Rock on!

It’s a no-rope-no-harness-no-hassle holiday plan and this one is for passionate rock climbers. It’s time to crank up on the fun meter with an adventure sport that’s relatively new to India — bouldering.

“Bouldering involves negotiating your way up boulders that can be 10ft to 30ft high — without ropes,” says adventure enthusiast, Mohit Oberoi.

Bouldering is growing into a popular adventure holiday. For, it requires no guide and no climbing gear — other than a crash mat (on which you can land safely), chalk powder (to help the hands grip better) and sturdy sports shoes.

While rippling muscles are not a prerequisite, creative thinking will come handy as bouldering calls for solving ‘problems’ that are defined as short, difficult routes on a boulder.

Here are some spots to hit for a bouldering break.

India

Hampi, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, is perhaps the world’s most inexpensive bouldering destination. “Rishi-mukh is replete with granite boulders and you can stay at any of the guesthouses here,” says Vaibhav Mehta, a rock climber who owns a bouldering café in Leh where you can go bouldering on its walls!

Bouldering in Hampi is best between November and December.

Hot ticket!

The Goan Corner, a rustic and idyllic café, offers double rooms at Rs 450 per night. They can provide the chalk powder and crash mats (at Rs 80 per mat). Call 09448212621.

The Kishkinda Heritage Resort has different packages on offer. The American Plan includes an air-conditioned double room at Rs 3,300, which includes vegetarian meals.

Thailand

In the south of Thailand, head for Koh Tao, Koh Lao Liang and Phra Nang Beach on the Railay peninsula. Here, you’ll encounter short, hard problems or stalactite boulder problems inside beach caves.

The best time here is between November and April.

Hot ticket!

Thai tour operator, Andaman Sky Co. (www.andamanadventures.com), is offering a 12-night and 13-day package at 19,000 Baht (Rs 27,415) per person. It includes transfers, accommodation at budget hotels and all meals.

For luxury, book into Railay Bay Beach Resort where a beach front suite in high season (November to April) is priced at 10,600 Baht (Rs 15,303) per night with buffet breakfast included.

France

The forest of Fontainebleau, 90km south of Paris, is considered the Mecca for bouldering. “Beginners and experts find it an ideal place with endless ‘games’. There are more than 20,000 boulders referred on our website,” says Jean-Pierre Roudneff, editor of the website, http://bleau.info/.

Aim for the months of October to March.

Hot ticket!

Go for a gîte — that’s a self-catering holiday cottage. At the Haras de la Fontaine (www.france-gite-fontainebleau.fr) you can stay in a cottage for two at 295 Euros (Rs 17,495) per night. Or check into La Musardiere (lamusardiere@infonie.fr), a large campsite near Milly-La-Foret, in the Trois Pignons bouldering area, where the tariff is customised depending on what you choose.

Switzerland

The ‘big three’ of Swiss bouldering include the southern areas of Cresciano, Chironico and Magic Wood. Cresciano, in the Italian speaking canton (state) of Ticino, is known for its granite boulders in a chestnut forest, while Chironico in the same canton boasts of boulders of varied heights. Magic Wood, 80km east of Cresciano, is famous for its advance level climbing.

The best time for bouldering is between the middle of April (after the snow melts in the valley) until mid-October (end of summer).

Hot ticket!

In the valley of Ferrera near Magic Wood, Bodhi Climbing (www.bodhi.ch) is a basic camp without electricity or showers (it offers crash pads on rent). It costs CHF 5 (Rs 226) per night, per person on the campground. Or book yourself into a budget hotel in Ticino near Cresciano and Chironico. A double room at Hotel Leon D'Or in Bellinzona (www.ticinohotel.ch) starts at 60 Euros (Rs 3,581) per person, per night.

Australia

The Grampians National Park offers some of the best sandstone boulders with thousands of routes to explore. Since the park sprawls over mountains and forests, be prepared to negotiate dirt roads and rough tracks.

Summer Day Valley in Grampians provides the perfect problems for beginners and experienced climbers.

Aim for time between December and February when it’s summer in Australia.

Hot ticket!

The Grampians Motel (www.gramp-iansmotel.com.au) offers a standard double room at $99 (Rs 4,065) per night during peak season (that’s Christmas, long weekends, summer holidays and special events).

Or try out The Grampians Miners’ Cottage (www.grampiansminerscottage.com) where peak rates are $160 (Rs 6,577) per night.


The Personal Telegraph