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Winter trekking in India - Kedarkantha Trek- YHAI ,India

Camp site 2- Just before the summit.

The trekking trail..

YHAI- Base camp , Sankri(UK)

Juda ka talav ( A place where two lakes meet)

Juda ka Talav -Camp Site (1)

Frozen lake- Juda ka Talav

Kedarkant Peak !

Mesmerising views from the summit(1)

Mesmerising views from the summit (2)

The group which made it to the top !

"Mountains never fall shy of disconnecting you from your materialistic and monotonous city life and making you realise the spell binding and exquisite beauty of the earth. They grasp you with their vicious serenity , breathtaking landscapes and deafening silence." Kedarkanth was the first trekking experience of my life. Although it is said to be an easy trek ,a 1000 paragraphs would be less to put down on paper what i experienced there in a matter of just 7 days. This kedarkant trek is organised by YHAI (Youth Hostel association of India... www.yhai.org) every year in the winter months. The base camp from which the trek starts is "Sankri" village . It is located at about 200 kms from Dehradun city. From dehradun, you can get uttrakhand toursim buses to go to sankri village. It takes nearly 8 hours , so keep in mind to stack up some avomine tablets before boarding those buses.

Sankri (YHAI base camp)

After 8 hours of a rickety and bumpy journey from dehradun , we were greeted with a snowfall at sankri in the afternoon.Snow fall in the mountains was the best possible welcome we could have expected.

The first day and the second day of the trek , we were made to stay in the campsite for purposes of acclimatisation.Tents were allotted along with sleeping bags and blankets. The first day was given to get ourselves adjusted and make friends with your co-trekkers.

Second day involved a small trek and a visit to the nearby village.

Things to keep in mind :

1. Carry all your documents for identity verification.

2.You need your own plates, glasses and spoons for eating the food.

3.Keep a torch light , its very handy when the light goes off in the evenings.

4. Carry slippers for toilet using purposes.

5. Carry nutrition bars with you , you will need them throughout the trek .

6. No need to buy trekking poles , you get them for rs.20 there itself.

7.You need good inners and warmers for spending the cold nights inside the tents.

8. Keep lots of tissues, soap(paper preferably) for obvious purposes.

9.You dont necessarily need to carry your own backpack . YHAI provides a nice backpack which you can return later, free of cost .

Juda ka talav

On day 3 , we started our trek for the first camp - Juda ka Talav .

From the base camp to juda ka talav the trek was mostly without snow. With every step that we took to ascend , the feeling of solitude and serenity grew more and more. In every 200-300 metres we stopped , had fresh water and absorbed the warm sun and the vivid sceneries .The last quarter of the trek offered us snow and it was not easy to trek without our trekking poles. Post noon we reached the Juda ka Talav campsite. The campsite amidst the snowy mountains and the long pine trees did not fail to amaze anyone . I ran , threw my backpack in the tent and started exploring the best camping i was going to do in my life. Soon the sun went down and a bon fire was put up. The group circled around the fire to sit , talk and share their life experiences with a blanket of shimmering stars in the night sky covering their heads.

Kedarkantha base

The next morning , we got up and had hot breakfast and tea. We packed our backpacks and went on further up to see the frozen lake (Juda ka Talav). It was quite a big lake , frozen to the extent that our whole group could stand at one place on the lake . The best thing about our group (which was called KK9 ) was that when it came to playing with snow , people jumped in with amazing energy and enthusiasm. We slid , we threw snow balls , got hit by some , clicked random pictures and shouted as loud as we could to hear back the echo in the mountains.

From there , it took us 4-5 hours of tiring journey to reach the Kedarkant summit base camp. This camp site turned out to me more exquisite. The sight of the final summit left everyone bewildered .Tall and strong it stood , covered with pure white snow . The camp leader was an awesome chap . He welcomed us very warmly and offered us food . We were to start the final trek to the summit , at 3 in the midnight .

The final ascent

A sharp sound of a whistle , and every body was up on their feet . It was 3 in the midnight , the moon shined brightly and we gulped in some food for the upcoming journey. Water bottles, layer of clothing ,trekking poles and cameras were the only things that we were allowed to take with us to the top . With the group guide in the front we started advancing in a line , like a human centipede travelling up to conquer the kedarkant peak .

With lights in our hands and determination in our hearts , we kept walking and climbing in the snow . It was midnight so the snow was quite hard and we could grip it easily .After 2 hours the sun started coming up and we spent half an hour at place to see how phenomenal a sunrise could be . The sky displayed every possible shade of orange in that time span.The last part of the trek was a tough one . The winds started flowing with force and it became difficult to climb. The climb became really steep and the feeling that we had reached the summit kept striking us back in every half an hour. Encouraging each other to keep dragging ourselves , we reached the summit at around 11 in the morning .

I can never explain what i saw from the top . Never had i been so close to nature. Never had i seen such beautiful landscapes in my life before. There were mountains everywhere . They were covered with fresh snow which glittered in the sun . We sat there ,in the constant buzz of the wind with a feeling of accomplishment in our hearts. Every cramp , every injury and every pain was worth the feeling we experienced on reaching there . After 2 hours , the group leader whistled and ordered us to start descending. With a heavy heart we started coming down and slid and ran our way down to the kedarkant base camp .

In the next two days , we descended down to sankri base camp with an overnight halt at one camp. We were welcomed as if we returned fighting a battle . We packed our bags , returned all the YHAI accessories and said final good byes to all the amazing people we had met throughout the journey .

We loaded our bags in a jeep and headed back to dehradun , saying good bye to the amazing YHAI staff , to the mountains and to the brilliant 7 days we had spent in the arms of nature.

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Officially launched: The Pench Mowgli Trek, Madhya Pradesh | A trek in the buffer zone of Pench Tiger Reserve

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Dates open for Aug-Sept 2024

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Latest Trek News

• A 500 year old cultural trek: The Har Ki Dun trek August 12th, 2024, 11.45 a.m.
• Officially launched! The Pench-Mowgli Trek in Madhya Pradesh August 9th, 2024
• Good News🙋🏻‍♀️ New groups opened in November in Himachal! August 8th, 2024, 10:45 a.m.
• Trekking After Dengue: Is It Safe? August 8th, 2024, 10 a.m.
• A Round-Up of All Current Treks: Latest Updates from Himachal, Kashmir, Uttarakhand August 6th, 2024, 6 p.m.
• Latest Updates from Rain-ridden Himachal Pradesh: Here’s What to Expect August 3rd, 2024, 1 p.m.
• Valley of Flowers trek running smoothly despite rains and frequent road-blocks between Rishikesh-Karchi July 29th, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
• Indiahikes opens a new trek, this time in Pench, Madhya Pradesh July 22nd, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
• Tiny Tots up on a Trek! Five-year olds from DPS West Take to Trekking as part of their curriculum July 15th, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
• Ankur Warikoo takes his team on a trek: Comes back with beautiful learnings on entrepreneurship July 11th, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
• New dates added for our Kodaikanal Avocado Hill Trek! July 10th, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
• Permissions temporarily retracted for 3 treks in Jammu & Kashmir due to unrest in the region July 10th, 2024, 3:00 pm
• Second minor landslide occurs on Valley of Flowers route at Pipalkoti July 10th, 2024, 2.41 p.m.

As you trek on the trails of Har Ki Dun, you are constantly weaving in and out through ancient villages. 

These villages never fail to charm trekkers. The houses, all wooden, have unique designs. The temples' culture, deities, and rituals are from a civilisation we do not know.

The temples are the heart of the villages, the focal point around which daily life revolves. Villagers wear traditional attire and headgear. It’s as if time has stood still. 

Peering into their homes, we see a lifestyle worth learning from. A sense of harmony exudes from their lives, where humans, animals, and the natural world coexist in beautiful harmony. 

The fact that we witness this firsthand on this trek is a big reason to do the trek. But because this is among the biggest takeaways for trekkers.

View the video here

We have officially launched groups for our new Pench Mowgli Trek in Madhya Pradesh. As you know, Pench is one of our country's most famous tiger reserves. Our new trek runs through the buffer zone of this reserve, teeming with flora and fauna—and yes, tigers, too! 

We announced the pilot group to you a couple of weeks ago. Before we could blink, 15 trekkers had signed up. They are scheduled to leave on August 11th. 

Before that, last week, we conducted another recce of the trek. 

A five-member crew from Indiahikes re-explored the trek. They have come back with just one thought: everyone MUST experience the Pench Mowgli trek.

This is why we have opened up 3 groups for the Pench Mowgli trek, scheduled over the next two months. These are the best months to do the trek.

We are taking small groups, since these will be the first few teams to experience the trail. Plan soon before slots run out.

Click here for trek information

We have always thought of extending our Himachal season beyond September when the weather actually gets better and more pleasant!

Now that we have a beautiful campus in Manali, trekkers get to stay at this gorgeous place, as well as experience short treks. We have opened new groups for the following treks:

• Manali Kaisdhar Trek
• 30th Oct to 2nd November
• 4th to 7th November
• 18th to 21st November

Bijli Mahadev Trek

• 11th to 14th November
• 25th to 28th November

Chandrakhani Pass Trek

• 6th November
• 13th November
• 20th November
• 27th November

Not many trekkers know that these treks can be done beyond September. So help spread the word.

Share this link to spread the word

Dengue fever is on the rise all over India. And we see many of our trekkers are concerned that they have a trek coming up and they are still recovering. Will they be able to do the trek post recovery is something that is there on everyone's mind right now.

Dr Sree will answer all your questions in this video. Watch the video till the end to get answers to questions like - Is it ok to trek after recovering from Dengue? How long should you wait? What are the precautions you should take? etc.

If you have any more queries, you can email Dr Sree at [email protected]

Click here to watch the video on YouTube

After last week's heavy rains, the weather has relented this week. All trekkers are safe and largely carrying on with their treks as scheduled. Here is a region-wise update to keep you in the loop about all our current treks. 

Read the full article here

It has been raining heavily in Himachal Pradesh for the past week. There have been separate incidents of cloudbursts in different regions of Himachal. As of this afternoon, August 3rd, the rain has started to clear a bit, but could be back over the next few days. 

While it is not abnormal for it to rain in monsoon, there are certain repercussions of it: 

• Rivers start overflowing, which means that treks with river crossings and river-side camps become difficult to complete. 
• More than the trekking trails, it is the connecting roads that get obstructed, especially between Mandi-Kullu-Manali-Palchan. Multiple landslides and rockfalls usually block roads and take time to clear out, causing traffic-build ups. 
• Himachal has multiple bridges, across small and big rivers. Many of these get damaged with over-flowing rivers, blocking off large areas from access. 

Keeping this in mind, we're sharing this post to give you an update on our Himachal treks. We'll do this trek-by-trek, so that we cover all the treks that are currently running and scheduled to run.

Read full news update here

Over the past two days, Uttarakhand has witnessed heavy rainfall. Videos of floods in Gangotri Dham have been doing the rounds.

Worried trekkers have been calling us about the only trek that we are currently running in Uttarakhand: the Valley of Flowers trek, asking us if their trek has been affected.

Trekkers can breathe a sigh of relief because despite rains, the Valley of Flowers trek has not been affected. True, the road journey to the base camp from Rishikesh sees frequent landslides, small and big. But most of them are immediately cleared, given that it is a national highway. 

“Trekkers have not missed a single day of their itinerary and have not had much of an upheaval in their travel plans.  Even our Special Seniors group completed the trek successfully and they loved the experience. So trekkers can carry on with their preparations for the trek,” says Simran Chugh, Experience Coordinator at Indiahikes. 

Meanwhile, the rising Bhagirathi river has caused multiple bridges and routes to be washed off on the Gaumukh-Tapovan trail. We will have to wait for more information about this from the officials. 

View Treks for Seniors

Indiahikes is likely to open yet another trek in Central India, this time in the heart of Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh. It is the Pench Mowgli Trek. 

Pench, as you may know, is one of the most famous tiger reserves in our country. Our new trek runs through the buffer zone of this famous tiger reserve, teeming with flora and fauna, and yes, tigers too!

We are launching a pilot group this August, after which we will have a few groups later in the year. To stay updated, keep an eye on the page in the link below. 

View Pench Mowgli Trek in Madhya Pradesh

On Thursday, 11th of July, our youngest-ever group of students embarked on a trek to Kunagalu Betta, which we fondly call Puppy Betta for the rock’s resemblance to a puppy's face. 

The five-year-old preschoolers were promptly ready early in the morning at the school grounds of DPS West for their day-hike. The most exciting part? 

The little ones were accompanied by their parents (and for some of them, their grandparents), enthusiastic to join in on the learning adventures which would be held outdoors for the first time.

Students from DPS West have been embarking on day-hikes with Indiahikes everyday since June 25th, 2024. Thirteen groups have completed various treks around Bangalore, including Yathi Raja Betta, Skandagiri, and Kunagalu Betta. The final group trekked on Friday, 12th of July, wrapping up this delightful series of adventures.

The journey of DPS West’s daily hikes began two months ago with a special “Camp in Campus” experience, where students were slowly introduced to the outdoors, while still spending time within the safe and familiar surroundings of their school campus.

This received such positive feedback that it inspired the parents of the school students to get onboard the idea of more full-fledged treks.

Parents and grandparents who joined the treks expressed their joy in seeing their children explore new territories and learn from everything the outdoors have to offer.

We hope this love for the outdoors continues to grow in the young, old, and everyone in between.

For us at Indiahikes, we were thrilled to introduce the more than 500 young adventurers to the joys of trekking. DPS West has shared that they would love to do this again. They mentioned that maybe next time they would try overnight camping. We are looking forward to collaborating with DPS West again in the near future and are excited to watch their journey as they try newer adventures in the outdoors.

Entrepreneur, author and content creator, Ankur Warikoo, recently joined us on the Bhrigu Lake trek with his WebVeda team. Their objective was to come together as a team, given that they all work remotely, in different parts of the country. This was the first time several of them were embarking on a high altitude trek in the Himalayas.

For us, it was wonderful taking Ankur’s team on the trek. The team was among the most receptive, humble teams we have worked with. Not only were we able to successfully bring the team together, but the programme was a wonderful learning experience for our facilitators as well.

But nobody can articulate it better than Ankur Warikoo, the master orator himself. In this video, he shares some of their takeaways as a team, with a lot of wise learnings for entrepreneurs. As always, his advice is hard to ignore. Take a look.

We have been receiving multiple requests from trekkers to open up a trek in South India over the next two months.

So we have opened up 6 dates for the Kodaikanal Avocado Hill trek in July and August, all of them during the weekends. Although we started running this trek only recently, trekkers have been loving the experience: the solitude of Spice Valley, the rolling hills while trekking, the lush forests.

It’s ideal for anyone who wants to get away from the city over a weekend, and have a mindful experience in the outdoors.

View Kodaikanal trek dates

Until 11th July, no trekkers will be permitted to go on the Tarsar Marsar, Nafran Valley, and Bodpathri treks.

The District Administration of Pahalgam has restricted trekking in the region. The Budgam district has also retracted permissions to trek in the area. The government seems to have taken this call as a safety measure in light of the current unrest in J&K.

Trekkers who are already on their way to Srinagar or in the base camp are being diverted to other treks in J&K, which are running smoothly.

Four of our treks in J&K are permitted to run as scheduled: Kashmir Great Lakes, Pir Panjal Lakes, Warwan Valley and Tulian Lake.

We are continuously monitoring the developments. Please keep a tab on our website. We will update you as the situation changes.

There's been another minor landslide at Pipalkoti on the NH7 route.

The good thing is that as fast as landslides happen, they are cleared off as quickly. This particular one is expected to be cleared in the next 2 hours.

If it is not cleared for any reason, the trekking group departing on July 10th will stay at Pipalkoti for the night and carry on with the trek tomorrow.

There are no issues on the actual Valley of Flowers trail. The route is clear and open to trek.

Why trekking with Indiahikes is different

Do you go through this? You find yourself stuck in a situation that doesn't allow you time for adventure. The lack of excitement in your daily life leaves you restless. You long for something more meaningful.

This is where our treks make a difference. Our outdoor leaders conduct sessions that weave mindfulness into your journey. In the lap of the mountains, they engage in thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. Very often, the person you are before and after a trek is different.

Our leaders teach you new outdoor skills that give you the confidence to trek alone anywhere in the world. 

All of these happen in the most stunning mountain scenery that you will see in the Indian Himalayas. Our treks are transformative journeys.  

Arjun Majumdar

Founder, CEO, Indiahikes

Trekker Reviews

PR Ganapathy

Former Regional Director South Asia, Stanford Seed

Ankur Warikoo

Entrepreneur and Content Creator

Deepak Gaur

Air Vice Marshal, Indian Air Force Veteran Consultant Aerospace Medicine Vasant Vihar, Dehradun

Founder, Harmony INC Sustainability Professional with two decades of work experience in CSR and ESG space Mumbai

Dr Amit Thadhani

AGM (O&M) Mahindra World City Jaipur

Tarin Patel

Co-Founder Breaking Brand Hyderabad

Akshayarka Alammyan Deka

Senior Data Engineer Becton, Dickinson and Company, Guwahati, Assam

Darshan Shah

Manager, Deloitte Hyderabad

Indu Harikumar

Teacher and Educator, Hyderabad

Rittu Panda

Owner Rittu's Fitness Hub Ahmedabad

Aboli Kulkarni

SharePoint Consultant Rotarex Engineering PVT LTD, Panvel

Manoj Prabhu

Data Science/Business Intelligence Freelancer, Aarhus, Denmark

Member of Technical Staff, MachEye Inc Bangalore

Lijeesh M K

Hardware Engineer Juniper Networks, Bangalore

SDE2 at Optmyzr Chennai

Dr Anne Wilkinson

Associate Professor Pathology NKPSIMS & RC and LMH, Nagpur.

Harsh Kataria

Engineer, Cisco Systems Gurgaon, Haryana

Rahul Adwani

School Leader iTeach Schools Pune

Retired from DuPont as Business Leader Gurgaon

Tamás Csizmadia

Automotive Safety Engineer at Marquardt GmbH, Trossingen, Germany

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, Bengal Institute of Technology, Kolkata

Vishal S. Somvanshi, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist Division of Nematology Indian Agricultural Research Institute PUSA Campus New Delhi

Animation Supervisor at Mikros Animation, Bangalore

Senior Consultant Capgemini Thrissur, Kerala

Preethi Viswanathan

Chennai Station Master, Indian Railways

Atreyee Pal

Project Manager Tata Consultancy Services Ltd Kolkata

Aakash Tolani

Business Owner, Tolani Travel Assistance Ahmedabad

Nishant Gupta

Sita Ram khushal chand HPCL PETROL PUMP Panipat, Haryana

Atika Tantiya

Developer at SAP Labs India, Bangalore

Geetika Doomra

Deputy Manager, Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. Gurugram, Haryana

Maj Prateek Verma (Retd)

Dinesh hinduja, frequenty asked questions.

Many trekkers call and ask us this question. You may notice that our trek fee is marginally higher for some treks, and you may wonder why you have to pay more for the same trek. The answer is straightforward. There's a very big difference in the quality of the experience you will have with Indiahikes compared with anyone else. You'll notice a stark difference in three areas:

1. Safety: Indiahikes is known to be India's safest trekking organisation. There's a reason for this. In the mountains, there are no better safety experts than Indiahikes trek leaders and the Indiahikes team. Whether it is our people, our processes, our equipment, or our protocols, they are watertight. So much so that other organisations come to Indiahikes when there's an emergency in the mountains. This is the level of safety we give our trekkers, and the marginal difference in the trek fee is something you pay for a very big benefit.

2. A mindfully designed trek: When you go on a trek with us, you don't blindly trek from Camp A to Camp B. There are a lot of mindful activities and experiences conducted throughout the trek. Our trek leaders are professional outdoor facilitators who can help you feel connected to yourself and nature. They are of a much higher caliber, and you'll notice this when you meet them.

3. A premium experience: We want trekkers to have a comfortable, premium experience in the mountains. You will notice this in the quality of our facilities. Right from the time you reach the base camp, you stay at our beautiful community campuses and not at cramped lodges. The equipment you use is expedition-grade and made to order by Indiahikes for Indiahikes. The food you eat is freshly cooked and part of a nutritious menu that our team has designed with your health and taste in mind.

There are multiple other aspects, like our hygiene practices, our bio-toilet systems, and our sustainability practices, where you are not harming the environment when trekking with us. There are many differences you'll see in your trek with Indiahikes.

With all these benefits, our trek fee is marginally higher. Many trekkers come back and tell us that our fee must be higher and is not high enough for the kind of experience we design. Yet, we will not veer in that direction because our philosophy is that Everyone Must Trek. After all, we know how good it is for society.

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 along on the trek anymore.

Our pre-trek experienced 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.

Our answer to this is straight. When trekkers say Indiahikes is the safest trekking organisation in India, they are also referring to safety of women. You are going to be completely safe with us for the following reasons:

1. 35% of our trekkers are women. So you will be trekking with many other women in your group.

2. Our accommodation is separate for men and women. You will be sharing your tent / staying space with other women.

3. More and more solo women are trekking with us, so much so that you'll see a solo woman trekker in almost every group. This number is only growing. So you're not alone.

4. We ensure you e-meet your trekkers much before meeting them, in a pre-trek briefing as well as on a Whatsapp group. So you're not meeting strangers on the trek. You already know them.

5. 35% of our trek leaders are women. You might just have a woman trek leader!

6. Our male trek leaders are also trained and sensitised to handle any situations sensitively, including your periods. You're free to approach them for anything.

It is because of all these reasons that more and more solo women trekkers choose to trek with Indiahikes. Our own women team members live and work in the mountains, leading groups and living in a male-dominated industry. It is completely safe, you'll see for yourself.

Many trekkers call us and complain that our groups get filled too quickly. They never get the slots they want. Unfortunately, this is the hard reality. We have observed two things.

(1) It is the more challenging treks that get filled very quickly. Like the Rupin Pass trek or Buran Ghati trek. This is because when it comes to challenging treks, trekkers are very cautious about choosing the right organisation. They know that safety is of utmost importance on such treks and don't want to compromise. That is why you will see these treks getting filled almost 6 months in advance. You too, must plan these treks at least 5 months in advance.

(2) The popular treks always get filled in advance. Treks like Kashmir Great Lakes trek, Tarsar Marsar, Kedarkantha in winter, Deoriatal-Chandrashila in spring, these are blockbuster treks of our country, which you have to plan in advance.

Our advice is that you plan your trek at least 5 months in advance. This gives you three benefits:

a. It gives you a comfortable choice of choosing your most preferred dates, vs the dates that are leftover.

b. It gives you a good cushion in case you need to cancel / reschedule your trek. Your cancellation fee will be almost non-existent, depending on how early you change plans.

c. You have a good amount of time to prepare for the trek and become as fit as a trek leader.

So plan in advance, you'll have the best experience.

It’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.

These are the treks we find best suited for beginners:

• Chirbatiya Weekend Trek
• Benog Tibba Weekend Trek
• Nag Tibba Weekend Trek
• Dayara Bugyal
• Deoriatal-Chandrashila
• Kedarkantha

If you're in Bangalore, we highly recommend opting for our treks near Bangalore as preparatory treks for the Himalayas. These are the best treks you can do around Bangalore:

• Channarayana Durga Trek
• Minchukallu Betta Trek

If you're unfit or obese, then you must choose the right treks to do. We recommend choosing from our "easy" treks. The Manali Kaisdhar trek is the best one, because the trails are completely flat and will not test your endurance. It is a good stepping stone into the world of trekking.

On the other hand, if you're able to work on your fitness and meet the fitness criteria for any of our treks you're welcome to join our other treks too.

Every trek of ours, starting from our easy-moderate treks, has a certain fitness requirement. Our Experience Coordinators do fitness checks before allowing trekkers on treks. If you're able to get on a fitness routine and share proof of your fitness, you're welcome to join us.

There's a reason why we have strict fitness protocols on our treks. This video will tell you what happens if you're not fit.

On the other hand, several trekkers ask us what is the fitness approval process. Take a look here.

High-altitude trekking is a team sport. When a team of 18 is trekking to the summit, every single trekker's fitness matters. The team is only as strong as its weakest trekker. Often, unfit trekkers slow the team down, drain resources since they need a guide / trek leader constantly with them, they slow the team down.

On the other hand, every high-altitude trek comes with a set of challenges. Steep ascents and descents, uneven terrain, snow walks, stream crossings, pass crossings, and summit climb. Even the easiest of treks have some of these challenges if not all of them. Without fitness, trekkers struggle, get injured easily, lag behind, or simply fail to complete the trek. 

At Indiahikes, we take pride in the fact that our trekkers are among the fittest in the country. Those who do not meet the fitness requirements are often sent back. Our philosophy is that trekking and fitness go hand in hand. Without fitness, there’s no trekking. 

We have two kinds of waivers and scholarships at Indiahikes.

1. Scholarships for children: At Indiahikes, we strongly believe that children must trek. Children aged 14 and below qualify for a 30% trek fee scholarship. Reach out to us before payment to avail of this offer. Check out this article to  learn more.

2. For every ten adult members (aged 15 and above) of the group, we waive off the trek fee for one person. Indiahikes will reimburse the said trek fee after you complete your trek.

The answer for this is not a yes or no. If you have any kind of health issues, please speak to us on a call before registering for a high altitude trek. Whether you can trek depends on the severity of your issue. We'll be able to speak to you and give you some guidance.

On the other hand, please take these two steps first:

1. Watch the "Ask Dr Sree" series, where Dr Sreelakshmi Thirumoorthy, a high altitude trekker and a practicing doctor, covers several health-related topics in her show. Trekkers find her videos to be very helpful.

2. Speak to your doctor about taking on a Himalayan trek and ask them if it is advisable. If they give you a green signal, nothing like it.

Once you're on the trek with us, we will have a safety check-in on the first day of your trek. During this check-in, disclose any health issues that you have to your trek leader, so that they can take extra care of you. Please also carry your medications along on the trek.

This is a big worry among trekkers. But what we have seen is that most trekkers start their treks by worrying about toilets but return feeling so comfortable with the toilets that they want the same toilets in the cities!

We have bio-toilets, researched and designed by Indiahikes for high altitudes. These toilets are designed with two things in mind: (a) your comfort and (b) care for the environment

What are bio-toilets? Biotoilets are deep pits dug into the earth, on which we place wooden planks. You squat Indian-toilet style and do your business in the pit, after which you use toilet paper to clean up. Once you're done, you use sawdust to cover up the human waste and leave the toilet clean for the next person. (In case you cannot squat, request your trek leader for a toilet seat. They can make it available.)

How are they comfortable? These toilet tents are placed at a slight distance from the campsite. There is no sight or smell once you enter the toilet. The sawdust doesn't allow any smell to escape and also absorbs all the moisture, keeping the toilet dry and odour-free. It also speeds up decomposition. On the other hand, our toilet tents are sturdy, with zips and good privacy. So you can do your business comfortably.

They are environmentally friendly: These are dry toilets, where we don't use water. There's a reason behind this. Our toilets are designed after extensive research on the decomposition of human waste at high altitudes. Using too much water slows down the decomposition by many months, which is not favourable in such fragile eco-systemsecosystems. (You can read more about the design of the toilet system here ).

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

When we brought out new trails in Indian trekking, safety came with us. Back in 2012, we were the first to introduce microspikes, and two years later, pulse oximeters became standard thanks to us. Nobody does safe treks like Indiahikes. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with – everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone . This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

More than 25,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow.

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey.

Since 2012, we have pioneered sustainable practices that have become standard in trekking. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

The Indiahikes Advantage

You’re guarded with our trek again philosophy

If you are unable to complete a trek, or if you love a trek, you can repeat it with us anytime. You don’t have to pay us for it. See our thoughts behind this here.  

Get expert guidance even before you start the trek

Get personalised support from our expert Experience Coordinators. From registration to departure, they'll prepare you every step of the way.

Join any group, they are all women-friendly groups 

With around 30% of our trekkers being women, all women, including those travelling solo are comfortable to join any of our groups.

Meet like-minded trekkers

Indiahikes carries with it a strong spirit of trekking, one that comes with fitness, minimalism, mindfulness and a deep love for nature.

Avail a 30% scholarship for children aged 8-14

We want to see more children trekking. Indiahikes will sponsor 30% of your child’s trek fee. Let them explore nature, build confidence, and create memories.

Trek Together, Save Together: 10+ Group Waiver

Sign up for an Indiahikes trek with 10 or more trekkers, and one lucky member gets their trek fee waived entirely! You only pay for 9.

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Ravindra Joisa

Photographer | Traveler | Trekker | YouTuber | IT Engineer

10-day YHAI Goa Trekking – An Extraordinary inspiring hike to the unknown

Most people think of Himalayan treks when they think of a week-long walk in India. There are several hikes in the Western Ghats, most of which are suitable for weekend excursions. Believe it or not, there are week-long treks in the south as well, including one in Goa called the Goa trek organized by the Youth Hostels Association of India .

This hiking trail is not well known as it requires special permission from Goa and Karnataka forest departments. The difficulties that hikers experience differ differently. The heat, the hike through the deep forest, deadly snakes, and dangerous animals, not the high altitude illness, are to blame. When compared to other treks, the Goa hike is a one-of-a-kind experience.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Short Goa Trek Itenary

Day 1 – Arrival at Panjim & a buffer day

Day 2 – Miramar Beach to Dona Paula

Day 3 – Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex

Day 4 – Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp

Day 5 – Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi

Day 6 – Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock

Day 7 – Anmod to Tambdi Surla

Day 8 – Tambdi Surla to Panjim and a buffer day, we celebrated the new year.

Is Goa Trek worth it?

Trekking in Goa, especially over the new year, was a fantastic experience. We were in Goa and had the choice of attending the Sunburn music festival or going on a Goa hike. We chose a week-long Goa hike, and I feel it was a wise idea. Many new like-minded acquaintances were made, people from many backgrounds (not just IT guys) shared their stories, and we thoroughly enjoyed every day of our 10-day walk.

The first two days were spent registering and acclimating. We drove throughout Goa. The true trip began on day three when we spent the entire day walking along the Arabian Sea’s beach. To go to the next campground, we boarded the local train. The rest of our Goa journey was spent in the deep rain forest.

We spent the night near to the Dudhsagar waterfall, through many railway tunnels, more than ten to twelve streams, entered Karnataka’s jungle, crossed Castlerock, and arrived at an ancient historic temple at Tambdi Surla. We bathed in practically every creek we crossed.

Goa Trek cost and what is included

The entire cost of this 10-day Goa trek including Youth hostel camps from Panjim to Panjim base camp was Rs. 3,990 (it has since escalated). Food, transport, train costs, forest admission in Goa and Karnataka, waterfall access, permits, guide charges, tent stay, insurance, cultural program at base camp, and a snake session are all included in the price.

Not all of them are granted permission to enter the forest. Forest Department rangers conducted numerous checks. This journey was completed in December-January 2015-16.

Goa Hike in Detail

Arrival at panjim.

The campground is in a fantastic location, near to the Mandovi River, and offers a strong connection. The market, which is located between the campsite and the Panjim bus terminal, is an excellent spot to visit near to the campsite. You may take the bus or go for a long stroll along the Mandovi River.

Visit in the evening to take in the sunset and a low tide walk along the shoreline. Miramar beach, which is a short walk from the campground, is a great place to spend extra time till it becomes dark. You might also go to the senior citizen park adjacent to our campground and watch the sailboats in the evening. Read more – Day 1 – Arrival at Panjim .

Miramar Beach to Dona Paula

The campground is in a fantastic location, near to the Mandovi River, and offers a strong connection. Just outside the campground is a shop where you may get any last-minute supplies. Visit in the evening to take in the sunset and a low tide walk along the shoreline.

Miramar beach, which is a short hike from the campground, is a great place to spend extra time till it becomes dark. You might also go to the senior citizen park adjacent to our campground and watch the sailboats in the evening. Hike from the campground to Raj Bhavan through Miramar beach to acclimate. Then it was on to Dona Paula and then back to the campground. Read more – Day 2 – Miramar Beach to Dona Paula

Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex

The third day of the Goa trek is a long flat 11-kilometer walk from Benaulim beach to Cansaulim beach. In between, we visited some well-known south Goa beaches. This location is great for spending time with friends while on vacation.

South Goa beach is a beautiful location with a clean beach that is less congested, making it perfect for New Year’s Eve celebrations. A beautiful location for water sports such as speed boats, parasailing, and other water sports. Read More – Day 3 – Benaulim Beach to Campal Sports Complex

Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp

The fourth day of our Goa trek from Cansaulim to Dudhsagar camp was a lot of fun. After spending the entire day on day 3 in Benaulim, Cansaulim beach, and so on, day 4 was very different as the entire track was in the forest. The first 45 kilometers were via railway, followed by a muddy jeep route and seven stream crossings in the forest.

On this day, we don’t get to view the Dudhsagar waterfall, but we do arrive at the campground, which is quite near to the Dudhsagar waterfalls. The entire ten-kilometer route runs beside a railway track. Read more – Day 4 – Cansaulim to Dudhsagar Camp

Dudhsagar waterfall camp to Kuveshi

Day five of the Goa Trek was, in my opinion, the most anticipated of all. We had covered more than 12 kilometers of the trek, including the very famous Dudhsagar waterfall, tunnels, crossing the bridge that goes right across the waterfalls, then the steep climb to the tip of the waterfall and taking a bath there, followed by a long walk all the way to Kuveshi, which is in Karnataka. On day five, we begin our walk in Goa at the Dudhsagar campground and finish in Karnataka at Kuveshi. Read more – Day 5 – Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi

Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock

The sixth day of our Goa trek was more of a journey through the forest, passing a few creeks and dry grassland. Despite the fact that this was a Goa trip, we spent the entire day in Karnataka. We traveled from one hamlet to a little town called Castlerock, then back into the woods to another community called Anmod. We had traveled roughly 17 kilometers in total. Read more – Day 6 – Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock

Anmod to Tambdi Surla

The seventh day of our Goa trip was a hard climb. Starting from a hamlet in Anmod, Karnataka, and continuing through the lush rain forest to Tambdi Surla, Goa. A location is well-known for its ancient temple and historical significance. The seventh day of our trek was largely in the jungle, which is ideal for folks who conduct bird study. From Anmod to Tambdi Surla campground, the journey takes around half a day and covers about 10 kilometers. Read more – Day 7 – Anmod to Tambdi Surla

Tambdi Surla to Panjim

Tambdi Surla was a wonderful place to stay. We were relieved to have completed seven days of the hike with only one day remaining. We were still in the thick of the rain forest, but we were quite close to the excellent spot since there was road access.

The old temple, a creek next to our campsite, a massage center in the middle of nowhere near our campsite, and a cabin where we all sat together the entire evening conversing non-stop gave us a sense of contentment. It was the last day of our journey, so it was a mixed bag of emotions. Day 8 was spent walking through the jungle, passing by an ancient Shiv mandir (temple) parallel to the stream. Read more – Day 8 – Tambdi Surla to Panjim

Goa Hike – YouTube Video Playlist

Enjoy watching all the YouTube video playlists below and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and my blog for more updates.

Hotels in Goa

Where to stay in Goa? – Because Goa is a tourist destination, staying there should not be an issue. Even during peak season, especially around the holidays, hotel prices can rise. The cheapest option is to get a dorm room at a hostel, of which there are several, but you must plan ahead of time.

Also, if you are a YHAI participant, you can extend your stay before or after the program by speaking with the local staff or the camp leader. We received assistance from them and stayed at the campsite for one more day, paying only 300 rupees more for meals and celebrating the New Year after finishing the hike. Hotels in Goa will undoubtedly be much more expensive at this time of year.

Before you go on a hike make sure to check this out – some of the Absolute mandatory Hiking Accessories to carry . So, that’s was my experience of hiking to this place. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my  FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter . Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel .

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Indian Backpacker-Exploring India,Himalayas and Travel Technology

7 Reasons Why One Should Trek with YHAI

May 23, 2020 By Monish Leave a Comment

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YHAI -Youth Hostel Association of India is an associate member of the Hostelling International (Welwyn Garden City, England, U.K.). YHAI is a nonprofit organization providing budget stay for students, travellers, and backpackers. It is a place for socializing with people, learn informal education, and undergo recreation as well as adventure activities. Youth Hostel was started by a teacher for the welfare of students. Youth Hostel Association of India conducts several programs and in recent days people wish to trek with YHAI more often.

Programs offered by YHAI

YHAI offers several programs like Family Camping, Cycling and Mountain Biking, Motor Bike Ride, Summer and Winter Trekking, Cultural Tours, Nature Study Program, Horse Riding, etc. Here I will be listing the reasons why one should trek with YHAI.To know more about the programs organized, please take a look at the official website of YHAI .

7 Reasons Why One should Trek with YHAI

Trekking with YHAI for almost three years, I believe that I can provide unbiased reasons, why one should trek with YHAI. If you have any dilemma in considering YHAI for your trek, definitely the below article will help you to make a decision easily.

Budget Treks

Treks conducted by YHAI is considerably cheap when compared with other trekking organizations. Since YHAI is a non-profitable organization, they don’t focus more on profits. The service they provide for the money one pays is tremendous and really good.YHAI provides some basic trekking equipment like rucksack without any additional cost. Even though it’s not of high quality, it serves the purpose very well and one can use it for the trek.

Emphasis on Fitness and Acclimatization

Unlike other trek organizers, they don’t design programs to attract office-goers by reducing the number of days. They tend to believe that physical fitness and acclimatization is a very important aspect for high altitude treks. Most of the national trekking programs conducted by YHAI will have 2 days for acclimatization.

Let me just detail a few things that happen during these two days, to show theirs thought process. Wake up call around 5.00 am. Assembling to the ground by 6.00 am for the morning exercise. Once that’s done you will attend theory classes, rock climbing, rappelling sessions, acclimatization walk. Only after completing the first two days of acclimatization, you will be allowed to proceed further.

This might look like a military camp, but one will reap the benefits while trekking in the high altitude.

Safe and Reliable

YHAI ensures that you are safe throughout the trek and provides group insurance for the trek. YHAI appoints a Field director and three camp leaders in the base camp who will be responsible to take care of the trekkers. A Doctor will be present in the base camp throughout your trekking period. Considering the safety of the trekkers, 2 local people assist trekkers as their guide to each campsite. All the campsites will have a camp leader, who will be a trained personality and he himself will be an experienced trekker.

Personal Experience With YHAI

I wish to share an incident that took place in 2018 when I was on Hampta Pass trek with YHAI.

It was in 2018, September there was a huge cloudburst in the Manali region and at the same time, I was in Chattru, in Spiti Valley. We got stuck in heavy snowfall and our tents had fallen and all our food needs got spoiled in snow. We were forced to stay in a small farmhouse, which is the only concrete building in that entire region. For the entire batch, we were charged around 2000 INR per night stay and food cost for each one was approximately 400 INR per day. We, a group of almost 60 people stayed for 5 days and we were running out of money after the first day.

With a single phone call to YHAI, we got all the assistance needed and they funded the account of the farmhouse owner immediately. A couple of days later, the field director from the base camp arrived at the spot which was surprising to the entire batch, as the location was not accessible for any vehicle. He trekked for an entire night and reached the spot. With the assistance of YHAI and a fellow traveller who got stuck with us, IAF was informed and later we were rescued with a chopper. This made me trust YHAI to a greater extent.

Life Line to Local People

They focus more on the welfare of local people by providing job opportunities at least two months a year. They hire

• Kitchen Staffs
• Physical Trainers for the trek.

Even though all other profit oriented organization hire the above, they don’t hire the number as YHAI do.

Care for Environment

YHAI stresses more on cleanliness and care for the environment. Environment Leader, assigned to each group along with trekkers keeps the trail clean and free from plastic. Also, each participant will be made to maintain the discipline, clean the tents, and leave the mountains as it was.

Special Casual Leave for Indian Central Government Employees

Employees of Central Government organization shall apply special casual leave for the entire duration of a trekking expedition. The special casual leaves can be availed for any National Program of YHAI. Most of the other organizations will not provide an opportunity to use special casual leave.

Scholarships Offered

Anyone with a YHAI membership can stay in hostels across the globe and its cheap.

YHAI provides scholarships for People of Determination (Physically Challenged), underprivileged girls, men, and women to undergo various adventure activities. Following are some of the scholarships offered by YHAI

• Justice TPS Chawla Scholarship
• Off the beaten Siddhartha Scholarship
• Scholarship for People of Determination.

I hope you got some convincing reasons on why to trek with YHAI. This article is completely based on my experience and not for any advertisement purpose. If you are looking for a trek with YHAI, please read my article on Sar Pass Trek with YHAI , which is one of the best treks in Parvati Valley.

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• Upcoming Trekking

National Himalayan Trekking Cum Training Expedition Kashmir Great Lakes 2024

The Kashmir Great Lakes, trek is the most beautiful, amazing and full of natural beauty trek. In this trek you can enjoy the scenic beauty of God’s amazing creation called ‘Lakes’.

Breif Description Of The Program : The Kashmir Great Lakes, trek is the most beautiful, amazing and full of natural beauty trek. In this trek you can enjoy the scenic beauty of God’s amazing creation called ‘Lakes’. Here you can see 6 different Lakes named, Vishnusar, Kishansar, Gadsar ,Satsar,Gangabal,Nandkol and many other small lakes . This is the totally hidden part of Kashmir. Only very few number of people is known about this amazing trek.   Purpose : The purpose of the program is to expose the YHAI members to a greater adventure and to rough the rigors of plodding, with a sense of love for nature and outdoor recreational activity aiming at promoting national integration.   Reporting Place : YHAI Base Camp, Near the main gate of Dachigam National Park, Harwan, Srinagar, J&K-191123 Program Includes : Expert Guides, Expert supporting team, Food (Veg), Equipments, Group Insurance, Forest entry.   Day Wise Schedule: Day 1 : Reporting at Base Camp Day 2 : Orientation, Training and Acclimatization Walk Day 3 : Trek to Nichnai Camp (11948 ft.) Day 4 : Trek to Vishnusar Camp (12152 ft) via Nichnai Pass (13458 ft) Day 5 : Trek to Gadsar (10777 ft) via Gadsar Pass (13763 ft) Day 6 : Trek to Satsar (11860 ft) Day 7 : Trek to Gangabal (11482 ft) via Zach Pass (13428 ft) Day 8 : Trek to Naranag Village and Then Transfer to the Base Camp. Day 9 : Check Out After Breakfast Participate will check out after breakfast on the last day taking bountiful memories of this fantabulous journey home with you.   How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Jammu (Jammu Tawi), Katra (J&K) Regular Taxi on sharing basis and bus service is available from Jammu to Srinagar Important: Please read all the instructions of programme carefully before booking the same (including cancellation policy).   Accommodation Facilities: Tented accommodation on sharing basis, paka toilet cum bathroom facility, at the base camp.   Food & Water Supplies: YHAI provides nutritious and good quality meals which includes Morning tea, breakfast, packed lunch, evening tea (in the camp), inner and after dinner tea/coffee/Bourn vita, shall be provided. Please bring your own plates, mugs, spoons etc.   Who Can Participate?: The minimum age for a member to join the program is 18 years to 60 Years, YHAI membership is mandatory to participate. This condition will be adhered to strictly. Under age and above age will not be considered. Members desirous of joining this programme may apply online duly supported by a “Trekking Medical Certificate\”(ON GOVERNMENT PRESCRIBED FORMAT ONLY WHICH IS EMAILED BY US).   Special Allowance Cases: On the special case if the person is medically fit and a regular trekker than he can be allowed in offline mode (decision will be final only on management discretion and seat availability). In this case, he/she has to produce Indemnity bond on RS. 100/- bond paper from his respective state and has to submit the same along with his Registration form.   What Participants Should Bring: Rucksack (if You have one), Woolens, Cotton Shirts, Slacks, Cotton Pants, Sun Cap, Shoes, Socks, Enameled or Steel Mug / tumbler, Plate, Lunch box ,Spoon, Water purifying tablets, Pen knife, Needle, Thread, Spare buttons, Goggles, Cold cream / Vaseline, Soap, Toilet Paper, Towel, Rain sheet, Medicines (As per your personal requirement, which you regularly use at home and Crepe Bandage 4in*1, Micropore tape 1/2inch*1, Bandaids, Cough lozenges/ Kanthil or other, Vicks Vaporub, Coldarin, Clortrimazole cream and powder, Paracetamol*10 Mupirocin cream, Diclofenac gel, Lopamide*10, Azithromycin and Electral), Camera with extra batteries.   How To Join: For Online booking: Members desirous of joining this programme may apply online by paying requisite program fee along with online booking amount i.e. Rs.16000/- We accept Net Banking, Debit Card and Credit Card payment on www.yhaindia.org for online payments. After successful transaction Admit Card will be generated. Participant has to carry “Admit Card”, “Trekking Medical Certificate(ON GOVERNMENT PRESCRIBED FORMAT ONLY WHICH IS EMAILED BY US)” & “Membership Card” & 2 pass size photograph at the time of reporting to the Base Camp.   For Offline Booking Process: Members desirous of joining this programme may apply on the prescribed “Trekking Registration Form” duly supported by a “Trekking Medical Certificate(ON GOVERNMENT PRESCRIBED FORMAT ONLY WHICH IS EMAILED BY US)”, along with a Demand Draft of requisite amount of Rs.16000/- (included postage charges) in favor of “Youth Hostels Association of India” payable at New Delhi. The Trekking registration Form, Trekking Medical Form and Demand Draft may be sent to following address: Trekking Department, National Office Youth Hostels Association of India 5, Nyaya Marg, Chankayapuri. New Delhi-110021, Contact No.: 7827999000 All Offline Booking confirmation is subject to availability of seats. National Office will send the Admit Card along with confirmation letter to the participant at the address mentioned in “Trekking Registration Form”. Members can also apply through our YHAI Units or State Branch in their respective area. N.B: Without admit card and Medical fitness Certificate do not claim your registration as confirmed.   Program Includes: Transportation from Road Head Naranag to Sonamarg base camp, Expert Guides, Expert supporting team, Food (Veg), Equipments, Group Insurance, Forest entry.   Risk factor: This trek is a High risk Adventure programme with following risk factors: 1. High Altitude sickness This Trek Is Moderate To Hard. YHAI will provide adequate assistance in above circumstances but cannot be held responsible for any risk mentioned or not mentioned above. All participants should be physically fit, only those who fulfill the mentioned criteria will be allowed to participate in the expedition. YHAI decision will be final and all participants have to abide by it. No Refund Is Admissible In Case Of Any Medical Reasons.   Safety & Security: YHAI Group Insurance cover is for accidental death or permanent disability only. You are advised to take personal insurance cover for your journey and other related matters. Extensive and painstaking preparations have gone into the planning of this program for your safety. Our field staff and experienced camp leaders have been visiting the area to check all details. While every care has been taken to ensure safety, the Youth Hostels Association of India cannot be held responsible for any accident, illness and such other unforeseen eventualities.   Special Casual Leave: The Trekking Expedition organized by Youth Hostels Association of India have the approval of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Dept. of Personnel And Training), Government of India, vide Office Order no. 28016/3/89-Estt (A), Dated 25 October, 1989. Participants working in the Central Govt. Organization can apply to the authorities concerned for availing special casual leave for the duration of the expedition. This leave can be sanctioned by their office up to 30 days in calendar year.   Cancellation Rules: 1) Participants booked online will do online cancellation minimum 10 days prior to your reporting date. 2) Participants booked offline will inform their cancellation by email to [email protected], minimum 10 days prior to your reporting date. Only cancellation done as per above method will be eligible for credit shell. The below cancellation policy will however not be applicable if the request reaches short of 10 days prior to reporting date and shall not be eligible for credit shell. Cancellation Policy: 1) In case you are unable to join the programme due to any reason, you will get a 100% Credit Shell of the participation fees which will be valid till December 2024. No refund will be applicable for any cancellation of seat. 2) If the next programme opted by you is cheaper, you may use the balance amount in any of the Trek till Dec 2024. 3) If the next opted programme is costlier, the trekker has to pay the differential amount. 4) Program opted using the Credit Shell cannot be cancelled again. 5) You may transfer your seat to your family members and friends also. The seats thus transferred cannot be retransferred or cancelled. 6) The credit shell can only be used in booking of adventure programs organised by YHAI. The credit shell will not be used in taking memberships and hostel bookings. Note: If any program will be cancelled due to Natural Calamity / Government Restriction / Cancellation of Permission or any other reasons , Yhai will be accountable only for program fees and not other expenses which participants have made for joining the program. In these circumstances the decision for participation fees will be considered by the Yhai and will be bound to all.

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National Himalayan Kedarkantha Winter Trekking Cum Training Expedition 2023-24

Program Coordinator: Mr. Navin C Tiwari: 08802312807

* About Program:

The trek route offers a breathtaking view of snowy mountains, peaks, deodar & pine forest, waterfalls, bugyals (high altitude meadow), wildlife and rare Himalayan birds.  One can view the majestic peaks of Swragarohini, Bandarpoonch and Kala Nag from a close range.  For ages, the land has been known for temples and shrines with sacred mythological attachments.  Duryodhana, the eldest of Kauravas, is worshipped here.  This trek route is virtually a paradise for the botanists, bird watchers, photographers, nature lovers, foot loose trekkers and anyone connected with nature in exploring and learning in an unconventional way.

MANDATORY: Trekking Medical Certificate will be compulsory at the time of reporting only (with 30 days of validity ) duly signed by  registered Medical Practitioner (MBBS / MD only) along with his registration no. and stamp. Please bring xerox copy of Admit card, Membership Card, ID Proof Card, two passport size photographs and Medical Certificate (Orginal).

Trek Level: Moderate to Tough

Day Wise Schedule

Day 1: Report at Transit Camp Youth Hostel Mussoorie by 4.00 p.m. Day 2: Move at 07.00 am from Mussoorie Transit Camp to Shri Daanveer Karan Sewashram, Madhavpuram, Naitwar, Dist: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand (transportation will be paid by the participant) Day 3: Orientation, Training and acclimatization walk. Day 4: Trek from Naitwar to Ganka ka Thatch / Julota Thatch -Trek of approx 4 Hours- Height - 8900 ft’approx. Day 5: Trek from Ganka ka Thatch / Julota Thatch to Pukhrola Thatch –Trek of 4.5 Hours -Height 10800 ft’ approx. Kedarkantha Summit can clearly be seen by this point and is only 2.5 km away from this point. Day 6: Trek from Pukhrola Thatch to Summit Kedarkantha-Height 12500 ft’ and return back to Pukhrola Thatch for hot Lunch after hot lunch participants will have to decend Akhoti Thatch which takes 3 hours to reach(altitude 8900ftapprox). Day 7: Akhoti Thatch to Naitwar Base Camp - Trek of 3.5 Hours followed by Certificate Distribution and Recreation Activity. Day 8: Checkout from Naitwar Base Camp after breakfast.

* Who can Participate: 

The minimum and maximum age for a YHAI member to join the program is 18 years to 60 Years, YHAI membership is mandatory to participate. This condition will be adhered to strictly. Underage and over age will not be considered in any case. Members desirous of joining this programme may apply online duly supported by a  "Trekking Medical Certificate"

* How to Participate: 

Members desirous of joining this program may apply online through our website  www.yhaindia.org , or, through offline mode by sending the prescribed registration form duly supported by a Medical Certificate, along with a DD amount 9500/- of requisite amount in favor of “Youth Hostels Association of India”, payable at New Delhi. Members can also apply through the State Branch or Local Unit of YHAI.

Below are the account details to deposit the fees in offline mode:

Name of the Account: Youth Hostels Association of India

Account Number: 1736000100169954

IFSC: PUNB0173600

Note:  Booking is based on a first come first serve basis. All Offline Booking confirmation is subject to availability of seats. Without an “Admit Card” do not claim your registration as confirmed.

* Notice to Participant: 

YHAI membership card or Receipt of payment for membership fees and Admit card, original  “Trekking Medical Certificate”  & two latest  “Passport Size Photographs”  are a must to enter into the Base Camp. Without these documents participating members will not be allowed at Base Camp.

* Safety & Security: 

Extensive and painstaking preparations have gone into the planning of the trekking route for your safety. Our field staff and experienced camp leaders have been visiting the area to check all the details. While every care has been taken to ensure safety, the Youth Hostels Association of India cannot be held responsible for any accident, illness or any type of unforeseen eventualities.

Booking Date

Reporting date :, seats left :, reporting point : mussoorie transit camp, youth hostel mussoorie.

*WHAT PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BRING ALONG:   

• Trekking Shoes (Preferably Water proof, highankle, & Nonskid).
• Sandal or Chappal (Washable & quick dry).
• Socks- Cotton & woolen 4 pair (One pair only for night time).
• Trousers (Light weight, no jeans, no cargo preferably quick dry).
• Inner Garments (as per requirement).
• Cotton T-shirts (Full & Half sleeves both).
• Trek Suite (Complete set).
• Wind Cheater(Upper & Lower with hoods, preferable water repelled).
• Rain Coat Set.
• Sweater or Woolen Jersey.
• Good quality Jacket.
• Woolen & Water proof Gloves.
• Bandana or Throat Cover.
• Sun Cap & Woolen Cap.
• Sun Glass (Polarized will be best).
• Walking Stick.
• Ruck Sack (If you have good one, otherwise will be provided by YHAI).
• Torch (With spare cells).
• Water Bottle & Water Purifier.
• Lunch Box,leak proof (For Packed Lunch).
• Plate, Mug, Spoon.
• Needle & Thread with spare Buttons.
• Toilet paper.
• Towel, Soap.
• Boroline, Vaseline, Sun protection Cream (SPF 30 & above).
• Pen & Note Book.
• Medicine (As per your personal requirement).
• Camera with spare cells (Optional)
• Trekking Equipment are available on Rental Basis

* How to Reach:

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which lies approximately 175 kilometres away from base camp and offers daily flights from New Delhi.

Being a popular tourist destination, Mussoorie is well-connected with a network of buses & taxis. The proximity to Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand makes Mussoorie more accessible.

Dehradun is well connected by Train network. Participants may select suitable trains.

Food & Supplies:

Simple, nutritious & sumptuous meals.

* Accommodation Facilities:

Built up Dormitory/Tented Accommodations.

* Special Casual leave:

The Trekking Expedition organized by Youth Hostels Association of India has the approval of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Dept. of Personnel And Training), Government of India, vide Office Order no. 28016/3/89-Estt (A), Dated 25 October, 1989. Participants working in the Central Govt. Organization can apply to the authorities concerned for availing special casual leave for the duration of the expedition. This leave can be sanctioned by their office up to 30 days in calendar year.

Justice TPS Chawla Scholarship for underprivileged Girls:  YHAI announced Justice T.P.S. Chawla Memorial Adventure Scholarship for underprivileged girls for participation in YHAI adventure activities. Girls whose family income is less than Rs.100000/- p.a. can avail this scholarship.  Applicant has to submit the salary certificate/ PAN Card copy of their parents.  In case of Business, she has to submit their income on an affidavit. Deserving participants may apply to the National Office YHAI supported by relevant document / certificates.

Off the beaten Siddharth Scholarship for underprivileged Young Men & Women  :YHAI announced 50% Off the Beaten Track Siddharth Scholarship of the program fee to provide underprivileged Young Men & Women less than 30 years of age with an opportunity to participate in outdoor adventure activities/ programs by YHAI in various parts of the country.  Underprivileged Young Men & Women whose family income is less than Rs. 250000/- p.a can avail this scholarship by applying to the National Office YHAI supported by relevant document (SALARY CERTIFICATE & PAN CARD DETAILS) & certificates through their respective State Branch.

Cancellation

Cancellation Policy:

1) Participants booked online will do online cancellation minimum 10 days prior to your reporting date.

2) Participants booked offline will inform their cancellation by email to [email protected], minimum 10 days prior to your reporting date.

Only cancellation done as per above method will be eligible for credit shell. The below cancellation policy will however not be applicable if the request reaches short of 10 days prior to reporting date and shall not be eligible for credit shell. 

1) In case you are unable to join the programme due to any reason, you will get a 100% Credit Shell of the participation fees which will be valid till December 2024. No refund will be applicable for any cancellation of seat.

2) If the next programme opted by you is cheaper, you may use the balance amount in any of the Trek till Dec 2024.

3) If the next opted programme is costlier, the trekker has to pay the differential amount.

4) Program opted using the Credit Shell cannot be cancelled again. 

5) You may transfer your seat to your family members and friends also. The seats thus transferred cannot be retransferred or cancelled.

6) The credit shell can only be used in booking of adventure programs organised by YHAI. The credit shell will not be used in taking memberships and hostel bookings.

Note: If any program will be cancelled due to Natural  Calamity / Government Restriction / Cancellation of Permission or any other reasons , Yhai will be accountable only for program fees and not other expenses which participants have made for joining the program. In these circumstances the decision for participation fees will be considered by the Yhai and will be bound to all. 

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