Bored of going to the same old resort, beach or hill station? Then you should try something new this summer. Ever thought about adventure sports?
Bored of going to the same old resort, beach or hill station? Then you should try something new this summer. Ever thought about adventure sports? They’re a lot of fun and you can post awesome pictures on your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts. You won’t even need to break your Fixed Deposit or Mutual Fund investments to do this! Here are six adventure sports that you can get your hands dirty with this summer.
Flyboarding
Always wanted to go for a ride that gives you an adrenaline rush? Then you should try flyboarding! Flyboards are essentially jetpacks that are used to surf in the ocean. These were invented by Franky Zapata, a famous jet ski racer, in France in 2011. They are a lot like snowboards with pressurised streams of water that propel them into the air. Imagine flying with one of those boards. Wouldn’t that be awesome? These flyboards are connected to watercraft and riders fly up to 15m in the air using these boards.
Don’t forget: Since this involves some amount of risk, knowledge of swimming is mandatory and this sport is not recommended for kids below 13 years. Your safety gear is very important. Ensure that you have your life jacket and helmet in place before you jump on the board.
Cost: This is an expensive sport where you might have to shell out as much as Rs. 3,500 – Rs. 6,000 for 15 minutes.
Where: Baina Beach in Goa is where you can find these flyboards. This sport can also be tired at the Chopdem jetty in the Chapora River.
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Sea-walking
You always loved those beneath-the-ocean movies that showed all the flora and fauna that can be found on the bed of the ocean. What if you could do it yourself? Of course, you can! And the best part is that you don’t need to know how to swim! Sea-walking is a sport wherein you can go down to the ocean floor and see all the sea life with your own eyes by walking on the bed of the ocean. The depth is usually about 6-7 meters under the sea. You just need to wear a glass dome on your head which is connected to an oxygen cylinder. You can view fauna, corals, and a wide range of fish. How exciting is that?!
Don’t forget: This is usually not available between the months of June and August, which is the off-season. This sport is not for people who are over 60 years or for those who are pregnant or have asthma or heart problems.
Cost: You can do some sea-walking for as little as Rs. 3,500. However, this might be more expensive depending on where you want to try this sport.
Where: Baina Beach in Goa and Elephant Beach in the Andaman Islands are popular tourist spots for sea-walking. The Nicobar Islands also offer this sport.
Whitewater rafting
This is one of the most popular sports in India and all age groups love it. There are various levels of difficulty that you can choose based on your age, stamina, and expertise. Usually, an inflatable raft is used to ride on the waters.
Don’t forget: The sport is best experienced in the months from September to March. You will surely need your life jacket and being an expert at swimming will be an advantage. Keep those energy bars and medications handy. Rafting can be a bit strenuous.
Cost: This is one of the cheapest adventure sports. It will cost you about Rs. 800 per head for a basic rafting experience. If you want to spend more time on the waters, you might have to shell out more.
Where: There are many places in India where you can try white water rafting including Rishikesh, Ladakh, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh and Coorg.
Additional Reading: A Vacation Spot For Every Budget
Caving
This, of course, has everything to do with exploring caves. This is known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the UK and Ireland. Caving is not so popular in India and you might find this only in the northern part of the country. This is a team activity. So, you could try this if you are going as a group. Édouard-Alfred Martel was probably one of the first persons to try caving. This Frenchman used ropes and ladders to explore caves in southwest France and Yorkshire in England, way back in the 19th century.
Don’t forget: You might get lost if you try this sport without a guide. You will need nylon ropes to climb up and down, a climbing harness, ladder, scaling pole, hard hat/helmet with a chinstrap – ideally with a halogen lamp/white LED, spare batteries and light bulbs. Knowing how to make knots such as the alpine butterfly will help.
Cost: This adventure can cost you anywhere between Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 6,000 per person for a week’s exploration.
Where: The northeastern state of Meghalaya has some of the longest and deepest caves in India. This is one of the top 10 caving destinations in the world. The Meghalaya Adventurers Association helps adventurers explore caves in Meghalaya.
Hot-air balloon ride
You thought hot air balloon rides were reserved for foreign tourists? Of course not! You can go high up in the air in one of those colourful hot air balloons and look at amazing landscapes and lush greenery right here in India. How high can you go? About 6,000 feet! Now, isn’t that amazing?
Don’t forget: You cannot sit when you are in the hot-air balloon. You have to keep standing. So, wear the right shoes. You will also need to wear clothes that will protect you from the sun and wind. Keep a hat on so that you remain protected from the burner’s heat.
Cost: This is one of the most expensive adventure sports and can cost you anywhere between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 12,000 per person for an hour’s ride.
Where: You can try this in places like Lonavala in Maharashtra, Karnataka, NCR, Delhi, and Rajasthan.
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Paragliding
Ever dreamt of soaring like a bird leaving all your worries behind? You can do it! Get yourself onto a paraglider ASAP. A paraglider is a lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft. These crafts have no rigid primary structure. The wind, gravity and your muscle power will help move this craft! You can go as high as 3,000 to 18,000 feet above sea level depending on your expertise and experience.
Don’t forget: Those below 12 years and below 30 kilograms cannot try this sport. You usually have to attend some training sessions before you can paraglide.
Cost: You might have to shell out as much as Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 4,000 per person for a paragliding session of about 15-20 minutes.
Where: If you are a resident of South India, you can try this sport at Yelagiri Hills in Tamilnadu and Nandi Hills in Bengaluru. This is available in the other parts of the country in tourist locales such as Missouri, Manali, and Nainital.
Don’t forget your Travel Insurance. But before you get one, check if adventure sports are covered under your policy. Most of the time, injuries suffered through adventure sports are excluded in a Travel Insurance policy. You can also consider a Health Insurance policy for you and your loved ones. Keep those policies handy and have fun! And finally, don’t forget that you can get huge rewards and cashback when you use a Travel Credit Card for your adventure holidays!