Aquaterra Expeditions, July-September, 2014

RRun For a Cause May 25th!!

IN THE NEWS 
MORE PRESS !!
Dear Traveller,
 
A new India story begins this month, one that promises to kick start the good-times-a-coming promise.  On the travel front we see a rising trend towards private, custom adventures.  This is now becoming a new focus area for us, so if you have an idea in mind, we are happy to help run it. 
 
If you are planning for the the big rainy times that arrive in the Himalaya late June, the only avenues for adventure travel remain tucked away in the stunning Trans Himalaya. 
 
For a late summer jaunt, Camp Lunagad and Atali are offering some of the best getaways available at this time of year.  Our August Stok and Chamsher Kangri climbs are full up, however the July Stok climb and the Aug Zanskar expeditions are still one of the best ways to experience Ladakh. 
 
On the other side of the monsoon, our Amazing Africa Adventure, combines a descent of the Zambezi starting at the base of the Victoria Falls, and viewing wildlife at South Luangwa, as only Africa can offer. Click here for a preview!  
 
The Auden's Col trek leaves Sep 26, on one of the best Himalayan experiences on offer, an Aquaterra special. 
So, Africa, Ladakh or Uttarakhand, we hope to see you  take the plunge. 
     
 
Vaibhav Kala   
                          
 
See the new Atali Video!

Lonely Planet calls it the 10 Best Things to Climb !  The ascent of this 6000m plus mountain in 10 days is probably the quickest one can climb it, keeping in mind that one needs some time to acclimatize to the altitudes as well. After spending the first couple of days acclimatizing in Leh during which time we also visit some monasteries and the interesting Leh market, we set off for a week long trek. Instead of approaching the mountain head-on we travel some distance west and then approach it through a slightly longer route crossing the Stok La (4890m) and then descending to the Stok valley.This approach gives us a little more time to acclimatize and the steep climb up to Stok La acts as a good test before the final ascent.

The final climb of Stok Kangri will present a challenge to even the fittest of the members. Even after being fully acclimatized and completely in form, one would always find any climb going over 6000m to be a hard one. This is about as high as non-professional mountaineers get on the planet: a clear day sees exquisite views of K2, with the huge Ladakhi capital of Leh a mere speck on a horizon, hemmed in by the imposing mountains of the Karakoram Range.
 
Honyo camp
Category : Multi-Activity Adventure (drives, hike, camp, raft, village visits)
Duration  : 12 Days                       
Location  : Ladakh and Zanskar
Grade     : Moderate 
Dates     :  Aug 07-18 & Aug 18-29, 2014  
 
Most people agree that in  terms of the scenery it is  more magnificent than say the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, Canada's Nahanni River, or Peru's Colca  Canyon. The former are both National Parks and World Heritage Sites. In a land full of spectacular sights, and magnificent monasteries, it is easy to overlook a hidden wonder - the gorge cut by the mighty Zanskar river as it carves its way through the Zanskar mountains. This is a deep canyon, with 2000 ft high cliffs falling sheer into the raging river, pathless, remote, and forbidding.  Until recent years, this was only known to the local Zanskar people who viewed it with some awe, but not we suspect with any great love - they regarded it  like you view a prize bull - a magnificent but dangerous necessity.  

In the long winter months, the passes over the
 mountains are blocked by snow and the District of Zanskar is cut off from the rest of Ladakh .  Then the only link to the outside world is down the Grand Canyon of the Zanskar, walking on the frozen 
ice as the river still runs below - a cold, arduous, and perilous, 4 day trek.  Coupled with the magnificent scenery is the traditional mainly Buddhist culture of Zanskar - a fascinating example to the rest of the world of sustainable environmental  living.  Undoubtedly a classic,  this journey to the last truly lost horizon of our shrinking planet - Zanskar, the "land of white copper" is a trip of a lifetime.  Email us for a detailed pdf
 
Victoria Falls, Zambezi White Water Rafting  & the South Luangwa, here are 3 of the 1000 places to see before you die. Click here to read more... 
The Victoria Falls is where the wide Zambezi River simply drops some 100 meters into a narrow gorge. The Falls lie across the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Called "Mosi-oa-Tunya", (the smoke that thunders) in the local language the Falls are one of the seven wonders of the world and when you first come to Zambia, Livingstone is must visit destination. Sunset Africa
 From here we get into our rafts and practice paddling techniques before we paddle across rapid 1. Here we have the option to carry the rafts up over a few rocks and float around in the "Boiling Pot" directly beneath Victoria Falls, the best start to any raft trip in the world. We run rapid after rapid such as the Midnight  Diner, Gulliver's Travels and the Mother where we can have a wonderful riverside banquet lunch whilst watching other rafts come through, Oblivion!   We float on down to our camp at Rapid 23 called Bobo Beach where we will sample sundowners, a
 fantastic barbecue (vegetarian options are available) and a homemade apple crumble for dessert. Fall asleep in your tent or under the stars in your  million star hotel. Two more days are spent running the best of the Zambezi. 
As the gorge opens out we see the occasional crocodile and see our last (and best) rapids of the trip, 
Chamamba and Upper Moemba. On our way out, we visit stunning villages such as Mukuni Village and Songwe.
  
We move into a whole new dimension now!! The South Luangwa Park offers an absolutely unique variety of animals. 
Spending 3 days at the reserve make it a heady combination after running the wild Zambezi.
 
Title : Auden's Col      
Category : Trek
Duration : 15 Days
Location : Uttarakhand
Season : September - October
Grade : Demanding
Dates : Sep 26 - Oct 10, 2014 
 
We start our expedition by driving up the Bhagirathi valley right till the end of the road at Gangotri. From here we move south towards the Gangoti range establishing a series of camps. With proper acclimatization, we cross the col and abseil to the mighty Khatling glacier. We descend the Khatling glacier and exit along the Bhilangana river, which surges from the mout of the Khatling. This is one of the most scenic walks in the Himalaya, all the way till Reeh, where the road has moved up the valley.
Atali, The Rishikesh One Experience
Atali, The Rishikesh One Experience

Experience Atali Ganga.  
Enjoy great discounts during July & August, this is one of the easiest breaks you can plan this monsoon. 

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