palm Package which is a 6 or 7 days, cruise + island stay package where you get to spend 2 nights on the ship and 3 or 4 nights on the island.

Source – http://lakshadweeptourism.com/

Minicoy has a different language (Mahi), culture and traditions as compared to the other islands. Again, Minicoy is your go to destination if you want something more than just the beaches and the water sports.

This island is also famous for its Lava folk dance, colorful race boats (Jahadhoni) and a 300 foot tall lighthouse which was built in 1885 by the Britishers.

Visiting Minicoy is definitely on our bucket list now but I am not sure if it’s a good idea to visit this island with small kids (younger than 10 years old) under Swaying palm package. So, plan wisely!

5. Bangaram Island

Bangaram is the most famous island among the tourists and it’s also the least explored part of Lakshadweep. It has also been ranked among the best getaways of the world. It’s the uninhabited island and has only one Govt. run beach resort for the tourists.

It is located 12 kms from Agatti and it takes about 30-45 mins to reach Bangaram island by boat.

Since no local people are living here except for the workers, laborers and staff of the resort, you may not find anything else on the island. But I can vouch for the most beautiful and pristine beaches lined with soft white sand and the mesmerizing views of the surrounding which you may not find anywhere else. And, you can indulge in a range of water sport activities!

Bangaram Island

We stayed at Bangaram Island for 4 nights in AC Cottages and it has been our best beach experience in India so far.

Source – https://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/

Now, you can also book newly built Wooden Huts on Bangaram Island.

If you want to plan a trip to Lakshadweep with kids, you can choose Bangaram Island without any doubts. I will share all about our stay and the activities we did at Bangaram in my upcoming posts. So, keep following this series.

Here’s an informative video for you, where I have talked about the different ways to reach Lakshadweep. Do check it out-

Conclusion

I feel visiting Agatti Island in Lakshadweep would be the easiest if you are traveling with kids. You just need to catch a flight from Kochi to Agatti. You can spend as many days as you like in Agatti, just pre-book a private resort on the island. Meet the local people and try the local cuisine as well.

In case you are interested in exploring the local side of the Lakshadweep and also visit the other islands apart from Agatti then you may choose to visit Kadmat or Kavaratti or Minicoy Island.

And, in case you want to experience the untouched and unspoiled beauty of Lakshadweep and also want to stay on an uninhabited island with not many people around, then Bangaram is where you should go.

Lastly, if you want to visit 2-3 islands in budget then you can choose the Samudram Package. And, if you want to experience the ship as well as stay on the island then visit the Minicoy Island through Swaying Palm Package.

I hope this covers up the question which island to visit in Lakshadweep.

PIN IT!

Now we come to the next question.

How to do the bookings? And, How to get the Entry Permit?

I will take up these questions in the next part of this post. So, stay tuned and keep following the Lakshadweep Travel Series. You may also check out the Lakshadweep Playlist on our YouTube channel.

Which Island would you choose to visit if you plan a trip to Lakshadweep? Tell me in the comments below. And, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask in the comments below. I will try to answer your queries to the best of my knowledge.

If you liked the post or found it helpful, then do share it further with your friends and family! Till then, Bye Bye and Take Care.

The post How to Plan a Trip to Lakshadweep? Which Island to Visit? Part-1 appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hi guys, this month I am doing a Travel Series on Lakshadweep on my Blog and YouTube channel. And, this is the 2nd post of the series. Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory of India. It is located off the west coast of India in the Arabian sea and it’s just 496 Kms from Kochi. Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands, out of which only 10 are inhabited and tourists can stay only on 5 of these islands. When we decided to visit these islands, the budget was on the top of our mind. So, the first thing we wanted to check was the best way to reach Lakshadweep with kids. And, how much it would cost us.

Image Source – https://lakshadweep.gov.in/

Of all the trips we have done, Lakshadweep had been the most trickiest one. The biggest reason for this is that not much information (reliable and updated) is available online. Also, the tourism management on the islands is not privatized and everything is managed by the Government authority – SPORTS (The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports).

Now coming back to the topic, I will be writing about the best way we found to reach Lakshadweep as a family with a 7 year old kid. I feel when we travel with kids, it’s a different game altogether. If you really want to enjoy the whole travel experience then focus on making the journey comfortable & less exhausting not just for the kids but also for the parents.

In most cases, kids seem to adjust well but it’s the parents who feel burnt out.

So, if you want to travel with your babies, toddlers or young children; stick to this post till the end and hopefully you will also find the best way to reach Lakshadweep with your kids.

Here is the 1st post of this series – Andaman or Lakshadweep? How to Choose the Perfect Beach Destination?

How to Reach Lakshadweep?

As we travelled to Lakshadweep from Bengaluru (South India), initially I thought of sharing all the details of bookings from Bengaluru only. But since most of our friends and family are in North India, I will give an idea how you can reach Lakshadweep from Delhi as well.

I have made a short video on the same topic, do check it out.

There are only 2 ways to reach Lakshadweep –

• By Ship – Pvt. Cruise Ship & Govt. Cruise Ship
• By Flight

First of all, let’s talk about reaching Lakshadweep by ship.

How to reach Lakshadweep by Ship?

In case you want to experience the cruise and also visit Lakshadweep, you get to choose from private and government cruise.

The private cruise is operated only by Cordelia Cruises in India.

You may choose from 3 night, 4 night and 5 night cruise itinerary which includes 1 day at Lakshadweep. You may also choose from one way trip and round trip.

Image Source – https://www.cordeliacruises.com/

The upcoming Cordelia Cruise dates in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May and June 2024 are as follows-

Approx. Price Range as per Room Category

Kids (max 2) up to the age of 12, sail free with Cordelia when accompanied by 2 Adults.

• 5k to 20k per guest per night

This is a great choice for people who want to enjoy the luxury cruise as well experience the pristine beauty of Lakshadweep islands.

Note 1 – The price does not include island tour/excursion and any of the activities on the island. 

Note 2 – All the payments on board the ship are done in Dollars $.

To book this cruise, you may visit the Cordelia cruise website or download their app. You may also call them directly and discuss the various packages available.

There are 3 drawbacks of choosing this cruise –

1. You won’t be able to spend the night in Lakshadweep.
2. The cruise will take you to only 1 island in Lakshadweep.
3. You will get only 1 day (5-6 hours) to explore the island.

All these cons led us to ditch the Cordelia Cruises but it’s still on our bucket list, may be not for Lakshadweep.

The cruise does not operate during the monsoon months from June to September.

Now, if you need more days to explore the stunning beauty of Lakshadweep but still want to travel by ship; then you may consider taking the Govt. cruise.

Govt. Cruise to Lakshadweep – Samudram (By M.V Kavaratti)

Samudram is a 5-Day cruise package which covers the 3 different islands in Lakshadweep; Minicoy, Kavaratti, and Kalpeni. The cruise starts from Kochi and does a roundtrip back to Kochi.

The Govt. cruise is not a luxurious cruise and provides only the basic facilities on board. As per the Samudram Itinerary, they take you to 3 different islands on Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4 of your journey. However, the tourists need to return back to the ship around 4-5 pm after spending their day exploring the island. You can not spend the night at any of the visiting islands.

Image Source – https://www.lakshadweepcruise.com/

To book this cruise package, you may visit the SPORTS website to check the availability and may be do the bookings also.

But this part is a bit tiring as during the peak season, the website doesn’t show the available dates and prices directly. So, you have to put in your dates of interest and check if the cruise is available or not. Most of the times, the booking page will take you to Authorized Travel Agents page.

So, to avoid the hassles of booking and saving some time, you may choose to do the bookings with the travel agent.

Package Rate for Samudram

You get 2 types of rooms/cabins to book on M.V Kavaratti; Diamond Class and Gold Class.

Image Source – https://www.tripoto.com/

The Diamond class cabin has 1 bunk bed (2 single beds, one above the other/ 2-berths) and can accommodate 2 Adults and 1 Child (less than a year old). Whereas the Gold class cabin has 2 bunk beds (4-berths) and it can accommodate 4 Persons (including children above the age of 1).

Lakshadweep Samudram Package Source – https://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/

Please Note – The Samudram package rate includes the island sightseeing charges.

Note 1 – As per their website, child is 1 year and above up to 10 years.

Note 2 – The charges are paid per person basis so if you are 3 people including a child and you book Gold class then there’s a high chance that they will accommodate another person in your cabin. So, you may not get the privacy.

Also, the Gold class cabins are compact, some may feel claustrophobic in there.

If you want to book Samudram, I would suggest you to watch some of the latest videos on YouTube to get an idea what to expect.

We did not book the Samudram package as we were not sure if we would be comfortable enough to spend 5 days on the ship.

If I have to decide between the Cordelia Cruises and Samudram, I feel traveling with Cordelia is the best way to reach Lakshadweep with kids.

How to reach Lakshadweep by Flight?

Reaching Lakshadweep by flight is the fastest and easiest way if you are travelling from Kochi, Bengaluru or somewhere nearby. However, if you are flying in from Delhi, or any other part of the country then it may take a bit of planning; as there are no direct flights available.

But still taking a flight can be considered the best way to reach Lakshadweep with kids.

There is only single direct flight (Alliance Air) that operates from Kochi to Agatti and back to Kochi that too once a day. The flight duration is 1 hour and 20 mins.

At Agatti Airport, Lakshadweep

It departs from Cochin International Airport (COK) at 8:55 AM and reaches Agatti Airport (AGX) in Lakshadweep at 10:15 AM.

The same flight then departs from AGX at 10:45 AM and arrives back at COK at 12:05 PM.

One way flight charges from Kochi per person are INR 5,647 approx.

How to Reach Lakshadweep by Flight from Bengaluru?

Now, if you are travelling from Bengaluru, you have an option to book the same Alliance Air flight from Bengaluru to Agatti. Yes, it’s a connecting flight!

The flight departs from Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR) at 7:15 AM and reaches Agatti Airport (AGX) in Lakshadweep at 10:35 AM with 1 Stop at COK.

One way flight charges from Bengaluru per person are INR 20k to 21k approx.

The only issue here is the price, which is too high.

Because instead of booking this direct flight if we book a separate flight from BLR to COK, the charges are from 1.5 k to 2.5 k depending on the time of flight. So, you get to save a lot.

The only catch here is you need to book an early morning flight from BLR, keeping in mind that the flight may get delayed. In that case, you will miss your another flight to Lakshadweep from Kochi.

And, there are very slim chances that you will get another flight the next day as the flight is usually full. And, if this happens your whole vacation plan will go for a toss.

So, although this whole arrangement sounds okay but considering the logistics and keeping in mind that you are travelling with kids, it seems like a total flop idea.

Then what can we do if we still want to save some bucks and not make it an exhausting journey?

Now, you may consider these 2 options for which you need to add 1 extra day to your travel-

1- Catch a flight from BLR to COK a day prior to your actual travel date. Reach Kochi & stay at a hotel nearby airport for the night. And, the next day easily take your 8:55 AM flight to Lakshadweep.

• BLR to COK Flight – Approx. INR 2k to 3k
• Stay at Kochi – Approx. INR 3k to 5k
• COK to AGX Flight – Approx. INR 6k

Total cost – INR 7.5k to INR 8.5k (plus 3k-5k for stay)

2- Take an overnight train from Bengaluru to Kochi. Stay 1 night in Kochi and catch your Lakshadweep flight the next day. This way you will be able to save your whole day in Kochi and may use it to explore the city.

Here’s a Vlog of our Overnight Train Journey from Bengaluru to Kochi.

• KSR Bengaluru to Ernakulam ERN Train – Approx. INR 2.5k (AC First Class, 1A)
• Stay at Kochi – Approx. INR 3k to 5k
• COK to AGX Flight – Approx. INR 6k

Total cost – Approx. INR 8k-9k (plus 3k-5k for stay)

Kanyakumari Express (16526) departs at 8:00 PM from KSR Bengaluru and reaches Ernakulam Town ERN at 7:30 AM.

And, this is what we did as we wanted to travel comfortably. This way we were able to experience the train journey as well. Moreover, we were able to save around 10k per person.

If you are travelling with a child under the age of 5, you may further save the charges for 1 berth if child can sleep with you on the same berth. I feel this is one of the best ways to reach Lakshadweep with kids.

Pro Tip – If you choose to travel by train, instead of getting down at ERN, get down at Angamaly (AFK) at 6:41 AM which is just 10 mins from the COK airport.

Our travel agent in Lakshadweep suggested that we take the flight on the same day after getting down from the train. He said even if the train gets delayed, it won’t be more than 30 mins.

But we still didn’t want to take any risks so we decided to stay 1 night at Kochi.

So, these are all the ways by which you can reach Lakshadweep from Bengaluru.

How to Reach Lakshadweep by Flight from Delhi?

Lastly, let’s talk about reaching Kochi by flight from Delhi. There is no other way except to book a flight a day prior to Kochi. Then stay at Kochi overnight and next day take your morning flight to Lakshadweep.

The nonstop flight charges from DEL to COK starts from INR 7k and may go up to INR 10,000.

So, total charges would be-

• DEL to COK – Approx. INR 7k to 9k
• Stay at Kochi – Approx. INR 3k to 5k
• COK to AGX – Approx. INR 6k

Total cost – INR 16k to INR 20k

So, with this we come to the end of our post. There are 2 different ways of travelling to Lakshadweep, one is by ship and another is by flight. Now, it’s up to you to decide what would be the best way to reach Lakshadweep with kids. It all depends on your preferences and budget. Also, you are the right judge of what would be the best for your kids. I have tried my best to cover all the available options with price details to make your job a little easy.

I hope you found it helpful, please do share the post with your friends and family! We will meet again very soon with another interesting post on Lakshadweep Travel. Till then, Bye Bye and Take Care.

You may read the other posts of this series here – Lakshadweep Travel Series!

You may also check out: Lakshadweep Travel Guide for Families!

The post What is the Best Way to Reach Lakshadweep with Kids? With Price Details appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys, so today I am starting a new Travel Series on my Blog (growingwithnemit.com) and YouTube channel (@GrowingWithNemit) where I will be sharing all the details about our recent trip to a beautiful Island destination. The title of this post ‘How to choose the perfect beach destination?’ was the first question that came to our mind when we thought of taking a vacation. But let me tell you getting the answer to this question was not that easy. Because all these destinations are equally beautiful. Hence, I chose this as the first topic to discuss with you all. I will also be taking up the question, Andaman or Lakshadweep? as these two are the most stunning Island destinations of our country.

Now that we have been to both, it’s easier for me to make a comparison and share my views on the same. Hopefully, it will help you save some time if you come across the same thought or doubts.

So, we had to plan a special trip for our son’s (Nemit) 7th birthday and since he loves the beaches, we just had to decide which beach destination to choose.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neha Sharma (@growing_with_nemit)

But, this time it was not that easy. Why?

Because it seemed like we have already travelled to all the best beach destinations that could fit in our budget.

We have already visited Andaman Islands, Goa, Kerala & Puducherry in India, Krabi & Phuket in Thailand, Langkawi in Malaysia and also Maldives.

-Sorry, I don’t have posts for all the places we have explored as I started travel blogging only in 2018.-

Although we still have Bali, Mauritius & Vietnam on our travel bucket list, we did not not plan any of these International destinations due to 2 reasons.

One is the Corona scare, we are not yet confident to travel out of India as we still keep on hearing news of the new viruses coming up.

And, the second reason is we failed to renew Nemit’s passport before moving to Bengaluru, it got rejected but that’s a story for some other day.

So, first of all let’s talk about the International beach destinations.

International Beach Destinations

It’s a common thought process that if we have to spend a certain amount of money and if we can travel to an International destination within that budget then why should we even think about India.

I want to confess that even I had the same mindset for preferring an International destination over the Indian destination. And, I think it’s okay. Because for those of us from middle class families, traveling out of India is a big deal.

But after visiting and exploring some of the most stunning and picturesque locations in India, my whole outlook has changed. And, now my travel goal is to explore the offbeat and hidden locations in India first before checking out the destinations outside India.

Of all the places we have visited out of India (it’s not many but still), Krabi is my most favorite one, no doubt on that, in terms of the budget as well as the things to do. It’s a perfect beach destination outside India.

Krabi 2019

And, then comes the Maldives if you are looking for a laid back luxurious holiday.

So, for the same budget, either you can book a comfortable stay at any of the islands in Maldives for 3/4 nights where you just get to relax and rejuvenate. But there would be nothing much to explore except for the private island.

Maldives 2017

And, in the same budget, you can visit some breathtaking beaches & islands in Krabi for 4/5 nights or even more. You would get ample options to explore as well.

Beach Destinations in India – Andaman or Lakshadweep?

Now, if I talk about India, Goa is the go-to beach destination not just for the Indians but for many foreigners too. One will get everything in Goa except the white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.

You may read – 7-Day South Goa Itinerary with videos!

You can explore Goa on a budget or you can choose the luxurious & upscale stays as per your interest. Goa offers you everything.

But if you too are crazy for pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters then Goa may not be the right fit for you.

Our search for pristine beaches ended when we visited the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in 2018.

After going through all the available options for Nemit’s birthday trip, we thought of visiting the Andaman Islands once again. And then one day I saw a few latest videos about Andaman travel on YouTube and it simply broke my heart.

Here’s the statistical chart showing No. of Tourist Visited A & N Islands in 2022.

Source – Andaman Tourism

Andaman has changed a lot in terms of commercialization and tourism. It has become one of the most sought after beach destinations in India which means it has become crowded too. There’s no control on how many tourists can travel to Andaman, which could be one of the reasons that this heavenly beauty is losing its charm.

But that’s what I feel as I crave for more calm & peaceful places during a vacation.

In 2018, when we visited the A & N Islands, we travelled to the Middle and North Andaman in search of the unexplored and offbeat locations. So, in case you decide to visit Andaman, do consider visiting the Northern part of the islands. It’s definitely worth a visit!

You may also read – Diglipur -The Hidden Gem in North Andaman!

Ross & Smith Islands in North Andaman

Also, if you have not been to Andaman Islands even once then forget about the crowd and the other things and just plan that special trip without a doubt.

We didn’t plan for Andaman for 3 reasons-

1- We have already been there once.

2- South Andaman has become a famous tourist destination & we avoid the crowd.

2- We had to travel with our mother & it’s not an easy journey to reach the North Andaman.

So, what is left now?

While searching for Andaman videos, I stumbled upon a few vlogs on Lakshadweep travel. And, that’s when I fell in love with this Island Destination. Lakshadweep was never on my travel list, I don’t know why.

When I discussed about Lakshadweep with my husband, he was as clueless as I was about this place. Though he had a little idea that it’s a restricted group of islands and we need some kind of permit to visit there, he had no idea that Lakshadweep is slowly gaining popularity among beach lovers and travelers like us.

We invested the next 15 days in researching about this Island destination, figuring out which island would be the best one to visit, trying to understand the best modes of travel, and most importantly, calculating the budget we would need for this trip.

By the end of our research, we interpreted that travelling to Lakshadweep could be tricky!

But we were ready to take all the risks!!!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neha Sharma (@growing_with_nemit)

Let’s conclude this post with a comparison chart for Andaman Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. While creating this below chart I realized that we can only compare these island groups on the basis of certain points but there can never be a comparison in their beauty.

Both these islands are exotic and offer unmatched scenic beauty with some of the best & cleanest sandy white beaches in Asia. That makes India one of the most visited and popular tourist’s beach destination.

You may also read – The Best Beach to visit with kids in Havelock Island!

And, if we want to preserve the stunning beauty of these islands, we should try to be a conscious traveler and travel responsibly.

Andaman or Lakshadweep?

Source – civilsdaily

I know looking at the above differences, Andaman wins over Lakshadweep, but there is something magical about Lakshadweep which I can’t express in words.

So, for Nemit’s 7th birthday we chose to visit Lakshadweep and now I can proudly say that it was the best decision ever.

And, now I am here to help you plan a perfect vacation to Lakshadweep, taking up all the doubts and answering all your questions.

In the upcoming posts of this Lakshadweep Travel Series, I will be discussing about-

• How to reach Lakshadweep?
• Which Island to visit?
• How to do the Bookings?
• Island Tour & Stay
• Things/Activities To Do with Prices
• Is it Child-friendly? What to expect?
• Friends we made.
• What’s New?

So, stay tuned and keep watching this space for Lakshadweep Travel Series. I will also be posting related videos on my YouTube channel @GrowingWithNemit.

Have you been to any of these islands? Andaman or Lakshadweep?

I hope this post will help you in choosing the right beach destination for your next vacation. If you liked this post, please do share it with your friends and family. I will see you next time with another interesting post, till then bye bye and take care!

The post Andaman or Lakshadweep? How to Choose the Perfect Beach Destination? appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello everyone, wishing you all a very Happy New Year! Hope the month of January is treating you well. Here’s my first post of 2023. South Goa Itinerary is one of the most requested topics and I had also promised to take this up on my blog. So, here we are!

Travel has become a norm and more & more parents are taking the leap of faith by moving out of their comfort zone to travel with their kids. However, there are still many who dread the thought of taking a vacation with their little ones. One thing I will say to them is plan everything to the T but be open to setbacks, follow the same routine that you follow at home but still take cues from your kid, keep the itinerary simple and days lesser to make it work for you. Gradually you will get the hang of it but don’t say no to the opportunity to travel.

The biggest misconception people have about Goa is that it’s all about the beaches and it’s all for the party people. NO! Goa is much more than that.

And, in today’s post, we are going to explore that other side of Goa.

Why South Goa?

The first time we visited Goa with our son was when he was 7 months old. It was our first trip to Goa as parents & we were not well prepared for it. It was a 10-Day trip and we included both North Goa & South Goa in our itinerary. A big mistake!

Obviously, we got exhausted even before we started settling in the vacay mode.

Let me tell you North Goa is too overrated. If your kids are small don’t even bother to think about this part of Goa. You will have to make a lot of adjustments to enjoy it fully with a child.

But if you are someone who like to indulge in adventure water sports and want to explore the flea markets, churches, ancient temples, forts, shacks and bars then North Goa is your go to destination. I am sure you will find a way to enjoy your time in North Goa even if you are traveling with your kids.

You may also read – 5 Perfect Summer Vacation Ideas for Families in India!

However, if you want to take it easy and slow, then the better option is South Goa. Did I mention that it’s a heaven for nature lovers. You will find the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in this part of Goa. I feel South Goa has everything to keep a family with kids happy. And, parents get ample options to just relax and rejuvenate.

We did a small and exciting trek to a waterfall with our 7-month old in South Goa and we absolutely loved it.

7-Day South Goa Itinerary with Kids

Last year in October was our 3rd trip to Goa with our son (6-year-old). Since he’s a nature lover & explorer just like us, we thought of exploring more of South Goa this time.

So, if you are planning a trip to South Goa with your kids (6 and above) and you want to do more than just beach hopping then this itinerary may help you to plan yours.

How to Reach Goa?

The fastest mode of travel to reach Goa is undoubtedly Air Travel. But traveling by train is also a popular option for those who want to enjoy the beauty of Western Ghats. And, the third option is to reach Goa by Road.

Did you know that Goa has got a new International Airport?

Manohar International Airport (GOX) was inaugurated on 11 December 2022 in Mopa, North Goa. It opened for domestic operations on 5 January 2023, with the first flight operated by IndiGo. International flights will start from February 2023.

Source – Wikipedia

In the last 6 years, we have tried all the 3 options. Unfortunately, for us, the train travel was a failure for many reasons. It was a long journey and on top of that the train was running late. Our son got restless and other passengers didn’t like it at all. Once we reached Goa, it was so difficult to get a cab at the train station. I would highly recommend pre-booking your cab to avoid any hassles if you choose to travel by train. Goa is severely impacted by the Taxi mafia so be careful.

Our recent trip to Goa was a Road Trip from Bangalore and it was an absolute hit. Here you can watch the video to get all the details.

Now, let’s move ahead with South Goa Itinerary.

Day 1 – Arrive at Goa & Relax

We started from Bengaluru at 5 am and reached Goa (Palolem Beach) at 5 pm by road. It was a relaxed road trip, we took ample breaks in between. After reaching Goa, we checked in to our hotel (Palolem Beach Resort) and went straight to the beach to watch the sunset.

You may also read – Andaman Trip 10-Day Itinerary!

So, I would suggest to keep your Day 1 relaxed even if you reach early. You may take a stroll on the beach, watch the sunset or simply relax and rejuvenate.

You may also go for shopping after sunset!

Day 2 – Take a Boat Trip for Dolphin Watching

This boat trip you can plan from Palolem beach and you can include activities as per your liking. You can go for a morning tour or the sunset tour. We did the morning trip which included 3 activities, dolphin watching, butterfly beach and honeymoon beach. I have shared all the details of this boat trip in the video below, so check it out.

This boat ride is completely safe to plan with kids. I am sure your kids would enjoy watching the dolphins and beach hopping.

After coming back from the trip you can relax on the beach, take a dip in the sea, have some delicious food at the shack. And, in the evening, you can go check out the Palolem market and indulge in some shopping.

Day 3 – Kayaking at Cola Beach

Even after visiting Goa many times, we had no idea that we can do Kayaking in the backwaters. So, the second time we were in Goa with our son, we saw people taking kayaks in the sea. Since we are not great swimmers we didn’t try that.

But during our last trip we got to know about Kayaking in Cola backwaters. And, we thought of checking it out. We drove to cola beach then walked a bit to reach the backwaters where we saw the kayaks. And, I can tell you it’s a fun experience. Don’t miss it!

Check out the video below to know more about it.

You can spend this day at Cola beach, play in the sand and swim in the sea, enjoy more of kayaking in the backwaters.

Later, in the evening, you can explore the cafes in Palolem. We tried a variety of vegan food and desserts and everything is so droolworthy, so do give it a try.

Day 4 – Bird Watching, Eagle Feeding and Monkey Island 

This day you can spend at Palolem beach exploring the various activities there. So, if you walk to the extreme North side of the beach, you will find Palolem backwaters on the right and an island to the left.

You can go for bird watching and eagle feeding activity in the Palolem backwaters. You may check out the video for details.

Or, you can walk to the other side to explore the Monkey island. Or, you can do both, totally up to you and your interest. But I feel these are the activities checking out once at least.

Here’s a video you may watch to know how to reach Monkey island. When we went there, it was high tide so we literally had to cross the sea, walking through the waves. It was a thrilling experience!

Day 5 – Waterfalls in South Goa

As I said earlier, Goa is more than just the beaches. So, if you want to explore the other side of Goa, you should definitely visit at least one of the waterfalls in South Goa.

If you are coming to Goa after monsoons then it’s the best time to explore the waterfalls as they will be in their full glory. But that would also mean you will find rush and it may get a bit difficult to handle that with kids along.

So, may be Oct-Nov would be the ideal time to visit the waterfalls.

You can go to the famous Dudhsagar Waterfalls but this opens up only after monsoon, most probably from October. Even if you visit these falls in the months of Jan-Feb, you will not be disappointed.

There’s a 20 mins trek to the falls from the main gate and you will be provided life jackets to enjoy swimming at the pool. Try to reach there as early as possible because once it gets crowded, you will be struggling to find a good spot.

You may also read – Meghalaya Trip Itinerary!

There are a few more waterfalls inside Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and reaching to those falls requires a trek down for about 40-45 mins.

Last year in October, we visited Neturlem (Savri) waterfall and it was one of the best experiences during our trip. You may check out this video to know more details about the same.

There is another waterfall just 15 mins from Savri and that is Mainapi Waterfall, the trek to this one is almost same but there’s less water in this one.

If you don’t like to trek or if you feel your kid won’t be able to walk for such long but you still want to enjoy the waterfall then there’s a small but beautiful waterfall on the way to Netravali. You should definitely check it out.

Keep your evening relaxed after coming back from the waterfalls.

Day 6 –  Trek to the Butterfly Beach

Yes, this is the same beach that you can visit by boat also as I shared above for Day 2. But if you like to trek then skip the boat ride to this beach and instead go trekking.

You may also read – Krabi Trip Itinerary!

Butterfly beach is known to be one of the most scenic beaches in South Goa, it’s a small beach surrounded by rocks and in my opinion the best one to enjoy time with family.

I have shared complete details of the trek in this video, do check it out.

Day 7 – Beach Hopping

I know many people enjoy beach hopping and why not. Goa is famous for beaches and if you love exploring beaches too then you should definitely include this in your itinerary.

I am not sure how much the kids would enjoy this though. But the good thing about beach hopping is there are no restrictions to this plan. You may check out as many beaches as you like or you may simply stop at the first beach and spend the rest of your day there.

PIN IT!

Here are the names of most of the beaches you would find in South Goa starting from Palolem.

So, if you start from Palolem, you can go further South and visit Patnem, Rajbag, Talpona, Galgibaga, and Pollem beach and then the last beach to the South is KA-GO border beach.

Or, you may go further North and check out Agonda, Cola, Kakolem, Cabo de Rama, Nuem, Mobor, Cavelossium, Carmona, Varca, Colva, Majorda, and Bolmallo beach.

So, that’s it from my side for South Goa Itinerary. I have shared activities and places for 7 days in this post. You may choose as per your interest and the number of days you have in your hand.

I hope this post and the videos will help you plan your Goa trip with ease. If you have any queries or doubts you may reach out to me anytime. I would try my best to help you out plan your perfect South Goa Itinerary.

If you like this post, please do share it with your friends and family. Till then bye bye and take care!

The post 7-Day South Goa Itinerary with Videos – Traveling with Kids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hanging out with your kids in Dubai? This city is action-packed with hundreds of activities approved by the little ones. No matter what your kids are into — be it sports or superman, food or flowers, adventure or amusement, Dubai will have them spoilt for choices. Put on your drysuit and dive into the list as we tick off the best things to do in Dubai with kids:

1. Plan a fun day out at Dubai Parks and Resorts

The largest integrated theme park destination in the world, Dubai Parks and Resorts brim with high-octane actions. Sprawling over 25 million sq feet, the park offers more than 100 thrill-packed indoor and outdoor rides, shows, and attractions. While Motiongate is dedicated to Hollywood legendary films, Bollywood Park is an explosion of dance and colors where you can catch the spirit of the Indian cinema in multimedia shows and interactive attractions. And then head to the Legoland theme and water park to splash, play and even customize your own Lego raft.

2. Escape to the Ski Dubai in the middle of a desert

Ski Dubai is the first and ultimate indoor ski resort in the Middle East for those looking to channel their inner pro skaters. There are snow slopes of varying difficulties for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Your kids can learn to ski and snowboard under the guidance of trained experts. Other highlights of this winter land include sliding on the traditional toboggan down the snow hills, zip-lining, taking a chairlift ride, and climbing inside the human hamster ball. And if you want to take a break from the polar activities, meet the penguins or sip some hot chocolate.

3. Bask in the sun at the Kite Beach 

One of the free things to do in Dubai with kids is to flock to the beaches. Be a part of the never-ending fun by hitting the fascinating beaches of Dubai. The parents can sit and relax on the sun loungers admiring the majestic view of the skyline, and the kids can build their sandcastle. Perfect for sun-seekers, sports enthusiasts, and foodies. This beach is clean, turquoise, and pristine. You can rent high-quality equipment to revel in the water sports like kitesurfing, wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, or just play beach volleyball. Spend a stress-free evening by meandering on the walkway and feeling the breeze in your hair.

You may also read – Best beach to explore with kids in Havelock Island!

4. Watch the Dubai Fountain

Your little ones will love how the tallest performing fountain dances to the beats of music. Nestled beside the legendary Burj Khalifa, on the 30-acre Burj Lake, the Dubai Fountain is a spectacular light, music, and water show. The fountain creates over 1000 water expressions with the help of super lights and color projectors. It jets up to 22,000 gallons of water as high as 140m in the air at any one time. The best spot to watch it is the Burj Lake boat ride or a spot on Boardwalk.

5. Splash joy at Aquaventure Waterpark 

This is a place where the whole clan can enjoy breathtaking water slides, laugh their way down the city’s longest Lazy River, or casually relax on the private beachside. Located inside the Atlantis The Palm, this is the No.1 waterpark in the Middle East with over 30 record-breaking rides and slides. Ranging from tame to terrifying, families can try out the rides based on various levels of skill. The kids ‘can’t keep calm’ at the Splashers Children’s Play Area because it is always their favorite zone. And when it’s time for a respite, stroll along the Palm’s serene waterways. The waterpark’s neighbor is worth a visit; the Lost Chambers Aquarium keeps 65,000 marine creatures for visitors to explore, swim and learn.

6. Visit Dubai Mall

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The largest shopping, entertainment, and leisure destination, Dubai Mall is undoubtedly the comprehensive family destination that has something for everyone. The fashionistas can go on a shopping marathon, adventure-lovers can ski in the Olympian-standard Ice Rink, techies can visit the VR Park, or casual sightseers can gawk at the giant waterfall. This mall’s major landmark is the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, which is home to 33,000 aquatic animals, a 48-m walkthrough tunnel, and a 10-million litre tank. No wonder kids will find one way or the other to stay here.

7. Immerse in the world of sand, camel, and camp

The desert safari in Dubai is an off-road excursion made to explore the Bedouin lifestyle with the best services and unmatchable hospitability. Feel the adrenaline rush when you dune bash sitting in an air-conditioned SUV, straddle the camels for a blissful ride or gear up for a thrilling quad biking. You can strap on the skates to slide down the dunes and go back up the hill. After the exhilarating adventures, desert camping begins with live shows and culturally-inspired activities. Round off your memorable desert trip with a scrumptious meal and unlimited pictures.

8. Get your heart pumped at IMG Worlds of Adventure.

Dubai’s best and largest theme park IMG, takes your imagination to another world. Kids will go gaga over the mind-blowing zones that have brought Marvel and Cartoon characters together in the form of exciting rides. From Ben 10 to Avengers, brace yourselves to fight the evil, compete with your siblings, and encounter surprises on the way. The other sections have the hair-raising dinosaur rides that take you millions of years back. Refuel yourselves with shopping and dining around on the campus of IMG Boulevard.

9. Enjoy amusing shows at Dubai Dolphinarium. 

The go-to destination for families, Dubai Dolphinarium, is wrapped with fun-filled activities. See the bottlenose dolphins and fur seals extravaganza for an interesting 45 minutes, where they dance, sing, juggle and even paint. Enjoy an astounding show of acrobatics, games, and tricks. The ticket will allow you to interact up close and personal with these playful and friendly marine mammals. Plus, the mirror maze puzzle, the bounce of the trampoline, and the exotic bird show will have you mesmerized.

10. Play and learn at Kidzania, Dubai with kids

Want to see your kids as a doctor, journalist, or chef? Venture out to Kidzania, the unusual combination of learning and entertainment. Resembling a city in a staggering 7,000 m2, the place has over 70 role-playing activities for children aged 2-16. Get into the shoes of adults and real-life professionals — be it from the world of education, media, food, health, retail, services, and transportation. One can upgrade and develop life-building skills. Children can make new friends, hang out with them in the games room, and test their sports skills.

You may also read – Rajasthan Road Trip with Kids!

11. Wander and wonder at Oli Oli

It is an attraction especially catered to children aged two to eleven, where they can discover 8 interactive zones with more than 40 activities belonging to different themes. Check out galleries like the Museum of the Moon, which ushers you with incredible lunar visuals. Overall, it is a hub of creativity and curiosity. Also, organizing your birthday is no more hustle. You can plan an impressive birthday party where all children can have tons of unique experiences.

Conclusion

Dubai is the ideal family-friendly destination. It engages and inspires kids with its fresh, innovative, and exciting concept. The city fuses all kinds of entertainment — desert safaris with sand skiing, eating by the beach with aquarium diving, and partying with learning. Pack your bags and tag along your kids to have a wonderful trip to this city

The post 11 Best Things to do in Dubai with Kids | Traveling With Kids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello friends, hope you all had a wonderful start to the year. Ours was quite different since we decided to stay at home, unlike the last 4 years when we were out & went all crazy on New Year’s Eve. But it was still as exciting as always. Now, January is special for us for one more reason, and that is our son’s birthday, #NemitTurns5. Yes, it is Nemit’s fifth birthday in a few days! And I really can’t control my excitement anymore.

But there’s a problem!

Before moving on to the birthday discussion, I want to show you guys our New Year Special video. Here we have reviewed the year 2020 by recreating some moments (good and bad) that we can never forget. And while making this video, we realized that the Year 2020 was not that bad!

If you watch the video on YouTube, do leave your comment there and if you have not yet subscribed to our channel, please do so. We would love to see you there.

Now coming back to the problem I was talking about.

This year we have no idea how to celebrate Nemit’s fifth birthday. His b’day is on 19th January, and we have not planned anything yet for his special day.

You may ask why?

Well, just like all his other birthdays, we wanted to make it special by planning an exciting vacation for him with the family. But all our plans went down the drain due to Covid-19.

Though most people have already started traveling, we have still not made up our minds about it. Just trying to keep it safe for our family’s sake. Till December last year, we were hoping that the scenario would change and we might travel once again in January. But no, nothing has changed, at least for us, so no travel plans this time.

I was going through his birthday videos from the last 4 years, and I thought, why not combine them into one. And that’s when I got the idea of writing this post. Here’s what we did on Nemit’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th birthday.

Revisiting Birthday Memories –

First Birthday (2017) – We planned Nemit’s first International trip to Malaysia. It was a 9-day long vacation, and we visited Kuala Lumpur, Taman Negara & Langkawi. And, on Nemit’s birthday, we took him to a famous theme park, Sunway Lagoon. We all had a blast that day!

Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia

Second Birthday (2018) – For his 2nd b’day, we planned a 10-day long trip to the Andaman Islands. And on Nemit’s b’day, we visited Ross & Smith Islands, popularly known as the Twin Islands. The two islands are connected with a strip of white sandbar, which makes them unique. Nemit had the whole paradise island for himself to enjoy his special day!

Ross & Smith Islands, Andaman Islands

Third Birthday (2019) – On his 3rd b’day, we planned another International trip to Thailand. It was a week-long trip, and we stayed at Krabi in an Airbnb. Nemit had the most amazing time there because this one was an impromptu trip & we got to ask his preferences too.

 

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Fourth Birthday (2020) – This was Nemit’s most special birthday because along with the special vacation, he got to celebrate with his friends as well. I call this our lucky trip because it was our 1st trip of the pandemic year. We visited Goa and spent a day in Mumbai, exploring the food & some famous places like Chowpatty & Marine Drive.

Palolem Beach, Goa

On Nemit’s b’day, we did the island hopping tour, watched dolphins, played in the sand, and swam in the ocean. Again, a memorable birthday!

I have taken a few video clips from each of Nemit’s birthdays and made this video, ‘Revisiting Birthday Memories.’ Do check it out; you may find some inspiration to plan a birthday trip for your child too.

We have been having long discussions at home about what to do this year to make Nemit’s birthday as exciting & memorable as the earlier ones. But nothing seems to strike well. And this is the only worry which is haunting me right now.

How to make our son’s 5th b’day special?

We are totally clueless!! Could you please help us with some unique birthday celebration ideas? Pleaaassseeee Help!!!?

We still have the weekend to make it exciting, keeping our fingers crossed and waiting to get some awesome ideas from you guys.

The post How to Make the 5th Birthday Special for my Son? #TravelingWithKids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys, I know you have been missing us! We missed you too. But now we are back, Yay!!! I want to thank you guys for being here even when I was not around. I am quite surprised to see how well the blog is growing now. We got a little more than ‘15800 Reads’ last month which is so amazing. Thanks to all my dear friends and readers. If you follow us on our social media then you must be knowing that currently, I am doing a series of travel posts on Instagram & Facebook covering our Rajasthan Road Trip. And the same I’m going to share on my blog now.

During Valentine’s week last month (Feb 2020), we did an unplanned road trip for 9 days across Rajasthan with Nemit & it turned out to be the best of all our road trips so far. We just had 2 major destinations in our mind which we wanted to cover i.e. Jaisalmer & Jodhpur but we could explore 5 different destinations.

Rajasthan Road Map

The only reason to keep the trip unplanned was the uncertainty.

We were not sure if we could go that far in our i10, we had no idea how Nemit was going to take it & I highly doubted if I could drive such long distances with cervical & lower back pain. We knew just 1 thing that we were gonna enjoy every moment of the journey. And we were also prepared mentally to deal with any kind of situation. I’m sure that’s what got us through this adventure.

You may also want to read – Road Trip & Car Safety (when traveling with kids)

I got some DMs asking for a detailed itinerary, so here I’m doing day-wise posts of our Rajasthan Road Trip. Because writing about 9 days in a single post won’t do the justice to the whole expedition. So, here it is the Day 1 of our trip.

Rajasthan Road Trip – Day 1

9 Days – 5 Destinations – 3 Travelers

(Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur)

🔺Day 1 – Noida to Bikaner
🔺Distance covered – 542 Km
🔺Total Time – 11 Hrs
🔺Stay at – Hotel Sagar, Bikaner @hotelsagarbikaner
🔺Place visited – Explored nearby places in the evening

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When we started off from Noida we were not sure where to stop for the night & we wanted to cover as much distance as possible. But we also wanted to enjoy the journey so we decided on a time. If we could reach Jaipur before 1 pm we would continue the trip & stop at Bikaner. If not, we would stay at Jaipur.

We started at 7 am from Noida & crossed Jaipur around noon with 3 quick pit stops. Later we stopped around 2 pm at a local restaurant for lunch. We reached Bikaner at 6 pm with just 1 pit stop.

The roads are good but we found some crazy traffic till Jaipur, there were countless trucks on the road which were blocking all the lanes so it was a tricky drive but a thrilling one for sure. We had packed some veg sandwiches & masala idlis for snacking on the go, worked like magic to keep Nemit calm on the first day of the drive.

What else worked to keep our kid happy? Talking & Talking!

Check out this post on Instagram to watch some videos – Click Here!

After driving for 11 hrs we just wanted to hit the bed but Nemit was ready to roll. So, we freshened up & headed out for a quick drive around the place. There was a fort nearby but it was already closed so we drove around for some time & came back to the hotel. We stayed at Hotel Sagar which is a beautiful property with the heritage feel & a modern touch. So, we spent some time exploring the place before heading for dinner at their restaurant.

Hotel Sagar, Bikaner

Here’s a quick review of Hotel Sagar, Bikaner – Click Here!

The last thing I remember from that night was Sumit in a deep sleep & I was about to pass out too while Nemit was happily lying between two of us playing with his toys with no sleep in his eyes. I don’t remember what happened after that.

Overall, it was an extraordinary day! Here’s to a memorable Rajasthan road trip, 9 Days – 5 Destinations – 3 travelers, we did it!

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Have you done an unplanned road trip with your little ones? How would you describe the experience in just one sentence?

The post Rajasthan Road Trip Day 1 (9 Days/5 Destinations) – Traveling with a Kid appeared first on Growing With Nemit.