Culture and Climbing Roadtrip India

Do you also feel happy as a kid 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 join us for this 12 days of adventure!

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Our roadtrip will begin in Dandeli and then go to Hampi and Badami.  Personally, I love being in vehicles while travelling, especially if it is with a big group.

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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.

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The first two days will take place at an Indian friend's 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 travellers to experience the country as locals do, making you experience India's particular culture as a funny curiosity instead of an overwhelming and anxiety provoking culture shock. This villa has many options for leisure activities.

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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 without climbing as an activity, the surroundings are beautiful!

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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.

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Their 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, mantra chanting, or yogic mudras (hand gestures). Here we refresh our bodies, we need it for the climbing sessions!

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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!

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After Hampi we turn to a second place with UNESCO World heritage sites: Badami! Here we will stay in a airconditioned hotel from where we’ ll go to see the market and 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 we turn back towards Hubli, where you can fly home :)

Inclusions:

• Accommodation: 2 nights in the Jungli Nomad Village, 5 nights in Hampi, 5 nights in an airconditioned hotel in Badami.
• Foodwise: breakfast and dinner
• Climbing gear (boulder mats, ropes...), (exception: it is best if you bring your own climbing shoes)
• Licensed climbing guide that provides you safety and guidance for a good time during the climbing
• Airport transfer service upon arrival and departure in Hubli.

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Highlights:

• Immerse yourself in two UNESCO world heritage sites in a group of like-minded people
• Experience the sensations of India's non-touristic places
• Boulder, sportclimb and practice yoga
• One day of scootering to the markets in the town of Gangavati

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Difficulty:

• 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

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Itinerary:

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**Day 1 & 2:** Soft arrival in India

• 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.
• 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.
• Possible activities in the villa: swimming in the pool, going to watch wild crocodiles, slack-lining, bouldering, going to the street markets …

**Day 3:** Bus trip with a little introduction of Indian culture and customs (what is impolite? What to avoid?).

• 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.
• Our accomodation here is in riverside twin bungalows with a coffee shop and restaurant attached.

**Days 4, 5, 6:** The heart of our trip

• Climbing sessions in the morning and evening, interspersed with cultural sightseeing, restful afternoons by the water, yoga sessions and games.
• 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.
• 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.

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**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 :)

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**Day 8:** Busdrive through remote areas with destination Badami

• 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.
• We will stop to eat in very local villages, where you will be the funny curiosity instead of the Indians!
• 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).
• From 12-15 in the afternoons: free time (you can rest in the airconditioned hotel, have a snack, …)
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

• 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

Contact me if you have any questions about insurance. 

This trip is organized by Exploring Ascents and operated by Kahluradventures ltd.