Unique experiences that plant the seeds of curiosity, a sense of wonder and hunger for adventure amongst the participants.
We have curated interesting modules, each one is designed with specific learning outcomes in mind. Modules cover History, Heritage, Arts, Archaeology, Wildlife, Adventure, Storytelling, Folklore, Mythology and more.
Each of the modules are an activity spread over 2 to 4 hours. Choose multiple modules based on what you think would be suitable for your students.
Modules you choose will serve as a start point for us to sit down and plan a customised trip for you. Our team of experts include program facilitators, logistics & operation managers. We will guide you through everything including safety measures, hygiene & comfort. At the end of this we will give you a detailed hour-by-hour itinerary that fits your budget requirements and learning needs.
We can provide suitable accommodations, transportation options, food & all the activities (learning modules). Which of these services you want to avail from us is your choice.
Our team would be happy to visit the school or your office to chalk out the details if needed.
Once a tour is approved, if requested an advance visit to location can be arranged.
Each school trip is lead by our experienced facilitator, who will run all the activities along with support staff & guides on ground. An operations executive will be assigned for each trip, this individual will serve and single point of contact between the school management and the travelling group.
A report will be submitted to the school at the end of trip along with video & images content documenting the trip.
We believe that travel experiences can be transformational. It can breaks preconceived notions we have, teach us values like empathy, allow us to appreciate uniqueness of cultures and often push us out of our comfort zones, creating opportunities for personal growth.
We wanted to create a community based tourism venture that would curate these kinds of experiences through our tours. So in 2013 we founded Explore Hampi, with a vision to serve not just the visitors coming to Hampi but also the local communities who are important stakeholders in its development.
Three years later one of our customers approached us to curate an educational experience for school children. This provided us the best opportunity to inspire & shape young minds. This is how our journey into educational tours began, along the way we’ve created some memorable and impactful programs.
At the heart of Explore Hampi are its two founding members – Basava & Arjun. Basava is a native of Hampi, his strong connections to the community lends us credibility and local expertise. Arjun is a heritage tourism professional with experience of curating tours all over South India. Both of them have worked in heritage tourism separately for many years before joining hands together to start Explore Hampi.
Every single program we deliver is tailored to meet the requirements of the students, faculty & parents. A wide array of modules with different learning outcomes means there is something for everyone. So it is no wonder that we get the best ratings amongst the students and teaching faculty that participate in our programs. The success of these programs is such that every school we’ve ever hosted, has returned in the following years for more.
The largest group we’ve hosted is just over 100 participants and the smallest group is around 12 participants. Irrespective of the size of the group we ensure that the program is delivered effectively.
Being part of the local community here in Hampi, we have a responsibility towards its upkeep and long-term conservation. All our tours generate zero waste since 2019. No usage of single-use plastics on our tours, everything else we recycle and reuse. All our vendors and partners follow these. We think it is important for travelers to have an option that minimizes the negative impacts of travel on the local population and ecosystems.
Through our work we bring the benefits of tourism to the local community by providing direct livelihood opportunities. Everyone from our expert tour leads, operations team to home cooks that prepare food for our guests come from the local community. We employ farmers, shepherds, labour, folk artists, craftswomen, musicians, dancers, all from the local community.
11:00 AM to 01:00 PM – Arrival & room allotment
01:00 PM to 02:00 PM – Buffet lunch at Hotel
02:30 PM to 03:00 PM – Hampi Educational Tour introductory session
The program facilitator will meet conduct an engaging session for the participants. This will set the tone for the entire trip and walk everyone through the details of what we will be doing over the next few days.
3:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Mythical Hampi
Walking tour of Hemakuta Hill, Storytelling session on origins of Hampi and founding of Vijayanagara. Sunset viewing at Malyvantha Hill. Live hagaluvesha performance by tribal artisans.
6:00 PM to 6:30 PM – Snacks and Juice
7:00 PM to 7:30 PM – Lessons of the day & conclusion session at Hotel
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM – Dinner Buffet at Hotel
07:30 AM to 08:30 AM – Breakfast Buffet at Hotel
09:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Temple Architecture 101
Walking tour of Vittala Temple Complex including Purandara Dasa Mantapa
01:00 PM to 02:00 PM – Lunch Buffet at Hotel
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM – The Great Scavenger Hunt
Solving puzzles and looking for clues in the former citadel of Vijayanagara. A fun and engaging activity that involves a lot of learning!
3:30 PM to 05:00 PM – Vijayanagara Walking Tour
Walking tour of Hampi Vijayanagaras’ Urban core. Looking at town planning, city layout, water management, courtly architecture, social & military life of the medieval city.
5:30 PM to 6:00 PM – Snacks and Juice
7:00 PM to 7:30 PM – Lessons of the day & conclusion session at Hotel
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM – Dinner Buffet at Hotel
07:30 AM to 08:30 AM – Breakfast Buffet at Hotel
8:30 AM to 10:30 AM – Hampi Prehistory
A field trip that takes us to Neolithic sites with Cave Paintings & petroglyphs that are over 2000 to 3000 years old.
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM – Lunch at a Restaurant
02:00 PM to 05:30 PM – Sanganakallu Museum & Site Visit
Visit the Robert Bruce Foote Sangankallu Archaeological Museum for an educational program. Field visit with an expert.
05:30 PM to 06:00 PM – Snacks & Juice
7:00 PM to 7:30 PM – Lessons of the day & conclusion session at Hotel
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM – Dinner Buffet at Hotel
07:30 AM to 08:30 AM – Breakfast Buffet at Hotel
8:30 AM to 11:30 AM – The Young Archaeologist
Excavation, Documentation & Interpretations of a mock archaeological site.
11:30 AM to 4:30 PM – Hampi through the eyes of its People
An immersive cultural experience of Hampi.
05:00 PM to 05:30 PM – Snacks & Juice
7:00 PM to 7:30 PM – Lessons of the day & conclusion session at Hotel
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM – Dinner Buffet at Hotel
05:30 AM to 08:30 AM – Hampi by the dawn
Sunrise hike up Matunga Hill, Geology of the area, soft adventure navigating boulders on the riverside, south Indian breakfast on location.
09:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Lesuire time at Hotel. Use of Swimming pool.
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM – Hampi Educational Tour Conclusion session & Feedback
11:30 AM to 01:30 PM – Checkout, followed by Lunch Buffet at Hotel
02:00 PM – Onward Journey
We offer a variety of services from which you can pick and choose, this way we meet your specific requirements/needs
A module is an activity or tour that we have curated with a specific learning outcome & experience in mind. Modules can range from 2 to 8 hours and are conducted in one stretch on a single day. Multiple modules can be combined into a 3 or 4 day educational tour program. These modules therefore are at the very core of our unique programs.
