Intro to Kerala

A land where culture thrives, nature breathes beauty, and communities live in harmony

From the tranquil beaches and backwaters to the vibrant urban centers and misty hill terrains, Kerala is a land where breathtaking natural beauty meets stunning cultural diversity. The spirit of this remarkable region is reflected in the peaceful coexistence of communities from varied faiths, origins, and traditions. Temples, mosques, churches, and synagogues rise in close proximity, standing as timeless symbols of unity and mutual respect.

In Kerala, tradition harmonizes effortlessly with modernity. Its diverse communities—rooted in centuries of indigenous wisdom, migration, and exchange—continue to thrive, fostering a society enriched by shared values and cultural expression. The blending of age-old customs with contemporary ideas has nurtured a progressive, inclusive, and dynamic way of life.

As Kerala steps confidently into the future, it remains deeply connected to its historical roots. Upholding the principles of acceptance, respect, and togetherness, this unique land stands tall as a beacon of hope for humankind—a true treasure of India.

Ekathra Experiences

Rooted in purpose, Ekathra nurtures the earth and empowers communities, weaving sustainability and empowerment into every step of its journey

Ekathra is dedicated to the belief that protecting the environment is essential to safeguarding the future livelihoods of local communities. Our operations are guided by ethical, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable practices. This commitment extends to sustainable accommodations, carbon-neutral transportation and energy usage, proper waste management, fair wages, equitable working conditions, responsible purchasing, and the sourcing of sustainable products.

We actively preserve cultural heritage and promote meaningful cultural exchanges. Ekathra advocates for travel as a powerful tool in mitigating climate change. Our goal is to develop a data-driven model that effectively demonstrates the wide-ranging benefits of sustainable travel, supporting conservation efforts, restoration initiatives, and the reversal of climate change impacts.

Furthermore, we strive to integrate experiential tourism with diverse livelihood opportunities within the community, including accommodation, transportation, agriculture, culture, healthcare, and the arts. This approach serves as an additional revenue stream rather than replacing the community’s primary sources of income.

Our vision is to establish a tourism brand that serves as a gateway to various communities, fostering relationships that enable the development of fair trade sectors in organic food, arts, and crafts. These initiatives will create a more immediate positive impact on communities while contributing significantly to reversing the effects of climate change.

Vision & Mission

Redefining Travel: Empowering Communities, Protecting the Planet, Preserving Heritage

Vision: To establish a sustainable social ecosystem fostered by mindful travel in partnership with self-reliant communities.

Mission: To promote travel that minimizes carbon emissions, implementing effective carbon mitigation strategies through various sequestration techniques, environmental conservation practices and community empowerment.

Our goal is to create positive impacts on society, health, education, and awareness. We aim to preserve natural resources, cultural heritage, and community values while supporting socio-economic development through fair benefit distribution, grounded in respect for human rights, dialogue, and transparency.

 

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Conscious Journeys

Travel That Connects Hearts and Cultures

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Regenerative Travel

Beyond Sustainability — Towards Renewal

The Team Behind

Guided by Purpose, Grounded in Community, Driven by Experience

At the heart of Ekathra Experiences is a trio of passionate changemakers — Sreejith Payyadakath, George V John, and Maj. Aneesh Gurudas — who bring decades of expertise in community-based tourism, experiential learning, and sustainable development. With rich backgrounds spanning research, training, tourism product development, project management, operations, human resource strategy, and community relations, they are united by a common vision: to build a responsible, inclusive, and impactful travel ecosystem.

Together, they lead with purpose, combining grassroots understanding with global insight to co-create transformative journeys that empower communities, celebrate heritage, and protect the planet.

Sreejith Payyadakath is deeply committed to advancing sustainable travel solutions for the conscientious traveler. With over a decade in Community-Based Tourism and nearly ten years in the IT sector, he brings a unique blend of management expertise, cultural awareness, and strong interpersonal skills to Ekathra. A natural organizer with a passion for photography, blogging, and storytelling, Sreejith connects meaningfully with people and places, capturing and sharing their essence. At Ekathra Experiences, his mission is to enhance community livelihoods across Kerala, support conservation and carbon mitigation efforts, and create transformative, sustainable tourism experiences.

Team Member

Sreejith Payyadakath
Founder CEO

George V John brings over 35 years of experience in the social development sector, spearheading research and training at Ekathra.
With academic foundations in philosophy, literature, and journalism, he has dedicated the past 15 years to Community-Based Tourism (CBT). Throughout his career, George has collaborated with a diverse range of organizations, including NGOs, INGOs, UNICEF, corporate entities, Panchayat Raj Institutions, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). His expertise spans grassroots research, project management, the development of training modules, organizing and facilitating training and workshops and HR mentoring.

Team Member

George V John
Director-Research and Training

Maj. Aneesh Gurudas, an expert in Outbound Training (OBT), specializes in Adventure Camps, Nature Camps, and Team Building Camps for professionals and students. He leads trainings in leadership, soft skills, life skills, disaster management, career development, and empowerment programs for the student community.
With a distinguished career in the Indian Army, Maj. Aneesh brings invaluable experience to his work. During his corporate tenure, he took on key roles in HRM, industrial security, and safety. He also collaborates with NGOs and various organizations on social initiatives, environmental protection, scientific thinking, and school safety.

Team Member

Maj. Aneesh Gurudas
Hon. Director- Experiential Learning

FAQs on Ekathra Communities

At Ekathra, “communities” refers to both the diverse local groups we collaborate with across Kerala—such as indigenous peoples, artisans, farmers, and families—as well as the extended team that makes Ekathra possible. From homestay hosts and local taxi drivers to guides and cultural practitioners, our communities are the heart of every experience we offer.

Kerala is home to people of many religions, traditions, and cultural backgrounds living together in harmony. Through our experiences, guests can witness this diversity first-hand—whether it’s sharing a meal with a farming family, learning from indigenous artisans, or celebrating local festivals alongside village communities.

Ekathra is led by a team deeply rooted in sustainable travel—Sreejith, Aneesh, and George—along with an extended family of local partners. This includes homestay owners, drivers, guides, artists, and knowledge keepers who shape authentic journeys for our guests. Together, we embody the spirit of collaboration and shared growth.

Community is the foundation of Ekathra. By connecting travelers directly with local people, we ensure tourism supports livelihoods, strengthens cultural pride, and fosters meaningful exchange. For guests, this means every journey is not just about places, but about people and relationships.

We approach every community with respect and long-term partnership. Experiences are designed to highlight cultural richness without commercialization—guests are welcomed into real homes, workshops, and traditions, ensuring encounters that are genuine, sensitive, and mutually beneficial.

Yes—Kerala is known for its unique spirit of communal harmony, where people of different religions and traditions live side by side. Ekathra offers travelers the chance to experience this harmony by engaging with multiple communities, from temple musicians to church choirs, from tribal farmers to coastal fisherfolk.

By choosing Ekathra, guests directly support community livelihoods. The majority of what travelers spend stays in villages—benefiting hosts, guides, drivers, artisans, and local service providers. Beyond economic support, travelers become part of a cultural exchange that strengthens bonds between people across borders.

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