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Ravi Tickoo

World traveller, professional mountaineer and passionate adventure entrepreneur, Ravi has over 25 years of experience conducting adventure, experiential and culture tours across the length and breadth of India.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Active India Holidays is an award-winning independent travel company offering safe, authentic and memorable India holidays for families, small groups and individual travelers. Founded by Ravi Tickoo, Active India was born out of his vision to build a dedicated, high-quality and sustainable brand for active, experiential and adventure holidays across India, Nepal and Bhutan.

Active India offers an expanding range of engaging activities and immersive experiences including soft and challenging trekking, walking tours, cycling and motor-biking adventures, experiential culture and discovery holidays, wildlife safaris and nature tours.

We conduct our trekking and walking programs in Ladakh, Zanskar and across the Himalayas, pioneering multi-activity programs (cycling, motor-biking and safaris) across the Himalayas, Rajasthan and Kerala, wildlife safaris and tiger trails in prominent national parks and tiger reserves, experiential culture and discovery tours across the length and breadth of India. In partnership with KimKim, Active India offers on-demand tailor-made India experiences designed around your needs and crafted with a clear focus on the quality of service, authenticity of experience and enriching engagement with the cultural charms, natural splendor and unparalleled diversity that defines India.
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Being born and brought up in Kashmir valley, in the lap of great mountain ranges, tourism and in particular adventure travel has always seemed like a part of my DNA. The world-renowned natural beauty, alpine climate and the grand altitudes and outdoors have been attracting visitors to the valley for generations and shaped tourism as the dominant industry in the region. Starting out as a young, passionate tour leader back in the 80’s, I had the unique opportunity of exploring the most popular and remotest corners of the region and realizing how much I truly enjoyed my job. Very soon I joined a niche adventure company as a co-founder and spent over two decades contributing in its pioneering growth story from a local niche service provider to a multi-award winning nationwide tour operator.

Realizing the need and unmet demand for a dedicated, high quality Indian brand for active, experiential holidays, I founded Active India in 2011 to offer a wide range of safe, authentic and engaging activities with a focus on high quality, tailor-made services for truly personalized and memorable India experiences. We are proud that within a short span of our operations, Active India has seen great success and just last year was awarded the prestigious National Tourism Award for the Best Adventure Tour Operator."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Having had the privilege to travel across Asia, Europe and North America, I have had my fair share of adventures and experiences over the years. However, the one that is truly unique and unforgettable, comes from my first attempt to summit the peak Deo Tibba (6001m) one of the highest peaks in eastern end of Pir Panjal range of Himalayas. The entire expedition, from being one of my first “serious” climbs and accompanied by my dear friend and world-renowned mountaineer, Fred Harper, was a deeply transformative experience. The scenes of unparalleled beauty and immense power of nature combined with the thrill and vulnerability of adventure and wilderness have remained so vivid until this day. Unfortunately, Fred passed away soon after in 2000, which further made this experience a unique privilege and personal honor to have shared my rope with someone I admired and learnt so much from. "

Ravi is part of the following groups: Nepal Travel Agents, India Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
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Recent trip reviews for Ravi

Golden Triangle Tour - Easy, Flexible, Great
India | Oct 20 - Oct 27, 2024

D
Diana C.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 18, 2024
Spent a great week on a whirlwind tour of the Golden Triangle organise via KimKim & Active India. The team (special thanks to Ravi and Aditya) worked very hard to make sure our trip was welcoming and memorable. From the first moment we contacted KimKim to the final itinerary, Ravi and his team answered all of our questions and helped make all of our arrangements. We were greeted at the airport and escorted to every site, event, hotel, etc. in very capable hands. The selection of sights and... Read more

Spent a great week on a whirlwind tour of the Golden Triangle organise via KimKim & Active India. The team (special thanks to Ravi and Aditya) worked very hard to make sure our trip was welcoming and memorable. From the first moment we contacted KimKim to the final itinerary, Ravi and his team answered all of our questions and helped make all of our arrangements. We were greeted at the airport and escorted to every site, event, hotel, etc. in very capable hands. The selection of sights and activities was well planned, flexible and included a good variety. We had 1 or 2 minor hiccups while there but the team, having set up a What's App group for us when we arrived, made it very easy to contact them. They were incredibly responsive and quick to resolve our issues. The guides were professional, knowledgeable and each brought their own expertise to our visits. Our driver was courteous, careful and extremely adept at navigating the roads/routes of our journey. Overall, KimKim made planning and experiencing our trip so very easy.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Nov 19, 2024
Dear Diana,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on your trip to India. We are thrilled to hear that you and Analisa had a memorable experience and that every moment of your journey was filled with joy and discovery.
On behalf of the entire Active India & Kimkim team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for placing your trust in us to plan and organize your family’s holiday tour. It was a pleasure to be a part of your travel experience,... Read more

Dear Diana,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on your trip to India. We are thrilled to hear that you and Analisa had a memorable experience and that every moment of your journey was filled with joy and discovery.

On behalf of the entire Active India & Kimkim team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for placing your trust in us to plan and organize your family’s holiday tour. It was a pleasure to be a part of your travel experience, and we are delighted that we could contribute to making your trip special.

India has so much to offer, from its rich culture and heritage to its diverse landscapes and vibrant cities. We sincerely hope that your visit has sparked a desire to explore even more of our beautiful country. If you decide to return for another adventure, we would be honored to assist you once again in curating an unforgettable journey.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us whenever you're ready to plan your next trip. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back to India soon!

Warm regards,
Ravi

North India
India | Feb 9 - Feb 12, 2024

Thomas
Thomas B.
Beaumont, CA | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2024
Kimkim made organizing such a trip easy. Active India was indispensable in helping me customize my trip and the flexibility provided by Active India. The itinerary laid out met my expectations. I was able to see everything I wanted. Varanasi is incredible. An amazing place! I was well looked after by Ravi and his team. The drivers and guides were courteous, helpful and always on time. Unfortunately I caught the flu early in the trip, and not feeling my best contemplated ending the... Read more

Kimkim made organizing such a trip easy. Active India was indispensable in helping me customize my trip and the flexibility provided by Active India.

The itinerary laid out met my expectations. I was able to see everything I wanted. Varanasi is incredible. An amazing place!

I was well looked after by Ravi and his team. The drivers and guides were courteous, helpful and always on time.

Unfortunately I caught the flu early in the trip, and not feeling my best contemplated ending the trip early. Fortunately Ravi and his team were there for me. I will alway be grateful for his encouragement to rest and persevere. I got better and I got to see Varanasi at the end of my month in South Asia.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Nov 19, 2024
Dear Tomas,
Greetings India!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on your trip to India. We are pleased to hear that you had a truly memorable experience despite your flu. Your kind words mean a lot to us.
On behalf of the entire Active India & Kimkim team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for placing your trust in us to plan and organize your family’s holiday tour. It was a pleasure to be a part of your travel experience, and we are... Read more

Dear Tomas,
Greetings India!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on your trip to India. We are pleased to hear that you had a truly memorable experience despite your flu. Your kind words mean a lot to us.

On behalf of the entire Active India & Kimkim team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for placing your trust in us to plan and organize your family’s holiday tour. It was a pleasure to be a part of your travel experience, and we are delighted that we could contribute to making your trip special.

India has so much to offer, from its rich culture and heritage to its diverse landscapes and vibrant cities. We sincerely hope that your visit has sparked a desire to explore even more of our beautiful country. If you decide to return for another adventure, we would be honored to assist you once again in curating an unforgettable journey.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us whenever you're ready to plan your next trip. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back to India soon!

Warm regards,

Ravi

Ravi and Active India Holidays provided exact...
India | Oct 23 - Nov 14, 2024

Martin
Martin T.
Tempe Junction, AZ | Reviewed on Nov 15, 2024

Ravi and Active India Holidays provided exactly what I had asked for. There was never any issues or problems once my trip began. Ravi and staff were always in constant communication with me. Responses to any questions immediate in India, within 12 hours because of time difference US/ India. All hotels, guides and especially my driver were top quality. Highly recommend.

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Nov 19, 2024
Dear Martin,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on your recent trip to India. We are thrilled to hear that you had a truly memorable experience and that every moment of your journey was filled with joy and discovery. Your kind words mean a lot to us.
On behalf of the entire Active India & Kimkim team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for placing your trust in us to plan and organize your family’s holiday tour. It was a pleasure to be a part... Read more

Dear Martin,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on your recent trip to India. We are thrilled to hear that you had a truly memorable experience and that every moment of your journey was filled with joy and discovery. Your kind words mean a lot to us.

On behalf of the entire Active India & Kimkim team, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for placing your trust in us to plan and organize your family’s holiday tour. It was a pleasure to be a part of your travel experience, and we are delighted that we could contribute to making your trip special.

India has so much to offer, from its rich culture and heritage to its diverse landscapes and vibrant cities. We sincerely hope that your visit has sparked a desire to explore even more of our beautiful country. If you decide to return for another adventure, we would be honored to assist you once again in curating an unforgettable journey.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us whenever you're ready to plan your next trip. We look forward to welcoming you and your family back to India soon!

Warm regards,
Ravi

Exhilarating and Magical India
India | Sep 20 - Oct 4, 2024

Rene
Rene M.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 12, 2024
The most memorable place was Veranasi and Udaipur. We were really happy with our driver Mr. Puran. He was really reliable and quite knowledgeable of all the places we went to with him. Read more

The most memorable place was Veranasi and Udaipur. We were really happy with our driver Mr. Puran. He was really reliable and quite knowledgeable of all the places we went to with him.

Activity Review
Bathe, Paint and Feed -  (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)
Bathe, Paint and Feed - (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)
Jaipur

It was really special to connect with this amazing creatures. They seems to be treating the animal with dignity and respect.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Oct 15, 2024

Dear Rene,
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback about your recent trip to India! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a memorable experience and enjoyed exploring India.

It’s wonderful to know that our local guides and our driver Mr. Puran made a positive impact on your journey. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to them!

Thank you for your feedback. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you with any future travels!

Warm regards,
Ravi

Experiencing A New Culture in India!
India | Aug 10 - Aug 15, 2024

Jennifer
Jennifer B.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2024
Overall, our first trip to India was a memorable one! We love to experience new cultures on our trips and India has a unique one! Because my daughter and I are on a two-month, 12-country trip, we were only able to spend five nights in India. However, we experienced some of the best places India has to offer by visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Our local guides in each city were professional and knowledgeable. We learned quite a bit from them! Our driver the entire time, Mr. Puran, was... Read more

Overall, our first trip to India was a memorable one! We love to experience new cultures on our trips and India has a unique one! Because my daughter and I are on a two-month, 12-country trip, we were only able to spend five nights in India. However, we experienced some of the best places India has to offer by visiting Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Our local guides in each city were professional and knowledgeable. We learned quite a bit from them! Our driver the entire time, Mr. Puran, was awesome! He took care of us traveling from city to city and on all of our tours. Kudos to him for be able to navigate what we would consider ‘crazy’ traffic!

The hotels hand-picked for us in Agra and Jaipur (The Grand Imperial and the Dera Rawatsar respectively) were excellent! Highly recommend! Alternatively, in Delhi, I would likely want to stay somewhere else on a return visit. While it was clean and the staff was accommodating, the rooms were a bit tired, and some common things not provided in the rooms such as tissues and bath mats. And while the breakfast each morning was good, it was a little ‘unorganized’ if you needed/ordered something. Again, not a show-stopper, just providing some additional feedback that might be considered for clients coming from the US.

If I had to book the trip over again, I would likely not be so aggressive in trying to visit three cities that are each about 5-6 hours driving distance apart in 5 days. It was a lot of driving in such a short amount of time. It would have been helpful to know in planning the trip if this were called out so I could make a more informed decision. I may or may not have opted for something different, or even extended our stay, but at least I would have a little better idea about drive times.

Thanks to Active India for taking such good care of us while in the country and for selecting tours and sites that interested us. I would certainly recommend them to anyone traveling there!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Udman Ferns N Petals
New Delhi, Delhi

Clean rooms, accommodating staff. Rooms were not tired looking. Common hotel room items like tissue and bath mats were not provided. A little unorganized for breakfast in ordering or asking for items. But nice selection of breakfast items.

Authenticity & Character
Location
In a location were you really couldn’t walk out anywhere.
Staff
Professional and accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand Imperial
Agra

Embodies Indian culture, very nice open spaces and very roomy accommodations. Staff professional and accommodating!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dera Rawatsar

Beautiful rooms reflective of Indian culture! Very spacious and clean! All amenities needed! Very accommodating staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Agra

A MUST SEE!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bathe, Paint and Feed -  (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)
Bathe, Paint and Feed - (Un-forgettable - experience with elephants!)
Jaipur

Once in a lifetime opportunity to interact with these gentle giants!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Aug 24, 2024
Dear Jennifer
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent trip to India! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had a memorable experience and enjoyed exploring Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
It’s wonderful to know that our local guides and our driver Mr. Puran made a positive impact on your journey. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to them! We appreciate your honest feedback about the accommodations. Your insights are invaluable, and we’ll take... Read more

Dear Jennifer
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent trip to India! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had a memorable experience and enjoyed exploring Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

It’s wonderful to know that our local guides and our driver Mr. Puran made a positive impact on your journey. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to them!

We appreciate your honest feedback about the accommodations. Your insights are invaluable, and we’ll take them into account to ensure that future travelers have an even better experience. We understand that the hotel in Delhi didn’t meet your expectations, and we’ll work to improve the selection and amenities based on your comments.

We also appreciate your thoughts on the itinerary. We’re sorry to hear that the amount of driving felt a bit overwhelming. We’ll review the planning details to ensure clearer communication about travel times and help future travelers make more informed decisions.

Thank you for recommending Active India, and for your constructive feedback. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you with any future travels, and we hope your ongoing journey continues to be just as exciting and enjoyable!

Warm regards,

Ravi

Family trip to South India
India | Jun 25 - Jul 1, 2024

Soumya
Soumya K.
Scotch Plains, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2024
We planned a 6 day trip covering some of the coastal and temple towns in South India.
Right from planning, answering questions and arranging for logistics- hotels, guides, car etc, Ravi and team were on top of everything.
We had a wonderful experience with our 2 guides, Sam Benjamin and Marimuthu who were extremely knowledgeable about the area and provided us a lot of insights and also recommendations on places to eat, shop etc.
Ajith, our driver for the trip was always on time and kept...
Read more

We planned a 6 day trip covering some of the coastal and temple towns in South India.
Right from planning, answering questions and arranging for logistics- hotels, guides, car etc, Ravi and team were on top of everything.
We had a wonderful experience with our 2 guides, Sam Benjamin and Marimuthu who were extremely knowledgeable about the area and provided us a lot of insights and also recommendations on places to eat, shop etc.
Ajith, our driver for the trip was always on time and kept us on schedule
Overall, a memorable experience!! Looking forward to planning our next India trip with this team!!

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jul 17, 2024
Dear Soumya,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for taking out time and sharing your reviews of the recent trip. We are happy to hear that you and your family had a nice and enjoyable trip. Guest feedback is of paramount importance to us as it helps us to improver the services wherever required and also encourages our team members to wrk even harder once they receive appreciation for their hardwork.
We are very grateful to you and your family for allowing us this chance to arrange your south... Read more

Dear Soumya,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for taking out time and sharing your reviews of the recent trip. We are happy to hear that you and your family had a nice and enjoyable trip. Guest feedback is of paramount importance to us as it helps us to improver the services wherever required and also encourages our team members to wrk even harder once they receive appreciation for their hardwork.

We are very grateful to you and your family for allowing us this chance to arrange your south India holiday.

we look forward to welcome you back on another holiday is other region of India . As you know India is such a diverse country with so much to offer and every holiday is itself an experience.

Best Regards,

Ravi

Resort at Kanyakumari was not up to the mark....
India | Jun 25 - Jul 1, 2024

S
Sriram B.
India | Reviewed on Jul 02, 2024

Resort at Kanyakumari was not up to the mark.Food quality was poor .

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jul 09, 2024

Dear Sriram,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for your trip review. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to design and operate your special India holiday tour.

We have noted your feedback for the Resort at Kanyakumari and have decided to no longer use this property for our future guests as your feedback is valuable to us.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to another India adventure in the near future.

Best Regards,

Ravi

Excellent Trip to Golden Triangle
India | Jun 3 - Jun 12, 2024

Y
Yannic N.
Singapore | Reviewed on Jun 13, 2024
We really enjoyed our trip to North India (Golden Triangle). Booking/Planning was good and the team responded well to our change requests. There was a mix-up with the booking name, which was not fully resolved at the end, but did not cause any troubles. The local guides and our driver for the 10 days have been excellent and we had a superb experience. There could have been a few more activities, but this way it was a very relaxed trip. Read more

We really enjoyed our trip to North India (Golden Triangle). Booking/Planning was good and the team responded well to our change requests. There was a mix-up with the booking name, which was not fully resolved at the end, but did not cause any troubles. The local guides and our driver for the 10 days have been excellent and we had a superb experience. There could have been a few more activities, but this way it was a very relaxed trip.

Hotel Reviews
Colonel's Retreat
Delhi

Hotel was okay, but the food options were limited and kitchen was not active during lunch time, so they told us it would take an hour to prepare food. Our driver recommended a very good restaurant instead. Another negative point was that the kitchen was on the same floor as our room, so it was quite smelly. Overall, still a very good experience; large room and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Mercure Agra
Agra

Excellent, gym was good! Actually the only gym on our trip, so we happily used this one.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ranthambhore Heritage Haveli
Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

Good pool, and also good food (there was no other restaurant option close to the hotel).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Good for the National Park, but the path to the main road is very bumpy.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Dera Rawatsar

Overall very good and very helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on Jul 08, 2024

Dear Yannic,
Namaste!

Thank you so much for your trip reviews. We are happy to hear you had a nice and enjoyable trip to India. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to design and operate your special India holiday tour.

Apologies for the minor mix-up with the surname, We notified all the hotels beforehand, therefore not causing any check-in issues!

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to another India adventure in the near future.

Best Regards,

Ravi

Average tour
India | Apr 23 - May 2, 2024

Kathy
Kathy B.
| Reviewed on May 14, 2024
The tour was ok, 2 out of the 4 hotels were excellent , the other 2 below average.
The driver was fantastic but the tours all felt a bit bland - like the guides had delivered the same tour for 20 years - nothing spectacular.
Kimkim removed all the hassle and risk of making any decisions ,was good to know we had support if anything in India went paired shaped.
Read more

The tour was ok, 2 out of the 4 hotels were excellent , the other 2 below average.
The driver was fantastic but the tours all felt a bit bland - like the guides had delivered the same tour for 20 years - nothing spectacular.
Kimkim removed all the hassle and risk of making any decisions ,was good to know we had support if anything in India went paired shaped.

Hotel Reviews
Haveli Dharampura
Delhi

Hotel was excellent- beautifully renovated and authentic to historic past, excellent rooftop bar. The hotel has an excellent restaurant but had functions both nights that dominated the restaurant space. Staff were excellent and attentive

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Grand Imperial
Agra

Hotel is tired, was a challenge to get drinking water, room not serviced - there is construction going on around it. It appears that there was no one managing the hotel or a change in management at the time we were there .

Authenticity & Character
Hotel is tired
Location
Staff
A few staff were working hard the rest sitting around
Cleanliness & Comfort
Service the rooms
Royal Heritage Haveli
Khatipura, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Oasis ! Excellent rooms, gardens, food and staff. Very enjoyable stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Location was not a major issue as we had a driver
Staff
It was obvious the staff enjoyed their jobs - could not fault anyone from porters to the chef😀
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Taj Mahal Sunrise Visit
Agra

Didn’t happen as closed on Fridays for cleaning

Quality of Experience
Transport
Heritage walk in Neemrana
Neemrana

Didn’t happen - I think the hotel has a free walk for all guests

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo

.
India | Apr 7 - Apr 27, 2024

J
James H.
Italy | Reviewed on May 05, 2024

The trip was very well planned out. We appreciate all the effort provided by the driver, the guides, Ravi and Aditya. Thank you!!!

Local specialist: Ravi Tickoo
Ravi
Ravi Tickoo
Local specialist in New Delhi | Replied on May 13, 2024

Dear James and Anne,
Namaste!
Thank you so much for your trip reviews. we are happy to hear you and Anne had a nice and enjoyable trip to India. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to design and operate your special India holiday tour.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to another India adventure in the near future.

Best Regards,

Ravi