Epic Journeys 

Have You Ever Embarked On One?   


Just a few journeys that rank as one of the best on the planet. 
Here is your chance to tick them off the bucket list.
THE AQUA TERRA DIFFERENCE

With low entry barriers, many adventure companies offer many options at many price points. How do you make a decision? Truth is, very few are true adventure travel companies. Most travel outfits masquerade as adventure travel companies. 

Aquaterra Adventures sets the benchmark by having the most experienced guides, mountain and river staff & established relationships with porters, horsemen, home-stays and hotels throughout the Himalaya. We ensure we retain the best talent, as its that one X-factor that makes or breaks an adventure. 

 

Owning domain expertise can make the difference between a summit climb, a safe river expedition, or the difference when the going gets very difficult as it sometimes does in the mountains. In addition to helping get the right boots and gear, our staff is available to help build a training regimen no matter where you live.

 

Who To Go With ?

Every company promises you that wonderful adventure. Make sure your decision making is not swayed by a great price, but by what ensures your safety.

-   Will I be taken care of when the weather goes bad, if i am sick or if its an emergency?

-   What is the skill level and medical training of lead guide and assistant guides?

-   Is my company paying fair wages to porters and horsemen?

-   Do they ensure good accommodation, clean meals and safe transport is guaranteed?

-   Does my trek or climb route build time to acclimatize, and not rushed to reduce costs?

-   Am i sent a comprehensive gear list, with explanations and rent possibilities? 

-   Can I email or call someone, to answer questions?

-   In case of an emergency is there a number the family can reach out to?

-   If some one falls sick or in an emergency, would the trip have enough to continue? 

Click here for some reasons why you may want to go the Aqua Terra Way...

 

TONS THRILLER 
MAY 2-8 & MAY 16-22, 2015

Outside magazine called it one of the 30 Best Trips, Ever! In May 2005, Aquaterra Adventures opened the entire Tons river, 19 years after it was run in 1986. And continues to be the only outfitter running regular descents on this section, continuing to set the industry benchmark in running all of India's wild raft-able rivers. On the Middle Tons between Lunagad and Tiuni, the river drops at an average rate of 32 feet per kilometer. This includes a drop of 78 feet/kilometer over the last three and a half kilometers before Tiuni. Amazing scenery, world class whitewater make this a premier expedition for the white water paddler. We run several rapids ranging from Class III to Class IV+/V, with whitewater sections separated by maybe a hundred yards or less of flat water. If you think you want this high adventure, write to us !
NEW DEPARTURE ! 
CROSSING THE PARANG LA 5600M,  JULY 17-AUG 02, 2015


 

Aquaterra lead one of the first commercial crossings when this route first opened in 1994. We are back with a fixed departure for one of the best trails in the Himalaya.  This remote trail follows the traditional trade route between the people of Spiti, 

Changthang and Tibet. It begins in the high altitude meadows of Kibber, breeding ground of the famous Spiti horses and also known to be snow leopard country. A challenging trek for the enthusiastic walker in one of the more spectacular areas of Ladakh recently open. The trail descends the Kibber gorge and then climbs over the Parang la (5600 mtrs), the 

source of the Pare Chu river, the only one of its kind to have its source in India, flow into Tibet and enter the country again in Spiti. Across the pass, brings one to an almost incredible change of scenery as we walk towards the Rupshu plains of Changthang, known for the abundance of Kiangs (Tibetan Wild Ass). For the last two days, we camp by spectacular campsites, one being on the southern edge of the Tso Moriri (15,000ft), a high altitude lake 27 kms long and nearly 8 km wide. This lake is also the breeding ground for the bar-headed geese, black-necked crane and the Brahminy ducks. We also visit one of the Changpa settlements in a bowl high above Karzog, where they breed pashmina, one of the trade items to over these high passes.

NEW DEPARTURE !

GREAT LAKES OF KASHMIR, JULY 5-14, 2015

 

The Great Lakes of Kashmir trek is set in an arena of high mountain vistas, great pastureland, and the great lakes. Arguably the best way to witness the beauty of the Kashmir Himalaya, you will be rewarded with a palette of colours every single day that you walk on this trail. The trek is moderate but goes over high 13000ft+ high passes, but the terrain is extremely relaxing and the deep blue coloured mountains and lush flower filled meadows make the going extremely pleasant. You may get to experience a few cultural insights. Local  shepherds, their herds and families may be your trail companions.  Click here for a visual preview or Email us for a detailed pdf

GRAND CANYON OF THE ZANSKAR  AUG 03-14 & 17-28, 2015

 

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.
In more recent years the Zanskar has become known to international river runners, and top trekkers who have hailed it as 'the Grand Canyon of Asia'.  Those who have been lucky enough to travel down the great canyons and rivers of the world, all rate the Zanskar as truly magnificent and a world classic. Most people agree that in terms of the scenery it is more magnificent than say the Grand Canyon or the Colorado, Canada's Nahanni River,  or Peru's Colca Canyon. 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
 
AUDEN'S COL SEP 25-OCT 09 
We rate this as one of the best multi-terrain challenges in the Himalaya. The col is situated on the connecting ridge of Gangotri III (6577m) and Jogin I (6465 m) - we ascend the col 
and descend through the ice falls and the crevassed Khatling glacier. We start our expedition by heading up the Bhagirathi river till the temple shrine atGangotri.  From here we move south towards the Gangotri range, moving up in altitude slowly, and with the required level of acclimatization. We ascend to the top of the Col and then 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. Write in to book...
Victoria Falls, Livingstone Adventures,   Zambezi   White Water Rafting  & South Luangwa, here are a couple of the 1000 places to see before you die! 

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. We use two full days to rest, relax, and take in the sights, sounds and smells of Africa adventure. You can choose to go visit the Devils Pool at the edge of Victoria Falls, walk with the lions, do the Vic Falls tour, abseil, leap off God's Swing, try out the zip line, or jump off 111 meters from a bridge over the mighty Zambezi ! A 
sunset cruise on the Zambezi is certainly a must-do. gorge. 
From here we practice paddling techniques before we paddle across rapid 1 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 move into a whole new dimension now!  The South Luangwa National Park is one of the great wildlife wonders of the world. It is nine thousand square kilometers (3,475 square miles) of pristine wilderness in Zambia's Eastern  Province.Experts have dubbed South Luangwa as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries   in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of game around the Luangwa river and it's ox bow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa. Spending 3 days at the reserve make it a heady combination after running the wild Zambezi.   Email us for a detailed pdf
Pongging Rapid, Siang River
The Great Brahmaputra Descent Nov 21-Dec 3, 2015

Rated as the best river adventure by Outside - 
an exciting, true life
 expedition journey into India's tribal north - east and down one of the world's greatest rivers. The Tsang Po, after flowing gently eastwards through Tibet, cuts the Greater Himalaya and the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, Namche Barwa before it enters Arunachal Pradesh, where it is called the Chiang, Siang, and the Dihang as it descends the final 200 kms to the plains of India. Our expedition begins a few miles inside the line-of-control with China. Your journey begins with a ferry boat ride at Dibrugarh on the mighty Brahmaputra, and up the densely forested river valley from the plains of Pasighat to our starting point. We travel through remote hillsides dotted with tribal settlements in clearings surrounded by dense rainforest with many species of ferns, palms and orchids. Bamboo and cane bridges built by the local tribes ; and village visits add to the exciting experience.  Email us if you are keen to join
THE AQUA TERRA CHALLENGE DEC 17-20, 2015
Try Out The Realm of 3-discipline Adventure Racing 

Watch A Preview
Watch The Preview !
The Aqua Terra Challenge 2014 changed the adventure racing scene in the country. New time records, and setting a pace that is great for the future. 
Adventure racing is a combination of two or more endurance disciplines, may including orienteering and/or navigation, cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling and climbing and related rope skills.
The Aquaterra Challenge is a multi- activity hike-bike-raft race, its a one-of-a-kind event organized for the first time in India. After the June 2013 floods, Uttarakhand not only suffered huge losses as a result of the calamity, but continues to suffer as most people feel Uttarakhand is still a danger  zone. Help us eliminate the paranoia, improve the perception, and you could have a lot of fun doing it. 
Keep a look out for 2015 dates on www.aquaterrachallenge.com
 

The Kali flows, one of our favorites, straight out of Jungle BookOur mountain & river trips are featured on The New York Times, Boston Globe and TIME magazine, among many others - Who You Go With, is now quite easily answered.. 

Boston Globe
  New York Times-Where the Earth Meets the Sky  Time Magazine MAy 29, 2008 
 
                  
 Write in to know more about Aquaterra

  

 

 
When it comes to travel to remote regions, to altitude or to inhospitable conditions, you need an outfitter with the right credentials, the right guides and the right equipment.

Our Ladakh Trips are recommended by the

National Geographic Traveler !!  

 

 

Frommers