Top tour operators in Kerala for your next Kerala Holiday
- Benjamin John
- Nov 12, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 26
The list of top tour operators in Kerala is surprisingly shorter than one might expect. With the rise of the internet over the past two decades, countless websites now offer extensive information on Kerala tour packages, destinations, hotels, resorts, and more. The sheer number of tour operators is unique to Kerala’s tourism landscape. As a service-driven industry, it’s relatively easy for anyone with minimal capital to start a tour company here. However, what truly sets a reliable Kerala tour operator apart is the depth of local knowledge and firsthand experience their team brings, especially in curating authentic experiences the destination has to offer.
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Types of Tour Operators Based in Kerala
Tour operators in Kerala generally fall into two main categories: inbound and domestic. Inbound tour operators primarily cater to international travellers. These guests typically spend more time in Kerala and seek immersive, in-depth experiences. In contrast, domestic tour operators focus on Indian travellers, offering competitive pricing and budget-friendly packages. Their offerings usually include reliable cab services and a network of hotels across key destinations.
In this article, I’ll be highlighting reputed brands and companies in both categories, including well-known domain-based operators like Keralaholidays.com and Keralatourpackages.com, which enjoy strong online search presence.
Additionally, Kerala has seen a rise in outbound tour operators, as more Keralites now travel abroad, particularly to destinations in Middle East, Southeast Asia and other popular international destinations.
Why choose a tour operator in Kerala?
Tour operation is fundamentally a service-oriented industry. Today, with information readily available online, planning a trip might seem easy. However, the real value of a tour operator lies in the convenience of seamlessly organising all components of your trip, transport, accommodation, activities, and local support, for a service fee that’s often absorbed through partnerships with local providers.
If you book a Kerala tour package through a travel company based outside the region (or even overseas), the actual ground handling is still done by a local tour operator in Kerala. This adds extra layers of intermediaries, which increases the overall cost due to multiple margins.
On the other hand, if a local tour operator from your city organises the trip, you gain the peace of mind of having a point of contact nearby in case anything goes wrong, while the actual tour execution remains local to Kerala.
However things have changed a lot, today you have local listings on Google maps where you can find tour operation company offices available on Google, you have read reviews of guests who have traveled with them, you can even see when these reviews were written and one could easily identify a rating of any Kerala tour operator. Even tour operators have become conscious about it and nobody takes anything for granted. At the same time there is a voice for the Kerala tour operator to respond to the reviews that negatively impact them.
Are Kerala Tour Operators Based in Kochi?
If you’re searching for Kerala tour operators and wondering whether they’re all based in Kochi (Cochin), the answer is, not necessarily.
Since tour operation is a service-driven industry, Kerala-based tour companies don’t have to be headquartered in Kochi to offer quality travel services. In fact, many reputable Kerala tour companies operate from various towns and cities across the state, including Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut, Alleppey, and Wayanad.
However, Cochin (Kochi) continues to be a popular base for many top-rated Kerala travel agencies due to its well-connected infrastructure, access to experienced travel professionals, and proximity to major transportation hubs like Cochin International Airport. It's also convenient for clients who prefer to visit a tour operator's office in person.
List of Top Online Kerala Tour Operators
Based on the factors mentioned above, such as online presence, service quality, and local partnerships. we’ve put together a random list of top Kerala tour operators that primarily operate through internet-based platforms. This list is not ranked in any particular order.
At Green Earth Trails, we’re a proud tour operator based in Kerala ourselves. But in this post, we’re stepping back to spotlight our peers in the industry. Let’s explore some of the trusted tour operators for international travellers as well as domestic traveller who have built a strong reputation online and offline.
Prominent Kerala Tour Operators: A Friendly Overview
At Green Earth Trails, we’re a boutique Kerala-based tour operator located in Cochin (Kochi), founded in 2017. My name is Benjamin John, and after spending years working with various travel companies, I started Green Earth Trails with a little fleet of cabs, with the vision of offering deeper, more immersive, quality experiences of Kerala and South India. We are among few Cochin-based tour companies offering South India tours for International guests. Our limited TripAdvisor reviews will tell more about it
List of Reputed Kerala-Based Tour Companies
This article isn’t about us, though. It’s a lighthearted look at some of our fellow Kerala tour operators, especially those who have built a presence online and offer curated Kerala holiday packages. Many of them started small and have grown over the years, just like us. The list is in no particular order, and I’ve included only those I know personally or have observed closely.
Green Earth Trails
Started off in 2017, Green Earth Trails is a Kerala tour operator based in Kochi offering tour programs for guests bound to Kerala. Being an inbound tour operator based in Kerala, we operate tours in Kerala and South India, with elaborate programs involving the state of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. We have our own fleet of cabs and vans ensuring upmost service quality and diverse and meaningful programs for international guests bound to Kerala.
Paradise Holidays – Affordable Kerala Tour Packages with a Personal Touch
Paradise Holidays was founded by Mr. Ratheesh R Nath, who accidentally entered the tourism sector while working at a multinational IT company. His first Kerala trip arrangement for a friend sparked a passion, and soon Paradise Holidays was born. Today Paradise holidays caters to thousands of tourists a year looking to spend their holiday in Kerala, they have evolved into a mass mover.
They specialise in cost-effective Kerala tour packages, offering affordable options that combine transportation and accommodation, perfect for budget-conscious travellers. Based in Aluva, close to Cochin International Airport, they serve both domestic and outbound tourists. Ratheesh is known for experimenting with content marketing, especially blogs, and has built a loyal clientele over time.
Iris Holidays – TripAdvisor Award-Winning Tour Operator in Kerala
Iris Holidays began in 2009 as a small project by Mr. Lijo Issac, who also holds a senior corporate role. The business is now managed by his father, Mr. Issac. What makes Iris stand out among Kerala inbound tour operators is their incredible consistency on TripAdvisor -with over 1,500 reviews and multiple “Hall of Fame” awards. They focused on having their guests write their Kerala experience on TripAdvisor. Over the years they have been able maintain service standards, irrespective of being a mass mover.
They focus on both international and domestic travel, and have grown into a well-respected name among Kerala travel companies. Their marketing success is noteworthy, especially the way they encourage guests to share authentic reviews, a rarity among tour operators.
Travel Planners – Veteran Kerala Tour Operator with a Global Reach
Travel Planners, operating the high-traffic domain Keralatourpackages.com, is one of the oldest names in the game. Founded by Mr. Aneesh Kumar, who has over 25 years of experience in the travel trade, the company is based in Thiruvananthapuram.
Aneesh was one of the early adopters of digital marketing in Kerala tourism. Their company handles both inbound tourism and domestic Kerala holiday packages, and they continue to grow steadily thanks to their online visibility and industry reputation.
Intersight Holidays – One of the Largest Tour Operators in Kerala
Headed by Mr. Abraham George (fondly known as Johny Sir), Intersight Holidays is a major name among Kerala tour operators. Their popular website Keralaholidays.com serves as the B2C platform for direct guests.
During peak season, they manage thousands of tourists, making them one of Kerala’s true mass movers. Based in Kochi, their scale and operational volume place them at the top tier of Kerala travel service providers.
Pioneer Personalized Holidays – True Pioneers of Kerala Tourism
Founded by Mr. P.D. Joseph, who was earlier an employee with the CGH Earth group, Pioneer Personalized Holidays is one of the earliest professional tour companies in Kerala. Today, it is led by his son Mr. Renju Joseph, and the company continues to focus on B2B tourism while catering to direct clients as well.
They are based in Cochin and operate their own fleet of vehicles, a testament to their reliability and infrastructure. I personally worked here for over a year and a half and can vouch for the professionalism and legacy of this brand.
Other Notable Kerala Tour Operators
In addition to the names above, here are a few more Kerala-based travel agencies that focus primarily on domestic and outbound tourism:
Seasonz India Holidays – Budget-friendly domestic & outbound packages
Funday Holidays – Economical packages within India
Magic Moment Holidays – Affordable and focused on local tourism
GoGeo Holidays – Domestic Kerala packages with decent reach
Dream Kerala Holidays – Budget-oriented holiday tours
There are also several B2B tour operators in Kerala that work exclusively with travel agents and are not listed here.
This is a personal and informal list based on my own experience and limited knowledge. Kerala’s tourism industry is vast and evolving, and I’m sure there are many other reliable Kerala tour companies doing great work behind the scenes.
If you're planning a trip, choosing a Kerala inbound tour operator or a local expert can help you access authentic experiences, better pricing, and local support, all essential for a memorable holiday in God’s Own Country.
Did we miss you? Let us know about you on the comment box and we shall be looking forward to understand more about you and include in the list. What to know more from us, contact us today
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