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:
- We can help shift your trek dates to another season. It can either be the same trek or any other trek.
- If you are not sure of the dates, take a Special Covid voucher that comes with a validity of 1.5 years. You can use this voucher while registering for any of our treks in India.
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.