Kerala is all set to become one of the main centres for adventure tourism activities this year. The state will host four international adventure tourism activities in some of the major tourism hotspots including Vagamon (paragliding), Varkala (surfing), Mananthavady (mountain biking) and Kozhikode (whitewater kayaking).
The first in the series of events will be the 'International Paragliding Competition 2024' to be held from March 14 to 17 at Vagamon, Idukki. This will be India’s largest aero sports adventure festival where more than 100 nationally and internationally renowned gliders will participate. Paragliding competitions will be held in Mini XC, Spot Landing at Top Landing Spot, Mini Acrobatics Show, Hike and Fly, Ground handling and Thermaling.
With the International Surfing Festival at Varkala from March 29 to 31, Kerala will play host to the first national surfing championship this year, where surfing athletes from India's eastern and western coastal cities will compete in various categories.
The 7th edition of the International Mountain Cycling Championship (MTB Kerala-2024) will be held from April 26 to 28 at Priyadarshini Tea Plantation, Mananthavady, Wayanad. Cyclists from 25 countries are expected to participate in the championship featuring a five-kilometre-long track covering terrains like mud, rock and water. MTB Kerala has also been included in the MTB Championship calendar of Union Cycliste International (UCI), the governing body of the sport of cycling based in Switzerland.
The 10th edition of the Malabar River Festival will be held from July 25 to 28.The competition categories in this event on the Chalipuzha and Iruvanjipuzha rivers are kayak slalom, boater cross and downriver competition categories