Top 7 Adventure Travel Destinations in India

Where to Unleash Your Adventurous Side in India

In recent years, India has emerged as one of the world’s most popular adventure travel destinations. One of the main reasons for this is the huge variety of adventure activities that are possible. Most people looking for India adventure travel destinations head to the far north mountains and the beaches of Goa. Here are the best places to unleash your adventurous side.

01 of 08

Leh and Ladakh

Leh is the most common entry point to India’s far northern region of Ladakh. This remote place has become a popular tourist destination since Ladakh was opened to foreigners in 1974. It offers two of the world’s largest mountain ranges, alpine desert, and a dry barren landscape full of historic Buddhist monasteries. Nature and adventure lovers will find excellent hiking and trekking opportunities around Leh. Additionally, there are longer trekking trails, white-water rafting, and travel on Khardung La, the world’s highest motorable road. Adventurers can even ride Bactrian camels in the Nubra Valley.

02 of 08

Spiti

The spellbinding Spiti Valley, located in remote Himachal Pradesh, is often proclaimed by those who see it to be a world within a world. With an average height of around 12,500 feet above sea level, it consists of stark high-altitude alpine land, scattered with small villages and monasteries, and enclosed by soaring peaks crowned with snow. Possible adventure activities include trekking, yak safaris from village to village, tracking wildlife, mountain biking, and white-water rafting.

03 of 08

North East India

An untouched paradise for those who really love to get off the beaten track, India’s remote northeast region is an adventure lover’s delight! There are tribes to visit, wildlife to spot, peaks to climb, and opportunities for caving, trekking, and observing butterflies, living root bridges, and jungles.

04 of 08

Manali

Manali, with its soothing backdrop of the Himalayas, offers a blend of tranquility and adventure that makes it one of northern India’s most popular tourist destinations. Visitors can engage in a variety of thrilling adventure sports such as fishing, white-water rafting, skiing, mountaineering, hiking, and paragliding, all while being surrounded by the beauty of nature.

05 of 08

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, bordered by Nepal and Tibet and shadowed by towering Himalayan peaks, is rich in unspoiled natural beauty. The region is renowned for its ancient holy places, dense forests, and numerous trekking options. The Valley of Flowers is a highly sought-after seasonal trek, home to around 300 different varieties of alpine flowers. For those seeking a pristine mountain trek, Kalap offers the perfect escape. Alternatively, visitors can enjoy boating, nature walks, horse riding, and rock climbing in the hill station of Nainital.

06 of 08

Goa

Goa is the best alternative to the mountains for anyone seeking adventure and adrenaline in India. There are nearly 100 operators offering almost every type of adventure activity imaginable—including water sports, go-karting, scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, fishing, and dolphin sightseeing trips.

07 of 08

Rajasthan

Fancy experiencing India on camel back or in a hot air balloon? Both activities are possible in the desert state of Rajasthan, where desert camel safaris are offered in Jaisalmer and Bikaner, while hot air ballooning can be enjoyed around Jaipur, Pushkar, and Ranthambore National Park. Moreover, jeep-pulled parasailing takes place in the Thar desert around Jaisalmer. Zip-lining with Mehrangarh Fort as the backdrop is another exhilarating option located in Jodhpur.