On the 17th of July, something quietly unfolded at the Government Middle School in Sarsai.

Now, the idea had been brewing for a while. Just a day before, on the 16th, our slope team walked over to the school to meet the principal and share a plan. A simple one — to host a Green Trails session with the students. Not a lecture, not a formal session, but something more fun and meaningful. Something they’d remember.

The principal welcomed us in, listened patiently, and smiled. “Come tomorrow,” he said. And so, we went.

We had around 30 students from Classes 6 to 8 waiting for us. Curious, a little unsure, but very present.

We began with a skit — no stage, no props. Just our team acting out a story that felt all too familiar: a cow munching on plastic, wrappers being tossed onto the road, characters buying chips for no reason, and a shopkeeper casually saying, “Throw the waste outside.”

At first, there was silence.

And then — small hands went up. “But cows should eat grass!” “They shouldn’t throw trash like that!” That’s when we knew — they were really watching. Really thinking.

In the second round of the skit, we changed things up. No plastic bottles, no wrappers. Reusable containers came in. The cow was now eating grass. The same shopkeeper was now offering a dustbin.

The shift was small, but the kids noticed every bit.

After the skit, Munna ji led a conversation. And I say conversation — not a session — because that’s exactly what it was. He spoke about the Green Trails practices we follow on our treks. And more importantly, why we follow them.

The students joined in almost immediately. “We don’t use steel boxes, but we want to now.” “We’ll stop throwing wrappers near the school.” “We’ll tell our families also.”

And then something special happened — Praveen stepped forward and led the Green Trails pledge. All 30 students stood up and promised to care. Not just about not littering, but about how their choices — even the smallest ones — affect the world around them.

I want to pause here and say this — this wasn’t just a school visit. It was something else.

It was that rare moment when a message doesn’t just land — it takes root. It wasn’t about ‘teaching sustainability.’ It was about feeling it. About seeing young minds light up, question things, suggest change, and take ownership.

And that’s what Green Trails is about. Not quick fixes. But slow, quiet, steady change.

And on that morning in Sarsai, we saw it.

A quiet but powerful shift unfolded in Yangpa, a small village from where we start the Pin Bhaba Pass trek. The mission was clear: to leave the mountains better than we found them. But what emerged from this one-day initiative was far more layered.

The day began with a sapling plantation drive at the Government Primary School in Yangpa. Children under the age of 10 arrived, accompanied by their mothers, teachers, Mahila Mandal members, and 13 Indiahikes team members. Village leaders — Mrs. Krishna Kumari (Pradhan of Yangpa) and Mrs. Tara Devi (Mahila Mandal Pradhan) — lent their support, making this a true community gathering.

The activities were thoughtful. Trek Leaders facilitated engaging sessions on the importance of trees. The hills echoed with slogans — “Swachh Yangpa, Sundar Yangpa” and “Vriksh Lagao, Gaon Bachao”. The sincerity in the children’s voices, matched by the warmth of their mothers’ smiles, set the tone for what felt like a festival of change.

But amid the cheer, the team stumbled upon a harsh reality — villagers were burning their trash. Everyone, from a six-year-old to the elderly, spoke of burning waste as the only known method. There was no disposal system. No segregation.

This shifted the tone of the day. The plantation drive became a springboard for deeper work. The team handed out Eco Bags and quickly initiated a cleanup drive. From the school to the village lanes, the entire community pitched in. Together, they collected seven large bags of waste.

That wasn’t all. Trek Leader Hrithik simplified waste segregation for the young audience. Abhishek Tiwari, our operations team member, coordinated the sorting into hard plastics, soft plastics, tetra packs, and glass. In total, 71.57 kgs of waste were segregated in just 15 minutes. What could’ve been a small demo turned into a turning point. Fifteen women from the Mahila Mandal committed, then and there, to begin waste segregation at home.

The ripple effect was immediate. The Pradhan requested every household to begin separating trash and assured that it would be handed over to Indiahikes. On our part, the Indiahikes team promised safe disposal through their new collaboration with Waste Warriors, Manali.

In a symbolic and practical move, the Pradhan added an Indiahikes representative to their community WhatsApp group. Plans for a mini waste collection centre near the basecamp were already underway.

Behind this impact was a deeply committed team — Abhishek Tiwari, Subhash Ji, Abhishek Bhan, Dhananjay, Abhishek Roy, Srijita, Charan, Hrithik, Saurabh, Pankaj Patwal Ji, Harsh Mohan Ji, Sourabh Ji and Mohit Bhai from Rupin Pass — each playing their part quietly, meaningfully.

What started as a simple school collaboration turned into something much larger. Yangpa didn’t just witness a one-day event. It felt like the start of a change. 

At Indiahikes, we have felt a strong need to include the local communities we work with. We notice that while everyone has the intention to protect the environment, it is often the lack of knowledge that holds them back from being able to do so. While we are seasonally present in these regions, our presence drives a lot of things forward. But with initiatives like these, where the members of the local community are involved, especially women and children, we believe and hope that the impact of it remains long after we pack-up for the season. 

This is just the beginning! 

The incident is just one small part of the larger efforts unfolding across our slopes — from Uttarakhand to Sikkim and beyond. At Indiahikes, we deeply believe that real, lasting change — both behavioural and systemic — can only happen when local communities are at the heart of it. Because protecting the environment isn’t a solo mission. It’s something we build together.

The monsoon has triggered a landslide on the Kullu–Mandi highway, temporarily disrupting vehicle movement and causing traffic congestion in the region. The Indian Meteorological Department has also forecast heavy rainfall across several areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, Kasauli, Rohru, Bhuntar, Shimla, Bilaspur, and others.

Our ground teams are actively monitoring the situation and are looking after the safety and well-being of all trekkers.

If you have an upcoming trek in July or August, here are a few simple steps to help you prepare better for the monsoon:

• Be rain-ready. Carry proper rainwear (rain jacket and pants/poncho) and pack your backpack with rain protection (a good cover or liners).
• Keep a buffer day in your travel plan in case of any delays or changes.
• Book flexible tickets that are easy to reschedule.
• Stay informed. Keep an eye on the weather forecast so you’re mentally and practically prepared.

We’ll continue to keep you informed with regular updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please do reach out.

The Indiahikes Manali slope team carried out its first on-ground community initiative of the season — a joint cleanup drive with the Mahila Mandal of the local village.

The idea for this initiative began a few weeks ago. When the slope team stepped out for a Green Sweep in the forest patch behind the campus, what they found was deeply concerning — large pockets of waste scattered across just a small area. It didn’t take long to realise that one-time cleanups weren’t going to help. Unless there was a shift in how waste was seen and handled, it would keep coming back.

That’s when the team decided to involve the community. They reached out to the Mahila Mandal — a group of women who clean the village every 10th of the month — and proposed a collaboration. With support from the Pradhan Ji, the plan was set in motion.

The next morning, the slope team met the women near the Indiahikes campus. Siddharth from the team introduced Indiahikes, shared the plan for the day, and handed out eco-bags for the cleanup.

The group got to work, and in less than an hour, they had cleared 162 kilos of waste.

But the real success of the morning lay in what happened during the cleanup. Every slope team member took time to speak with the villagers — to share what Indiahikes stands for, what Green Trails means, and why sustainability is central to everything we do. 

After the cleanup, the Mahila Mandal was invited to the Indiahikes campus for tea and snacks. It was a simple gesture, but it opened space for a deeper conversation. The team shared more about:

• Indiahikes’ presence in Manali
• The slope team’s role
• The work that happens behind every trek
• And most importantly, how waste can be handled better at a village level

Two clear ideas were introduced:

1. Avoid burning collected or daily waste
2. Start segregating waste before disposal

They have questions. Their concerns were practical, and all of them were valid. The team responded with suggestions and assured them of continued support. They also committed to working with the Pradhan Ji to co-create solutions that last.

For the slope team, this was more than a cleanup. It was a chance to build trust — to show up with clarity and purpose. 

This green sweep at Manali is just a small part of something much bigger at Indiahikes. Similar community outreach efforts are happening across our slopes — in Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Himachal. Because we’ve seen this time and again — real change doesn’t come from one-off cleanups. It happens when local communities are involved, when they take the lead, and when there’s a slow but steady shift in behaviour and systems. That’s the kind of change we’re working towards.

For a long time, we have been scouting for a space that is away from city life to help us delve deep into nature, yet not so far away that just getting there is a hassle. Finally, we've found the perfect place for that, a lovely Forest Campus in Yelagiri.

Among all the spaces we have seen, this is a Campus we have fallen in love with. What's unique about it is that it was not built to be a resort or a home stay, but to be a space for experiential learning in the outdoors. 

So within the campus, you'll see strong elements of wilderness: a camping area in a mango grove, natural bouldering zones, and lovely trails that foray into the eucalyptus forests around. Jackfruit, bamboo, and banyan trees thrive in the sprawling 10-acre campus. The space feels raw and alive. Frankly, you don't need to head off campus at all.

Yet, in addition to this, a big highlight of our two-day plan is a trek to Swamimalai. Yelagiri's highest point. It's a wonderful vantage point that gives you a view of the town of Jolarpettai at the base of the Yelagiri hills.

The entire experience is thoughtfully designed to give you not just an adventure, but new skills and insights, from learning how to pitch your tent to understanding the natural world more deeply. By the end of the two days, you’ll carry with you more than just memories; you’ll leave with a renewed love for the outdoors and trekking.

The leadership team at Indiahikes went here last month. Swathi Chatrapathy (Chief Editor) and Sandhya UC(Co-founder) took their 2-year-olds too, and boy, did they love it! They didn't want to leave.

The best part? Yelagiri is just 4 hours away from Bangalore, Chennai and nearby cities, with easy access through road and daily trains. The travel doesn't tire you, and is, in fact, refreshing. 

So whether you’re a family, a group of friends, or a solo trekker, we highly recommend going here. You'll love it.

We have opened regular groups, as well as special groups for families from 9th August onwards. These slots are likely to fill up quickly. So register soon.

Every year, during the monsoon, trekkers are in a fix. Treks run only in two regions — Himachal and J&K (except for the Valley of Flowers). And both come with their uncertainties. In J&K, it’s usually permissions or security. In Himachal, it’s the unpredictable weather.

For a long time, we’ve been searching for a region that’s free from both — where monsoon doesn’t disrupt trekking, and where trails are stable and accessible.

That’s when our eyes turned to the rain-shadow region of Lahaul.

We already knew the magnificence of the Miyar Valley. Its wide-open landscapes rival Kashmir’s. We thought we’d seen the best Lahaul had to offer.

We were so wrong.

This new trail, just documented by our team, has left us speechless.

We’re naming it the Chandrabhaga Glaciers Trek. 

Starting from the Baralacha La Pass, it ventures into completely uncharted territory, where only a handful of expeditioners have ventured in the past. 

The trek takes you through a breathtaking adventure in the cold deserts of Lahaul. We say "breathtaking" quite literally because the entire trek is set above 16,000 ft! 
It’s a journey through a surreal world, where you see:

• Five enormous glaciers cascading into the valley
• The snout of the glacier, where the Chandra River gushes out
• Two stunning alpine lakes: Kya Tso and Ga Tso
• Iconic peaks of Lahaul from the KR and Chandrabhaga Ranges

If that's not enough, the landscape will capture your imagination. The Chandrabhaga Glaciers Trek starts at the high mountain pass of Baralacha La, plunging you straight into the raw, high-altitude wilderness of Lahaul. You trek through vast alpine landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. These rugged, high-altitude plateaus shift colours through the day, glowing in surreal hues of orange, purple, and gold under the changing mountain light. 

But what stands out to us is the spectacular glaciers you see along the way. This trek is a rare, up-close showcase of glacier country — from crevasses and sinkholes to snouts and icefalls. It’s perhaps the closest you can get to these powerful ice formations without getting into the technical difficulties of actually walking on them.

If you’re seeking a raw, high-altitude adventure in one of the most remote corners of the Himalayas, this is the trek for you. Baralacha La is where most adventures end. But on the Chandrabhaga Glaciers Trek, it’s only the beginning.

This year, we are launching just two pilot groups in August. Being a part of the pilot group means that you are almost re-exploring the trek, maybe even making some changes in the trek design for future trekkers. We are putting together two small teams of around 15 members who are fit, adventurous, and passionate trekkers. 

This is not an opportunity that will wait too long. We hope you get a chance to be a part of it. 

The monsoon has set in across Himachal, and we’re seeing consistent spells of rain across most trek regions. Light showers are fairly regular, with occasional heavy downpours in some parts. The weather is stable for now, but as always, conditions can shift quickly in the mountains.

Our teams on the ground are monitoring the situation closely and staying in regular contact with trekkers. If you’re trekking with us this July or August, the best thing you can do is come well-prepared.

Here’s a quick ground update from Faizan, our Experience Manager at the Indiahikes Jungle Line campus in Sarsai, just outside Manali. Watch the video to get a real sense of what the weather looks like and how things are shaping up on the slopes.

We'll continue to keep you updated as the season unfolds. Stay in the loop.

With trekking growing in our country, a lot of beginners are often lost about how to plan and prepare for a Himalayan trek.

So we are conducting a live workshop in Bangalore this month, which you will benefit from.

In it, we will cover:  

1. How to choose a Himalayan trek
2. How to get fit for a Himalayan trek
3. How to plan your travel
4. What gear do you need on a Himalayan trek (With bonus tips on how to spend less!)
5. Misconceptions about trekking in the Himalayas
6. Great Beginner Treks To Choose From
7. 10-minute Q&A session

When: July 20th, 11:00 a.m.

Where: Decathlon, Anubhava

Since we're hosting it at Decathlon, you can also expect a segment from their outdoor team on how to choose the right gear for your trek.

We don't do live, in-person events often. So we hope you grab this opportunity and join us.

Not many know this, but the Indiahikes office is based in Bangalore, and naturally, we’re always stepping out on weekends – either to trek, document new trails, or simply to be outdoors.

But over the years, we’ve seen trekkers repeatedly heading to popular trails like Kumara Parvata, Kudremukh, Tadiandamol, and Skandagiri. While these treks are undeniably beautiful, most trekkers don’t seem to know trails beyond these. 

So in this post, Swathi Chatrapathy, Chief Editor at Indiahikes, shines a light on the other lesser-known treks that are just as rewarding — 17 of them, to be precise. Think of this as a ready weekend plan for the next 4 months!

We don't run these treks at Indiahikes, except a couple of them. The rest of them are well-documented on our website, so you can do them on your own. You’ll find detailed information — how to get permits, how to reach the base, GPX files, what to expect — all neatly put together in our documentation. 

Take a look.

You know, whenever we speak to trekkers—or even to our own families—we find ourselves raving about how extraordinary our Indiahikes Trek Leaders are.

But somehow, we are never able to do justice to their skill, especially when it comes to safety. Words always seem to fall short.

Until yesterday, when we read a message from one of our Trek Leaders, Ankit Chippa. He’s currently on his way to explore trails in Madhya Pradesh. And he shared something on our internal WhatsApp group that gave many of us goosebumps.

We thought to ourselves: If this doesn’t reflect the depth of our Trek Leaders’ emergency skills, nothing else will. So we are sharing his message with you exactly as he wrote it, without any edits.

He writes:

“​​Sham ka salaam team, 
Just wanted to share an experience that happened today. 

My Path From Doubt to Leadership
(An anecdote from my  journey )

With the happy and proud feeling of getting an opportunity to explore new trekking trails in M.P., I started my journey to Delhi yesterday from Manali. It had been almost 19 hours, and my bus was still 450 km away from Delhi. The road blocks caused by the heavy rainfall and landslides in the region had stretched my journey way beyond my expectations. After a long, long halt bus started crawling. It brought instant joy to all the dull, exhausted faces. But turned out it was too soon to celebrate, the bus stopped in the next 10 minutes as if the bus was trying to teach us a life lesson.

Sitting inside an AC bus, I started missing the ordinary buses; at least you can open their windows. I was sweating, so I decided to come out to get some fresh air. Looking at the angrily flowing Beas river, I was trying to calm myself down. And dhammmmmm

I saw a lady sitting by herself on the roadside eating Chana Chat, suddenly falling on her head on the ground. If I were there in that situation a few years ago, I would have been completely clueless and in panic, but today it was not the case; I was confident and skilled enough to deal with the situation. 

I jumped into the scene. The lady was having an episode of seizure. I did what I was supposed to do. I made sure her airway was not obstructed, protected her dignity. A foreign lady who was a paramedic collaborated throughout. In her purse, we found medicines that control seizures. After 4-5 minutes seizure stopped. We put her in the recovery position. By the way, it is too hard to stop people from crowding the scene. I had to be firm and assertive to keep them away. When she recovered completely from the episode, I did a PAS (Patient Assessment System) and found out she had epilepsy. We took her back on the bus and made her comfortable. We suddenly realised traffic started moving, and our bus was a little away from her bus. We started running towards our bus and got inside. To my surprise, the people on my bus welcomed us with a round of applause. We noticed a young girl in our bus who saw all that was breathing heavily and was very anxious. She was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.. I helped her with guided breathing (box breathing) and calmed her down.

I am still sitting in the bus and thinking while writing this, how I was able to do all this, where did I get the courage to scold random people for interfering in the medical response? And getting the answer is not difficult.... It's Indiahikes

I am not the underconfident person you all saw in the office. This organisation groomed me a lot as an individual, and I will be forever grateful for that. Aap sabhi ko Ankit ka salaam.”

Ankit’s presence of mind was extraordinary—but what stands out even more is how instinctively he responded.

There’s a reason he credits Indiahikes. The calmness with which he performed a PAS, protected the patient’s dignity, managed a crowd, and even helped a fellow passenger with an anxiety disorder—all of it stems from rigorous training. 

This isn’t a one-off story. We’ve heard many such incidents from our Trek Leaders—off the mountain, on a bus, at railway stations, even in marketplaces.

It’s because they don’t just train once. Safety is woven into their everyday practice—until it becomes second nature to them.

This is what makes our Trek Leaders stand out—not just as skilled professionals, but as dependable human beings. And to us, that’s what makes our Trek Leaders some of the finest in the world. 

We have some wonderful news. After running a successful pilot group, we have officially opened the Aancha Top Trek.

We are starting this trek in winter when the trek turns into a beautiful snowy landscape.

We will be honest. Initially, we had thought of the Aancha Top trek only for our InSOUL programmes. But this trek turned out to be far too beautiful to keep it from trekkers. In just four days, you see towering peaks, a glacial lake, sweeping meadows, and ridge walks—all on an easy-moderate trail, similar in difficulty to Dayara Bugyal and Kuari Pass.

"If I were personally trekking in December, I would choose this trek, simply because it is at par with all our winter treks, minus the crowds," said Swathi Chatrapathy, Chief Editor at Indiahikes.

As of now, we have opened groups in the last week of December when our trekkers fight tooth and nail for winter slots. So, plan soon. 

Ever since we explored the Pench Tiger Trail in May last year, trekkers have been writing to us asking whether they should do the Pench Tiger Trail or the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek. 

They are both four-day treks with fantastic forests, river walks, omnipresent wildlife and rich biodiversity. 

So we are always tongue-tied at this question. You cannot do one and decide to ignore the other. 

However, trekkers do need help choosing between the two. So, Swathi Chatrapathy, Chief Editor at Indiahikes, put this question to the Founder of Indiahikes, Arjun Majumdar.

His first reaction was, “Uff, sometimes I really don’t like these questions you ask me!” 

We understand his sentiment because he dearly loves both the treks. 

Yet, he says if push comes to shove, he has an answer to this. Head over to the link below to know which trek Arjun Majumdar picks.

Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have triggered a significant landslide near Mandi, causing traffic jams on the route. Road clearance work is ongoing, and the vehicles are moving at a slow pace.

With the monsoon setting in, such weather is expected. The current weather in Manali is cloudy with light rain, but largely stable. According to the IMD forecast, more rain is expected tomorrow, followed by some relief the day after.

We are personally in touch with our trekkers, keeping them informed about the state of the trek and travel, which is changing by the hour.

Our teams on the ground are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring the safety and well-being of all trekkers.

If you have an upcoming trek in July or August, here are a few tips to prepare better:

• Expect rain and prepare for it. Carry rainwear without fail and pack your backpacks to be rainproof.
• Keep a buffer day in your travel plans to accommodate last-minute changes in your itinerary.
• Book flexible flight tickets that can be rescheduled easily if needed.
• Track the weather forecast regularly to stay mentally prepared.

We’ll continue to share updates as the situation evolves.

Just last week, we opened new groups to the Everest Base Camp Trek (the classic route). Somehow, the slots for this trek vanish before I even make announcements anywhere. Such is the aspiration of trekkers to tread on this trail. 

We have opened groups in two seasons: 

• October 2025: 4 groups
• April 2025: 8 groups

This route, towards the base of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, is a coveted prize on almost every trekker’s bucket list. It's more than just a scenic trek through the Himalayas; it's a transformative experience that will push your physical and mental limits further than you can ever imagine. The sense of accomplishment that washes over you as you stand at Everest Base Camp, humbled by the sheer magnitude of the mountain, is unparalleled.

If this has been on your life's to-do list, use this chance to tick it off. 

We have great news. We’ve shortened the Bijli Mahadev trek from 3 days to 2, making it the perfect weekend trek.

We noticed that most trekkers prefer doing this as a weekend trek, without having to take time off from work. And we realised the full trek can still be done comfortably in 2 days, without missing anything.

The trail is gentle and easy on the legs, making it a good introduction to trekking. It is also a good option if you just want to leave the city's noise behind and head to the mountains quickly. 

Another small perk is that the trek fee has also reduced, given the shortening of the trek.  

This change is effective for groups starting in August 2025. We have groups throughout August, September, and October. We hope you make the best of it.

You know what's unfortunate? Most of the world treks in Nepal to see the big mountains of the Himalayas. 

But very few people know about the grandeur of the mountains in India.

We have some of the most significant mountains in the world. They are the birthplace of rivers that are lifelines for the majority of the country. They are the guardians of the North. They are home to some of the rarest animals and birds. And, unknown to many, these are some of the most aesthetically pleasing mountains in the world. 

Today, we have listed 10 treks that give you the best views of our mountains.

These treks don't offer distant views of the mountains. They are exceptional for their intimidating proximity to the mountains. If you're a mountain lover, you must add them all to your bucket list. 

Take a look.

We have great news. We have opened groups to the Pench Tiger Trail for 2025-26. This trek has been among our most astounding discoveries in the past year. 

With resplendent forests, incredible biodiversity, an adventurous river walk, and, of course, omnipresent wildlife, it is the best way to truly experience the forests of Central India. Safaris don't compare to the feeling of walking on your own two feet and camping at the edges of the forest.

The best time to trek in these forests is from the monsoon until summer. So we have groups open from August to January. Going by how quickly the groups filled up last year, we would suggest registering quickly this year. 

If you're not sure of what this trek offers, watch this video. This is a video we recorded with our founder, Arjun Majumdar, immediately after he returned from the trek. It is an uncut video of his reaction to the trek. 

Come monsoon, trekkers start asking us some very relevant questions about trekking in the rain: How do I keep my things from getting wet? How can I stay warm and dry? What do I do about leeches?

So in this post, we are sharing some valuable tips with you. We are going to cover gear-related tips and also some camping tips. 

Swathi Chatrapathy, Chief Editor at Indiahikes, had long conversations with some of our most experienced Trek Leaders to put this together. 

Before we get into that, you must know that choosing your monsoon trek wisely is the crux of having a successful trek. This section has the best monsoon trek recommendations.

As for the Western Ghats, this is the best time to trek there (and here are some great trek recommendations for that). Don’t let the rains (or leeches) stop you. We have tips for that as well. 

We’ve noticed that a lot of people have suddenly begun to trek in the Himalayas over the past few years. That's wonderful for us to see. But we also see that they need the right guidance. 

So today, we are sharing a post that I made especially for beginners.  

We are going to break it into four small segments. 

• First, we’ll start with a cheat code. 
• Then we’ll talk about treks for absolute beginners. 
• After that, we’ll share treks for fit beginners. 
• And finally, we’ll end with some bonus treks.

We’ve also seen that you may need more personal guidance, depending on your fitness, your prior experience, and the time of year. So we have a team of Trek Advisors who can personally guide you. All you have to do is fill out this form to talk to our trek advisors, and we’ll get back to you.

Use this video as a starting point to know which treks to do and which ones to avoid. Take a look. 

If we have to be honest with you, we had no plan of opening the Ranthan Kharak trek in autumn.
However, things changed after we wrapped up our spring season on this trail.  

Trekkers have come back absolutely raving about the trek. This was the first time we ran a full-fledged season here, spread over three months — and the feedback has been incredible.

They’ve all spoken about the epic rhododendron forests, yes — but what surprised many was the terrific mountain views this trail offers. Right from the Namik Valley to the final ridge walk above the Sunderdhunga Valley, you’re face to face with Himalayan giants — Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchachuli, and even Maiktoli.

What also stood out to trekkers was how raw and untouched the trail feels. You’re walking through dense oak, maple, and pine forests, camping in clearings called kharaks — with barely any signs of other trekkers on the trail.

That’s why we’ve decided to open autumn dates for Ranthan Kharak, starting from early September to October.

The weather is clearer, the skies crisper, and the forests start turning golden — making it a perfect time to experience this offbeat trek. (This gallery will show you how it looks in autumn.)

We hope you get a chance to see Ranthan Kharak this year, when it is still crowd-free.

Written by Lakshmi Selvakumaran
Head of Green Trails, Indiahikes 

A month and a half ago, we made a quiet but important decision at Indiahikes.

For a few years now, we had stepped back from working closely with the local communities around our base camps. It wasn’t that we didn’t want to. We just weren’t sure how much of a difference we could make when it came to a problem as deep-rooted as waste. 

We’ve always been able to handle waste on treks. It’s built into our system—our teams green sweep trails week after week, trekkers pitch in, and we have regular clean-up drives. But waste in villages… that’s a whole different story. It’s larger, more permanent, and honestly, quite overwhelming. The kind of waste we saw around the villages we work in—plastic wrappers, broken glass, old packaging—made our weekly clean-ups feel like drops in the ocean.

But something shifted at the beginning of this quarter.

We asked ourselves a simple question: What if we just started small?

Not with grand solutions or campaigns. Just with simple steps. Conversations. Clean-ups. A bit of awareness here, a small session there. We decided to stop waiting for the “right” way to help and instead begin with what we already knew—how to care for a place.

So we rolled up our sleeves and started cleaning. We spoke to school children. We invited them to join us. We walked through villages with them, collecting waste, sharing stories about the mountains, talking about where trash ends up, and how small changes at home can make a big difference.

Today, in just 1.5 months, we’ve done over 12 Community Outreach Programmes. Over 90 students have joined us. And together, we’ve collected 1,052.1 kg of waste.

The harder part? Each piece of waste has been segregated by our team and sent to Waste Warriors for safe disposal.

But more than the weight of the waste, it’s the lightness we feel seeing villagers and children taking ownership—reusing, segregating, and thinking differently.

It’s the early days. We’re just getting started. But something tells me this quiet beginning might just turn into something lasting.