adventure activities in south india Archives

Because of the Himalayas!

The Himalayas are among the popular Indian adventure travel destinations, that offer adventure travel options, ranging from easy treks for first-timers to serious expeditions. Among the most exhilarating adventure travel vacations in India is the Chadar Trek in Ladakh. ‘Chadar’, actually means sheet, and that’s what the Zanskar River turns into in winter. A sheet of ice.

The entire duration of the trek, which is upward of 10 days, is spent on this sheet of ice. Along with the temperatures plummeting to -50° C. Nearby, in the Spiti Valley, is the Kanamo Peak, which, at 19,600 feet ticks all the excitement boxes. In the Northeastern part of the country lies Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world.

Although the Sikkim Government has of late banned climbing the mountain from the Indian side. It can be viewed in all its glory on the Yuksom Goechala Trek in Sikkim. This trek is one of the most spectacular in the country, with pristine rivers and rhododendron forests.

But what sets adventure travel vacations in India apart from anywhere else in the world is heli-skiing. The Himalayas have some of the best ski slopes in the world. Though some of the best ones can be accessed only by helicopter, the rush of excitement makes it well worth the effort.

Chadar Trek (Photo Credit – Alosh_Bennett)

Because you can get adventurous even while exploring ancient traditions!

Kalaripayattu, commonly known as Kalari for short, is a martial art that can be traced back to 3,000 years. It is arguably the oldest martial art in the world. Performed using swords, daggers, spears, and maces. Kalari requires high levels of concentration and hand-eye coordination.

This martial art is witnessing a dramatic resurgence and can be learnt at various locations around India. The Kalari Academy of Performing Arts in Bangalore offers certificate and short-term courses as well as a residential program. So, if you’re looking for adventure activities in India, Kalaripayattu should feature on your agenda. Even if you don’t want to learn it, you should definitely try and catch a performance in Kochi!

Because of the coastlines

With more than 7,500 kms of coastline, there is no dearth of water-based adventure activities in India. You can try your hand at surfing, snorkelling, jet-skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving… the list goes on! Havelock in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a hotspot for scuba enthusiasts, while Covelong Point, Mahabalipuram, and Vizag are great places to surf.

Let us know if you’re looking for a water-based holiday; we’ll help you find one best suited for you! For some more information on skiing in India, check out this blog.

Kalaripayattu – An Indian martial art (Photo Credit – Ginu, Unsplash)

Because we’ve got the facilities

After all, no matter how beautiful a place might be, obviously, no-one wants to throw themselves off a cliff or go diving unless they know they’re safe! But what a lot of people aren’t aware of is the amount of adventure tour packages in India, where adventure activities are more and more adopting and meeting International standards, making adventure sports in India safer than it’s been before!

Among the many adventure activities in India, ziplining is fast gaining popularity. FlyingFox operates ziplines in 4 locations currently, including one at Rishikesh, which takes you careening 200 feet above the mighty Ganges. Rishikesh also gives you the opportunity to go white water rafting, or kayaking on the Ganges – read more about this here!

And this is just a starting point: there are a number of other activities that can make adventure travel vacations in India truly memorable! Hot air ballooning has started picking up, there are some great spots for paragliding, and the North-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh has a vast network of caves to explore.

Click here to read more about adventure activities in South India

No matter what sort of adrenaline rush you’re looking for, we can help you plan it! So get in touch!

Getting your adrenaline fix might not seem like the obvious choice when planning a holiday to India. But, the range of adventure activities on offer here seems to be a well-kept secret! And, when thinking ‘adventure in India’, think beyond the Himalayas. While there’s a huge amount of fun stuff to be doing up in the North, don’t ignore the adventure activities in South India – check out this article for more on that!

The diversity of landscapes from the ocean to the hilly Ghats, and everything in between, provide the best for adventure sports. In South India, you will, of course, find some great water-based sports, but there’s a bit more to explore too!

Here’s our pick of the best adventure activities in South India!

Bamboo Rafting in Wayanad (Photo Credit – Fraboof)

Surfing in Kerala and Karnataka

Surfing isn’t a traditionally ‘Indian’ thing to do. But, with a coastline as vast as the country has, it’s not surprising that there are quite a few great surf spots to choose from. Both, are one of the coolest adventure destinations in South India. If you look eastwards, Puri’s beach has good surfing, as does Vizag. Surfing in Kerala happens primarily at Kovalam and Varkala, and there are also surf schools here in case you’re looking for a course. Further up the coast, Karnataka has a few great spots to catch some waves. One of the coolest things about surfing in India is that you won’t ever be sharing the waves with too many people! And if you’ve got your own equipment, there’s miles of unexplored and virtually untouched coastline to check out!

Sea Surfing In Kovalam (Photo Credit – Wings and Petals)

Kite surfing in Goa

If you’ve been to Goa, you’d have seen scores of basic water-sports facilities on most beaches there. Offering the usual suspects like jet-skiing, parasailing, banana-boat rides and the like. But Goa’s also got opportunities for some of the widest range of water-based adventure activities in South India. Way up in the North of Goa, you’ll find Vaayu Village, a fun, boutique guest house. It also offers surf, wakeboarding, stand up paddleboarding and kitesurfing equipment and lessons. It’s a relaxed place to hang out with other water-babies, and it’s also a great way to get introduced to these sports if you aren’t familiar with them!

Kite Surfing in Goa is a must-availing activity

Trekking through the Western Ghats

If you’re more of a land animal and like your adventure sports were a little more mellow, the Western Ghats have some amazing treks that you can try. You’ll find everything and is the best adventure experience in South India. From challenging routes to easy half-day treks that are suitable for the entire family here. Maharashtra’s got some incredible hill-forts that you can trek to. Going right after the rainy season is amazing when the landscape’s full of vivid greens. And further down South in Kerala, there are rolling hills carpeted with tea and coffee plantations. They are so refreshing that they are also a birdwatcher’s delight!

Because of lack of trekking infrastructure in terms of signposting and the like, we definitely recommend only venturing out with a reputable guide. We’re happy to help you plan your trekking trip to South India. Get in touch with us to answer your questions!

Trekking in Western Ghats (Photo Credit – Art of Hoping)

Scuba Diving in Pondicherry and the Andamans

Where there’s the ocean, there’s gotta be some diving! The Andaman and Nicobar islands are the obvious choice for any dive trips, but if you’re looking to get certified and don’t want to make the journey out to the islands, you can also consider Pondicherry. Admittedly, the visibility and diversity of marine life here isn’t as spectacular as it would be in the Andamans, but this actually it a great place to get your certification. Additionally, an artificial reef has been created off the north shores of Pondicherry, which has already increased the chances of spotting something exciting while you’re out in the water.

Scuba Diving in India (Photo Credit – Li Yang)

Bouldering in Hampi and Badami

Of all the adventure tours in South India, this is probably the one that excites us the most. Rock climbing and bouldering are relatively new to the country, but, like with many other adventure sports, experts have discovered some awesome climbing routes in both Hampi and Badami, with something for everyone, no matter what your experience level is. Clubbed with the incredible history and culture that both towns have, this can be the perfect addition to your South Indian adventure holiday!

Read Further: Explore the Best of India’s Activities

If you’re looking for experiencing the best adventure activities in South India or across India but don’t know where to start planning, get in touch!

The mixture of rocky unique hills and the exquisite temples give Hampi such a distinct vibe (Photo Credit – Matthew Sumpter)

Tag: adventure activities in south india

Adventure Travel Vacations in India

Because of the Himalayas!

Because you can get adventurous even while exploring ancient traditions!

Because we’ve got the facilities

The Best Adventure Activities in South India