Exploring Ascents
Culture and Climbing Roadtrip India
Stretch your mind and body with climbing and yoga in UNESCO world heritage areas of Badami and Hampi.
January 4th - 16th, 2025.
Price: 1799 AUD/1199USD/1099Euro
Pay a 25% deposit on our website and the remaining 75% can be payed upon arrival
Do you also feel happy as a kid when you're with 12 friends in the same bus? Would you like to see what India has to offer? Do you like to climb and do yoga? Than you're not going to want to miss this adventure!
Our roadtrip will begin in the Jungli the Nomad Village in Dandeli, following on to the climbing areas of Hampi and Badami. Personally, I love being in vehicles while travelling, especially if it is with a group of like-minded people.
If you ve always dreamed of travelling to India but were a bit afraid of going alone, then this will be the perfect trip for you.
On this trip, Exploring Ascents will take care of worries like accomodation, transport and activities.
The first two days will take place at my good friend's travellers hub called Jungli the Nomad Village in Dandeli (see: https://www.junglithenomad.com/), where we can get to know each other and handle practical stuff like getting you a SIM-card, some cash etc. Our aim is to offer a 'soft landing' into the vibrant culture of India, allowing you to experience the country as locals do, and understand India's culture as a funny curiosity instead of an overwhelming and anxiety provoking culture shock. The nomad village also has many options for leisure activities.
Next we go to Hampi, where local climbing guides will take us to the best boulders, based on our wishes and climbing grades. Hampi is huge, so the options are plenty. These places would be worth to go to even if your're not a climber, the surroundings are beautiful!
The hills are also perfect to watch the sunset and one evening we will do a guided meditation while watching the sunset. The climbing will take place in the mornings and evenings to avoid warmer temperatures. In between there will be free time that you can spend at the water, relaxing, drinking good coffee and learning about ancient yogic practices.
There will be afternoon yoga sessions with a focus on relaxing our body and to get to know different techniques that were used by yogi for thousands of years (literally 4000 years!). Pranayama (breathwork) techniques, yin yoga, or vinyasa. Here we refresh our bodies, we need it for the climbing sessions!
One day we will drive with scooters to the markets in the bigger town of Gangavati, nothing as fun to explore on the scooty and be part of the chaos!
After Hampi, our next destination is the bigger rock walls of Badami, another UNESCO nominated World Heritage site. Here we will also explore other interesting places like the Badami-caves and watertemple. The hotel is a short tuk-tuk drive away from the rocks where we will do sportclimbing.
After Badami it will sadly be the end of our journey and we will make our way back towards Hubli, where you can fly home :)
Inclusions:
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Accommodation for every night: 2 nights in the Jungli Nomad Village, 5 nights in Hampi (Homestays), 5 nights in an airconditioned hotel in Badami.
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All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
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All necessary climbing gear (boulder mats, ropes...), (exception: it is best if you bring your own climbing shoes)
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Licensed climbing guides who provide you safety and guidance to advance your technique during the bouldering and sport climbing
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Airport transfer service upon arrival and departure in Hubli.
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Tour guide (Tomi Lerner) with Remote First Aid Certificate
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Scooter renting
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Good coffee every morning (sometimes hard to find in India ;))
Highlights:
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Immerse yourself in two UNESCO world heritage sites with a group of like-minded adventurous people
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Experience the sensations of India's non-touristic places
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Boulder, sportclimb and practice yoga
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One day of scootering to the markets in the town of Gangavati
Difficulty:
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This trip is for all ages and all levels of climbing experience, from absolute beginner to pro who wants to attempt Ganesh in Badami: the hardest route in India! Here is a video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3UDkcH5KzI
Itinerary:
Day 1 & 2: Soft arrival in India
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You will be picked up from Hubli airport, heading to Dandeli to stay 2 nights in a wonderful villa in the middle of the jungle. This is our starting point from where we’ ll travel by bus.
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This is a good place to arrive softly in India as it is safe and quiet to settle into the country after your long travels. Maybe you would like to get a SIM-card and exchange money? Our friendly staff can help you out with that.
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Possible activities in the villa: swimming in the pool, going to watch wild crocodiles, slack-lining, bouldering, going to the street markets …
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The villa is a hub for 'digital nomads', (entrepreneurs, musicians, and creatives in general). Meet your next bandmember or entrepreneurial inspiration here.
Day 3: Bus trip with a little introduction of Indian culture and customs (what is impolite? What to avoid?).
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Arriving in UNESCO World Heritage Site Hampi after our drive, we'll dedicate the evening to getting comfortable in our rooms and walking to the waterfalls to enjoy the scenery.
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Our accomodation here is in riverside twin bungalows with a coffee shop and restaurant attached.
Days 4, 5, 6: The heart of our trip
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Climbing sessions in the morning and evening, interspersed with cultural sightseeing, restful afternoons by the water, yoga sessions and games.
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Local climbing guides will guide us to the best boulders and give tips and tricks to make sure everyone has a good time. Climbing gear like chalk and mats will be available.
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During the day it will be too hot to climb, this is the right time to get some rest and learn interesting ancient yogic practices.
Day 7: Day of scootering to the markets in Gangavati
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Who doesn't want to drive can sit on the back with someone else or do something else :)
Day 8: Busdrive through remote areas with destination Badami
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Part two of the triangle we make during the trip is a 3 hour busdrive to Badami, a place with fantastic sportroutes like the famed Ganesh route. The drive gives us time to recover from the previous clilmbing and it goes through the beautiful scenery of Karnataka.
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We will stop to eat in very local villages, where you will be the funny curiosity instead of the Indians!
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Get to know Indian local foods like Bisi Bele Bath, Jolada Roti, and Badam Halwa.
Days 9, 10, 11: Sportclimbing in Badami
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More climbing in Badami, pushing our limits (mornings and evenings).
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From 12-15 in the afternoons: free time (you can rest in the airconditioned hotel, have a snack, …)
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In the evenings we go for a viewpoint to wander through the city (WARNING for highly sensitives!! :)) watch the sunset, play some music or to climb some more.
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We visit the Badami cave temples that are candidate as a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. The caves date back to the 6th century A.D.
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Conquer your fear of height, find the limit of your climbing grade ability, or simply enjoy the beautiful red sandstone of Badami with the group and locals.
Day 12: Visiting the watertemple of Badami
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Day 12 we go to Dakshina kaashi Shri Mahaakuteshwara Gudi. This is a Hinduist water temple complex. Here we absorve the ancient hinduistic architecture and experience their way of practicing the Hindu belief. One of the ways is to take a dip in the revitalizing water!
Day 13: A scenic drive to Hubli-Dharwad from where you can fly home.
Ok, but how do I get there?
There are several ways in which you can get to us. The nearby airports include:
Belgaum (2h drive)
Hubli (1,5h drive)
Goa (3h drive)
Gokarna (3h drive)
If you come by land:
The Dandeli bus stand is a 5min drive.
How about travel insurance?
If you already have travel insurance or you want to have a look around at the options, go for it.
Here is the link for a globally recognised insurance that can assist you specifically for this trip:
https://partner.globalrescue.com/exploringascents/index.html
Don't hesitate to contact me for any other questions you might have!