100% Tailor Made
- Every itinerary is designed around your dates, pace and budget
- Pick your hotels, houseboats and experiences - everything is customizable
- Change plans on the go with 24/7 on-trip support
Trip Designer at Iris Holidays
Sara Thomas
Senior Trip Designer · Kerala & South Indian Specialist · 10+ Years
Designed 4000+ Tour Packages
English · Malayalam · Hindi
Replies within 4 hours
Hello I am Sara
Hi, I’m Sara Joseph, and I help travellers discover Kerala in a way that feels personal, effortless and genuinely memorable.
What I enjoy most about travel planning is that no two trips are ever the same. Some guests want misty mornings in Munnar and quiet evenings surrounded by nature. Others are excited about a private houseboat in Alleppey, wildlife in Thekkady, or simply spending a few unhurried days together as a family. My job is to listen carefully, understand what kind of holiday they are imagining, and then bring all those little pieces together.
I’m someone who pays close attention to the details. I like finding the right hotel, adjusting the pace of an itinerary, suggesting experiences that suit the traveller rather than simply following a standard route, and making sure everything feels comfortable from the moment they arrive.
One of my favourite parts of the job is speaking with guests before their trip. Often, a simple conversation tells me much more than a checklist ever could. I get to understand what they enjoy, what they want to avoid and what would make the journey special for them. That is where the real trip planning begins.
I’m an alumna of Mahatma Gandhi University and speak English, Hindi and Tamil. Being based in Kerala also means I get to work closely with a destination I know and love, while helping travellers experience it with confidence.
For me, the best compliment is not just hearing that a holiday went smoothly. It is hearing that a guest came home with a favourite place, a favourite moment or a story they will keep talking about long after the trip is over.
What I enjoy most about travel planning is that no two trips are ever the same. Some guests want misty mornings in Munnar and quiet evenings surrounded by nature. Others are excited about a private houseboat in Alleppey, wildlife in Thekkady, or simply spending a few unhurried days together as a family. My job is to listen carefully, understand what kind of holiday they are imagining, and then bring all those little pieces together.
I’m someone who pays close attention to the details. I like finding the right hotel, adjusting the pace of an itinerary, suggesting experiences that suit the traveller rather than simply following a standard route, and making sure everything feels comfortable from the moment they arrive.
One of my favourite parts of the job is speaking with guests before their trip. Often, a simple conversation tells me much more than a checklist ever could. I get to understand what they enjoy, what they want to avoid and what would make the journey special for them. That is where the real trip planning begins.
I’m an alumna of Mahatma Gandhi University and speak English, Hindi and Tamil. Being based in Kerala also means I get to work closely with a destination I know and love, while helping travellers experience it with confidence.
For me, the best compliment is not just hearing that a holiday went smoothly. It is hearing that a guest came home with a favourite place, a favourite moment or a story they will keep talking about long after the trip is over.
One of the most memorable trips I designed was for a family who wanted to experience Kerala slowly, without feeling rushed. We built the journey around quiet stays, beautiful drives and experiences they could enjoy together. Hearing from them afterwards that the trip felt exactly right for their family made it especially memorable for me.
4000+
Trips Designed
10+
Years of Travel Experience
400+
5 Star Reviews
My Specialities
Kerala Honeymoon
Romantic Kerala escapes crafted for unforgettable moments together.
View packages >
Kerala Houseboat Packages
Private houseboat journeys through Kerala’s peaceful, scenic backwaters.
View packages >
South India Tour Packages
Curated journeys across South India’s culture, nature, heritage.
View packages >
Family Holidays
Create lifelong memories with family adventures designed for every age.
View packages >Packages Designed by Sara
TripAdvisor Reviews That Mention Sara
Janet D
Sep 2026
Great organisation and communication throughout. Sara was great in tour design and support, Sanju the driver/guide was an experienced driver on the crazy roads here, making me feel quite safe. He was also flexible, suggested many things and very punctual.Thank you to these two individuals in particular who mad my trip just excellent. If I did it again I would have 2 nights on the houseboat which was so relaxing, educational and served the best food I have had since being in India for 14 days so far.
Review from TripAdvisor
anindita c
June 2026
I have a very good experience with Iris travel. Sara from Iris travel handle all my queries and requests properly. The hotels suggested by her are all good. The driver Vipin is really a gentleman. Very good and experienced driver. We are mother-daughter duo but don’t feel any discomfort while travelling. Overall a great experience with Iris travel with through professional behaviour.
Review from TripAdvisor
Curious06455371484
July 2026
?We recently completed a 5-night, 6-day trip to Kerala arranged by Iris Holidays, Kochi, and it was a fantastic experience. ?Planning & Execution: A huge thanks to Sara, who planned our itinerary perfectly. Everything went smoothly from start to finish. ?Stays: The hotel selection was excellent. We stayed at great 4-star and 5-star properties throughout the trip. ?Driver & Guide: Our driver and guide, Afsal, was wonderful. He took great care of us, kept us on track with all the activities, and gave us excellent recommendations for vegetarian restaurants along the way. ?Overall, it was a seamless and highly enjoyable trip. I definitely recommend Iris Holidays if you are planning a visit to Kerala!
Review from TripAdvisor
Stay36162623791
July 2026
We had a wonderful trip to Thekkady. We were a group of four—myself, my daughter, and my parents. Our tour planner, Ms. Sara, and taxi driver, Mr. Arjun, were both quite helpful. Our drive to and from Thekkady was smooth, safe, and pleasant, thanks much to Arjun, who helped us get to all the activities on time and was also quite accommodating of our requests for songs during the drive and for choosing an alternative scenic route on the drive back. He was courteous, friendly, and professional. Sara, too, was friendly and prompt in her responses via WhatsApp--in fact it was her positive tone that made me motivated to go ahead with the trip.
Review from TripAdvisorMeet the Other Designers
Our specialists who design personalised Kerala and international holidays.
Our Trip Designers would love to create a Personalised package for you
Why book with Iris Holidays ?
We visit and verify all resorts in Kerala that we suggest to you so that guests like you can have a VERY warm & comfortable about an awesome holiday. We won’t suggest anywhere that we haven’t been to and tried ourselves. When you book online or call us, we share the kind of insider low-down we'd give to our best friends about destinations and hotels. Rest assured: when you book with us, every last detail is taken care
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2500+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews on TripAdvisor
Only Tour Company in Kerala with 2500+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviews on TripAdvisor over 14 years from multiple customers from multiple countries. Consistency Matters!
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Approved by Govt:of India & Govt: of Kerala
We are approved after verification by Govt of India & Govt of Kerala
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Private Vehicle - Only for you
Chauffeur driven vehicle for you 24X7
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Customised Packages with the Best Hotels & Resorts
We handpick our hotels & houseboats
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Authentic and Unique Experiences Crafted over 15 Years
Our award-winning, personalised private trips provide incredible insights and insider tips from last 15 years of experience of crafting tours in Kerala, passionately bringing alive unique and exclusive experiences for you.
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12 Consecutive TripAdvisor Awards for Best Tour Operator
Certificate of Excellence Award for the past 13 Consecutive Years from 2014 to 2026
Why travel with Iris Holidays?
Award-winning Kerala specialists who design every trip around you - recognised by Tripadvisor with the Certificate of Excellence for 13 consecutive years (2014–2026).
Award Winning Service
- Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 9 years in a row (2014–2022)
- Travellers’ Choice winner 2020, 2022, 2023 & 2024
- Real stories from real people- read our reviews →
Expert Knowledge
- Kerala-based trip designers who know every backwater and hill road
- One specialist handles your trip from first call to final day
- Insider tips on the best season, stays and hidden gems
Govt Approved
- Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India
- Registered with Kerala Tourism (Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala). See our Certificates →
- Licensed vehicles, trained drivers & transparent GST billing
