Our treks were on pause for two days after a high alert was issued due to heavy rains. But by the night of Oct 18, the weather cleared. All trekkers are safe and under the care of our teams. Below is the current status of all groups on treks:
It's been raining incessantly for the past two days on almost all our treks in Uttarakhand. Today, we even saw the first snowfall of the season at Gangotri! We expect similar snowfall at all altitudes above 11,000 ft.
The rain and snow is a result of an interaction between a Western Disturbance (which usually brings snowfall to India) and the Easterlies (blowing in from a low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal).
The first Western Disturbance seems to have arrived right on time, and is expected to bring rain and snow over the next 1-2 days.
Our Slope manager Praduymna Shivaraj shares a quick weather update from Gangotri.
We rarely speak aloud about our vision. But it is something so deeply ingrained in all of us working here, that we thought we should share it with the trekking world.
Here's a film that takes you through the thought behind the vision of Indiahikes -- Everyone Must Trek, Because Trekking Transforms Lives.
It's a short 4 minute film, but sums up our thoughts right from when we started Indiahikes until now. Is this something you have experienced? Share your thoughts with us in the Youtube comments!
It's that time of the year when we put our Mountain Lovers Gold Calendar together. This week, we are shortlisting the 12 best photographs that will go into the larger-than-life calendar. These are photographs that will hang in over 1,500 homes.
Today, we’re inviting you to share your best pictures for it.
It’s a big honour for photographers to be featured in our calendar. Because this is not an ordinary calendar. This is a calendar that has been coveted ever since its first edition in 2016. It disappears from our store within weeks after an announcement goes out. And it’s a limited edition calendar.
If you're a hobbyist or professional photographer, you're welcome to sumbit your entries.
Click to see rules and submit photographs
We're noticing that most of our winter treks are filling up very quickly. Most of the December holiday dates are already full. If you'd like to have a good choice of dates, you will have to plan now.
Here's a tip. Most people consider only the month of December as winter. What they don't know is that winter lasts for almost 4 months all the way to the beginning of March.
So plan your winter trek any time in December, January, February and March to experience a complete snow trek. But plan soon.
See best winter treks
We are on the threshold of yet another milestone that defines the future of trekking, globally.
A month ago, Switzerland Tourism formally invited Indiahikes to hike and write about treks in their country. The idea was to have Indians explore Switzerland, as trekkers.
To take this forward, @swathichatrapathy , Head of Digital Content Indiahikes, landed in Zurich on Sept 24, 2021.
"From the minute I arrived here, I’ve been trekking in the coveted Swiss Alps and the countryside of Switzerland. It’s been 5 days and I’ve had 5 astonishingly different experiences," Swathi writes in her first report - Why Switzerland Needs to be Trekked and Not Travelled.
Read Full Blog
We would like to invite you to join our Experiential Learning Programme for Families at our Western Campus. We have announced dates for this October.
You’ll love the campus in Karjat. It is surrounded by hills on all sides and lovely trekking trails. Around our campus there’s also lakes, streams, waterfalls and forests, around which we run our experiential learning programs.
We’re doing a two day programme, with trekking and camping for two nights, along with specialised experiential learning activities.
View programme dates and details
Our Senior Trek Leader, Nitesh Kumar shares 5 important updates for all trekkers headed to Buran Ghati and Rupin Pass.
He has just reached Chirgaon, a small village on the way to the base camps of both these treks. He shares details about the landslides we've been seeing in the news, the weather, the Covid regulations and the journey to the base camp.
If you have any more questions, drop in a comment on the video.
In the first week of August, our team explored a new trek in Kyrgyzstan — the Ala Kul Trek.
“One thing Indian trekkers will love about this trek is the beautiful landscape of Kyrgyzstan. It had so much variety! I never imagined Kyrgyzstan to be like this. The trek has a challenging pass crossing over scree and boulders. We walked through endless meadows. We crossed rivers. It was full of adventure,” shares Arjun.
The exploration was a huge success. We were all set to open the Ala Kul trek this year, but the plan is delayed as it has become difficult to reach Kyrgyzstan given that flights are not allowed in the airspace over Afghanistan.
We will keep you in the loop of any dates announced!
Read About the Exploration
This is for trekkers returning to Maharashtra after their trek. As per the new COVID-19 guidelines, you need an RT-PCR Negative Certificate to board the flight if you are traveling to Maharashtra, Karnataka.
There are testing centres available in the base cities like Manali, Srinagar, Rishikesh. But it takes around 24 hours to get the test results.
For this, keep a buffer day in your itinerary so you can get tested after coming back from the trek and have time for the results. In case you need help, please get in touch with your Experience Coordinators.
Read More NewsIt’s wonderful that you’re planning to start trekking in the Himalayas. You’d be happy to know that around 70% of our trekkers are beginners and always get hooked to trekking after their first trek!
Having said that, you must choose your trek wisely — something that is not too difficult, yet will allow you to experience the grand settings of the Himalayas.
From a decade of experience, these are the treks we find best suited for beginners:
Even though these treks are considered good for beginners, they need at least 30-45 days of preparation on your part. Ensure you go for the trek only after physically preparing for it.
For all Indiahikes trekkers, we have made an RT-PCR test mandatory. This RT-PCR test must not be older than 72 hours before your trek.
You are exempt from doing a test only in two scenarios:
We will need a proof of all of these scenarios. So please carry RT-PCR reports, or vaccination reports, and COVID recovery reports (to show us that you were positive in the past six months).
This rule is irrespective of the state government rules in Himachal, J&K and Uttarakhand. We want our trekkers to ensure they are not carrying any infections to the mountains, where medical care is practically non-existent.
If trekkers are found without RT-PCR tests, they will not be allowed on the trek.
October and November are post-monsoon months to trek with the best mountain views, the clearest weather and some lovely autumn colours.
We have around 12 Himalayan treks open during these months, some of them easier treks, some challenging ones.
You’ll find the best treks to do in these months here – https://indiahikes.com/best-autumn-treks-october-november/
All these treks are fast-filling. So plan your trek soon!
We take around 21-23 trekkers in each of our trekking groups. The size varies for different treks. For our tougher treks, we take slightly smaller groups of around 16-18 members.
This is something many trekkers ask us. If you’re interested in working with us, take a look at our careers page. Given that our organisation is growing, we have lots of new roles opening up regularly.
We are always looking for team players, who understand the trekking world and fit into the working culture of Indiahikes. More than skills and experience, we pay attention to your behaviour and values.
Getting in and starting work here isn’t easy. There are several levels of interviews and tests. But once you get through, it is one of the most rewarding and meaningful journeys in your career.
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.
Our registration process is simple and completely online. You’ll be able to do it in a few simple steps.
This video on how to register will help you through the process.
When you’re packing for a high altitude trek, there are a few basic things you need – your warm layers, your trekking shoes, a good backpack and your toilet and medical kits. To help keep costs low, we sell or rent some of this gear.
For a full list, please read this article or visit the “Things to Take” section of the relevant trek page.
Yes, we do have a “Repeat my trek” policy, and trekkers love it. This is because there are some thoughts and ideologies that we hold close to our hearts.
1. As trekkers, there are times when we have to let go of a trek midway. Sometimes we fall ill, or get hit by AMS or at times simply fatigue pulls us down. At other times bad weather plays spoilsport, or the trail is blocked. It can happen that your Trek Leader sends you down due to a safety or health issue.
At Indiahikes we feel terrible when such an event happens.
Should such a situation occur that you have to drop out from this trek, we want you to know that we feel as bad as you do. You can always come back another time and finish your adventure. For this you do not have to pay Indiahikes any money.
2. On the other hand, there are times when you fall in love with a trek. So much so that you want to do it again, perhaps see it in another season. If you ever desire to do a trek again, please do so. You don’t have to pay Indiahikes any money for repeating this trek. Just inform your Experience Coordinator who will guide you through a special internal process.
Our only request: Just register for your trek in advance – you know how it is with our groups – they get booked in advance.
Note: The Indiahikes “Repeat My Trek” policy does not apply to our international treks.
View all our upcoming treks and register to secure your preferred dates
“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.
Today, I’m here to whisk you away to the mountains! I’m taking you through some of the best winter treks in the Himalayas. Not just one or two treks, but seven different treks — each one of them more stunning than the other. I’m doing this with a few of the rarest photographs of our […]
The beauty of trekking in peak winter is largely an undisclosed secret in Indian trekking. Here’s what you’re missing out. (Stats and best treks to choose inside)
An interview with Meteorologist Akshay Deoras gives us a detailed explanation of winter snow in India, where it originates and how much snow we may see this year.
In this article, we want to share some observations about why BMI matters and what you can do if you have a high BMI.
Snow treks in the Himalayas always have a charm about them. Here, we list out the best winter treks to do in the Himalayas.
On being invited by Switzerland Tourism, Swathi Chatrapathy lands in the country of the Swiss Alps to write about their treks. In this blog, she is reporting live about her experience
Trek experts debunk some of the most common winter trekking myths. Read on to know more!
The secret to staying warm in freezing temperatures is the same principle that we follow in cold winters. Layering.
In this video Swathi explains what all you need to stay comfortably warm on your Himalayan trek.
In this post we ask Indiahikes trek experts for that ‘One’ special section on each of our winter treks. Have you seen these sections? Read on to know more.
