Adventure
of a lifetime

Highlights

Motorcycling: I had never been on the back of a motorbike before and it seemed only right to experience a ride on a Royal Enfield whilst in India. Synonymous with the Himalayan region in India, my Royal Enfield experience was anything but ordinary. Riding through Luni, Rajasthan on the back of the Royal Enfield as the sky lit up with pink and purple hues at sunset is etched into my mind forever. It was made particularly special due to my rider, Moksha Jetley, a phenomenal woman who has set world records (travelling from Leh to Manali in record time); she is breaking boundaries and is an avid activist for women’s rights in India.

Trekking: We departed at 3:00am from our base in Chopta to commence what I believed to be ‘a casual hike’. As the moon lit up the valley below and the stars twinkled in the heavens above, we started to climb. And climb. And climb ... At 2600m, just as the sky was slowly gathering some colour, I planted my feet on top of a hill and was greeted by what was hands down, my favourite experience in India! A lake, Deoria Taal, barely visible in the minimal light, lay serenely in front of me with the reflections of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains staring back at me. Looking up, I saw the tops of the peaks turning orange as the sun began to cast it’s golden light. My first ever glimpse of the Himalayas - and what a sight to behold!

Highlights

Parasailing: Surprisingly enough, this was one activity that my grandmother had experienced and I hadn’t! I finally managed to level the playing field with her by floating above the beautiful Andaman Islands. Without getting the slightest bit wet, I was hoisted into the air behind a speed boat and before I knew it, I was overlooking the island of Port Blair and the warm, turquoise waters below.

Snorkelling: I’m a water baby through and through, and managing to find time to go snorkelling was one thing, but doing it in the Andaman Islands - which has some of the best-off-the-grid diving spots in the world - was a very special experience for me. I was led by Sukesh - a local photographer and diving expert - who helped me find some incredible underwater marine life around a coral reef.

Jet skiing: Another activity that I got to tick off my list in the Andaman Islands was jet-skiing. It was an exhilarating feeling being able to zip around the bays and get my adrenaline pumping, a real contrast to the other sea activities I was lucky enough to try.

Highlights

Hot air balloon: Truly one of the most beautiful mornings that I had in India, and well worth the 3:15am start! Led by Francesco, a Spanish-born pilot who intended to stay in India for only 6 months - fast forward 6 years later and he’s still there because he loves it so much. He had remarkable skills when piloting the balloon - we touched the top of the trees and got a bird’s eye view of the local villages coming to life as the sun rose up over Jaipur. Our greeting upon touch down was particularly special as 200 children gathered around the balloon and greeted us with ‘Namaste’s’ and smiles.

Zip lining: Although I’ve done zip lining before, never have I done it in such an amazing setting. This zip line consisted of six lines and flew above the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, a remarkable feat of architecture once belonging to the Royals in Jodhpur. I can highly recommend this as a unique way to see the old Blue City from above as you fly serenely across the wire, as well as seeing the fort in a way that not many tourists get to.