Travel: New Mumbai-based firm curates kids-only tours

ldquoWe never carried Indian snacks on our trips Wersquod always eat what we gotrdquo shares 35year old citybased entrepreneur Prachi Kagzi recalling her travels as a kid in the 1980s From visiting offbeat locales in Greek Isles and Papua New Guinea with her parents to later diving in the Red Sea and chasing the Northern Lights with her husband Kagzi has ticked off nearly 45 countries on the mapA visitor encounters a Polar Bear at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium at Tacoma in Washington USAShe even took her threeyear old son Arsh to China for his first overseas trip ldquoMy friends thought I was crazy but after hearing our encounters they were keen to gordquo she says This led the travel evangelist to start Little Passports that curates tours within India and overseas for children between three and 13 years ldquoIndian parents prefer if kids fly solo to increase their independence We also welcome them to accompany us if they feel more comfortable Our USP is to introduce children and parents to offbeat destinations The concept will resonate with parents who value lsquolearningbydoingrsquordquo she saysTravel the worldThe firm makes its debut next month with a fiveday trip to China organised for kids between three to six years The highlights include visiting a circus a safari park and an aquarium ldquoSince it is for preschoolers we have curated a package for moms and kidsrdquo she elaborates Having received six signups for this trip already she has also plotted Slovakia on the firmrsquos tour map ldquoItrsquos been planned in December for kids above seven years This is a kidsonly tour however parents can join The itinerary includes winter activities like skiing snowboarding husky dog sledging and snow shoe hikesrdquo she informsPrachi Kagzi founder Little PassportsUnless itrsquos a school trip we found that Mumbairsquos tour operators donrsquot curate kidsonly travels Biggies like Thomas Cook and Cox amp Kings prefer to offer family packages ldquoIn India itrsquos rare for kids to travel solo especially internationally So we design our packages such that the itinerary appeals to kids and parentsrdquo informs Karan Anand Head Relationship Cox and Kings Ltd adding ldquoThe demand for kidfriendly packages is more during Diwali and summer vacationsrdquoSafety mattersCity parents are divided on whether itrsquos safe to send their children for solo trips ldquoI wouldnrsquot send my daughter for any trip until she is 14 due to safety issues Even post that I would prefer school trips than travelling with unknown operatorsrdquo reveals Manisha Pachchigar mother of a nineyearold In contrast Meenal Jain Mumbaibased artist and mother of an 11year old daughter has warmed up to the idealdquoIrsquom keen to send her on a solo trip so she learns to be independent to cooperate with other children and be punctualrdquo she says but not without having a checklist at hand ldquoI would need a detailed itinerary from the operator and prefer only female attendants to accompany kids The food should be like homecooked farerdquo she statesTo allay such anxieties Kagzi has ensured that every trip is one that she has personally taken with her child Plus she aims to keep the tour strength from 10 to 30 and has arranged for two more attendants for each trip ldquoWe will be staying in luxurious hotels and meals will include nonspicy Indian food with options for Jains too The itineraries are also devised according to the energy levels of the kidsrdquo she concludesTRIP DATES November 12 to 16 China CALL 9820121110 COST Rs 121000 for mother and child exclusive of airfare and visa