Not Just Fun and Games: Our Approach to Corporate Team Building

Relaxed social gatherings with co-workers are naturally appealing—they offer a chance to unwind and connect in a more casual setting outside the office. However, without a shared sense of purpose, these interactions often don’t go beyond surface-level conversations, feeling more like an extension of daily office small talk.

While casual meet-ups certainly have their place, at the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL), we see corporate team building as an opportunity for something deeper. Our programs focus on fostering genuine growth, building mutual trust, and helping teams work more effectively together. We emphasize improving communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills through thoughtfully designed experiences.

A New Perspective on Team Building

At InSOUL, we redefine the way teams think about leadership, teamwork, and success. Participants trek on a shared journey through the mountains—whether in the Himalayas or hills closer to the city. The trek design creates a unique, challenging environment where team members must rely on one another to reach a common goal.

Since 2016, several leading companies have entrusted us with their teams, and the results speak for themselves. We’ve seen firsthand how these experiences bring teams closer together, and build strong bonds that last long after the trek is over.

But here’s the key: this is not a casual outing. It is intentionally designed to bring out collaborative leadership skills in every participant and help everyone in the team get to know each other better.

Why We Say No to Certain Activities

Our programs are crafted to offer a deeply immersive experience focused on growth and learning. This is why we say no to activities like smoking, drinking, and campfires during our treks. These choices may seem unconventional, but they are made with careful consideration for both the safety and well-being of our participants and the environment.

Why We Avoid Campfires

Campfires are cosy, the perfect aesthetic on a chilly night in the mountains. This is how campfires are often associated with outdoor gatherings, but at Indiahikes, we’ve chosen to exclude them for several reasons. 

First, they are not environmentally sustainable. A single group may need several logs for a campfire, and when this is multiplied across hundreds of trekkers, the demand for wood becomes excessive. Even deadwood, which many think is an easy resource, is vital to forest ecosystems. It breaks down into the soil, nourishing the earth and sustaining biodiversity.

Moreover, campfires release pollutants into the air. They emit fine particles that can enter the lungs, causing irritation and long-term health issues.

Why We Say No to Alcohol

Often companies approach us with requests to provide drinks during the program. We frequently hear arguments that alcohol warms the body and allows everyone to ease into conversations with one another. 

Drinking alcohol at high altitudes can have dangerous consequences. While it might initially create a feeling of warmth, alcohol actually dilates the blood vessels near the skin, pulling heat away from the core. This can lead to hypothermia in cold environments. It also impairs the body's ability to breathe deeply, reducing oxygen intake, which is crucial at high altitudes where oxygen levels are already lower. This can heighten the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Alcohol also dehydrates the body, undoing the benefits of drinking water—something we emphasise strongly on our treks. Dehydration, combined with the effects of altitude, increases the likelihood of needing an emergency evacuation.

In terms of the team coming together, the design of our program is intended to achieve this. We do not need alcohol to stimulate this process.

Why We Discourage Smoking

Smoking is an activity that directly contradicts the essence of trekking—immersing oneself in nature and improving physical well-being. On our treks, where the challenges of altitude and physical exertion demand strong lungs and a clear head, smoking becomes a significant barrier to success. It not only hampers an individual's performance but also disrupts the collective experience of the group. 

Smoking compromises lung capacity, which is critical for acclimatisation in high-altitude environments. More importantly, it diminishes the pristine air quality that participants come to the mountains to enjoy, while putting the smoker's health at serious risk. This increases the likelihood of altitude sickness and potentially life-threatening conditions like HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema).

About the InSOUL Team Building Program

The Team Building Program is about more than just bringing people together in a beautiful setting. It’s about creating an experience that fundamentally reshapes how teams view themselves and their roles within the larger organisation. By facing challenges in unfamiliar terrain, participants learn to communicate more effectively, trust each other, and develop new ways to solve problems collaboratively.

This is not a light-hearted retreat. Our programs are designed with purpose—to cultivate leadership and collaboration skills that are critical in today’s workplace. The trek is an opportunity for participants to step away from the distractions of everyday life and focus on what truly matters: building stronger, more resilient teams.

If you’re looking for a program that goes beyond the surface and fosters lasting transformation, then the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning Programme for corporates is what you need. It’s more than just a break from the office—it’s an experience that brings out the best in teams.