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Pack Your Passport

At Pack Your Passport, where West meets East, we’re passionate about creating authentic, informal, Travel Company in Kerala, India
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07/04/2024

Fort Kochi, the land of harmony 🇮🇳

Highly suggest you watch this video about Bejoy’s fabulous hometown where PYP was born!

If you’d like to visit Kerala, we’re the travel company for you!

10/03/2024

🇮🇳 Celebrating Mother India 🇮🇳

A country of wonder, surprises and diversity.

We always get asked if we can plan holidays beyond Kerala and the answer is YES ✅

This weekend we have clients in Agra, Sri Lanka and Mumbai!

Where would you like to travel to next in India?

18/02/2024

The colours of Rajasthan 💙

A quintessential Indian experience.

Spend two weeks exploring the major cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur but also enjoy some downtime experiencing rural Rajasthan. Spend a night or two at an old Fort or Heritage Haveli. Think Marigold Hotel but better!!

Let us plan a Royal Rajasthan holiday for you!

📩 [email protected]

28/01/2024

Calling all of those looking to explore rural Kerala…

Wayanad guarantees fresh cool air, wildlife in abundance, tribal experiences and unique trekking routes.

This gorgeous new hotel offers breathtaking views over Banasura Lake and is the perfect place to relax after a busy day of adventures!

North Kerala should not be overlooked. It offers so much, from mountains to the beaches of Nileshwar and the Indian folk dance of Theyyam.

Contact PYP to book!

📧 [email protected]

www.pack-your-passport.in

08/10/2023

PYP are busy getting ready for the travel season ahead 🛫🇮🇳

We have guests visiting Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnaktaka, Mumbai, Rajasthan and The Andaman Islands.

We are so lucky to have such loyal clients who come back year after year to plan new and exciting journeys across India. Due to this, we only have capacity for a few more bookings this season! So, if you are thinking of planning a holiday to India do get in touch as soon as possible.

📧 [email protected]

23/03/2023

It’s all go here at Pack Your Passport!

This week we have a number of clients all enjoying different experiences:

- A family exploring Sri Lanka
- A solo traveller on a wellness retreat in Gokarna
- A couple enjoying rural Rajasthan
- An expat family embarking on a 10 day holiday across Kerala

Whilst we do specialise in holidays in Kerala, we don’t stop there! We can help to plan and book the itinerary that suits you throughout anywhere in India.

✈️ Lets start planning!

19/02/2023

It’s not too late to plan a last minute holiday to India if you would like to escape the dark winter nights!

✅Direct flights from London to Kochi
✅Tourist E-Visas now available online
✅No entry requirements

Hand over the reins, and let Pack Your Passport take over!

We’re are with you from start to finish and will secure all bookings and payments on your behalf. All you need to do is turn up and we will handle the rest!

16/02/2023

Pack Your Passport offers a different choice of accommodation. The one that you want!

Forget your ‘chain’ type stays, how about a stay in a heritage hotel, ayurveda and wellness retreat, Rajasthani Haveli, authentic home-stay, converted fort, beach front villa, safari camp, royal palace or a treetop lodge?

Having lived in India for the past six years and travelled and stayed in all of these beautiful places, I know I can find the best stay for YOU!

📧Write to us for more details!

01/02/2023

Chettinad, is one of South India’s best kept secret!

Famous for its regal mansions, spicy cuisine, antiquities, Nagarathar temples and craftsmanships.

Allow at least three nights here to visit the many sleepy villages (total 73) and imerse yourself in the Chettinar culture dating back to the 19th century.

Let PYP show you the very best of what this area has to offer!

✍️ [email protected]

26/01/2023

This week we have three groups of fantastic visitors exploring different regions of South India. From North Kerala, to Fort Kochi and the tranquil backwaters of Alleppey and a group on a three week trip across Tamil Nadu and Kerala!

It feels so good to be busy after two years of nada due to Covid!

PYP is back and raring to go! Our inbox is open - write to us at [email protected]

22/01/2023

Our little fishing town of Fort Kochi in Kerala has come alive due to Kochi-Biennale!

ends in mid April, so still plenty of time for a holiday rich in art and culture and with the reintroduction of tourist e-visas for UK passport holders it makes it that much easier to plan a last minute adventure to India!

Having lived in Kerala for over six years now, I’m confident we can work together to provide the holiday that YOU want!

30/12/2022

Well this Christmas looked a bit different to our usual in India! 🇮🇳

We swapped appam and beef stew for roast turkey and air conditioning for thermals and woolly hats!

Whilst we’re both in England we still have clients travelling across Kerala who will be celebrating NYE in our home town Fort Kochi ✨ Kochi-Biennale is also back in town until mid April and truly is the best time to visit our quaint little town!

We are already busy writing itineraries and making hotel bookings for 2023, so do get in touch soon if you’re looking to explore India next year! See you there ✈️

16/10/2022

We were so lucky to be visiting The Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab during a holy festival 🛕🎇

We visited twice during our time there, both in the afternoon and evening. I would recommend doing this to experience the different atmospheres that this magnificent temple offers. Truly magical.

Have you visited this iconic site? Tell us about your experience to The Golden Temple!

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28/09/2022

During our three months of travels across India we discovered a variety of beautiful boutique properties.

This six bedroom lodge located in a sleepy village in Himachal Pradesh was one of our top finds! ☕️🌿

Can we help you plan a trip in the near future?

We are lovely and busy with plenty of enquiries for this coming season and also for 2023 in South India, but don’t forget that we can help you plan unforgettable trips to many other states too!!

Contact us via email for more information!

📧 [email protected]

14/09/2022

This trip has been full of adventures and surprises, but one of the best decisions we made was to enrol in a six day pottery course at during our stay in Dharamshala!

The individual pieces have been fired and glazed, and they will be there for us to see next week, when we finally arrive at our home in Kerala ❤️

06/09/2022

🪂 BIR BILLING TRAVEL GUIDE 🪂

We originally planned to stay three nights in this idyllic Himachal hill station and loved it so much we ended up staying ten!

Here are some of our personal recommendations:

EAT:
- for delicious South Indian Cuisine (make sure you order extra coconut chutney!)
- for the best aubergine sandwich
- .cafe for vegetarian and vegan options. This was my daily go to for garlic mushrooms on toast and a fresh smoothie. Visit the boutique shop below!
- .cafe.bir for a authentic Himachal Dham Thali
- for butter chicken (one of the best we’ve ever had!)
- .pizzeria for delicious thin crust wood fire pizzas
- for a chai and to watch the sunset over the landing point
- .clouddoor for biriyani (our Sunday ritual)

STAY:
- for both a hostel and a boutique experience. Sunset views guaranteed every day!
- - the newest boutique in town! Perfect for groups
- Ikaka Homes - boutique budget friendly option located only 10 minutes walk from town

EXPERIENCES:

- for an introductory pottery class
- Deer Park Institute for morning meditation from 7am
- Nyingyang Monastery
- Bangoru Waterfall
- Sherbaling Monastery and drive back through the rural villages
- Visit the roasters and sample their delicious blends
- Take a trip to .pottery , the home of pottery and try your hand at the wheel!
- Visit Palampur for the day and head to for a tea tasting experience and factory tour (highly recommend the mint and masala tea)

Make sure you save this post and let us know how you get on!

We hope you love Bir as much as we do ❤️

23/08/2022

The next stop on our travels across India is Himachal Pradesh 📍

Just outside the busy town of Manali lies a sleepy village called Kullu.

We spent the night at this tranquil riverside retreat overlooking the Beas River and the lush green mountains ⛰

Get in touch with PYP to plan your Himalayan experience!

16/08/2022

Save the date, is back!

From December 2022 - April 2023 come and witness India’s largest art festival in our beloved home town of Fort Kochi.

It’s the perfect time to visit Kerala but do plan ahead, hotels are already getting booked out for the coming season!

Don’t leave it too late, contact us to start planning your Indian journey!

📧 [email protected]

09/08/2022

What a journey!

Bejoy and I travelled across offbeat Ladakh via motorbike for 10 days!

We travelled through snow blizzards, thunder and lightening storms, torrential rain and hailstones and had to get rescued twice (once by the Indian army) 😉

The highlights of our trip were travelling to the last village in India (Thang) which borders Pakistan and riding on the highest motorable road in the world!!!! Umling La Pass (19,300 ft) ✅

02/08/2022

Sorry for the silence, we have been on the road for the past six weeks exploring Kashmir and Ladakh! ⛰🏍

I can’t believe it has taken us five years to explore this enchanting corner of India!

If you’d like to experience this part of the world and need some help planning a bespoke trip reach out to us on [email protected]

Next stop Himachal Pradesh! Stay tuned…

03/07/2022

I can’t believe it has taken us five years to explore this enchanting corner of India!

Welcome to Kashmir, also known as ‘Heaven On Earth’ 🏔

We have been exploring Kashmir for the last two weeks to be able to include this beautiful state to our portfolio of destinations.

If you’d like to experience this part of India and need some help planning your trip reach out to us on [email protected]

26/06/2022

Home sweet home 🌴

After a long flight from London to Kochi, Bejoy surprised me with a stay at one of our favourite boutique hotels in Kerala!

Located on the banks of Vembanad Lake this chic backwaters property is a great place to stay for those looking to relax to the max! Think lazy mornings, sunset swims, costal cruises and candlelit dinners under the stars ✨

Contact PYP to book an unforgettable holiday experience to South India!

www.pack-your-passport.in

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08/06/2022

Just recently we have been working on an itinerary for international clients visiting Kerala during the monsoon season 🌧

Many travellers tend to avoid the South in the months of June and July because of the rain but personally we think it’s a great time to travel!

No crowds, discounted rates and a chance to experience the ‘real’ Kerala. Plus, there is nothing more romantic than floating through the deserted backwaters with a loved one! 🛶

Contact us via email to start planning your monsoon getaway!

01/06/2022

Throwback to our time spent in Chettinad, Tamil Nadu…

We spent our afternoons strolling through the quiet villages admiring the grand mansions and the elaborate architecture of the traditional Chettiar homes. Known for their intricate woodwork, hand carved stone pillars, colourful glasswork, bespoke handmade tiles, Italian marble and show stopping entrances!

Chettinad is also famous for its aromatic cuisine. Curries packed full of flavours using a concoction of freshly ground masalas and often served on a traditional banana leaf 🍃

We loved our time in Chettinad and would love to help you plan an authentic yet high-end holiday to this fascinating corner of South India!

25/05/2022

During our month in Rajasthan we visited all the major cities and landmarks but what we enjoyed the most was exploring rural villages and smaller towns 🌾

We stayed in old castles and havelis, enjoyed night time leopard watching, off-road jeep and cycle rides through the countryside and explored old temples and ruins. We engaged with and were welcomed by the locals and learned huge amounts about their unique customs and traditional ways of life.

If you fancy exploring Rajasthan with PYP we will be sure to include a variety of both city and rural experiences to make sure that you see the ‘real’ Rajasthan as well as the iconic sites. The best of both worlds 🌍

Contact us today to start planning!

19/05/2022

💖 The Pink City 💖

In February we took to the road and explored Rajasthan for the entire month!

Our first stop was Jaipur, known for it’s regal palaces, charming havelis, spectacular forts and traditional Rajasthani textiles and rich cuisine.

This city holds a special place in my heart as that is where my love story with India began in 2011.

Jaipur is a large city which can be overwhelming, but with the right contacts (which we now have!), it can be an unforgettable adventure!!

If this part of India is on your list, get in touch with us to start planning so that we can share with you all of our discoveries from our recent trip to this magical city! 🇮🇳

20/04/2022

Time to travel! 🛺

Whilst we’ve all been suffering the misery of lockdown we’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to a number of new Indian states over the past two years.

Why not explore Goa, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan with PYP in the same way you did Kerala?

Tailor made travel from the West Meets East duo, Ella from England and Bejoy from Kerala.

✅ International Flights have resumed
🇮🇳 No Quarantine upon arrival
✅ No COVID tests required
🇮🇳 Direct flights available from London to Kochi
✅ One Year Multiple Entry Tourist Visa available

Let’s start planning!

09/01/2022

Hi hi hi,

We are a bit late to the game but nevertheless, PYP would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!✨

We feel very fortunate to have had clients over the new year period exploring our beloved Kerala and were hoping for a more prosperous year in terms of travel!

As we enter 2022, we wanted to spend some time reflecting and decide how best to move forward as a business.

One aspect we want to re-focus on is on our social media presence. I, (Ella) handle all the social media for PYP alongside five other business accounts, however will openly admit that I have a love/hate relationship with social media and here is why:

❤️ - keeping in touch with friends/family, great exposure for our business, a great tool for gaining new clients, connecting with similar businesses and brands, discovering new hotels and experience providers etc.

❌ - how attached we are to our devices and how much time is spent scrolling aimlessly, the pressure to keep up appearances, unpredictable algorithms, unauthentic posts, filters, a constant battle of comparison which often leads to self doubt.

So, what we wanted to do was to ask you all exactly what you would like to see from PYP in 2022. Whether that be snippets of our every day lives, personal stories, blogs, monthly newsletters, travel guides, travel resources, Q&A sessions, IGTV lives with professionals in a range of fields, authentic recipes, hotel tours/reviews etc.

Let me know below so we can plan some content over the next few months. In the meantime, I’m getting ready to pack my passport once again and return home to India. See you on the other side!

Ella xx

15/11/2021

Hello everyone!

Wow, it’s been a while since we last posted and given you all an update on PYP and life in general!

After spending 10 months together in Kerala and mainly in lockdown, as soon as India came off the UK’s red list I, (Ella) flew home and quarantined for 10 days. For the first time in five years I’m back in the UK for winter! I’m swapping sandals for snow boots and dresses for dungarees! A new winter wardrobe is definitely needed 🥶

Bejoy is currently in the UAE working on a new project and we hope to reunited in January after the festive fun!

In the last 10 months in-between lockdowns we managed to spend some time in both Goa and Tamil Nadu. I’m pleased to announce that PYP are organically expanding and will now be including these two incredible Southern states to our portfolio!

We have started to receive enquiries for next year from international travellers and have already been lucky enough to start work again by planning bespoke holidays for expats who are currently in India.

We are so ready to start welcoming old and new clients back to India and getting back to what we know and love best, which is planning authentic, informal and high-quality travel experiences across South India.

From today, India is officially open to tourists! Is India on your travel list for 2022/23? If so, let’s talk all things India!

📥 [email protected]

With love always,

Ella & Bejoy

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04/11/2021

Happy Diwali one and all 🪔

May this year be prosperous and full of love, light, opportunities and of course travel!! ✨✨✨

📍 Alleppey, Kerala

Address

Kochi

Telephone

+919746765230

Website

http://www.pack-your-passport.in/

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Welcome to Pack Your Passport!

At Pack Your Passport, where West meets East, we’re passionate about creating authentic, informal, high quality travel experiences across Kerala, India.

Pack Your Passport is a travel planning service with a difference. We deliver an immersion in authentic India, cushioned by familiar home comforts.

We’re two like-minded individuals, Ella from London and Bejoy from Kerala. Although we originate from very different worlds, we share the same passion for travel, uniting East and West. This perfect combination means you’re guaranteed an authentic experience of India, while your personal comfort is paramount.

The properties, adventures and activities we suggest are purposefully chosen to focus on just a few locations in the state of Kerala. Our handpicked, individual and ‘off the beaten’ track experiences are unique, delivering that ‘certain something’ that’s so difficult to find in an increasingly homogenous world.