2025 Himalayan Adventure Challenge
Dec 19-21, 2025 in Rishikesh
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Bike | Hike | Paddle
In December 2025, teams can compete against each other in a one-of-a-kind time trial race on land and water to win the 11th edition of the Himalayan Adventure Challenge (HAC) from Dec 19-21, 2025 (Friday to Sunday) in Rishikesh. A great fun format makes HAC an event unlike any other.
It beckons you to combine your skills, teamwork and your abilities to the fore, making it the foremost multi-discipline adventure races in India today. HAC offers three formats - a 30 km Open Challenge, a 10 km Open or Family Challenge and an elite 55 km Zealot Challenge involving Biking, Hiking and River Rafting. It caters to the novice, the weekend athlete, the armchair adventurer, the endurance champions and even the family; making it India's premier team racing event.
Hosted by Aquaterra Adventures & Atali Ganga, the Himalayan Adventure Challenge is a new avatar of the Aquaterra Challenge, and has developed after years of testing ground for safety, fluidity, ability, and improving upon the challenge.
55 km Zealot Challenge (Teams of 4)
20 km Bike + 21 km Hike + 14 km White Water Rafting
The Xtra element to test your limits of endurance, complete 55 kms in 3 different disciplines in a single day! Race fees: ₹ 18,650/- per person + 5% GST | Teams of 4
55 km Zealot Relay Challenge (Teams of 2 cyclists + 2 runners)
20 km Bike (for 2) + 21 km Hike (for 2) + 14 km (for all 4) White Water Rafting
The Xtra element to test your team's limits of endurance, complete 55 kms in 2 different disciplines each in a single day! Race fees: ₹ 18,650/- per person + 5% GST | Teams of 4
30 km Open Challenge (Teams of 4)
16 km Hike + 14 km White Water Rafting
This is the open category where you race in teams of 4. Bring your team and race against the clock.
Race fees: ₹ 14,650/- per person + 5% GST | Teams of 4
10 km Open Challenge (Min of 4 or Max of 6)
5 km White Water Rafting + 5 km Hike
Race with the family and friends. Get the youngsters (9+ yrs) to get into the outdoors, and experience the rush
Race fees: ₹ 10,650/- per Adult + 5% GST / ₹ 6,650- per Child + 5% GST
Min of 4 or Max of 6 | Children eligibility: 9yrs to 15 yrs old
HAC can help you build a Team
Don't have any friends or family as team members just yet? Don't worry, you can still take part and we'll help you build a good team with other similar participants. Just choose the option while registering and you are in! You can also register in one of the team categories without having to fill up the details for the rest of the team and we will match you with other individuals to form the team
How It Works?
We use a points system where times get adjusted for age and gender. This is based on age/gender adjustments for qualifying times used by international marathons of Boston, London and New York. The time to complete HAC of every individual team member is taken and adjusted. The individual adjusted times are then totalled to give the final adjusted team time. This is then used to decide HAC winners and runners-up. It means people of any age or gender have just as much chance as anyone else.
Giving back to the Community
We started as a fundraiser to bring people to travel back to Uttarakhand. The Himalayan Adventure Challenge (previously known as The Aqua Terra Challenge) was set up to remember the June-2013 flood victims of Uttarakhand, and sought to bring people back to this beautiful part of India. The Aqua Terra Charity Trust supported the event to help bring back opportunities, choices, resources, essential services into the lives of many in Uttarakhand. The event was spread over 45 miles, and 2 days of challenge, involving a time based gruelling walk followed by a 16 mile cycling leg to the third and very exciting leg of the event – a 15 mile raft / inflatable kayak race down the mighty Ganges.
Now, we sponsor team members (free of cost) which are made up of budding youngsters from the villages in the region and from Rishikesh. Quite a few of them have gone on to win multiple race events along with many prizes.
How To Reach Us?
By Road: Delhi to Atali Ganga (Race Venue)
Driving Time and Distance: 6 hrs | 270 kms (with a short-breakfast break) Note: Try and leave Delhi between 4-5 a.m as driving time increases beyond 6 hours due to morning congestion in towns like Modinagar and Roorkee.
By Air: Delhi to Atali Ganga (Race Venue) - Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun
This is the fastest and most convenient way of getting here. Three airlines – Indigo, Spicejet & Air India have direct flights to Dehradun from Delhi (25 min) apart from other metros. There are also connecting flights via Delhi and reaching us has never been easier. We are 1.5 hrs from the airport by road. Take the morning flights which reach Dehradun latest by 12 noon so you can reach well before the orientation starts by 2pm on Friday, Dec 19
By Train: Haridwar Railway Station
We are 1.5 hrs from the closest railhead at Haridwar. The morning Dehradun Shatabdi from Delhi or the overnight Mussoorie Express are both convenient ways of getting here. The Mussoorie Express gets you here on time to enjoy a full day after a good night’s sleep on the train.
Accommodation
You have decided to HAC it!!!?? Welcome aboard and now that you are signing up, here is some information that will help you plan your stay. We have two properties that are close together, and offer a great race venue. You may come in latest by lunch on Friday, 19th Dec 2025 for the orientation, briefing and the evening at Atali Ganga. Camp Aquaterra and Atali are the default race venue with tents and cottages set up in a forest clearing. While Atali has ensuite units, Camp has a WC complex, cots and shower stalls. Atali is India’s premier activity lodge, and the venue of the evening on Saturday, 20th Dec 2025. You can choose to stay at other properties in the belt, and we will arrange transfers for you.
Race Outline
Outline Plan for you to plan your stay
Friday, 19th Dec 2025 - Orientation/ Briefing
12:00 to 14:00 - All teams arrive post lunch to their race hotels / camps.
15:00 - Zealot & 30 km Open teams transfer for paddle & bike orientation / safety & practice session, pick up race kits, and clear all queries/doubts from race coordinators.
17:00 to 20:00 - Race Briefing, rules, retire to your base for an early evening.
Saturday, 20th Dec 2025 - Zealot & 30 km Open Challenge.
04:00 - Zealot teams transfer to Devprayag to begin their challenge. (40 km/ 90 min to Devprayag).
06:00 - 30 km Open Challenge teams transfer to race start point (approx. 6-10 km / 20 -30 mins.
07:00 - Zealot race start below Devprayag (30 second staggered start).
07:00 - 30 km Open Challenge race starts at Singtali.
11:00 - 14:00 (race end time) - Zealot & 30 km Open Challenge teams reach Malakhunti finish 15:00 - 16:00).
Note: Hard stop for all Zealot and Open teams at 15:00 if they have not started the river leg.
Saturday, 20th Dec 2025- 10 km Open Challenge
13:00 - 10 km Open Challenge teams transfer for paddle & bike orientation / safety & practice.
14:00 - 15:00 - Lunch for 10 km Open Challenge teams.
15:30 - 10 km Open Challenge race starts at Malakhunti, paddle to Sarasu village and trek back to Malakhunti
17:30 - Race ends. Transfer to respective hotels.
Open challenge team should ideally be independent of Zealot/Open challenge members as some may miss the 15:30 cut off start for this leg.
18:00 - Awards and Gala Dinner with live music for all teams at Atali. Time to celebrate!
Sunday, 21st Dec 2025
Relax, soak in the venue, enjoy a day on the river, or hike and depart after breakfast.
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Why
Himalayan
Adventure
Challenge
1 Only adventure race held entirely in the natural outdoors
2Offers choice of 2 adventure activities in the Open format, or 3 adventure activities in the Zealot format on Saturday, 19th Dec 2025
3Offers a Family format in the 10 km Open Challenge to encourage youngsters to participate with adults on Saturday, 19th Dec 2024
4Being a destination race, makes for a great healthy weekend
5Age and gender based time adjustments for all participants based on the Boston Marathon model
6Safety & support tracking of contestants
7The course has been tested thoroughly with participant inputs over 6 years
8Highly accessible – options from ages 9 and above
95 hours by road or 25 min flight from Delhi to Dehradun