A Taste of Southern India

Quotes and Feedback from our customers

January 2011

"A wonderful combination of meeting producers and workers alongside sightseeing. I felt we really got below the surface in a way that one would not normally on a tourist trip and gained so much more insight into a fascinating country."

"Producers welcoming and enthusiastic about their role."

Reaching the Unreached - "The sheer scale and variety of projects and the number of people who were helped in different ways made it particularly memorable."

"Ranjith was an excellent guide who gave us a good insight into Southern Indian life and enabled us to get below the surface."

"A fantastic experience! Ranjith's arrangements were superb! Not a minibus or a train or a boat not waiting where it should have been for us."

"Houseboat - out of this world!!"

"Kerala Waterways - just such peace and tranquility plus fascinating scenes every minute."

"Ranjith was superb - well prepared, full of information. A unique tour guide. Never let him go!"

"A wonderful experience. Great guide and a congenial group."

"Ranjith was a star, informative and knowledgable he carried out the role admirably. Always had our interests at heart - whether it was making sure we had enough to eat or were happy with our rooms."

January 2010

"The visit to the pottery workshop was our favourite - you could see the whole process and we visited the school next door which benefitted"

"My favourite part of the visit to the tea farmers was having lunch in the house of one of the farmers"

"Ranjith attended to every details and looked after us very well. We were extremely fortunate to have his brother's in-laws on the trips, we had wonderful conversations"

"Our views on fair trade have strengthened, however not only on trade but also on issues of growing organic crops and the effects on the health of the producer. We heard strong evidence of the benefits to tea and coffee of getting rid of the chemicals"


February 2009

"All of the producer and project visits were excellent. I particularly enjoyed the time with the Centre for Education and Communication's Small Tea Grower's Project"

"A very well worked travel sequence; planned and serendipitous meetings and splendid accommodation and meals"

"Ranjith was thorough and very helpful, stimulating and fun. He really had found some outstanding places for us to stay and eat in"

"The whole tour was outstanding in the provision of accomodation, hospitality, project visits and sights"

"An amazing experience. The scenery was spectacular, the cuisine sophisticated and varied, the people we met were articulate, highly informed and passionate. We visited remote places surrounded by exotic vegetation and wildlife. On top of it all we had the constant entertainment provided by the legendary Ranjith!"

"Great for vegetarians"


January 2008

"Exceeded my hopes and expectations"

"It definitely lived up to my very high expectations"

"There was enormous variation in the food that ranged from the totally authentic to Indian/European"

"My favourite visit was to the tea farms - seeing the small plantation and biodynamic farming practices - and also the meeting with the self-help groups in Pallikkunnu"

"The one which stays in my mind is the visit to the forest clearing at night to watch the Tribals dancing"

"The rice boat trip on the lake in Kerala and the Heritage Lodge at Elappara were both lovely for relaxation after all the visits"

"Ranjith did everything possible to ensure our wellbeing - he was well prepared, a good, conscientious guide and good company"

"I had no idea that Southern India was so beautiful and found the people delightful and the country less strange than I had expected"

"Being off the tourist routes was great - hearing explanations of & witnessing the culture first hand was a revelation. Having always liked all the Indian people I've met, it was still something of a surprise to discover such a wonderful atmosphere in their homeland"

"I feel more convinced than ever that I am helping in a modest way and that Fair Trade is the only ethical way forward"

"The visit helped me to better understand the problems growers face and also the difficulties in organising the Fair Trade procedures"