Outdoor Activities For Your Indian Vacation (India)

Life is one big adventure and India is a perfect playground for fans of action and adrenalin suggests the book India by Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, James Bainbridge, Lindsay Brown, Mark Elliot and Stuart Butler. The opportunities for wild adventure for your Indian Vacation (India) ranges from trekking, rafting, paragliding, mountaineering, jungle safaris, scuba diving, elephant rides, river boats, yoga courses, meditation and the lists goes on and on.

If you want to experience trekking challenge in style, you can try the high altitudes of Zanskar, a tri-armed valley system found between the Great Himalayan Range and the Zanskar mountains. The best time to wander in Zanskar is from June to September. Zanskar can be reached by an arduous week-long trek or a 14-hour drive along a pitted and potholed track of the Suru River. The people in Zanskar are predominantly Buddhist; the valley even has its own king. There are no fuel stations in Zanskar, so you should bring the fuel you will need in the trek stored in spare cans.

If you opt for inspirational treeking, Ladakh might be the perfect place for you. The mountains of Ladakh encourages trekking in summertime. Independent trekking is not advisable as trails are not marked, food and water can be hard to find, and there are few helpful people to rescue you in case of trouble.

Manali is a popular starting point for organized mountain treks. Majority of Manali travel agencies offer multiday treks for around US$60 per day, all inclusive. If you opt for shorter walks, you can trek 6km to the snowline above Lama Dugh meadow along the Manalsu Nala Stream.

For hang gliding and paragliding, the best seasons for flying are October to June in Goa and Maharashtra and March to June, and September to December in Himachal Pradesh. In Manali, adventure operators that can be contacted to arrange for treks and tours are: Antrek Tours and Travel, Himalayan Adventurers, Himalayan Extreme Center, Himalayan Journeys and North Face Adventure Tours. The peak season for tourism in Manali are April to June, September to November, and Christmas.

India is filled with captivating national parks and is home of some of the wildest and exotic creatures on earth. The best times to spot wildlife are on the early morning or late in the afternoon. These are plenty of sanctuaries and reserve that you can choose from like Corbett Tiger Reserve, Jaipur, Ranthambhore National Park, Little Rann Sanctuary, Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Pench Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, Similipal National Park and the list goes on.

If you love bird watching, the major bird-watching sites are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where you can spot rare drongos and golden orioles; Gujarat, where November to April twitchers can choose from Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, the Little Rann
Sanctuary and Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary; Himachal Pradesh, where you can catch glimpses of 180 bird species at Great Himalayan National Park; and Karnataka, where you can see storks, egrets, ibises and spoonbill.

You must observe official regulations in areas you visit and seek permission from landowners if you intend to enter private property. Practice cultural sensitivity when interacting locales, be modest. It is best to trek with a local guide.

Other outdoor activities that you can do while on Indian vacation includes canyoning (in Meghalaya); caving (in Krem Um Im-Liat Prah/Krem Labbit system, India's longest cave); and, zorbing or rolling down mountain meadows in a giant plastic ball.