The adventure travel scene heats up
TRAVELLERS are
increasingly recognising
India as a hub of
adventure activity. With
its landscape of diverse
extremes and unique
cultures, it’s not difficult to
see why.
In fact, assistant director
of India Tourism, I.R.V. Rao,
reveals that there was about
a 4% increase in adventure
travellers from across the
world last year.
Despite the growth in
numbers, there is still
significant opportunity for
agents to promote and sell
India as a more off-thebeaten
track destination,
says Annemarie Lexow,
sales and marketing manager
of Travel Vision. She points
out that India is still primarily
known as a drawcard for
ethnic travel and, for firsttime
travellers, its famous
Golden Triangle.
However, the country
has a lot more to offer,
says Annemarie, with
everything from trekking in
Kashmir Ladakh to religious
excursions in Varanasi and
food experiences to tempt
travellers.
Indeed, India is popular for
everything from white-water
river rafting to scuba diving,
rock climbing, paragliding,
motor biking and skiing,
says Rao.
The following are some
particularly popular options.
The great trek
With peaks of 4 950m at
the Ganda La Base Camp
and up to 5 150m at Shang
Sumdo, trekking in Ladakh
in northern India is a must
for adventure travellers, says
Annemarie.
Adventures in the snow
For avid skiers, Gulmarg near
Srinagar, the northernmost
city in India, offers the best
experiences with great
facilities and good slopes,
recommends Rao.
“Our institute in Gulmarg
conducts short-term training
courses for adventure
lovers,” he adds.
Water activities with a
twist
There’s also a great deal
on offer in the way of
water activities, with white
water rafting in Rishikesh
in the northern state of
Uttarakhand, a great option
for those seeking an
adrenalin rush, says Dinesh
Naidoo, group operations
director, Serendipity
Worldwide Group.
For something a bit more
unusual he recommends that
travellers try walking over
the frozen lake at Zanskar in
Ladakh or climbing the frozen
waterfall in Spiti Valley, which
lies in north India. The highly
unusual niche sport of ice
climbing is actually a form
of mountaineering, except
that climbers are traversing
icefalls, frozen waterfalls
and cliffs covered with ice.
Just getting to one of these
waterfalls is considered an
adventure in itself.
High up or down below
Travellers to India can also
find high adventure activities
‘in the air’. Among the
top options, says Dinesh,
are paragliding in Goa,
southwestern India, and
bungee jumping in Rishikesh.
If travellers are interested
in heading off the beaten
track and going where few
others have gone before,
they can take advantage of
the caves in Meghalaya in
northeast India, says Dinesh.
The nine longest and deepest
caves in India are located in
the state and there are still
a number of unexplored and
partially unexplored caves in
Meghalaya.
Air Mauritius offers more options to India
AIR Mauritius has
increased its capacity on
routes between South
Africa and Mauritius,
providing travellers
connecting through to
India with increased
options.
The airline currently
offers fast and
convenient connections
via Mauritius to Delhi,
Mumbai, Bangalore
and Chennai. It flies
to Mauritius from
Johannesburg, Durban
and Cape Town.
From April 1, Air
Mauritius now operates
a fourth flight between
Durban and Mauritius,
meaning the airline
operates on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Saturdays
and Sundays. It operates
its Airbus A340-300
between Cape Town and
Mauritius twice a week,
effective March 28. The
wide-body aircraft is used
on new overnight flights
on Wednesdays and
Sundays.
Travellers bound for
India are offered a free
stopover in Mauritius on
all non-connecting flights
with Air Mauritius. This
includes accommodation
at a four- or five-star
hotel, airport transfers
and selected meals.
“We have also recently
reduced the YQ tax on
our India routes, making
us one of the most costeffective
options to India,
in both economy and
business class,” says
Carla da Silva, regional
general manager:
Southern Africa and Latin
America.
The airline’s fares start
from R5 284, including
taxes, to India from all
South African points, and
R22 500 in business
class from all South
African points.
Top ideas for tamer tastes
NOT every traveller in search
of adventure is a fan of
adrenalin-pumping activities.
Some are simply looking
for off-the-beaten-track
experiences in an exotic
location, and India’s diverse
offering caters perfectly
for all types of adventure
seekers.
Festival fun
India is well known for its
vibrant events and festivals.
Travel Vision’s Annemarie
Lexow recommends the Holi
Colour Festival, an important
spring festival that typically
takes place at the end of
winter. Participants celebrate
by spraying one another with
coloured powder.
Scenic bike ride
“Many tourists travel on
bike from Manali to Leh
in Ladakh when the road
opens between mid-July and
October each year,” says
India Tourism’s I.R.V. Rao.
The scenic tour is said to
cover some of the most
picturesque highways in the
world.
Book it!
RwandAir is offering great fares from Johannesburg to Mumbai,
starting from R4 300 return, including taxes. The special is valid
until June 30, subject to availability and change. The airline currently
offers one of the quickest connections to India. Flights depart
from Johannesburg at 16h40 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
and Saturdays, arriving in Kigali at 21h50. The flight from Kigali
to Mumbai departs the next day at 00h35, arriving in Mumbai at
11h05. The return flight from Mumbai to Kigali departs at 01h45
on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Kigali at
05h15. The flight from Kigali to Johannesburg departs at 09h15 on
the same day, arriving in Johannesburg at 14h14.
Beach to backwater
The beaches of
Goa are a good option,
advises Annemarie, and
says Arambol is known for
its paragliding and dolphin
viewing. “The shady palm
trees and soft sands
of Palolem Beach, also
known as Paradise Beach,
provide a great backdrop
for dolphin cruises and
picturesque sundowners
at one of the many beach
bars lining the water.”
For a more unusual
water experience,
travellers can cruise the
backwaters of Kerala
in the south of the
country, in a handmade
masterpiece houseboat,
adds Annemarie. The
backwaters are one
of the most popular
tourist attractions in
Kerala, and are home to
a number of unique
species of aquatic life,
including water birds,
frogs, and animals such
as otters.
A touch of culture
Trekking in the Himalayas
is another popular option
for travellers looking
for softer adventure
experiences, says SWG’s
Dinesh Naidoo.
While a trek through
the Himalayas with its
high mountains and deep
gorges might well be
associated with extreme
adventure, travellers can
also engage in treks that
focus on culture and
scenery. Altitude aside,
the walks are perhaps
easier than many might
imagine.
For cultural encounters
with a difference,
Dinesh recommends
camel safaris in Jaipur
and elephant rides
up Amber Fort, also
in Jaipur. Adventure
travellers often head
to India for religious
encounters, says
Annemarie. “A visit to
Varanasi or northern
India, which features the
likes of Dharamsala and
is known for sightings
of the Dalai Lama, will
fulfil all of travellers’
expectations and more.
Phenomenal foodie tours
Another adventure option,
comments Annemarie, is
a real food tour. “They
say that in India the
food and language
change every 200km.
So travellers headed
from Delhi in the north
to Goa in the south will
have much to explore and
experience, travelling over
1 900km.”
