When it comes to ‘wellness’, practising meditation and mindfulness is just the tip of the iceberg. As every Wanderlust reader knows, there’s nothing more life-affirming than a heart-pumping, mind-clearing dose of the great outdoors – and India has countless adventures to choose from.
Whether you’re a snorkeller, surfer, safari-lover – or just want to try something new – here’s where to set your sights...
The Andaman and Nicobar islands reveal a whole new side of India. Here, you’ll find beautiful beaches where elephants bathe, and seagrass meadows where dugongs graze – plus over 560 varieties of pristine coral reef. Indeed, the reefs cover a whopping 2,000 square kilometres of the archipelago, with diving and snorkelling spots for all abilities: a chance to spy whale sharks, sea turtles, mantas and more.
Meanwhile, Goa is all about adventures on the ocean – such as sea kayaking, parascending and surfing. In the midst of a busy South India itinerary, we recommend taking a few days out to try a new skill on the waves: not only does it focus the mind and challenge the body, but those beach views really are glorious.
For an adrenaline kick, look to the Brahmaputra Valley for wild river kayaking, Assam for river rafting and Arunachal Pradesh for wild river kayaking; or Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), for white-water rafting on the Ganges and Water Skiing in Srinagar (J&K).