Yes, treks have restarted. Since October 2020, we have been running treks with a 31-point Covid Safety Protocol in place. This protocol ensures that the virus does not spread while you are trekking.
Due to our safety protocols, more than 5,800 trekkers have safely trekked with us since the lockdown ended. It is not a small number. And it did not happen in one go.
It took us time to put the safety protocols in place. Also, the enormous amount of trust that trekkers have in Indiahikes’s safety systems played a part too.
Our treks continue to run normally. Keeping our safety protocols still in place, we have opened treks all the way till October 2021. Click here to see our upcoming treks.
If you have an upcoming trek, yes, you can go ahead as you have planned. Unless you test positive, or anyone in your family tests positive, there’s no need for you to rethink your trek.
We have made it mandatory for all trekkers to come with a Covid test on their treks (no matter which state they are coming from). So rest assured that all trekkers you’re trekking and travelling with have tested negative.
To address concerns about travelling, it is safe to travel if you’re tested yourself. Our founder, Arjun Majumdar, travelled from Bangalore to Raithal, the base camp of the Dayara Bugyal trek on April 14th, 2021. He travelled by air to Delhi, further by train to Dehradun and then by road to Raithal.
To give you an idea of what the travel experience was like, he shares this voice note. 85% of our trekkers travel by air, and they will be going through a similar travel experience. Take a look:
After your travel to the base camp, you’re in the safest place you can be — in the outdoors. We will be creating bubbles such that team members don’t come in touch with each other. Trekkers will be in a bubble. Our staff members will be in another. Only the Trek Leader and guides will flit between the two with enough safety precautions. (Read about all our safety protocols here).
So go ahead and do your trek. If you have further concerns about this, just give us a call. We’ll help you out.
Yes, this is an absolute must. At Indiahikes, we have made a Covid (RT-PCR) Test mandatory for all trekkers. This rule applies no matter which state you’re coming from.
This means you have to test yourself no more than 72 hours before your trek and carry a Covid negative report with you.
Even the forest check posts of Uttarakhand have made Covid test reports mandatory to issue permissions for camping and trekking.
For us, taking this step has not been easy. Many trekkers find it tough to get tested without symptoms. It is sometimes expensive. But it is a step in the direction of safety.
What happens if you test positive?
If you test positive, don’t worry about your trek. Nurse yourself back to good health and take care. You can do your trek in future. In that case, these would be your best options:
What happens if you cannot test?
There are two options here as well.
If you’re trekking in Uttarakhand, they have RT-PCR testing booths at Dehradun (both, at the airport and the train station). It’s a hassle-free experience and takes just five minutes. It’s also free, since it is organised by the government.
If you’re not able to do the test at all, I’m afraid you’ll have to push your trek to a later date or call it off. In this case, we have tweaked our cancellation policy and made it very trekker-friendly. We understand the pain of cancelling a trek, and we don’t want you to lose out on anything. So take a look at it here, and if it comes to it, make use of the policy.
Should I do a Covid test while returning home from my trek?
Our advice is that you do a Covid test before or after you return to your city. There are testing centres that give you test reports within a day in Dehradun and Rishikesh.
If you are traveling immediately after the trek, go ahead with your travel. Your city’s airport authorities will take a rapid antigen test once you land there.
In case you do test positive, let your Experience Coordinators know so that they can notify other trekkers and our team members as well.
At Indiahikes, we make no compromises when it comes to safety. Since its inception Indiahikes has pioneered as well as established safety protocols that are strictly implemented across all treks.
In COVID times this attention to safety has been significantly amplified. After much research, brainstorming, and consultation with experts we have come up with a 31 point safety check.
This includes safety processes before your trek, at the base camp, on your trek and even after you return. Read all the 31 steps here.
In light of the Covid scenario, we have tweaked our Cancellation Policy and made it very trekker-friendly. Even if you cancel in the last minute, you don’t lose out on anything.
Yes, absolutely. Many solo trekkers join our teams and have wonderful experiences. They end up meeting like-minded people on the trek and don’t feel like they have come alone on the trek any more.
Our pre-trek experience team ensures that you know your entire team well much before you actually head out on the trek.
Additionally, we have several women trekkers who join us solo as well because of the safety they get with the Indiahikes team. You’re welcome to join us as a solo trekker too.
Many people are intimidated by the idea of a Himalayan trek. It’s true that there are very real risks and challenges.
However, almost everyone can participate in a Himalayan, if they are physically fit and mentally prepared for their trek. Around 75% of our trekkers are beginners and they trek comfortably.
What will really help you is that after you register your trek, the Indiahikes Pre-Trek Experience Team will guide you on how to prepare for the trek. They will give you a fitness routine to follow and guidance on what to bring for the trek. They will also put you in touch with the rest of your trekking team, so that you know your trek mates well in advance.
Given that we have been introducing Himalayan treks to beginners since 2008, you’re in safe hands.
Each trek has its own fitness requirements, which you can see in the “Get yourself fit” section on the relevant trek page. You will need to develop your fitness to meet these criteria before you start your trek.
We have several resources and videos on this website to help you get fit. Once you register for your trek, your trek coordinator will also be in touch regularly to provide additional support and check your progress.
With a regular fitness plan, the fitness requirements are achievable by most people and will ensure maximum enjoyment and safety during the trek.
You’re welcome to join us as a solo woman trekker. We take great pride in the fact that 35% of our trekkers are women, many of whom trek solo with us. This means, in any given trekking group, there are usually at least 4-5 women. So you can comfortably join us on a trek as a solo woman trekker.
To make sure you know your trek mates before you actually meet them, we have a Whatsapp group and a pre-trek briefing where you can meet them virtually. That way, you’ll not be trekking with complete strangers. On another note, if you have selected a particular trek group and want to know if there are women signed up in the group, you are welcome to give us a call to find out. You can reach out to us on +91-080-468-01269.
When you’re on the trek, our Trek Leaders are sensitized to handle all kinds of women’s issues. So whether you’re on your period, or anything is making you uncomfortable, you can speak to our Trek Leader about it.
In terms of your safety and privacy, you will be staying with another woman in a tent. We also have separate toilet tents for men and women. If you have any further doubts, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Each trek is unique and may include different things in the trek fee. You can find out exactly what’s included in the “What’s Included” section on the relevant trek page (on some trek pages this information is located in the “Cancellation Policy” section).
Generally speaking, your trek free includes all costs while on the trek, including:
Your fee usually does not include expenses incurred in getting to and from the base camp or your personal equipment, such as your backpack, shoes or clothing.
View all our upcoming treks and register to secure your preferred dates
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Starting April 14th, all trekkers trekking with Indiahikes are expected to do COVID (RT-PCR) tests no less than 72 hours before their trek.
All forest departments across Uttarakhand are demanding test reports for trekking and camping permissions (irrespective of which state you are coming from). This applies to Sikkim and West Bengal as well.
Which is why we have made it mandatory for all trekkers to come with Covid tests.
Read more here
This year, for the first time, we opened up the Gidara Bugyal trek, one of the remotest meadows of Uttarakhand. The three groups we initially opened got rapidly filled up.
On trekkers' requests, we have announced three more groups to Gidara Bugyal in June 2021. If you're looking for an isolated trail, where you witness few of the most magnificent meadows of India, go for the Gidara Bugyal trek.
Click to explore the Gidara Bugyal trek
Starting April 1st, the Uttarakhand State Government has made Covid RT-PCR test mandatory for visitors from 12 states. All visitors from these states are expected to carry test reports with them, taken no less than 72 hours before their travel.
The 12 states are as follows: Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu. Gujarat. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan.
This applies to all visitors coming by road, air and train to Uttarakhand.
Click here for more
Indiahikes has made it mandatory for trekkers from 8 regions to test themselves before their treks. All trekkers coming from these regions are expected to carry a Covid Negative Report (RT-PCR test), which is taken no less than 72 hours before their trek.
The 8 states are as follows: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh
Click here for more
The Karnataka State Government has made a Covid Negative Report mandatory for all interstate travellers starting April 1st.
What does this mean for trekkers?
This means that any trekkers returning to Karnataka after their treks will need to come with a Negative RT-PCR test.
From our experience, there are two ways to go about this. Read about it here.
Read more
With the second wave of Covid-19 affecting India, lots of trekkers are worried about their treks. Should I do a Covid test before my trek? What if I test positive before my trek? What if there is a lockdown before the trek?
We have answered the 5 most common questions that trekkers have been asking us in this video. Give it a watch.
To know more about our 31-point Covid Safety Protocol, click here.
Due to the growing Covid-19 cases, Sikkim Government has made it RT-PCR Negative Certificate mandatory for anyone entering the state. This is a point to note for trekkers registered for the Goechala trek as they travel to the basecamp - Yuksom (in Sikkim).
Trekkers entering Sikkim will be checked by government officials as you travel to NJP and then to Yuksom. So do not forget to get tested before you start your journey.
Having said that, it's safe to trek to Goechala because of the 31-Point Safety Protocol followed by Indiahikes.
Read the 31-Point Safety Protocol
On March 8, 2021, Indiahikes officially entered into a collaboration with the Uttarakhand Skill Development Mission (UKSDM). This is with the aim of jointly promoting livelihood development in the Tourism and Hospitality sector.
During the inauguration of a resource centre at Dehradun, Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning Program and Lakshmi Selvakumaran, Head of Experience of Indiahikes, signed the memorandum with Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Minister of Higher Education, Uttarakhand.
Read More
We have announced dates for our 3 Nepal Treks -- Khopra Ridge Trek, Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Ri.
This is great news for all the trekkers who have been writing to us about our Nepal treks, waiting to book their trek and plan their travel.
We could not open up summer dates for Nepal because of the pandemic. But we will be taking trekkers in October. So start planning now. Groups are not likely to remain open for too long.
See Nepal Treks
We have good news for all those going on our Top Rhododendron treks. The trails have begun to bloom with Himalayan rhododendrons.
This State Flower of Uttarakhand blooms only once a year -- in March and April. Trekkers from all over the country go to some of our treks to witness the spectacle.
The Indiahikes team got to see the earliest blooms when we had an internal meeting on the Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek. Give it another week or two, and you'll see the best of these forest trails!
See Top Rhodo Treks
The Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek is an incredibly popular one. And that's no surprise, because it's a strikingly beautiful trek. With hardly any effort, you get to stand up close with few of the tallest summits of the Himalayas.
But there's a big issue on the Deoriatal-Chandrashila trek -- there's a lot of litter on the trail. The Indiahikes team was on the trek for an internal training session, and managed to clean out 60 kilos of waste in 15 minutes.
Here's a message for all trekkers headed to Deoriatal in the next two months.
We have created a beautiful photo story of the Ali Bedni Bugyal trek to whisk you away to the mountains! It takes you through the whole trek, with some of the most stunning pictures from our archives.
We have selected photos to show you what the trek will look like in March and April.
We have also included some of the latest photos from the slope, which came in after a fresh snowfall. We hope this gives you a virtual experience of the trek!
See Photo Story
We have finally made our popular High Altitude Trek Team T-Shirts available online. These are not just T-Shirts. They are not souvenirs or merchandise either. They belong only to a very special creed of people who have completed a high altitude trek. This is why Indiahikes trekkers wear it everywhere. At airports, malls, offices, at gatherings where other people are noticing it. They want to show that they are exclusive. They are not ordinary people. This T-Shirt is a celebration of the high altitude trekker in you. Order soon, we have limited stock.
Buy Now“Kedarkantha was my first trek and it was the most amazing experience. I couldn’t imagine that a trek could be that good! It was my first experience trekking, in snow, travelling alone, without connectivity, just with friends I made on the trek, it was amazing! The Indiahikes team even made a cake for a friend, whose birthday it was! Now all my trek friends and I can talk about are treks!” – Ishani Ghotikar, Nutritionist, Hyderabad
“We all try to seek adventure ( and memories) often unprepared, whenever we book a trek. It’s this your (IH’s) attitude to keep our safety foremost, somewhere assures me deep down, that whenever I leave for a trek or tell my loved ones that I am off for trekking, I am ‘covered’. I have heard stories of evacuations, forced returns, staying put for long and incomplete treks, keeping the safety above all needs an attitude which I see is embedded enough in the trek leaders, slope managers, and all through your website. I refer everyone saying, go take a trek with IH, they safe, and will care for you. Keep this as your motto. This trust makes IH different from others.” – Anirudh Gargi, Software Developer, Bangalore
“Every experience first time has a sense of apprehensiveness about what to expect and how to go about it. That was the same case as I ventured on my first Himalayan trek and needless to say Indiahikes were the complete package in reassuring you about having an amazing experience. They were absolutely professional about everything right from the start, constant communication through emails, tips about packing and gear, advice on fitness and all these actually mattered on the trek as it made the trek a memorable experience. The trek guide along with the trek staff were among the warmest people I have met, and their tireless efforts to make everyone comfortable deserves the loudest cheers. Indiahikes fully validates their claim that they are the largest trekking community and the most recommended by trekkers, because they actually care about the balance of giving the best trekking experience and sustaining and preserving the natural environment.” – Srikanth Chandrasekhar, Network Engineer, Mumbai
“The trek went really well, Indiahikes made sure that we had an amazing 6 days in the mountains. All the arrangements were spot on. While our trek lead Krupa made sure that the health of the trekkers were in good condition by continuously monitoring oxygen level, pulse rate, the other two leaders sai pavan and leo lifted up the trek experience. Kudos to Indiahikes for making this an unforgettable experience in our life, thank you very much!” – Sanjay Saliyan, IT Technical Lead, Bangalore
“Hats off to the Indiahikes team! I had a wonderful experience in the complete trek and surprisingly have no complain at all. The Indiahikes team was on its toes at all times and they didn’t let us feel like anything was missing. The food served was served hot and delicious. With this amazing experience I would love to trek again with this esteemed organisation and would highly recommend it to my friends and family too.” – Nihar Shah, Student & Entrepreneur, Mumbai
“This was my first ever trekking experience, and overall, I’ve come back from the trek extremely happy and truly humbled. I enjoyed every moment of the trekking experience – the arduous ascents and tough descents, and do believe that the reason I enjoyed it, is the attention that Indiahikes pays to detail, to educate trekkers about what we’ve signed up for. This helps us physically and mentally to prepare ourselves for what’s to come. I definitely intend on returning back to the Himalayas for more treks with Indiahikes ” – Varsha Vijayababu, Software Engineer, Bangalore
“This is my first experience of trekking and I enjoyed it thoroughly.. Undoubtedly the best days of my life. Emails from Indiahikes regarding practice, choosing gears and other basic stuff were really helpful in preparation for the trek and to improve my strength and stamina. I am way too happy to have chosen Indiahikes as my trek partner. It was much more than expected. Thank you. I am definitely coming for many more treks in future!!” – Dr Komal Shah, Intervention Pulmonologist, Ahmedabad
Read a selection of our latest articles below or select a category from drop-down.
With increasing Covid cases across the country, I notice that many trekkers are worried about their treks. When I dive further into the calls we’re getting, I realise that more than the trek itself, people are concerned about the travel before and after their trek. They also have doubts because of the many uncertainties around […]
We have put down the best regions to trek in during monsoon. By the end of the post, you’ll know which monsoon trek would suit you best.
Manali is not just a hub for honeymooners. Being the starting point for treks like Hampta pass, Beas Kund, Bhrigu Lake, it is frequented by trekkers too. The crisp mountainous air, snow-laden alpine trees, and rich history of this place attract many travelers. But despite being infested by tourists, there are a lot of quiet […]
A list of least-crowded Himalayan trails for trekkers wanting to trek as the second wave of Covid-19 hits India.
These three states are very different from each other — the mountain ranges, the landscapes, the flora. Here’s a detailed break-down of the regions.
Small groups can now start trekking with us! We have opened up 8 Himalayan treks with a 31-point safety check. Read about it here.
Just as we have restarted trekking at Indiahikes, we have restarted recruitments as well. Take a look!
After trekking with the whole Indiahikes team during an internal meeting, our Chief Editor shares her thoughts about what the Indiahikes team is truly made of.
Our trekker, Vivek Agarwal shares his happiest moment on the Tarsar Marsar trek that turned out to be the happiest moment of his life!
