It's easy to understand the appeal of a relaxed social gathering with co-workers—a chance to unwind and enjoy casual conversations outside the workplace. But when there’s no deeper purpose driving the interaction, these outings often lack meaning. 

Without clear goals or shared objectives, they can quickly feel like an extension of daily office small talk.

While casual get-togethers have their place, at Indiahikes, we believe corporate team building should be about much more. Our focus is on helping teams grow, build mutual trust, and work more effectively together. Our programs are designed to improve communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. 

What we offer is not just a break from routine; it’s a transformative experience for teams.

At Indiahikes, 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. 

Through shared challenges, teams learn to communicate, support one another, and overcome obstacles as a unit.

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.

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. 

We avoid campfires to ensure that the environment remains intact and that participants experience the trek in a natural, undisturbed setting.

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.

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 Indiahikes Team Building Program (Collaborative Leadership Program)

The Indiahikes 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 Collaborative Leadership Programme 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.

Learn more about our Corporate Leadership Programme here

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

This essay was written by Neha Karpagavel , a 10th standard student from PSS School after her three day experiential learning programme at Channarayana Durga.

I still remember when my tent-mates and I first stepped into our tent, feeling doubtful that we could make it. Living without the comforts of an urban home seemed impossible at first. But, spoiler alert—we did it. We made it through, safe and sound, and returned with a deeper appreciation for everything we have back here.

We were set to trek Channarayana Durga, a stunning mountain range with an impressive height of 3,730 feet. When I first learned that this was the hill we would soon climb, my heart skipped a beat, wavering in doubt about whether we could do it.

The rest of the first day was spent engaging in various activities. One thing the team emphasized was reflection—reflecting on our activites to ensure that we returned to our cities having learned something meaningful, not just having had fun. My favorite activity, however, was stargazing. After a night walk, we were treated to an incredible view of the night sky. In all my fifteen years, I had never seen so many stars. Everywhere I looked, I could spot stars, satellites, and even a few planets. We then applied our knowledge of these celestial bodies, learning to differentiate between them and identify the four cardinal directions. It made me realize how light pollution has affected the urban night sky, robbing us of the privilege of seeing such brilliant stars.

The second day was what we had all been waiting for: the trek. After an early morning breakfast with a stunning view of the sunrise, we set off. The first part of the trek was the steepest and the hardest. After just a few minutes, we stopped for rest and hydration.

Though only a few admitted it, we were all thinking the same thing—if we were already tired after barely starting, how would we ever make it to the summit?

Each time we reached a high point to rest, we thought there couldn’t possibly be a higher one or a better view. Yet, every time, there was. And every time, we doubted whether we could make it any further, but we always did.

In those moments of doubt, our teachers and trek leaders pushed us beyond what we thought were our limits. Words cannot describe how their encouragement moved us—literally—up a mountain. Even among the students, there were some who could climb with ease, but none of them focused on being the first to the summit. We all understood that trekking was a team effort; the stronger trekkers helped the rest.

Throughout the trek, I couldn’t help but see it as a metaphor for life. Every single step taught me something—not just about trekking, but about life itself. When I realized how much harder it was to climb with a heavy backpack, it struck me that in life, too, carrying emotional burdens—like grief or trauma—makes it difficult to move forward.

It took us a solid three hours to ascend, and when we reached the peak, we were exhilarated. Many of us felt an overwhelming sense of pride for accomplishing something we once thought impossible. We gained newfound confidence in our bodies, doing things we never imagined, and the joy that came with it was indescribable.

After spending time at the fort on the summit and visiting a lake nestled in the mountain, we began our descent, which also took about three hours. Surprisingly, the descent was just as challenging, if not more so, as we were directly facing the steep drop, forcing us to confront our fear of heights.

The trek was undoubtedly an amazing learning experience, but much of my growth happened when we weren’t trekking. Our phones were collected and kept away from us on the first day, and although we complained at first, in hindsight, I wouldn’t have asked for anything better. It enhanced the experience many times over, allowing us to truly enjoy the views with our own eyes, not through a screen.

The rest of the day was spent engaging in various activities, followed by a climb up a much smaller hill to watch the sunset. After a lot of hiking, bouldering, and rock climbing, we returned to our tents, greeted by a beautiful downpour.

On the third day, we woke up relatively late and visited a serene lotus pond. The pond was breathtaking, surrounded by trees full of weaver bird nests. We were grateful to be there in the right season, witnessing the birds building their nests. Later, we wrote postcards to ourselves—a reflection and keepsake that made the experience even more meaningful. We then picked up trash around the area, realizing how much harm humans inflict on the nature that nurtures us. It made me more mindful of the waste we generate every single day.

In conclusion, the memories and lessons from this trek will last a lifetime. I hope to carry at least some of these lessons into my daily life.

Learn more about our experiential learning programmes for schools here

Channarayana Durga Trek - A Student's Essay

When companies approach us with requests to organise team-building programs for 120, 200 or 300 participants, the intent is clear: to bring everyone together in a shared experience that supports team-building and collaboration. On the surface, the idea of 300 employees trekking at once seems like a grand opportunity to build a cohesive team.

However, at Indiahikes we do not accept such large numbers for our corporate learning programmes. Through years of experience, we’ve realised that while large groups create a sense of scale, they fail to deliver the genuine learning, connection, and growth that are the hallmarks of true team-building.

At InSOUL, we believe in the power of smaller teams for deep learning and meaningful team building.

Large Groups Reinforce Existing Power Dynamics

Consider a past example where we hosted a Collaborative Leadership Programme on a Himalayan trek for 70 employees from a single company. The first thing that struck us was the deeply entrenched hierarchical behaviour within the team. Junior employees were hesitant to share tents with their senior colleagues, not because of any physical discomfort but due to a psychological barrier, a mental block ingrained by their company’s hierarchical structure.

This reluctance to break away from traditional roles and titles highlights a fundamental issue with large groups: they tend to reinforce, rather than dissolve, existing power dynamics. The reluctance however, went beyond just sharing of the tents. It was displayed in the way they consulted on coming up with a plan of action. It was displayed in the obvious lack of ownership of the whole team when it came to the assigned team tasks.

Smaller groups, in contrast, naturally encourage a more egalitarian environment. Here, individuals are more likely to engage with each other as equals, breaking down the barriers that often stifle collaboration in larger settings.

For example, when a 13 member team from Decathlon joined for a day trek to Hari Hara Betta, they themselves could notice areas of improvement and gained insights on how they can each play a better role in their team.

A small team of Decathlon employees, highly engaged during a team building exercise.

There is No Opportunity for Deep Conversations and Real Growth in Large Groups

At Indiahikes, we believe that the essence of team-building goes beyond ticking a box on a corporate calendar. It’s about fostering genuine connections, discovering hidden strengths within the group, and learning to solve problems together. These outcomes are only possible when teams have the time and space to engage in deep, meaningful conversations.

In a small team, participants can reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and why. There’s room for personal growth and development, and the learning is more profound. On the other hand, in a group of 300, meaningful exchanges are often replaced by surface-level conversations, and true collaboration becomes difficult. The sheer size of the group creates a barrier to personal engagement, leaving individuals with the feeling of having completed a task, rather than having undergone a transformative experience.

Sharwari, a senior trek leader, vividly recalls leading a collaborative leadership program for a corporate team in the Himalayas. She noticed that in smaller teams, informal bonding naturally occurred. In groups of 8-9, participants felt comfortable discussing their roles, identifying who they could rely on for different strengths, and understanding how to work together effectively.

For trek leaders, 8-9 member teams are a dream. An ideal size for intimate conversations and personal interactions.

On a recent trek to Bhrigu Lake with Ankur Warikoo, a well-known content creator and entrepreneur, his team, consisting of just a few members, experienced a level of bonding that surprised even them. For many, it was the first time they saw their colleagues in such an intimate setting, sharing simple, everyday moments like brushing their teeth together. This kind of closeness and camaraderie is rarely if ever, achieved in a group of 300.

In a similar programme, when a small group of employees from BeeNext trekked in the Himalayas, their CEO Teruhide Sato said: 

“The challenges naturally brought everyone together. Everyone tried to address problems by supporting each other. Leeches reaching out to you and climbing onto your body - particularly for people who live in cities - is not something usual. But everyone supported each other.

The team remained positive through leeches, wind, and rain. 

We learnt that we could be open-minded and embrace whatever happened. We rebuilt the plan if we needed to rebuild. Somehow, within one day, we went through all these processes within our team.”

Looking back, we realise that such intimacy and coming-together is only possible in a smaller team.

BeeNext's team coming together during their Collaborative Leadership Programme.

Actual Dysfunctions of the Team get Hidden Behind Large Numbers

During treks on the Collaborative Leadership Programme, we see patterns emerge that echo the concepts from Patrick Lencioni's famous book  ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’. These dysfunctions: Absence of Trust, Fear of Conflict, Lack of Commitment, Avoidance of Accountability, and Inattention to Results are barriers that many teams face, yet rarely have the opportunity to address directly.

In the outdoors, where everyone is dependent on each other for success, these dysfunctions cannot hide. A team that lacks trust will struggle to support each other through difficult terrain. Those who fear conflict may shy away from necessary decisions, leading to frustration and missed opportunities. Without commitment, team members hesitate, unsure of the path forward, which can lead to dangerous delays or missed turns on the trail. And if no one holds themselves or others accountable, as is the case in large groups, the entire group suffers, often without even realising why.

Our facilitators are trained to recognize these signs and use the trek as a real-time laboratory for addressing them. 

The small group size allows us to work closely with each team, helping them to identify and overcome these dysfunctions in a way that feels organic and impactful. 

Team-building is not just about surviving the trek; it's about thriving together in challenging conditions. Picture a group of ten people trying to pitch a tent in the rain. In a smaller group, everyone has a role, and communication flows easily. There’s room for strategy, debate, and quick decision-making, skills that are crucial in any corporate setting.

However, when the group swells to 300, this dynamic changes. Communication becomes fragmented, and the opportunity for meaningful interaction dwindles. Critical moments for learning are lost in the chaos of relayed messages and diluted discussions. By the time decisions are made, the moment for growth has often passed.

In smaller groups, every voice is heard, trust is built more quickly, and individuals are more likely to take ownership of both successes and failures. This sense of personal accountability and active participation is what drives true collaboration.

Our programs are designed to shift participants from an "egosystem"—where personal gains and recognition are prioritised—to an "ecosystem"—where collective growth and success are the focus. This transformation is vital for any team looking to enhance its collaboration and problem-solving abilities.

In smaller groups, participants can easily identify each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This openness encourages a shift from ego-driven motives to ecosystem-driven collaboration. In a group of 300, however, this dynamic cannot thrive. The sheer size of the group creates anonymity, allowing individuals to hide behind the crowd rather than confront their behaviours or limitations.

Quality Over Quantity: The Core of Our Programs

At Indiahikes, we’re not against large groups. If the goal is purely recreational, a large team outing can be fun and successful. However, when the objective is to foster learning, growth, and meaningful team development, we believe that smaller groups are essential.

Effective team-building demands time, space, and the chance for every individual to contribute meaningfully. In a massive crowd, these critical elements get lost. While we can handle the logistics of a large group—setting up 150 tents if necessary—the true essence of our programs would be compromised. Large numbers, more suited to a wedding banquet, dilute the depth of engagement, the personal connections, and the transformative experiences that define what we offer.

If the goal is beyond a recreational outing for a team, then smaller is definitely better.

For those seeking a meaningful, transformative team-building experience, smaller groups are not just preferable—they are essential. At Indiahikes, we are committed to offering programs that foster deep learning, personal growth, and real collaboration. While large groups may be tempting for their scale, the true value of team-building lies in the quality of the experience, not the quantity of participants.

For our Collaborative Leadership Programme, we have a ratio of 1:12, where one member from the Indiahikes team is available for every 12 participants. We not only have our experienced trek leaders, we have a game master in addition to our usual trained guides accompanying a team for these programmes.

The reason why we have such a ratio is so that every participant is given personal attention. Even a group as large as 40 participants is broken into four further groups, where a trek leader plays an important role in facilitating the learning activities and the entire journey around the reflections and learning. 

In the end, our goal is to help teams move from a collection of individuals focused on their own success to a cohesive unit working towards a shared goal. And for that to happen, we need to keep it small.

Learn more about our Collaborative Leadership Programme for corporates here

Why We Don’t Want 300 People at Once for a Corporate Team Building Programme

The Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL) is looking for volunteers for our Collaborative Leadership Programme (CLP) with top management institutions in India. We also require volunteers for our other programmes designed for schools, corporates, and colleges. 

This is an opportunity for our best trekkers and everyone else who deeply aligns with our vision and meets the requirements to join us in organising these programmes.

The Collaborative Leadership Programme with a management institution will take place on Himalayan treks between 14th to 19th October 2024.

Additionally, we will be running three more programmes between 14th October 2024 to 3rd November 2024. 

Volunteers cannot choose which slope they would like to work on. It will be decided based on your strength and background. This assessment will be done based on interviews with you.

Volunteering for an experiential learning programme with the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL) is deeply rewarding. You not only get to trek in some of the most beautiful locations in our country, but you also get to be part of a futuristic learning programme. 

Such volunteering programmes are rare. We open these opportunities only once or twice a year.

Register here for volunteering with InSOUL

What is the Collaborative Leadership Programme?

This is a programme we have been organising since 2011. 

The Indiahikes Collaborative Leadership Programme (CLP) turns management theory into practice through a six-day outdoor adventure. Participants learn by doing, planning, and executing their own Himalayan trek with the goal of reaching a high summit together within a set time frame. 

In this challenging environment, teams navigate tough terrain, handle bad weather, manage group dynamics, set up camp, prepare meals, and face designed challenges. Success is defined by every team member reaching the summit.

At the end of it, students take back real-life management skills from the mountains.

The CLP is a highly-acclaimed programme that IIM has included in its curriculum for the past 12 years. The journey began with IIM Indore, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow that have made CLP a part of their curriculum, along with other B-schools across the country, such as Goa Institute of Management. 

Organising the programme is a source of pride and responsibility for Indiahikes, and it’s an equally big responsibility for our volunteers to shoulder.

What are we looking for in our volunteers?

We are extremely picky about our volunteers for two reasons.

First, volunteers must be able to provide intellectual stimulation for MBA students. This is not easy, considering that the students are few of the top management students in our country!

Second, volunteers play a big role in managing the entire programme. This requires good people skills, time management skills, humility, and eagerness to go beyond your duty.

Must have at least 3 years of work experience

Must have done at least one Himalayan trek with Indiahikes

What is the Outdoor Leadership Programme?

Seeing the strong impact of the outdoors and trekking on children, Indiahikes has designed special Outdoor Experiential Learning Programmes for schools. Over 10,000 students from across the country have trekked with us.

In the Outdoor Leadership Programme (OLP), students go on a trek, and learn leadership and teamwork skills. The focus is on building resilience, confidence, and the ability to overcome difficulties in young learners.

We do this through a trek that is specially designed to bring out these aspects.

What skills are we looking for in volunteers for our OLP school programmes?

For our school programmes, it is very important that you are good with children. You have high levels of energy and you can keep students engaged and motivated.

Furthermore, volunteers play a big role in administering the whole programme. This requires good people skills, discipline, and leadership ability.

The entire volunteering period is a 6-day marathon with hardly any time to breathe, eat, or sleep. Volunteers need to be physically and mentally capable to handle these situations.

What do we do at Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL)? 

Our goal is for everyone to find or rediscover a sense of wonder through trekking. We want to inspire people to push their personal limits, continue learning, love the process of discovery, reflect on their experiences, and become better versions of themselves.

Our North Star is that ‘Everyone Must Trek’, because trekking transforms lives. At InSOUL, we ensure that we provide this opportunity to everyone, whether they are sitting in a school classroom, a college classroom or a corporate office.

Why is it a special opportunity to volunteer with InSOUL?

Volunteering with InSOUL is a unique opportunity for you to play a role in empowering students through outdoor experiences. 

You get to observe as students gain confidence, resilience, and compassion as they face real challenges. Young adults, at pivotal moments in their lives, develop a stronger sense of self, humility, and the courage to tackle personal and professional challenges. 

It is deeply rewarding to be able to carry out operations when you get to witness such transformation and learning.

Volunteering for the OLP and CLP carries a lot of weight. You get to test your leadership skills in a natural setting. It is a true experiential learning programme for both students and us, the organisers. You’re conducting the programme for young people, many of whom are doing a Himalayan trek for the first time, battling circumstances completely out of their comfort zones.

As a volunteer, a lot of the programme’s success depends on you. 

That is why at Indiahikes, an experiential learning program is not just transformative for the students it is equally transformative for us, the organisers, too.

At the end of the volunteership you also earn a certificate.

What is the application/interview process?

We have a two step process to select volunteers.

Step 1: A questionnaire to get to know you and your skills

Step 2: A video interview to assess your potential as a volunteer

Indiahikes will sponsor your volunteership throughout the trek. All stay, food and trek costs are borne by Indiahikes. You would need to arrange your transport until the pick up point, either Dehradun or Manali (based on where you are assigned).

Cancellation policy for volunteers: In case Indiahikes or IIM calls off the program in the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances, Indiahikes will accommodate you within our regular groups during the same dates. This cannot be converted into a voucher or a refund. 

Please note: Even though the programme is a volunteer experience and Indiahikes will bear all your expenses, any last-minute dropout of chaperones is a significant setback to the programme. 

Therefore, to confirm your volunteering, you must pay a refundable deposit of Rs 5,000. This will be refunded within 7 days after you return from the trek. If you cannot make it to the programme, this deposit will not be refunded.

Volunteer Opportunities in Experiential Learning Programmes on Treks Across India

We are looking for interns to join our team at the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning for the month of September 2024.

This will be a unique opportunity to get involved in the different areas of work at InSOUL, where you will get a better understanding of the process of experiential learning.

You will get an inside view of what goes into designing the Outdoor Leadership Programme for students and play an important role in carrying out the same. 

You will also get the exciting opportunity to join multiple day hikes around Bangalore with different schools and age groups. Your contribution lies in working with smaller groups of students on each of the treks to facilitate a meaningful experience.

We are looking for someone with good people skills and a high level of energy. We are looking for an intern who is self-motivated and driven to work on improving the overall operations and delivery of the programme. 

What do we at the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning for School Students?

At InSOUL, we believe that experiencing education beyond the traditional classroom allows us to turn the learning environment into a lively and enchanting space. One which sparks the imagination and a sense of wonder.

For school students, we want to ensure that they can learn together in an environment where they are not limited to the roles they play within the classroom. Students engage with nature and each other in a non-competitve setting.

Our experiential learning treks include spaces and activities for discovering the thrill of the outdoors and finding our place within it. We have activities designed to help students reflect on their experiences and develop a love and appreciation for nature.

Through real-world examples, they learn the impact humans have on the natural environment and how we can tackle this.

Our programmes blend nature, adventure, and specially-designed learning activities to impart valuable life skills and leadership skills. We believe the best learning comes through tangible experience, challenges, and room for reflections. 

As an intern, you will support our experienced trek leaders in the Outdoor Leadership Programme school treks around Bangalore. You will be instrumental in facilitating the trekking and learning experiences for smaller groups within each of the trek groups. Additionally, you will play an important role in ensuring smooth operations.

Furthermore, you will get exposed to the behind-the-scenes of such programmes. You will have the opportunity to support the business development and coordination teams. You will get an intimate insight into how we design our programmes and why we do things the way we do. Prior to setting off on any trek, you will receive training on facilitation, safety and technical aspects of the treks. 

These day treks are more than just outings, they are transformative learning experiences. We carefully design the trek plan, objectives and activities based on this. We need your support in executing this.

Through this internship you will play a role in supporting students to develop a stronger and more responsible connection with the outdoors. Furthermore, through these treks we focus on building confidence and resilience. 

As an intern, you will engage students in activities like identifying local flora and fauna and understanding sustainable practices. 

Through your own observations and reflections, you will play a key role in improving the programmes for school students. 

Good people skills and ability to engage with school students across age groups

Open to giving and receiving feedback to improve program execution

If you trekked with Indiahikes before it is a bonus

This is a one month internship (1st September 2024 to 30th September 2024). Your internship will be a mix of working together with the InSOUL team at our Bangalore Office as well as joining multiple day-hikes around Bangalore.

We will provide accommodation close to our office free of charge along with a monthly stipend of 20,000 Rupees.

Why is this a unique opportunity to intern with InSOUL?

Interning with InSOUL is a an opportunity for you to play a role in empowering students through outdoor experiences. 

It is deeply satisfying to watch as students open up in different ways and enjoy what the outdoors have to offer.

The outdoors accelerate the pace at which students gain confidence, resilience and compassion for the people and creatures around them. Through this internship, you will have the opportunity to guide students and support them in building such qualities.

It is also a challenging internship, you can test your own levels of energy and people skills. With school students, it is easy to notice when they are engaged and when they are not. They provide almost real-time feedback to how well you are able to hold their attention and inspire curiosity.

1 Month Internship with the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL)

A Day of Adventure, Learning, and Reflection for students from Jain International

July 15, 2024 Bangalore - Despite it being a Sunday, 37 spirited 12th graders from Jain International Residential School woke up bright and early for a day hike to Harihara Betta near Bangalore.

The students enjoyed moments of silence at the summit, soaking in the views without their phones. As part of Indiahikes’ Green Trails initiative, the students enthusiastically joined in cleaning up trails and leaving the hills better than they found them. 

A student who was celebrating his birthday ended up collecting the most trash, making the day even more special. On the way down, the students' sense of responsibility shone as they continued to collect trash voluntarily.

We were happy to hear that the short day hike had sparked students’ interest in trekking. Many of them were eager to try challenging Himalayan treks. May this mark the beginning of a lifelong love for adventure, learning, and the mountains.

Budding Trekkers for Life: DPS Bangalore West's Youngest Students Explore Karnataka's Trekking Trails

July 12, 2024 Bangalore - In an exciting series of adventures last week, DPS West's youngest students (some as young as 2) experienced the joy of the outdoors with Indiahikes.

Our tiny trekkers from Nursery to Grade 2 explored the beautiful trekking trails around Bangalore.

The school feels strongly about inspiring children's love for nature and adventure from a young age. What's more, students also had their parents and grandparents join them on the trek.

Some of the most fearless trekkers we've ever seen

Quality family time away from screens and obligations

Engaging with nature and appreciating all creatures, big and small

Adventure, friendships, and memories for life

As always, our deepest thanks to Renu Dimri, Principal DPS Bangalore West for her support and enthusiasm. For being among the visionary educators leading a powerful shift in education - bringing nature back to the fore of children's learning and holistic development.

Students from DPS Bangalore West have been going on day-hikes with Indiahikes every day since June 25th, 2024. Thirteen groups have completed various treks to Yathi Raja Betta, Skandagiri, and Kunagalu Betta. The final group trekked on Friday, 12th July, wrapping up the adventure.

Life and Entrepreneurship Lessons in the Mountains for Webveda by Ankur Warikoo

July 11, 2024 Himachal Pradesh - Webveda - a fully-remote team led by renowned entrepreneur, author, and content creator Ankur Warikoo - recently went on a trek to Bhrigu Lake with Indiahikes. 

Typically meeting for an offsite every three months to bond, this time the team chose a trek - a minimalist Experiential Learning adventure to connect deeply with nature and themselves. 

"The previous offsites have been full of pampering and luxury. We stay in fancy places. We dine well. We eat well. While all of that is also appreciated, we’ve never had a connect with nature the way we did over the last four days. What I found was a surreal feeling of the team coming together in a way they have never done before...Every entrepreneur should mandatorily trek, it should be a national government policy," shares Ankur Warikoo.

What happened on the four-day trek to bring forth such profound takeaways? Hear it from the orator extraordinaire himself.

National University of Singapore Students Experience the Majestic Indian Himalayas with Indiahikes

June 30, 2024 Uttarakhand - Two groups from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have returned from their action-packed treks in the Indian Himalayas.

Fourteen trekkers from the NUS Mountaineering Club took on the stunning Buran Ghati trek. As the longest-running student mountaineering club in Singapore, NUS Mountaineering regularly organises overseas hiking trips and technical mountaineering courses. 

On this trek, the group was looking to push personal limits and enhance teamwork and leadership skills. Additionally, the breathtaking Indian Himalayas were the ideal backdrop to build environmental awareness and witness first-hand the impacts of climate change.

NUS Mountaineering at the summit, celebrations all around

Exploring a village named Janglik, and spending quality time with the universally-adored mountain dogs of the Indian Himalayas

The group also immersed themselves in local culture as they walked through quaint hamlets and villages enroute. 

What you probably didn't know? This is NUS Mountaineering's third trek with us. Read more about their previous experiences here - What Brings NUS Mountaineering Club Back to the Indian Himalayas And Indiahikes

Meanwhile, on another Uttarakhand slope, ten trekkers from the NUS Rovers Club went on the Ali Bedni Bugyal trek. With a motto of exploring friendship through adventure and adventure through friendship, the Rovers thrive on challenges that test them both physically and mentally. Their expeditions during college breaks include treks in Nepal's Langtang Valley and Vietnam's Sapa.

A group picture for NUS Rovers before setting off on the Ali Bedni Bugyal trek

Learning the art of stacking cairns to mark a boundary, a route, or the top of a mountain on a trek

This is NUS Rovers' first trek with Indiahikes. "I had such a great time and keep learning new things and getting new perspectives every single trek that I go. We are all tired, dirty, but very very happy and very very well," shared Aswin Alagappan from NUS Rovers. Music to our ears at Indiahikes. Few things bring us more joy than being able to share our love for the Indian Himalayas with more people. 

The First of Many Adventures - Students from DPS Bangalore (West) complete trek to Yetiraja Betta

June 24, 2024 Bangalore -The first group of DPS West students completed their trek to Yetiraja Betta last weekend. 

The journey began months ago when Indiahikes designed a special "Camp in Campus" experience at DPS West Bangalore, to introduce students to the joys of overnight camping. The idea was to take baby steps and camp on school grounds to begin with.

Building on this enthusiasm, students from all grades - Nursery to Grade 9 - are going one step further-  exciting day hikes around the hills of Bangalore. Students of Grade 6 kicked off the fun last weekend. Here’s to the beginning of a lifelong love of adventure and learning.

You might be interested in reading: An Educator Explains Why Everyone In Her School Treks, From Toddlers to Teachers

Students from Grade 6 DPS West Bangalore gather for a fun activity

Joy and jubilation at the summit, students of DPS West Bangalore

Grade 11 Students from Ekya Schools take to the Hills

June 23, 2024 Bangalore - It was the turn of Grade 11 students from Ekya School for a fun outdoor adventure of “learning by doing," this time at Nandi Hills.

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