Kerala Cycle

Why support Art for Cure?

Art For Cure are a nationally registered charity raising money for breast cancer research. Your Kerala 2022 fundraising will go directly and in full to supporting specific leading breast cancer research, here in the UK. Art For Cure pledge support and guidance in your training and fundraising for this amazing challenge.

Typical Day

You will wake early (around sunrise) in time for a hearty breakfast. Cycling days will last between 4-8 hours, including breaks and snacks. After a leisurely break for lunch around noon – packed or cooked lunch will be provided - you will head on at around 1-2 pm. Arriving at your accommodation before sunset, dinner will be prepared and you can relax as the stars come out.

Level of Difficulty

This challenge has been graded ‘Challenging’, This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind, but perhaps haven’t taken on a strenuous challenge event before and are hoping to push themselves out of their comfort zone. You can tell your supporters that on your Kerala Cycle, you will be:
•    Cycling between 7-9 hours per day.
•    Cover an overall distance of 350 kilometres.
•    Cycling in extremely hot conditions.
 

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up one of the most advanced and thorough safety management systems in the industry. In a nutshell, Our Challenge Safe brand formalises our ethos when it comes to safety, and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the activity itself. Your welfare is paramount!
In terms of your Kerala Cycle challenge, there are a number of important points that you should be aware of:

• Riding in the heat of India is a major challenge in itself so make sure you are well hydrated throughout.
• This trip involves dirt tracks with lots of loose stones and rocks so concentration while riding through these areas is essential.
• Smoke alarms are not compulsory in India, and as such very few accommodations will include them. Your tour leader will explain the emergency procedures.
• You will be riding on the right-hand side of the road, through occasionally busy areas. Make sure that you are paying attention at all times.
• The brakes on the bikes may be on the opposite side to what you are used to in the UK. Take the first morning slow and steady until you get used to this.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support.

Flights

You will be flying from London Heathrow to and back from Cochin, India. Your flight tickets will be emailed to you a few weeks before departure. If you choose to book your own flights you must confirm with the Charity Challenge office before paying otherwise you may be liable for your included group flights (please contact flights@charitychallenge.com for further assistance).

Extension

After spending an extra day relaxing on the beach at Marari you will head off to explore Kerala a little further by spending a night on a traditional converted rice barge and discover the sleepy backwaters of this coastal state.

It's then time to head to Cochin where you will be shown the sites of Fort Cochin by a local historian and have the chance to shop until you drop!

Included:

    Entrance fees to all sites included in the itinerary
    Guided sightseeing in Fort Cochin
    3 nights accommodation (twin share)
    All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner

Excluded:

    Personal expenses (ie: gifts, extra soft drinks or alcohol, laundry etc)
    Tips for local team (we recommend you allow around £5 per person for tipping your guide)

Please note that this extension is subject to a minimum of 4 people and flight availability. Occasionally, a flight surcharge may need to be applied in, which case we will inform you prior to confirming your booking. Full payment must be received no later than 8 weeks prior to departure or your place on the extension may be cancelled. All bookings will be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to departure.

The advertised costs for this extension are per person on twin sharing basis. If you are a solo passenger, we will try to accommodate you in a room with someone of the same gender. If this is not possible, you will be charged a single supplement of around £150

* Please note that we reserve the right to change accommodation. Where this is necessary, alternative accommodation will be of an equal or better standard.

The cost of the extension (registration fee and balance) are subject to Charity Challenge's standard terms and conditions.

Visa

You must hold a full ten-year passport with at least six months to run from the end of your challenge, and at least one blank page for your visa and entry/exit stamps.
All foreign nationals require a visa to enter India. British Citizens are now eligible to get an online visa before arrival to India.
Important note: British passport holders of Pakistani origin will still have to apply for a paper visa (not online) and they may have difficulty in obtaining a visa for India and should check the requirements with the Indian High Commission before signing up to this challenge.

Insurance

It is a condition of booking that you have a suitable travel insurance policy whilst participating on the challenge. We have a special policy which covers among other things, medical (emergency, evacuation and repatriation) arrangements, cancellation and curtailment of the challenge, and more specifically for the adventurous activities undertaken on this challenge. If you have your own travel insurance policy, you must ensure that it provides at least the same level of cover as our recommended policy, including protecting the charity in the event of your cancellation 56 days or less prior to departure. If you choose not to purchase our recommended policy when you book we will send you a disclaimer which you should complete and return.
For more general travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page.

Vaccinations & medication

Vaccinations
For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro website: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/105/india 
Charity Challenge team are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your GP or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your GP may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting so it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Medication

• Carry medicines (including those bought over the counter) in their correctly labelled container, as issued by the pharmacist, in hand luggage
• Consider packing a spare supply of medication in the hold luggage in case of loss of hand luggage
• A letter from the prescriber detailing the medicines with the generic names for the medications can be helpful for border control checks, and in case medicines have to be replaced or medical help is required
• Carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery for controlled substances and injection medications
• Take out an appropriate level of travel health insurance including repatriation and specific cover for any pre-existing illnesses

N.B.  Some medications are banned abroad so please check you can find further information at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad

To avoid mosquito bites, we recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts, long trousers and socks at dawn and dusk. You should also wear plenty of insect repellent.

Climate & Terrain

Climate
India is so vast that the climatic conditions in the far North have little relation to those of the extreme South. Kerala enjoys a moderate and pleasant climate. The mean temperature in the warmest month (April) is 27.1°C  and in the coldest month (January) is 20.4°C The temperature during the day rarely exceeds 35°C in summer (April and May) and seldom falls below 8°C on winter nights (December, January and February). The atmosphere is neither very humid nor very dry. Early morning fog occurs between October to February but mainly in December and January. An important feature influencing the climate of  Kerala is the low cloud which covers almost the entire sky during greater part of the day from June to September. The morning hours in these months, with overcast skies, little or no rain and a fresh breeze with temperature of the order of 21°C to 25°C are the most pleasant in the year.

Terrain
Most of the bike trip is on tarmac roads with some cycling on dirt roads also. They are ‘Indian’ tarmac roads so do have potholes and can be bumpy. The terrain is very mountainous so be prepared for some tough days but the stunning views, ambience and welcoming nature of the Keralan people will be ample reward for all your hard work.

Bikes

The bikes are, 21-24 gear Trek, Merida or Cannondale bikes. They are some of the best bikes available in India; however, they probably do not compare to your bike at home. We add bells and water bottle holders. Please bring your own toe-clips and pedals if you prefer and we can add them. We take plenty of spares and our mechanics are on hand at all times for repairs or adjustments. The maximum frame size available in India is 21-inch and the minimum is 13.5-inch.

Training

A good level of fitness is definitely required. Anyone who leads an active and healthy lifestyle and cycles on a regular basis, with training, should find this a manageable challenge. As always, however, the more you exercise before the challenge, the more you will get out of it. To train, cycle for a full day at a time or even a whole weekend in order to build up your stamina. Don’t forget that the climate is different to the UK, and that you will be exercising constantly for a number of days in the heat and sunshine. You will only be expected to carry water and any essentials that you would carry on a day ride – our support team will take care of the rest of your luggage. Also see the Fitness Training Advice notes.

Challenge Training

If you would like to get a feel for our challenges ahead of your departure, why not consider booking on a 1 or 2 day UK Challenge?

We have a variety of challenges, covering all levels of difficulty, taking place in stunning National Parks across the UK that are led by highly qualified and experienced expedition and mountain leaders. These challenges will give you the perfect opportunity to monitor fitness levels, test out your kit, meet people in the great outdoors, share fundraising stories and gain valuable advice and support for the challenge ahead. We encourage participants to make use of our highly knowledgeable leaders and ask them any questions you may have about clothing and equipment, expedition health and wellbeing, trekking skills, walking techniques and teamwork!

We are offering all participants 50% off the registration fee when you book on one of the UK challenges listed via the link below. Just use the code TRAINING when booking. T&C’s – you must have an active booking on a challenge to avail of this offer. Discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Find out more here

Luggage allowance and valuables

As no formal clothes are needed, luggage should be kept to the absolute minimum – details on what to pack are provided in your Kit List. Your rucksack/duffle bag (suitcases are not appropriate) must not exceed 20kgs in weight. Your luggage will be transported in our support vehicle from hotel to hotel.

Leadership

We employ a number of first aid qualified challenge leaders, all of whom speak fluent English. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.

Group Size

The group is intended to be a minimum of 20 people in order to run and a maximum of approximately 60 people due to the wilderness environment in which the challenge takes place.

Clothing and Equipment

Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For your cycle challenge, padded cycling shorts and comfortable footwear are essential, and helmets are compulsory throughout. Training with your cycling shorts is definitely advised! You can bring equipment like clip-in pedals or a gel seat, if desired, in order to adapt your bike in country, and we would also recommend technical/wicking t-shirts rather than cotton shirts. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here, once you book you will have access to kit discounts with our partners The Outdoor Shop, Outdoorhire and Cotswold Outdoor.

Accommodation & Toilets

Accommodation
During the challenge sector you will be staying mainly in hotels and heritage accommodation. If you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with please let Charity Challenge know in advance.

Toilets
You will be staying in hotels or guesthouses, with good toilet facilities.

Money

Currency: The currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. For up to date currency exchange, go to: http://www.xe.com/. Foreign currency regulations are strict. No Rupee currency may be imported or exported. You may be able to purchase rupees from some UK exchanges prior to travel; however, please note importing currency must be done at your own risk. We recommend you to bring sterling or dollars to exchange at the airport in Delhi.
Credit Cards: A growing number of hotels, restaurants and shops in the major cities are beginning to accept credit cards, the well-known and more accepted ones being American Express, Access/MasterCard, Diners Club and Visas. However, credit cards are not the most convenient form of payment or cash withdrawal.
ATMs: Please note that ATMs are not always available and that when they are they do not always work. It is generally easier to visit a bank, but your local guide will advise.
How much to bring: You will not need large amounts of money during this challenge, and other than at the start and end of the trip, you will be in the mountains away from any foreign exchanges or banks. You will only need money for tips, additional food & drink, gifts & souvenirs, and for any other additional activities that you may wish to do. On average, we recommend around £200 in cash, plus a credit card for emergencies. Keep in mind that you will not be able to buy Rupees before entering India, and so you are advised to take a sufficient amount of cash that you can change at the airport or in Cochin.
NB: By changing at the airport while some of the group collect the luggage you will save time – the Indian Exchanges are generally the fastest.
Tipping: Tipping is personal and at your sole discretion. You should only tip if you feel that you have received good service. We recommend approx. £10 per person per challenge day and this should be given to the challenge leader at the end of the trip who will advise how to distribute it among the support team at your final celebration. NB: You may be approached by local porters at the airport. Their tips are not included; if you agree for them to take your bags to the transfer vehicle, please be prepared to tip them a small, nominal amount. However, our team will be there to help you.

Food & Drink

You will be served a variety of European and Indian food. All meals are healthy, nourishing, and plentiful. Please let Charity Challenge knows prior to departure if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies.

Phone and WiFi

During the Kerala cycle, phone and WiFi connection will be available almost throughout the whole challenge.

Emergencies

The event is not run as a race and there is always a large discrepancy in people’s cycling ability, which is allowed for. There will be a staff member at the back of the group at all times to ensure that you are not left behind and can take things at your own pace. If we find that somebody is unable to cycle at all, then we can transport them from one location to the next by our support vehicle, but only as a final option (due to often poor weather conditions this can be difficult). Contact will be maintained between guides and the support team allowing for emergency evacuation if necessary.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

We do not professionally vet your medical details. Please assess for yourself whether you are fit and able to take on the challenge. Please review the detailed Trip Notes and itinerary to get a better idea of what is involved. Please speak to your doctor or specialist if you have any concerns about taking part. If you think that there are things we can do to make the challenge more accessible/comfortable for you, it is your responsibility to let us know, and we will then let you know if we can accommodate your request.

Medical Support

First Aid qualified staff will be provided with the medical details that you give on your booking form but please note that they are on the challenge to support with medical matters related to the challenge environment and terrain itself, i.e. heat/cold, high altitude and so on. They will deal with any incidents and accidents (cuts, sprains, breaks and so on). They are not intended to continue any ongoing specialist medical care that you receive in the UK for pre-exiting medical conditions, and should not be assumed to have any professional experience of your specific medical condition.

If you have any specific needs around pre-existing medical conditions, you should discuss with your family doctor or specialist in advance and can discuss any advice given by them with the challenge leader or doctor.