AQUATERRA ADVENTURES has been running trips and tours for the discerning traveller throughout the Indian Himalayas since 1995, yet the experience of our travel personnel dates well beyond that, to years of leading trips throughout the Indian Himalayan belt. We believe that an adventure travel outfit is only as good as its guides. Good equipment, food and guides is what makes an outdoor trip an experience to savour.

OUR GOAL

To create the best trips possible, with uncommon professionalism, unsurpassed personal service and a commitment to protect and preserve the cultures and environments through which we travel.

OUR GUIDES

Our trip leaders backed by years of experience are conscientious, aware of the needs and requirements of the group and, interact and communicate freely to provide better service leading to a complete outdoor experience. We have led bicycle camping tours, backpacking trips, mountaineering and rafting adventures, and have trekked extensively, at all altitudes. Our staff members have trekked the very same hills and explored the same wilderness you will when you embark on your adventure. So whether you are on a trek over a 19000 foot high pass, or scouting a big raging rapid, our guides are trained, and more importantly, have the foresight backed by years of experience, to ensure your safety. They are well acquainted with the rigors and rhythms of an adventure trip. Watch out; their adventure spirit is quite contagious!

Solil Paul, an Environmental Law teacher and Michigan graduate who threw it all up for the outdoors, carries the weight of planning, leading and constantly updating all our itineraries. A strong and keen trekker, he has traveled all over the Himalayas for the past 27 years and has led trekking, study and cultural interest groups over many routes. He has rafted on all major rivers in the country and has also been on climbing expeditions, as a photographer.

Vaibhav Kala,one of the most experienced river and mountain guides in the country, has lead many trips on some of the toughest challenges in the Indian Himalayas. Vaibhav has run all major Himalayan rivers and is responsible for opening up new areas to our guests. A keen climber, he has climbed as part of many expeditions in the Himalayas.

DhruvNaresh Rana,a keen raft guide and safety kayaker with over 8 years experience, has represented India in competitions in China and India. He handles logistics at our river base camps on the Ganga and Tons rivers, leads trips as safety kayaker or raft guide, and has run all major Indian descents.


Avilash Bisht, a keen mountain climber, has spent several years leading youth programmes and training youngsters in outdoor survival techniques. He is also part of river guide brigade on river operations, having rafted on all major Himalayan descents, stretching from the Zanskar in the north west to the Lohit in the east.

Pankaj Lagwal,Having worked as a climbing instructor since 2000, we still haven't found a trip to match his strength. He has led numerous trekking trips, climbing expeditions and outdoor education programs.



H.P Sharma, has been running river and mountain trips for over 18 years now and is involved in exploring new strategies and improvement of our overall operation.

Vikram Joshi, one of the most experienced river guides in the country, is also a keen kayaker. With over 16 years in this line of work, he is usually found on the frontline, leading a trek or a river expedition.

Jai Singh, has been one of the old hands in the river running circuit, and his key expertise is in ensuring our Camps and trip logistics run well, on time and do so consistently. Raft guide and kayaker, he is adept at making you feel at home on our trips.

Kaanha Singh, , is part of the new guide brigade, extremely strong kayaker, he has safety boated on many of our premier trips. The sight of Kaan, as he is called, is a reassuring one, as he weaves his way through rapids, and looking out for the rafts. Kaan has been on many Upper Brahmaputra trips and is one of the very few persons to have paddled down the entire Tons.

Harendra Singh, has been guiding on treks and rivers since 2005. He is responsible for planning out expedition logistics and planning our various forays into India’s remote wilderness regions.



Jetandra Singh, has been guiding since 2004, and has hands on experience running camps, treks and our whitewater trips. Whether it is his role as safety kayaker or raft guide, or supporting a climb up the 20000 foot high Stok Kangri, he forms an integral part of our outdoor operation.


Sanjay Rana, has been associated with the outdoors since 2000. He is at home whether safety kayaking on the Brahmaputra, or leading a raft trip down the Zanskar, or handling a group on a trek. His quiet persona and competence gained by the experience of hundreds of man hours involved in the intricacies of being part of outdoor adventure travel, make travel with him a delightful experience.

Pradeep Bahuguna,belongs to the valley of the Alaknanda and has been guiding on all our trips since 2006. Pradeep is also the Camp priest, skilled in the art of performing Hindu rites and prayer recital. No big expedition leaves base without Pradeep performing a traditional “puja”


Vikas Rana,has been guiding since 2007 and is the new kid on the block. Belonging to the Uttarkashi region in the Garhwal Himalaya, the outdoors comes naturally to him. In his guiding psan, he has already experienced Indias vast mountain regions, and is an invaluable part of our youth brigade.


Kim Hartlin,runs ThunderBow Expeditions in Banff, Alberta, but is out each year running trips and guiding groups in the Indian Himalayas. An outstanding trip leader, he has travelled throughout the country and has been on four expeditions in Arunchal Pradfesh on the Upper Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers.


Anil Kuriyal aka Pele,a keen wildlife person and an avid bird watcher he just can’t do without outdoors. Based at camp Kuflon in Uttaranchal, he handles our operations in that part of the world.



Jigme Dorje Sherpa,heads our trips into the eastern part of India. Based out of Darjeeling and Sikkim, he handles all our river and mountain trips in the area and is one of the leading mountain and river guides in the country.


Sundar Khampa, handles our mountain operations based at the idyllic hill town of Manali, the gateway to the trans Himalaya in India. Our invaluable asset, he comes with over 20 years of experience in running mountain trips.

SELECTING YOUR TRIP

We help you select the trip that suits your needs and your style be it a relaxed cultural trek, a demanding trek or climb in the Himalaya, a first descent of a raging river or all of the above. If you are flexible and love adventure, discover India's rugged and unforgettable frontier. We explore areas untouched by other groups. We will provide you with the information you need to make the most of your adventure, and will look after all logistical details. All you need worry about is having the time of your life. We answer your questions not with textbook responses, but from firsthand knowledge. From personal experience. We are careful, attentive listeners. Tell us about the adventure you dream of - we'll tailor one that fulfills your fondest hopes.In the course of planning your adventure, we will act as your advisor and sounding board, your researcher, and maybe, even your confidante. We will work with you to find the right trip at the right time, then make sure you have all the right information - right upto the day of your departure! Our predeparture packet gets you ready and set before you go. When you travel with ATA, you venture beyond the beaten path even the paths most recently carved by other adventure travelers. Our constant effort is to try and control all the "variables" that can make or break your safari.


OUR BELIEF - MINIMUM IMPACT TRAVEL

We believe that along with the privilege of adventure in the Himalaya comes a serious responsibility. The responsibility to protect its ecology and tremendous beauty. The "Leave No Trace" philosophy is followed to the letter and we work to minimize the environmental impact of our trips. We are scrupulous in our camping, cooking and sanitation practices; we limit the number of trekkers we allow to join us on our trips and the number of trips we lead in a given area.