On Monday, there was a landslide at Batal on NH-5 that connects Lahaul to Spiti. Trekkers take this route to drive from Chhatru to Chandratal at the end of the Hampta Pass trek. This landslide is different from the landslide that happened near Malling Nala, which is trending in the news. Malling Nala is around 180 km away from here.
The route to Manali from Delhi/Chandigarh is not affected by this landslide. The Hampta Pass trek is running on schedule. But it may not be possible to drive to Chandratal for the next couple of days.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will put up an update as soon as Chandratal becomes accessible again.
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This is a trek that has been on our radar for a long time. "Unfortunately, Lahaul has been so inaccessible that we had never gotten a chance to open it up for trekkers. It would take 2 days to simply reach the base camp across Rohtang Pass," says Arjun Majumdar, the founder and CEO of Indiahikes.
But with the opening of the Atal Tunnel, Lahaul has suddenly become more prominent on our trekking map, opening up many trekking options. The first of many we have explored is the Miyar Valley trek.
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The last few days were full of news of cloudbursts and heavy rains. But today morning we received pleasant news from all our slopes.
Kashmir Slope (Kashmir Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar treks): Our team in Kashmir reported bright and sunny weather. Trekkers will probably get great views on the trek today.
Himachal Pradesh (Hampta Pass, Beas Kund, and Bhrigu Lake treks): The intensity of rains has reduced. But it is drizzling consistently. Our groups are keeping an eye on the weather before they start the trek every day.
Uttarakhand (Valley of Flowers): It is not raining heavily in Uttarakhand but the weather is misty. As Hemkund is closed, our trekkers are exploring the lush, blooming Gorson Bugyal of Kuari Pass trek as an alternative and are thoroughly enjoying the experience.
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We have made a temporary change in the Valley of Flowers itinerary, given that Hemkund Sahib is closed. This is effective starting 9th July until 19th July. Given that the Chardham Yatra is closed to tourists, the Hemkund Sahib trail (which is a pilgrimage route) is also closed for trekkers. This is a protocol issued by the state government.
Trekkers are instead visiting the beautiful Gorson Bugyal on Day 5 of their Valley of Flowers trek itinerary. They're driving to Auli and trekking to Gorson Bugyal, which is a terrific meadow section on the Kuari Pass trail. "At this time of the year, when the monsoons are thriving, the meadows are going to be at their lushest best," says Sandhya UC, the co-founder of Indiahikes.
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To contain the spread of COVID-19, earlier it was mandatory to show RT-PCR Negative Certificate while arriving at Mumbai Airport.
But the restrictions were relaxed a bit yesterday. As per the new directive, you need not carry an RT-PCR negative Certificate if you are fully vaccinated, with two doses.
If you are not fully vaccinated, please keep a buffer day in your travel plan to get tested before you board your flight to Mumbai.
Read Complete Covid Travel Guidelines
On July 11 there was news of cloudburst in Kashmir, specifically in the Ganderbal region. This region is around 60 km away from where we are trekking.
Today morning we recieved a reassuring update from our Kashmir Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar team. "One team that was scheduled to cross the Gadsar Pass (the highest point on KGL trek) was able to do so. Even the team following it was able to continue on the trek. The groups on Tarsar Marsar are also on schedule," updated Dushyant Sharma, Senior Trek Leader, from Kashmir.
Adding to the update, Dushyant said that today's forecast indicates rain, it has been drizzling at the basecamps.
Read 10 Tips To Trek Like a Pro in Monsoon
All trekkers in Himachal Pradesh are safe but faced delays due to heavy rains.
To give you a perspective, floods happened in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. This is around 170 km away from our trekking zone in Kullu region. While treks from Manali are experiencing rainfall, the situation is under control.
Trek-Wise Updates:
Hampta Pass trek group could not cross the pass. They returned from Balu ka Ghera campsite.
"Trekkers from Jonkar Thatch have started trekking towards Bhrigu Lake. Beas Kund trek is on schedule. Trekkers will be back to Manali today," updates Syama Krishna, from Learning and Development Team.
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Our first group of Hampta Pass is back from the trek. And they've come back with great photos and stories from the trek.
Sneha Yadav, our Social Media Manager reports, "We got brilliant weather during the trek. There were just light showers at Jwara after we reached the campsite. But the weather at Balu ka Ghara, Shea Goru, and even during the pass crossing was clear. We got to see brilliant mountain views."
If you wish to explore this trek, now is the time to plan. Happy trekking!
In pic: Latest photo from Hampta Pass trek. Shared by Trek Leader Aditya Bodke.
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On June 25th, our first team started trekking to Hampta Pass from Manali. Just now, we received a heartening message from the slope team that the first team has crossed the Hampta pass!
They have crossed over from the Kullu side to the Spiti side.
The team is now on their way to Shea Goru. It is the coldest and the most stunning campsite on the trek. You can cross the Hampta Pass only during monsoon when the snow has melted. In other seasons, trekking to the pass and crossing it is not safe due to snow in the region.
If you are planning to do the Hampta Pass trek, now is the right time to do so :)
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We have opened dates for all our treks for the rest of the year. In the first half of the year, we missed out on a lot of these terrific treks, especially our high adventure summer treks.
Our winter registrations have already started coming in. So ensure you plan and sign up at least 2 months in advance. Happy trekking!
View Upcoming Treks
The Himachal Pradesh E-Pass Registration page is not accessible anymore. It is because from July 1 you will no longer need the E-Pass to cross the HP border.
This makes it easier to travel to the state for treks like Hampta Pass, Beas Kund, and Bhrigu Lake.
But please keep in mind that as an Indiahikes trekker, you need an RT-PCR Negative Certificate if you haven't received two shots of vaccine. You may skip getting the certificate if you've been infected with COVID-19 within the last three months.
Explore Treks in Himachal Pradesh
Our monsoon trek groups are filling up sooner than we expected. In fact, 60% of our groups are full. We're being flooded with calls every day to take in more trekkers. Unfortunately, with tight logistics and full groups, we cannot do that.
So this is an advisory to plan your treks soon. Start planning for treks at least 3 months in advance. Now is a good time to plan treks for August and September.
View Upcoming Treks
We are launching a new style of trekking at Indiahikes — Do-It-Yourself treks.
“We have always wanted to see trekkers trek on their own, without the help of an organisation. In fact, our entire effort in documenting treks was driven with that focus,” says Arjun Majumdar, the founder and CEO of Indiahikes.
“Having said that, DIY is not new in our country. But it hasn't become easier over time. This is where Indiahikes is going to make a difference. We are bringing in a system that will assist people in doing treks on their own.”
Click to learn more about DIY Treks
We're elated to open treks exclusively for families. Two things propelled us towards this decision -- the enormous number of requests from families and a strong belief that families and children must head outdoors this year, after being locked in for so long.
We have opened groups in September and October for the Dayara Bugyal and Deoriatal-Chandrashila treks. These are post-monsoon months, when you see terrific colours and striking views of the mountains of Uttarakhand.
These treks are open to all families with children aged between 8-18 years. Unaccompanied children aged 12-17 years, can also join family groups.
Click for Family Treks
With a decrease in the number of Covid cases, and a strong vaccination drive in our country, we are reopening our treks from the last week of June.
We have decided to resume our treks from June 25th. These include early groups of Bhrigu Lake and Hampta Pass treks.
From July, we have opened groups on monsoon treks like Valley of Flowers, Beas Kund, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, and Pin Bhaba Pass.
View Upcoming TreksYes, we reopened treks on the 25th of June, 2021. We have already taken several groups on the Bhrigu Lake, Valley of Flowers, Hampta Pass and Beas Kund treks. Our Kashmir treks are also running smoothly.
We understand that there might be rumours of third waves and lockdowns. But as of now, all treks are running.
In the worst case scenario, if things don’t pan out well, our cancellation policy will ensure you lose nothing even if you have to call off your trek. You’ll either get a refund or a voucher of your entire trek fee, which you can use any time in the next one year. This has been giving trekkers the confidence to register for treks. Read our cancellation policy here.
With so much speculation about the third wave of Covid affecting the country, we understand that you might be worried about trekking.
However, at the moment, all our treks are running normally. Our teams are spread out in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Every week, over 200 trekkers are spread out on 5-6 different treks. All treks are running smoothly and well.
If there is a third wave, a lot will depend on the state government’s guidelines. If we see any curbs coming in from the state government, we will act on them immediately. If we feel it is unsafe for trekkers and local folk, we will call off our treks.
From our experience of the first and second lockdowns in the country, we have strong protocols in place to ensure trekkers are not stuck anywhere in the mountains. Our trekkers have always reached the safety of their homes within a day after lockdowns were announced.
We have also made sure that trekkers don’t lose out on the trek fee they have paid. We have always issued vouchers of the entire trek fee, which they can use on any treks in the next one year.
So you can go ahead and plan your trek. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
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. Only those who have two doses of vaccination, or have been affected by Covid in the past three months are exempt from this rule. (We’ll require proof of both of these.)
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.
July, August and September are great months to do some of our best monsoon treks. These are the only months when high altitude treks in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are accessible to trekkers.
All these treks are fast-filling. So plan your trek soon!
Here are the best monsoon treks in our country (they are open only during July, August and September):
Yes, once you register for a trek, our Experience Coordinator will be in touch with you throughout, guiding you on your travel planning and prepping for the trek.
They will also create a Whatsapp group for your trekking team, so that you get to know each other well in advance and can coordinate your travel with each other.
We will also have video meetings before your trek so that you come together as a team before meeting each other at the base camp.
Signing up for a waitlist is a bit of a gamble. If you sign up more than 30 days before the trek date, then the chances of it getting confirmed are higher. But if you sign up closer to the trek date, the chances of your waitlist getting confirmed are very low. It would be better to choose an available date. We have 5 waitlist slots. It works on a first-come, first-served basis.
Our advice to you is this: Sign up for the waitlist only if your dates are not flexible at all. You do not have to pay to be on the waitlist, so you have nothing to lose. But do NOT book your flight tickets until you confirm your trek with us. If your dates are flexible, choose an available date. That way, you’ll be able to plan your travel and start prepping for the trek as well.
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.
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 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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“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.
A dramatic pass crossing is just one highlight of the Hampta Pass trek. Another striking thing about the trek is its unique campsite settings. Each one is different. This blog dives deep into all of them.
Here is a list of the best Himalayan treks in autumn months of September, October and November.
If bird watching in the Himalayas is your primary reason to trek, this guide is a must read on how you can watch these beautiful creatures!
The Valley of Flowers trek is opening up for trekkers from July 1st, around 2 weeks later than the annual routine. Here’s what to expect and what not to expect.
All you need to know about traveling for your treks in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh
Hampta Pass vs Pin Bhaba Pass? Which trek should you choose for your next adventure? Read what our founders say about both of these treks.
We’ve trekked in the monsoon, often wondering what causes rains and questioned why it doesn’t rain in a particular month. Here’s your answer!
Dr. Sreelakshmi talks about how to restart trekking once you have recovered from COVID. Here is a step-by-step guide!
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.
