Terratrial

🌿 Inspiration

Trekking is more than just moving through landscapes—it’s a chance to learn from them. But most digital tools treat trails as coordinates, not stories. We were inspired by the local guides and communities in India who protect these ecosystems with deep knowledge but often lack digital representation. TerraTrail was born to amplify their voices and turn every hike into an act of conservation.

📱 What It Does

TerraTrail is a mobile app that helps travelers find and explore curated eco-trails led by local guides. Users can access offline-ready trail packs, complete eco-challenges like spotting native flora or picking up litter, and earn points for sustainable behavior. No ads, no payment barriers—just real experiences built on care for nature.

🛠️ How We Built It

We used Supabase free tier for authentication, database, storage, and edge functions. The front end runs on Expo Router + React Native, with lightweight asset caching and minimal API requests. All content is optimized for low bandwidth and offline use. We integrated WeatherAPI.com for contextual trail suggestions.

⚠️ Challenges We Ran Into

• Expo Router quirks in web builds and route loading
  
• Managing offline caching without bloating file sizes
  
• Designing for both guide access and user simplicity—balancing tech constraints with real-world needs

🥇 Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

• Building an entirely serverless, zero-cost platform that’s still rich in features
  
• Designing an app that works fully offline and centers local voices
  
• Shaping eco-trekking into a gamified, rewarding experience without extracting value from users

🎓 What We Learned

• Supabase can be pushed surprisingly far if you’re smart with payloads and sync
  
• Designing for real-world sustainability starts with digital efficiency
  
• Sometimes, the most meaningful tech is the lightest—it steps back and lets the people + planet shine

🌍 What’s Next for TerraTrail

We plan to partner with local communities in Kerala to pilot TerraTrail with actual guides and trail data. Future steps include building multilingual support, enabling tip-based earnings for guides, and collaborating with environmental NGOs. Our long-term dream? Make eco-trekking a global movement—one story, one trail at a time.

Built With

• expo.io
• react-native
• supabase