Adventure & Wellness Immersion on the Sacred Ganges in Rishikesh, India

Atali Ganga opened in 2012, the creation of Aquaterra Adventures, a company that cut its teeth leading expeditions in the Indian Himalayas. They built this place as an 'activotel' — a hotel where rest and adrenaline coexist — and that tension is the whole point of the retreat. Days aren't packed wall-to-wall, but when activities do happen they're done properly. The rafting trip runs the full 24-kilometre stretch of the Ganges from Marine Drive to NM Beach, hitting 14 named rapids including Three Blind Mice and Roller Coaster, with a safety briefing and life jackets before you launch. The Riviera Hike takes you eight kilometres along cliff paths, across an arched bridge, to a riverside beach where you can swim under a waterfall.

The non-adventure side is just as considered. Yoga sessions are held on a deck overlooking the valley, with meditation on a kayaking beach by the river. Guides lead forest bathing walks and stargazing sessions under Himalayan skies. There's a strong cultural thread too: a full-day excursion to Rishikesh covers Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, the Beatles Ashram, and the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat, while a separate morning trip heads up to Devprayag to see where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers converge into the Ganga. On the final full day you're up before dawn to climb the 250 steps to Kunjapuri Temple for sunrise over the peaks.

The retreat is run by a small, welcoming team. Your host, Tanya Lynn Tully, spent two decades in airline hospitality and treats guests like family. The river guides come from Sarasu village, widely regarded as the birthplace of India's raft guides — Sanjay, the lead guide, has decades on Himalayan rivers, and Sunita is one of India's first female river guides. Between them they've built a place that's as safe as it is exciting, and as restful as it is invigorating.

Accommodation is in 22 stone cottages, each with a private balcony or patio facing the valley on three sides. Rooms have no TV, deliberately — the idea is to spend your time outside, on the river or the forest trails. The property is spread over five acres with no neighbouring buildings, so it feels genuinely remote, yet you're only 30 kilometres from Rishikesh town and about two hours from Dehradun airport.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation in a private cottage with balcony or patio - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus snacks - Daily tea and coffee - 4 guided yoga sessions (more are scheduled in the itinerary, up to 6) - 1 x 24 km rafting expedition on the Ganges (Grade III rapids) with transfers - 1 x Riviera hiking trip (8 km) with transfers - Devprayag day trip with guide and Innova transfers - Rishikesh cultural tour with guide (Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Beatles Ashram, Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat) and transfers - Kunjapuri sunrise trip with guide and Innova transfers - Private Ganga Aarti by the river (Saturday evenings) - Airport drop-off (from the retreat) - Arrival and departure transfers - WiFi connection

What's not included

- Flights to Dehradun (DED) - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Credit card/payment processing fees - Lunch at Bemonk Restaurant (Day 3) - New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve dinner surcharges - Bottled water and aerated drinks - Tips and gratuities - Laundry services - Extra nights beyond the retreat - Spa treatments at Aum Spa - Additional activities not in the itinerary (e.g., high ropes, wall climbing, kayaking) - Any other personal expenses