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Vijay Chadda Chief Operating Officer, BTI-Sita, India answers your queries...

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1. 1 I want to do a high altitude trek in Eastern Himalayas. Which are the treks and how much would such a trek cost?

x Manish Malhotra, Delhi

There are various treks available for the Eastern Himalayas, some of which are as follows :

• Bhutan Chomolahri Base Camp - 15 days
• Bhutan Druk Path Trek - eight days
• Kanchenjunga Goecha La and Singalila Ridge - 22 days
• Nepal around Annapurna - 18 days
• Nepal Mustang Rek - 10 days
• Nepal Everest Base Camp - 19 days
• North Kanchenjunga Base Camp East - duration of 19 days with actual trekking of nine days.

The cost for these treks depends on the season and the number of days involved in the trek. However, an approximate cost of USD 200 is charged per day for the trek. This cost does not include the cost of various permits required for these treks.

2. I am coming down to India for a brief vacation in February and would like to take my family to a tiger reserve. Which is the best tiger reserve for sightings and how safe are the safaris?

x Bhaskar Bannerjee, Pune

There are plenty of tiger reserves that you can visit in India. Some of the most famous ones for sightings are:

• Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh
• Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh
• Corbett National Park in Uttar Pradesh
• Sundarbans National Park in Piyali, West Bengal

The safaris organised are extremely professional and safe.

3. We, are a group of friends who are quite interested in adventure sports and want to go hang-gliding. Where can we get an experience of this sport in India? Are there any schools to learn hang- gliding and how much does it cost?

x Avinash Sinchar, Mumbai

Hang-gliding in India can be experienced in Kangra Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It offers 100 km of up and down and cross country flights. Also Dharamkot (11,800 feet) in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh offers good experience for hang-gliding.

In the south of India, Kalahatti near Ooty offers 25 km of up and down, cross country route in the Nilgiris that passes over dense forest areas.

There are a number of clubs in Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore which teach hang-gliding.

4. I am visiting Florida, USA on a business trip sometime in February and would like to know if I could go sky diving there. Could you suggest some operators and how much does it cost?

x Prakash Joshi, Lucknow

Sky diving in Florida is offered by many tour operators. Some of them are as follows :

• Sky Dive City in Zephyrhills, Florida
• Free Fall Adventures, Florida
• Sky Dive Palatka, Florida

For a 'Tandem Sky dive', the first jump would cost you approximately US$ 175. This would include a sky dive from 13,500 feet, a 15 minute plane ride, 60 seconds of free fall and a pre-jump training.

5. If I want to go deep sea diving, which are the places in India I can do it and what is the best time? Also how much would it cost me?

x Priyanka Lokre, Mumbai

The major destinations for deep sea diving in India are Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep which is fast becoming the water sports capital of India. Anytime is the good time for deep sea diving in India.