AN AVID traveller is set for an exciting new adventure in January, as he travels across India by tuk tuk, all while raising funds for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Sam Venables, originally from Farnham, is set to begin his solo tuk tuk drive on January 8, 2020 – starting on the east coast of India in Chennai, before ‘tuk tuking’ his way to Goa, on the west coast.

His main goal is to raise funds for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which he called a “great charity”.

The hospice is also the site of the former Trimmer’s Cottage Hospital, where Sam’s father worked.

An experienced traveller, Sam has been visiting India for more than 20 years – having taken part in a similar tuk tuk challenge twice in the last two years, describing it as a “piece of cake”.

“I saw this ‘challenge’ as they call it a couple of years ago, and thought ‘I know India, I’m going to have a go at that’,” Sam told the Herald.

“There were 15 teams, with up to three people. It was a set route, they organised all the hotels, and we were backed up with crew.

After the first challenge, in December 2017, Sam decided to complete his second attempt alone.

“It made it a lot more interesting, planning out the route and everything – I went completely solo,” Sam added.

Speaking of his journey, Sam described how he visited a variety of hill stations – used by the British during their rule of India – and said it was “a lot cooler up there”.

He also spoke about his journey into the Indian countryside, and keeping a record of his trip.

He said: “I saw an awful lot of the country, and having been there before I knew what Indian people were like.

“Out in the countryside, they are so helpful. The first time I went, I broke down a couple times, and as soon as I broke down there were people there wanting to help.

“It is so green, it is beautiful. I went through so many tea plantations, banana plantations, and I wrote a daily update for people back here.

“I did it for the first time and the second, just to keep people interested. It’s a way of sharing my experiences.”

His journey will begin on January 8, and he will run a ‘mileage challenge’ with a small prize.

And those wishing to have a guess can email their entries to [email protected].

To donate to Sam’s fundraising page, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mrbiggles