The Kerala Adventure in India
20-28 November 2010

Our fourth Hike for Hope challenge is an amazing five-day trek in one of India’s most stunning locations. Leading the way again will be top urologist, Professor Roger Kirby, Chairman of Prostate UK, and leading obstetrician and gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, a trustee of Wellbeing of Women. Over the past three challenges, hikers have raised more than £1.2 million to stop prostate and gynaecological cancers ruining lives. Hikers from this year’s trek are pictured above – find out more here

Hike for Hope is organised by Action for Charity on behalf of Prostate UK and Wellbeing of Women and they have successfully run all the Hikes for Hope that have taken place in 2006, 2007 and 2009. To take part in Hike for Hope you will need to pay a registration fee of £250 and raise minimum sponsorship funds of £3,200. In return you get flights, accommodation, transfers, food and guides.

Kerala Adventure in India – 20-28 November 2010
The five-day trek (9 day adventure) takes place in the region of Kerala on the south west coast of India tucked between the mountainous Western Ghats and the Lakshadweep Sea. You will have the opportunity to explore an enchanting landscape of forest, tea estates, cardamom plantations, paddy fields and palm trees, camping overnight in picturesque mountain locations. The hike finishes with a stay in historic Kochi set on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas.

The proposed itinerary is:
Day 1: Saturday 20 November
Fly from London to Kochi via Mumbai

Day 2: Sunday 21 November
Kochi to Munnar
Transfer from Kochi to the hotel at Munnar, a picturesque hill town.

Day 3 Monday 22 November
Chinnakanal to Anaerangal Lakeside – 11km (6-7 hours)
Aanerangal, meaning ‘the lake where the elephants come down’ is a vast expanse of water in a forest. The group will then trek through forests towards the edge of the lake around which tribal colonies have sprung up farming spices and cardamom and then arrive at the mountainside camp overlooking the lake at the end of the day.

Day 4 Tuesday 23 November
Anaerangal Lakeside to Korangini – 18 km (7-8 hrs)
On challenging terrain the group will hike through mountain rain forests towards Korangini on the leeside of the Western Ghats. After a steady climb of 12km arriving at the camping area.

Day 5 Wednesday 25 November
Korangini to Top Station – 14km (7-8hrs)
An early start in order to ascend 3,000 to 6,000 ft to Top Station, named after the ropeway station for transporting tea to the factories in the plains of Tamilnadu. There is a spectacular view of the plains below. Overnight in a tented camp.

Day 6 Thursday 26 November
Top Station to Ellappatti – 10km (7-8 hrs)
An easier day – passing through tea estates and eucalyptus plantations before arriving at Ellappatti camp near an end of mountain rain forest where the group will spend the night.

Day 7 Friday 26 November
Ellappatti to Rodo Valley – 11km (6-7hrs)
Then transfer to Alleppey approx 5 hrs.
The final day of the trek takes the group to the summit of the second highest peak in the Western Ghats, Meesapulimala (8,630ft). Wildlife in the area includes elephants, sambar, sloth bear and the Nilgiri tahr. At the end of the day the group will transfer to the Marari Beach resort hotel for the night.

Day 8 Saturday 27 November
Alleppey to Kochi
A cruise and lunch aboard rice boats on the Backwaters – Kerala’s network of canals and waterways that were once important trading routes before transferring to the colonial city of Kochi. That evening an end of challenge dinner celebrates the achievement of all the hikers.

Day 9 Sunday 29 November
Fly to London via Mumbai, arriving the same day.

For further information and/or an application form please contact Action for Charity (who run the Hike for us) on:
tel: 0845 408 2698
email: events@actionforcharity.co.uk
or find out more at their website

Previous treks :
Sinai Desert Challenge
14-22 March 2009
The Sinai Desert Challenge was the third Hike for Hope - previous treks in Jordan and Kenya have raised nearly £1million to stop prostate and gynaecological cancers ruining lives. Our intrepid hikers returned from the Sinai at the end of March, raising thousands of pounds for the charity, it was also a fantastic experience for those who took part. Caroline Devaney, who is the chair of out London Events Committee, is also a dedicated Hike for Hoper and has taken part in all 3 hikes, she talks here about her experience on the most recent trek:


Rift Valley, Kenya
24th November – 3rd December 2007
At the end of November, 92 sponsored hikers set off to trek the Rift Valley in Kenya, raising funds for medical research into gynaecological and prostate cancers. Wellbeing of Women trustee and Royal gynaecologist, Marcus Setchell, was amongst those hiking through the rugged terrain. He was joined by patients, doctors and nurses and others that been affected by gynaecological or prostate cancers. Particpants were hiking at altitudes of 2700 metres for 25km per day over the Rift Valley's extinct volcanoes. We would like to thank all those who participated in this year's Hike for Hope. Over £500,000 has been raised so far. These funds will allow Wellbeing of Women to invest in further medical research into gynaecological cancers.

Wellbeing of Women