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. "
Featured trips & expertise
A Culinary Tour of North India: Delhi, Agra, Lucknow & Varanasi - 9 Days
Spend nine days in northern India, learning all about its food, culture, and history. Start in Delhi sightseeing and tasting its street food, feast on Peshawari cuisine in Agra after visiting its red sandstone fort, and dine with a descendant of the Nawabs in Lucknow. Your tour finishes in Varanasi on the River Ganges, where you'll try treats in a local market before you head back to Delhi for a final day of exploring.
Explore the Heritage & Cuisine of Rajasthan – 9 Days
Discover Rajasthan's unique heritage and cuisine on this extensive nine-day tour. You'll visit the region's most famous landmarks, from UNESCO-listed wonders like the Amer Palace Fort and Taj Mahal to sacred ghats in Udaipur and religious monuments like Pushkar's Brahma Temple. Along the way, you'll sample typical Rajasthan dishes on street food tours led by local guides and take a cooking class at a family home in Jaipur.
Highlights of Goa - 6 Days
India's smallest state, Goa, is unlike any other. Remnants of its half-millennia under Portuguese rue linger, while its cultural diversity and bohemian outlook draw creatives and digital nomads from around the world. It's also the epitome of west coast India's incredible natural beauty. On this six-day tour with a private guide, you'll discover unique flavors on a street food crawl, watch the crocodiles of Divar Island, and see Goa's tallest waterfall in Mollem National Park.
Highlights of Gujarat: Culture & Wildlife – 9 Days
Discover India's Gujarat region's unique culture and wildlife on this nine-day tour. You’ll explore Mumbai’s sacred ghats, meet the skilled Mir and Rabari textile tribes, and tour ancient architecture in UNESCO-listed Ahmedabad. Enjoy safaris in Velavadar and Gir National Parks, where you’ll bump across grasslands and forests, spotting everything from wolves to blackbucks, exotic birds, and the world's last remaining Asiatic lions.
Culture & Spiritualism in Northern India: Delhi, Agra & Varanasi - 6 Days
Immerse yourself in Northern India's rich cultural and spiritual heritage on a six-day tour of Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi. Enjoy several different perspectives on the Taj Mahal, sample delicious street food in Agra Bazaar, experience a spiritual ceremony on the banks of the Ganges, take a yoga class in Varanasi and visit the birthplace of Buddhism in Sarnath. End your journey with a visit to a traditional market to watch sari weaving.
Cultural Highlights of Rajasthan: Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Udaipur - 13 Days
Admire some of India's most spectacular buildings, have cooking lessons with a local family, and spot wildlife on this 13-day cultural tour of Rajasthan. In Agra, you'll marvel at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, in Pushkar, you can go on a camel ride in the countryside and desert, and you'll finish your tour in the romantic city of Udaipur.
Recent trip reviews for Ravi
Amazing experience. Highly recommendable!
India
|
Dec 31 - Jan 7, 2023
I've contacted Active India through Kimkim and I must say that I've really enjoyed my experience!
As a start, and to make the communication easy during the trip, I was added to a WhatsApp group with Ravi and the Active India emergency number and I gave consistent feedback and requested to book for optional trips. The response to my queries were really quick.
Active India are really attentive and I felt like they were looking after me during the trip. They've got the details from my... read more
Excellent trip! Only wish we had more time :)
India
|
Dec 11 - Dec 17, 2022
Excellent Trip! Only wish we had more time :) read more
Thank you Meg for this lovely review. we have taken note of all important points of your valuable feedback . We look forward to welcome you again for your next India holiday,
Best Regards
Trip to Leh November 2022
India
|
Nov 7 - Nov 11, 2022
My girlfriend and I had a fantastic time on our guided tour in Leh and Ladakh in November 2022. The scenery there was breathtaking (literally - it's very high!), and all the monasteries and temples we saw were very interesting to see and learn about. We had an extremely knowledgeable guide with us the whole time, and a driver who navigated the city of Leh and the surrounding area with impressive ease. The guide knew all about everywhere we went and was really helpful in sharing his own... read more
Dear Will,
We are pleased to know that your holiday experience with us was fantastic despite you falling sick during the tour. Many thanks for your appreciation of our guides , drivers and accommodation we had booked for you and your girlfriend.
I know first couple of days have not been so easy for you due to health issue, however, your positive attitude and our little effort made rest of your experience memorable. Your kind words are greatly appreciated.
We look forward to welcome you again for your next holiday to India,
Kind Regards,
Ravi
An Incredible Trip!
India
|
Nov 4 - Nov 14, 2022
Pros: Our driver, Satish, was incredible and one of the best parts of the trip. He was always punctual, helpful, kind, and gave good advice. He was a careful and attentive driver, and I always felt safe though the driving conditions were very unusual for me.
The guides who led the spice tour and the Munnar hike were our favorites from the trip. Both were very friendly and their knowledge level was impressive. Also the spice tour guide did recommend his brother's shop to us and the prices... read more
Dear Kristin,
We’re so happy to hear from you! Thank you for your valuable feedback. We truly value honest feedback of our customers as it always plays an important role in the improvement of services for future guests.
We have an incredible team of highly trained professionals and certified Guides and we strive for 100% satisfaction to every guest and we try our best to make sure that we don’t compromise on our services. We are glad to know that you enjoyed the food, activities and... read more
Lovely trip. Great help in planning the trip ...
India
|
Oct 29 - Nov 5, 2022
Lovely trip. Great help in planning the trip by Ravi who was knowledgeable, kind, gracious and really made us feel that he cared for us to have a great trip.
Our guides were very insightful and welcomes d us with grace. Special mention for Giriraj, Harish and Jitendra. Our driver was also incredibly kind (Rahul) and brought a smile to my daughter every day.
My only constructive feedback would be:
-just as restaurants in India ask westerners « how spicy do you want it » this should... read more
Dear Sohrab,
Thank you so much for taking out time to leave this fantastic review. We are so pleased to hear that you and your family have loved the tour and had wonderful experience while in India. thanks for your appreciation and special mention of our driver and guides . Thanks for your suggestion with regard to restaurants & food which is very helpful. It was indeed a great pleasure to organise your India holiday and thanks for choosing to travel with us.
We look forward to welcoming you again in future.
Kind regards
Ravi
India trip planning. Excellent experience ...
India
|
Oct 28 - Nov 12, 2022
We have had an amazing experience planning our trip to India with Ravi. The itinerary suggested was perfect and met our brief so well. Suggested changes from us were implemented quickly with excellent advice and help from Ravi. Response to messages was alway quick and appropriate. I would thoroughly recommend Ravi and Kimkim for planning your trip.
Thank you Ravi and I hope we can travel to India soon once we have the visa issue sorted.
Dear Deborah,
Glad to read your review. Thank you so very much for your support and we will always be grateful to you. It would be an honor for us to have this continued association with you and fulfill your travel needs whenever you will obtain Indian visa.
In the meantime, I send your way my best wishes.
Kind regards,
Ravi
Jit, my guide in Delhi was excellent as was d...
India
|
Sep 13 - Sep 20, 2022
Jit, my guide in Delhi was excellent as was driver Pushkar. I particularly enjoyed visiting Pushkar. read more
Dear Stefanos
Greetings and good wishes !!
Glad to read your review on our services. Thank you so very much for your support and we will always be grateful to you. This would surely encourage other intending travellers.
It would be an honor for us to have this continued association with you and fulfil your travel needs whenever you plan to travel to our part of the world again. Please do keep us in your thoughts.
In the meantime, I send your way my best wishes.
Kind regards,
Ravi
Tour to Taj Mahal
India
|
Apr 8 - Apr 11, 2022
Ravi was quick to respond to our inquiry about booking a trip to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Every detail, from our airport pickup in Delhi, the private car to Agra, our hotel in Agra and our guide for our tour of the Taj was perfect. Our guide took us to lunch at "Pinch Of Spice" in Agra which was wonderful! He was very knowledgeable and personable.
Dear Rick,
Greetings and good wishes !!
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide feedback. Your feedback is greatly valued and important to us. We appreciate your kind and encouraging words. It would be a privilege for us to continue our relationship with you and to craft another trip for you whenever you return to our part of the world.
In the meantime, I send your way my best wishes.
Kind regards,
Ravi