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Kerala offers all sorts of activities for the active and adventurous tourist.
The Western Ghats offers plenty of opportunities for trekking, rock climbing and mountain hiking. In the Palakkad and Kottayam districts there are lots of options for trekking and it is fairly easy and safe. Trekking in Idukki and Wayanard is also good, but more adventurous and not quite as safe. Vegamon and nearby areas have lot of short trekking options. For rock climbers the Munnar Mountains are popular, these mountains are rocky in nature and have cliffs that make for a real adventure. Areas near Poojnar in Kottayam also have options for rock climbing. Mountain hiking is emerging as a popular sport in Kerala, for people who want to reach the peak points in the Western Gharts. Iddukki, Palakkad and Kottayam are good districts for mountain hiking.
If you like watersports, Kerala has many opportunities. Apart from swimming and snorkeling at one of the many great beaches of Kerala, you may also enjoy scuba diving, canoeing, catamaran sailing, para-sailing, wind surfing, rafting or kayaking. Off the coast of Kerala there are scuba diving possibilities at Cochin and Trivandrum. If you want to do some unique scuba diving, the waters of Lakshadweep Islands are completely untouched and pure, some even unexplored. The islands are located some 400 km (250 mi) off the coast of Kerala and can be reached by a 20 hours sea journey from Cochin or by plane to Agatti Island also from Cochin. Catamaran sailing is mostly done in the backwaters but can also be seen in Alleppey and Kollam beaches. Rafting and kayaking are usually done at Kottayam and Alleppey backwaters, if you want rapids some small ones can be found near Vagamon and Pala.
Fishing and angling is also an activity that can be enjoyed at many places in Kerala. There are many gurgling mountain streams with coming down from the Western Ghats that are very rich in marine population, especially the beautiful hill station Munnar is known for its enchanting mountain streams full of colorful fishes. You can also do fishing in the backwaters or in the sea, where local boatmen provide information on the best fishing areas. April to September is the best months for freshwater fishing and October to November is the best season to venture out for fishing in the sea.
There are only four golf courses in Kerala, two at Munnar and one at Cochin and Trivandrum. Cochin Golf Course is located on an island in the middle of Cochin and can only be approached by boat, which makes it an interesting experience. Trivandrum Gulf Club is a 9-hole course open to non-members on payment of green fee. The High Range Golf Club in Munnar is an 18-hole course set amongst tea plantations; it is open to all players. The Kundale Golf Club also in Munnar is a 9-hole course in an isolated location. Membership is restricted to local plantation owners, but non-members are allowed to play if introduced by a member.
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