The people behind every Raw India Experience journey.
"Live India. Not Just Visit."
Kochi, Kerala · 2026
Our Story
Six People From Kerala. One Mission.
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We are six young Keralites who grew up watching travellers pass through our home — seeing the postcards but missing the story. We started Raw India Experience to change that.
Our goal is simple: to show the world India the way its people actually live it. Not through a tour bus window, but through the kitchen of a toddy-tapper's wife, the silence of a 4am tea estate, the rehearsal room of a Kathakali master who has never performed for tourists.
Every experience we curate directly supports a local family, a village artisan, or a traditional craft that needs a reason to survive. When you travel with us, your journey becomes part of someone else's livelihood. That's not a tagline. That's how we built the business.
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Local First
Every guide, host, cook and driver is from the community you visit. Tourism money stays where the experience happens.
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Living Crafts
We partner with artisans, performers and farmers to create experiences that keep traditional skills economically viable.
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Responsible Travel
Small groups, private access, no crowds. We limit numbers to protect the experience and the places that make it possible.
We didn't start Raw India Experience because tourism was growing. We started because we were tired of watching travellers leave Kerala without ever meeting Kerala.
We'd seen it happen too many times — a houseboat photographed, a temple ticked off a list, a "cultural evening" performed on schedule for a coach full of strangers. Beautiful on camera. Forgettable in memory. The traveller goes home with images of Kerala, but never once sat at a table where a meal was cooked because they were a guest, not a customer.
So we built something else. A team of people who actually live here — in the backwaters, the highlands, the old port towns — who know which family still weaves mats the way their grandmother did, which boatman knows the quiet canals no tour bus can reach, which kitchen will let a stranger pull up a chair. We don't sell packages. We open doors that usually stay closed to outsiders, and we walk through them with you.
This is why every journey we curate is small, private, and unhurried — because the moments that actually stay with you can't be rushed, and they can't be mass-produced.
Live India. Not just visit.
From Our Guests
Real reviews, in their own words.
Frequently Asked
Before you travel with us
All meals, private vehicle and driver, all selected activities, and one complimentary drink per day are included — no hidden costs.
We recommend booking at least a few weeks ahead; a 40% advance confirms your booking, with the balance due before travel.
Yes — children under 5 travel at half price, and children aged 5 and above are priced as adults.
Custom "Build Your Journey" itineraries have a minimum of 5 days / 40 hours; our six Signature Experiences each have their own set duration.
We display pricing in INR, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, SGD, and AED, with conversion assistance offered.
Flights, international transfers, travel insurance, personal shopping, and tips are not included in the package price.
WhatsApp us directly, email hello@rawindiaexperience.com, or use the enquiry form on this site — we read every message personally and respond within 24 hours.
India welcomes millions of international travellers every year, and Kerala in particular has a strong reputation for safety, hospitality, and ease of travel. As with any destination, sensible precautions apply — but every journey with Raw India Experience includes a private vehicle, a vetted local guide, and a team that stays reachable throughout your trip. We design our itineraries around safety as a foundation, not an afterthought.
Yes. Kerala consistently ranks among India's safer states for women travelling alone, and our team takes this seriously in how we plan. We work only with vetted drivers and guides, choose stays with strong safety track records, and stay closely connected with our guests throughout the journey — close when needed, and with the privacy and space you want the rest of the time.
Most of Kerala — including all the regions in our current circuit — has reliable 4G/5G mobile coverage, and the majority of our partner stays offer Wi-Fi. Connectivity can be lighter in remote backwater stretches or deep highland forest areas, which we'll always flag in advance so there are no surprises.
We're happy to share general guidance on Indian e-Visa requirements and the application process for your nationality. Final visa approval rests with Indian immigration authorities, so we always recommend applying well ahead of your travel dates.
Absolutely. Kerala's cuisine has a long, rich vegetarian tradition, and our culinary experiences and partner kitchens can comfortably accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and most other dietary requirements — just let us know when you enquire, and we'll build it into your itinerary from the start.
Yes, in line with Kerala's local regulations. Many of our partner resorts and houseboats offer alcohol service, and your curator can guide you on availability for each leg of your specific itinerary.
Our on-ground team is reachable throughout your journey and trained to respond quickly, with established contacts at reputable local hospitals and clinics across our circuit. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance with medical coverage for all international guests, and can share guidance on this during planning.
Our cancellation terms vary based on how close to your travel dates a cancellation occurs, and will always be shared clearly and in writing as part of your booking confirmation, alongside your detailed costing.
Yes. Airport pickup is included as standard in every Raw India Experience itinerary, with our team meeting you on arrival for a smooth, unhurried start to your journey.
