Take part in the Cycle India for SLA Challenge, crossing over 400km of India to raise funds for Scottish Love in Action

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Arnold Rogers
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Take part in the Cycle India for SLA Challenge, crossing over 400km of India to raise funds for Scottish Love in Action Scottish Love in Action (SLA) is a charity based in Scotland that cares for and

We do this by partnering with and supporting grassroots Indian organisations that care for and educate children.

The Challenge route starts in the historic city of Mysore, and then you will wind your way through the hills of Karnataka, across the Western Ghats Mountains, through the rich greenery and coffee,

You will finish in the coastal town of Managlore, where you can relax after traveling After the challenge, you will get the opportunity to visit some of the projects that SLA supports in Hyderabad.

1 Take part in the Cycle India for SLA Challenge, crossing over 400km of India to raise funds for Scottish Love in Action Scottish Love in Action (SLA) is a charity based in Scotland that cares for and supports vulnerable children in India. SLA s purpose is to help transform the lives of vulnerable children in India. We do this by partnering with and supporting grassroots Indian organisations that care for and educate children. The Cycle India for SLA Challenge is an exciting way for you raise funds for SLA, whilst seeing what this beautiful country has to offer. The Challenge route starts in the historic city of Mysore, and then you will wind your way through the hills of Karnataka, across the Western Ghats Mountains, through the rich greenery and coffee, cardamom and tea plantations. The route will also take you past the UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Belur and Halebidu, and through the King Cobra s habitat in the Agumbe rain forests. You will finish in the coastal town of Managlore, where you can relax after traveling After the challenge, you will get the opportunity to visit some of the projects that SLA supports in Hyderabad. Here you can spend time with the children that our partners work with, and share stories of your cycle challenge The Challenge is open to everyone, and it will be life changing in many ways, not just for those taking part, but also for the children that SLA support. Cycle India for SLA Challenge is organised in partnership with Kalypso Adventures, who will provide all of the support and equipment needed for you to complete the challenge safely.

2 The Itinerary Join this 412KM Cycle challenge and help raise funds for the children that SLA supports. Day 1 Depart from the UK Overnight flights from the UK to Bangalore Day 2 Arrive in Bangalore o Settle into Bangalore and take time to adjust to the heat, go out and experience the hustle and bustle of India s third largest city. Day 3 Transfer to Mysore o We will transfer to Mysore with Kalypso Travels, here we can explore the city and take in its rich history and culture, including the impressive Mysore Palace. We will have an evening s briefing where bikes will be fitted and the group will have dinner together and hear about the exciting challenge ahead. Day 4 Mysore to Coorg 70km o The Challenge starts! We will transfer a short distance away from the city to avoid the busy morning traffic, and set out for our first destination of Coorg, a tranquil part of the India, filled with cardamom and coffee plantations. Coorg is known for its cool weather and natural beauty. Day 5 Mysore to Hassan 81km o Today we head for Hassan, an area of great cultural importance and a notable population centre during the Hoysala Empire in the 12 th and 13 th centuries. We will witness first- hand the beauty that this area has to offer, cycling past Banyan and coconut groves, shielded from the sun by the Flame of the Forest trees. We will also pass by Halebidu, which was the capital of the Hoysala Empire, and an UNESCO World Heritage site, where we can stop for a break and see the historic temples that this area has to offer. Day 6 - Hassan to Chikmangaluru - 90km o On this route, we will experience the unspoilt countryside with its rolling mist covered hills, thick forests, coffee plantations, and farmsteads around which wild flowers grow in abundance. This will be a challenging day with a gradual climb until we reach the hotel, perched on the gentle slopes of the Sahayadri Mountains, surrounded by flower-filled gardens evoking memories of an era of planters who made this the coffee capital of India. Day 8 - Chikmangaluru to Koppa 91km o Today we will cycle to Koppa, a small town famously known as the Kashmir of India, known for its gentle weather and fascinating sceneries. The town is surrounded by Western Ghats, located about 800 metres above sea level. Day 9 Koppa to Mangalore 80km o The Final push! We cycle west, leaving the mountains for the first time, as we head for the Arabian Sea. This day s route takes us through the King Cobra country of Agumbe, down the ghat roads, beautifully lined with thick rain forests on both sides. Our challenge is complete at Udupi. Here we transfer to Managlore where we can celebrate the challenge in this coastal town.

3 Day 10 Mangalore to Hyderabad o Here we fly to Hyderabad, and have the opportunity to relax and visit the some of the wonderful palaces and forts around the city. Hyderabad is India s 4 th largest city, and we will have the chance to explore the city and bazars, including a trip to the famous Chowmahalla Palace, the opulent 18 th and 19 th century Palace for several Nizams, and compromises of several grand buildings across for garden courtyards. Day 11 Time in Hyderabad o Our last day in India. Here we will spend the morning with one of our partners, and share the experience of the cycle with the children that your hard work has helped to support. These children are the reason why we are all taking part in the challenge, and they will be excited to hear our stories and spend time together. After spending time with the children we will depart for the airport for our flight home. Day 12 Arrive in the UK o Please note this itinerary may be subject to change What does it cost? In order to take part in the Cycle India for SLA you need to pay a non-refundable 250 deposit to secure your place on the challenge. You must also raise a minimum of 2000 on top of this to cover the cost of the trip, but also to fundraise for SLA. The total cost of the cycle challenge, airport transfers and hotels in India is 1000, so the extra 1000 that you raise helps to fund the projects and support the children that you will get to meet. We encourage participants to fundraise more than this total to help SLA raise more funds to continue our work with our partners in India. Does this include international flights? This does not include your international flight, and participants will have to arrange their own flights to and from India. You can arrive before the challenge starts, or if you want you can stay after, however all participants must be in Bangalore on the 10 th of November, ready to start the challenge on the 11 th. What about visas and insurance? You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. SLA can recommend a policy, and details of this will be sent out to you. Will I Need Inoculations? The NHS travel website Fit for Travel recommends that anyone visiting India should consult their GP before traveling to India to find out what inoculations they may need. For information can be found on their website. How fit do I have to be? You don t have to be a keen cyclist to take part in the challenge, and lots of participants will have little or no fitness levels when they agree to sign up to the challenge. This can be the perfect motivation to get fit in preparation of the

4 trip, and have a fantastic experience. The average distance cycling each day is 80km, however our partners Kalypso adventures will provide support vehicles should you need to take a break during the challenge. Can I sign up on my own? Of course! Most people will sign up on their own and soon make new friends. Often there will be people from the same local area who you can meet up with to train and fundraise. Groups are also welcome, but don t worry about signing up on your own! Will there be a chance to meet the group before we start our challenge in India? Yes! There will be two meetings before the group starts the challenge in India. This will give you the chance to meet the group, and hear more about the organisations you will be raising the money for. As we will be visiting a children s home, all participants in the cycle will have to undergo a Basic Disclosure through Disclosure Scotland, and these will processed one of the meetings. Am I too old? People of all ages will come together for this amazing challenge. Who organises the travel arrangements? You will book your own international flights, however SLA and Kalypso Tours will book all of the internal flights, transport and accommodation in India over the two week challenge period. If you are staying before or after the two-week challenge, you will need to arrange your own transport to Bangalore, or out of Hyderabad. Can I pay my own tour cost? It is up to you how you fund your challenge. Some people will decide to pay their own tour costs ( 1000) and they can tell donors that their donation is going directly to support the work of SLA. Others will fundraise the whole amount, it is really up to you. You can also fundraise for your flight; however, you need to make it clear to those donating what exactly their money is paying for. Where will we be staying? We will be staying in tourist class hotels in shared rooms. Do I need specialist equipment? You must bring a cycling helmet with you. Cycle shorts are recommended, and you should have your water bottle, although there will be water stops on the way. We will be using Trek and Cannondale cycles supplied by our partners Kalypso Tours. What if I don t reach my fundraising target? If you are struggling to meet your target then please contact SLA, and we can have a chat about what happens next, it is a big target, but we want as many people as possible to take part in the challenge and we can provide fundraising support to help you along the way.

5 Can I extend my stay? As you are booking your own international transfers, then you can stay before or after the challenge, as long as you make arrangements to be in Bangalore on the 11 th of November. How do I sign up? To register your place, you need to pay your 350 deposit. To do this, please go to Shop on our website, then Cycle India for SLA, and follow the instructions. APPLICANTS MUST SIGN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FORM AND SEND THIS TO enquiries@sla-india.org Once you have signed up a member of our team will contact you with your welcome pack and more information about the challenge. Or call the SLA office on or enquiries@sla-india.org for more information

Take part in the Cycle India for SLA Challenge, crossing over 400km of India to raise funds for Scottish Love in Action

Take part in the Cycle India for SLA Challenge, crossing over 400km of India to raise funds for Scottish Love in Action Scottish Love in Action (SLA) is a charity based in Scotland that cares for and supports