TRAVEL SPECIAL............... Get on an adventurous path

Get on an adventurous  path   Soak in the sun, feed the fish, be cautious of the U-pin  bends, soar high like a bird... before you tie the knot SPOT MARINE LIFE Region: Andaman and Nicobar Islands Sboggling himmering colourful healthy coral and a mind variety  of marine life both large and small make the placid blue waters  of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, ideal for the activity of  snorkelling.Take your friends and head to fantastic snorkeling  excursions in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in  Wandoor. Post which, spend time at the beautiful, clean  beaches of Wandoor. There are several vendors that sell rent   snorkelling equipment at Havelock. Want to explore further,  then take a ferry from Havelock to South Button to witness  beautiful and colourful reefs. Alluring half day trips to Elephant Beach and Lighthouse are for first-timers who would want to experience the thrills of easy snorkelling. http:www.andamans.gov.in CYCLING HOLIDAYS Region: Sikkim Plan an exciting mountain biking holiday as your adventure  holiday with your friends. Here is a tentative itinerary. On the first day, ride from Gangtok via Tami tea garden and  arrive at Ravangla. On the second day, ride approx 35 kms  from Ravangla to Tashiding which is a small village on a hilltop near Pelling. Also famous for its monastery that belongs to the Nyingmapa order and is highly revered among the people of Sikkim. Day three, spend a leisurely day starting from Tashiding to Yuksom as you stop by hamlets and soak in the gorgeous scenery . Start the fourth  day by visiting the Norbugang Chorten in the morning ride  to Khecheopalri Lake from Yuksam.Day five, after a breakfast  in the outdoors, head towards Pemayangtse. The sixth and last day of the trip is one of the most hectic when you start  by visiting the Pemayangtse Monastery and ride to Jorethang and by night reach Darjeeling. Your friends will  always thank you for such an amazing offbeat vacation. http:www.sikkimtourism.gov.in BRAVING THE COLD Region: Leh ET-Travel reader John Williame shares his spine-chilling Chadar Trek experience. He says, “In January 2014, I left  Leh and started my journey in Zanskar through the Chadar.  My goal was to reach Phuktal Monastery located after Padum  and the Zanskar Valley . It took me 12 days to reach the  monastery and another 10 days to come back to Leh. It was a fantastic experience. During that epic journey, I drank tea with the King of Padum, I saw wolves just a few  meters away from my tent, I walked through a snowstorm on the way back, I attended several pujas, I slept under the  stars where the temperature was minus 30 degree but most  important I learned a lot about myself. The Chadar Trek is certainly difficult but does not require strong physical  preparation as the trail is mostly flat. However, it can be very  technical and may require some guts at some portion of the  trail. Another difficult aspect that should not be neglected is  the cold. You have to cope with it during the entire time of the hike. I witnessed people crying because they could not stand the cold or were not properly acclimatised. With the right mindset, the right set of gears and have a proper acclimatisation and trust towards your guide, then you will  surely enjoy every bit of the trek.“ http:www.leh.nic.in HIGH UP IN THE SKY Region: Manali The best time to enjoy a hot air balloon ride in Manali is the  winters. Manali is blessed with snow capped mountains, lush greenery,  orchards, beautiful flora and chatting river and streams. The gorgeous landscapes covered in white are simply awe-inspiring. The best time to try this sport is from October  to mid of May. The flights of hot air balloon are given early  in the morning and in the evening before getting dark. The coldness of the atmosphere helps the balloon to go up to greater heights and float in the air for longer duration and to the possible highest points. http:www.hptdc.nic.in PARAGLIDING Region: Bir and Billing Every year, twice in May and October, paragliders from across  the world descent on Bir and Billing, Himachal Pradesh. These twin towns Bir and Billing are among the top 10 paragliding destinations in the world.After hosting pre-world  cup competition in these towns, the Paragliding World Cup  2015 will be organised from October 24-31, 2015 under the  aegis of Paragliding World Cup Association, France. Bir is also well known for its Buddhist monasteries, Tibetan culture and handicrafts. The most important feature of this  region is its weather.On bad weather days one can still fly 20-30 kms and on good days 100 kms is not difficult. October  and November are the ideal months for flying in autumn and March to May is also flyable but conditions are very strong  in spring with thermals of 6-12 mtrssec and cloudbase of 4000 to 6000 mtrs. Tourists can also head to Palampur that  is located 29 kms from Bir and Baijnath is 13 kms away from Bir. http:www.hptdc.nic.in

ETTR 17SEP15