Tour Overview
This program is a balanced combination of trekking, leisure and volunteering activities which the students will enjoy and cherish for a lifetime. Experience the phenomenal nature through adventure; make a contribution to the local community and carry away huge learning's worth a lifetime.
Youth Travel Expedition India
- Day 1: Group Arrival
- On arrival, group will be transferred from airport to the hotel at Cochin. Group will have an option to visit the heritage city of Fort Cochin and experience the world famous Kathakali art form. There will be a detailed briefing in the evening about Kerala, the trek, project and optional activities during rest and relaxations time.
Overnight: Fort Cochin B &B
Meal Plan: Dinner
- Day 2: Transfer from Kochi to Suryanelli Base camp
- Travel to Suryanelli, a small town near the famous hill station of Munnar, located along the Western Ghats, with scenic natural setting and rich bio-diversity. The combination of hill ranges, water bodies, tea and cardamom plantations, birds and animals, and a quite rural setting makes Suryanelli an excellent location for nature and adventure lovers.
Reach Suryanelli by noon. After a safety brief there will be a 6 kms walk to the camp. Luggage will be transferred to the camp on the vehicle. The walk will be through grass lands and pine forest all the way to Kalypso camp. This is a great opportunity to get used to the terrain and the weather at the hill stations. Reach camp by evening.
Overnight: Kalypso Base Camp
Meal Plan: Dinner
- Day 3: Trek to Anaerangal Lakeside
- Todays expedition will start with an early morning climb to the Phantom’s Head which is a walk atop the tallest feature nearby from where you can take in the spectacular sunrise over the Papathy Shola (Butterfly Forest – so named for the mass migration of butterflies in October & November). After reaching the peak, the group will decent to the Papathy Shola village and continue through the cardamom plantation until they reach the Muthuvankudy. The group will then trek to the settlement called BL Ram near the Anaerangal Lake. Snaking across a large area, this lake is placid and beautiful and a source of water for farmers downstream. They will reach the campsite near the Anaerangal Lake where they stay overnight.
Overnight: Elephant Trail Camp
Meal Plan: All Meals
Trek Distance: 12 Km
Facilities: Dome Tents, sleeping bag, Field Toilets
- Day 4: Mathekettan Shola Trek
- Start trek from the village to Shantanpara Camp- 14 kms walk. They will initially be trekking through grasslands until they reach the boundary of Mathikettan Shola National Park, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including the Malabar Giant Squirrel, gaur, sambar and elephants. They will continue the walk through spice plantations and local settlements where there is an opportunity to interact with the farmers. They will be staying at Shantanpara camp overlooking the Mathekettan Shola National Park.
Overnight: Shantanpara Camp
Meal Plan: All Meals
Trek Distance: 13 Km
Facilities: Dome Tents, sleeping bag, Field Toilets
- Day 5: Chaturangapara Trek
- After a short transfer, they start the day climbing up approximately 150m to the top of the mountain pass, approximately 2200m maximum altitude. From the summit they will have fantastic views over the vast plains of Tamil Nadu state (weather permitting). Today's route involves a gradual incline, followed by a steep incline, a steep rocky descent, a second steep incline protected by shrubbery and finally a slow gradual descent through elephant territory.
Overnight: Chaturangapara Camp
Meal Plan: All Meals
Trek Distance: 13 Km
- Day 6: Transfer from Chaturangapara to Haripad
- After breakfast, transfer to Haripad project site. The project site would be a local school which needs renovation. There are possibilities to paint the walls, design an outdoor playground area and set it up or even build a wall/floor depending on the student budget. Project work can be commenced once the students reach the site. Meet the local co-ordinator, who will introduce the group to the school and about the project requirement. The team will have to discuss and finalize the requirements including the raw materials, local maison, tools and other support that would be required to complete the task.
Overnight: Haripad Lodge
Meals: All meals
- Day 7 to 11: Project Work At Haripad
- Plan and complete the project requirement of the school with support of the locals. There will also be an opportunity to interact with the kids, teach them English and play with them during the free time. The group could explore the temple town of Haripad in the evenings after the project work.
- Day 12: Transfer to Alleppey
- On completion of the project, the local co-ordinator, will organize an inauguration event. The local village will join in appreciating the work done to support the community. After the event, there will be an opportunity to explore the touristy part of Kerala. There will be a vehicle waiting for the group to take them to the legendary backwaters of Kerala.
- Day 13 to 15: Rest and relaxation days
- There are wide varieties of activities available at Alleppey including houseboat cruise, kayaking in the backwaters, beach & backwater cycling, stay in heritage backwater homestay and even overnight stay at a beach resort. The group could pick and choose the once of their preference an pay and use the service.
- Day 16: Transfer to Airport
- After breakfast, the group will be transferred to Cochin Airport from where they depart.
Inclusions
- Fully Supported Program
- Accompanying English speaking guide
- Accommodation and meals as mentioned
- Refreshments and mineral water
- Transfers as mentioned• Fully Supported Program
• Accompanying English speaking guide
• Accommodation and meals as mentioned
• Refreshments and mineral water
• Transfers as mentioned
Notes:
• Trek support can vary from fully supported to backpacked treks. For fully supported treks we will provide CASEVAC jeeps, trek leaders and exclusive camping and catering team. Back packed trek will have trek leader support team, camping equipments and cook accompanying the group.
• Cost will vary based on group size, time of visit and support required.
• Project will depend on the budget of the school. We will identify the project based on school budget and will facilitate this with help of a local co-ordinator
• Leisure phase also could be tailor made from the list of day activities and accommodation available.
Gallery
FAQs
Recommended for Age Group 16 to 20 years
WHY?
The world is going through uncertain times never before experienced by man. To take stock of the fast changes in totality and chart a direction for future generations of our children, we need to synergize collaborative human knowledge, understand the amorphous bonding of cultures and think out of the box so that we sail through these ambiguous times. The young generation of today who will be the Leaders of this century is to be empowered to take on these enormous tasks.
WAY AHEAD
Kalypso Adventures has been at the forefront with the firm belief that it is the Youth who can transform the world – their abilities and efforts can achieve big results. We have been conceptualizing and implementing Youth Development Programmes at various levels with this aim. The guiding philosophy we follow is to go deep into the core of every community, discover the interdependencies and linkages with a wide global perspective and Innovate ‘Local solutions to Global Problems’.
BENEFIT AREAS
The aspects in which a student would substantially benefit from this programme could be as follows:
(a) Building and Maintaining Relationships
(b) Communication & Influencing Skills
(c) Personal Effectiveness
(d) Planning & Decision-Making
(e) Team Focus
(f) Innovation And Creativity
(g) Wider Global Perspective.
(h) Mental Resilience To Succeed
(i) Confidence in dealing with people from different Cultures And Countries
(j) Self Awareness
(k) Preparedness to influence group situations
(l) Ability to plan and lead group projects
For detailed programme and costs, please call us or e-mail us.
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