Adventure travel is very popular in India since there is such a large range of things to do here. The Himalayan region is the ideal setting for many adventure travel activities in India. However, there are a lot of options for adventure in India’s south as well. All you need to do is find out the places, which will best pamper the adventurer in you. Here are the top 10 adventure activities in India.
Heli Skiing
Take skiing to the next new level and just explore pristine, inaccessible terrain. You will be first airlifted by the helicopter to the slopes and the mountain tops, which are impossible to even reach otherwise. Go and marvel at the untouched environment, and also, be the first one to have left your tracks on snow. Be warned, this thrill will not come cheap, though! Heli Skiing is done in the Himalayan regions only. The season starts from January and ends in April.
Where: Manali in Himachal Pradesh and Srinagar in Kashmir.
Mountain Biking
Riding a bike in the peaceful surroundings of nature offers a special kind of pleasure to the adventure lovers. The varied topography of the country ensures that there is enough scope for lovers of mountain biking, including the plenty of thick tricky terrain. Ride in a tour or individually, assault to your senses is definitely guaranteed, though. Several companies in India offer mountain biking. You can do the research online and then plan the trip. Also, a mountain biking race is organised each year in Himachal Pradesh, of over 750 km. It starts as well as ends in Shimla.
Where: In the Himalaya region mainly. Also in the mountainous regions of Kerala, in south India
Hot air ballooning
Hot air ballooning is a recent adventure activity in India, but it is fast growing in popularity. This is a super thrilling way to experience the country and get a different perspective of the same.
Imagine having a peaceful and calm view of India’s breathtaking vistas from a quiet place very, very high above the crowds. The hot air balloon isn’t as scary as one may have imagined either. It feels actually like you’re as light as a feather when you literally float through the sky.
Where – Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur, Pushkar, Delhi and Manali
Camel and Yak Safaris
One of the most thrilling, unforgettable and truly enchanting experiences one can have in India is riding through the windswept, rippling desert on the camel back and also camp out right under the stars. Going a camel safari also will give you the fine opportunity to see the rural, rustic, desert life of India.
Where: Bikaner and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. It is also possible to go on a camel safari into the Alpine Desert near Leh Ladakh, mostly in the Nubra Valley, which starts from Hundar to Diskit. On these trips, the camels are of the double hump Bactrian variety.
Auto Rickshaw Rampaging
Did you know that it is very much possible for you to ride an auto rickshaw all across the country? Known commonly as Rickshaw Challenge, around four of these competitions are held each year. They are a hilarious, an extraordinary way of experiencing the country and watching the Indian countryside, and also contributing to charity.
Where: South India, through states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra.
Motorcycle Touring
Touring India on the motorcycle is the best way of exploring the countryside, in the case, you have a love for motorbike riding and travelling. Enjoy the freedom to experience and discover India in a way which practically is not possible with other forms of transport.
For people, who prefer a more competitive, extreme, pursuit, there is also Raid De Himalaya, which is an endurance testing, a one-week long race of the motorcycles and the quads from Leh to Shimla. It is held each during the first week of October.
Where: Neatly all across the country, including Rajasthan, Himalaya region, and south India.
Water sports
Traditional water sports like parasailing, water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, and the banana boat rides have been pretty popular for many years in India. But the newer activities like kite surfing are now grabbing eyeballs as well and have become one of the top 10 adventure activities in India. Picture the rush from surfing when hanging onto the kite high up in the sky! Training is available for those who are inexperienced at it. It’s possible to learn in around 12-14 hours. There are many places where you can get training.
Where: Water sports are commonly offered all along the beaches of Goa. In North Goa, around Candolim, Morjim, Calangute, Arambol beaches basically. Also other selected beaches in South Goa, like the Benaulim beach.
Paragliding
If you have ever wondered what it is like to fly in the sky like a bird, then paragliding is the perfect answer! Basically, there are two ways to go about it – either learn how to do it by yourself or take a tandem joyride by a professional. There are several companies in India, which offer this sport. And just in case you are too nervous, you can take a short prior training too
Where: Bir Billing, which is in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh. Kamshet Ghat, between Pune and Mumbai in Maharashtra.
White Water Rafting and Kayaking
Going on white water rafting expedition in the country combines picturesque scenery with spills and thrills down the spine. Raft down the renowned rivers, like the holy Ganges, by the day and then camp at pristine beaches at night. If real adventure is on your mind, then there is nothing like the additional adrenaline rush from the white water kayaking. There are several companies in India, which provide both the sports.
Where: The Himalaya region, mainly Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand. Also in Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka
Trekking and Mountaineering
Easy, difficult, long and short — The options for the trek are almost endless! From the snow to the forests, India has enough scope for trekking.
Where – Himalayan regions, forests, and hill stations
If you want to feel the ultimate adrenaline rush, these top 10 adventure activities in India are a must do.
