Come summer, and you are already breaking a sweat from the comfort of your home, isn’t it? All you’re looking for is some chilled beer or juice to relieve yourself of the maddening heat that you’re all too familiar with. But, other than that, what you’re probably also looking for is an opportunity to sneak out of your home and go away into the mountains. Be it the valleys of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand or the hill stations of South India, you want to escape anywhere that is less hot. But if you’re a young traveller, you’re also probably looking for something more adventurous. Maybe you want to trek, camp or hike. Dilly-dallying your way through a trip simply doesn’t excite you as much. Finding the right travel buddies too is a big problem, and we are here to help you with just those things.
Here are the top 8 trekking groups in India that you can have a gala time with!
I. Indiahikes
Indiahikes started primarily as a trek documentation organization. We explored, wrote and documented treks. We did this in great detail so that everyone could organize their own treks. When the organisation first started out, trekking in India did not focus on experience, safety, or any spirit of trekking. Trekking was also very non-transparent, transactional and inconsistent at that time. Indiahikes changed that, and eventually went on to becoming the largest trekking organisation in India. Their Green Trails vision involves leaving mountains better than how they found them, and has resulted in them bringing down more than 50 tonnes of mountain waste. In addition, Indiahikes has also set the standard in how internal policies can help steer an organisation towards being carbon negative.
Indiahikes has organised many treks like Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Buran Ghati, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge and many others.
Check out their website here.
II. Backpack Hikers
Backpack Hikers are a group of adventure & nature-loving people who want to enjoy nature in its original form. Their aim is to connect with people of a similar mindset who are willing to join them for such adventures. They let you live with nature, cook in the jungle, connect with people they have never met before and many such activities. They also provide affordable weekend trips for their customers. They provide services both in India and abroad. Some of the destinations covered by them include Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and the Silk Route. They are also planning a trip to Iran.
Find out more about their activities here.
IV. Himalaya Trekkers
The Himalayas offers you a spectrum of experience. From a dedicated alpinist’s engagement on a challenging eight thousander to a weekend tourist’s pleasure trip who sips on a cup of mocha by the balcony of his cozy hotel room. From an aspiring rock climbers heaven on the hard granite cliffs to amateur hiker’s discovery of a virgin trail which leads him to the realm of spiritual transcendence. Amongst the captivating spectrum of experiences there exist a few paradoxes. While one offers you the comfort of a resort, the other requires you to step out of your comfort zone and venture into the unknown. Himalaya Trekkers (HT) as an organization caters to the latter version – seeking pleasure in hardship and getting rewarded in terms of mesmerizing views and experiences that are immortal. Trekking, hiking, backpacking – you can do it all here. Some of the treks arranged by them include the Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek, Auden’s Col Trek, Bajre Dara Trek and many others.
You can check out their page here.
V. Mumbai Trekkers
Mumbai Trekkers group is run by a team of four: Kartik Mehta, Ameet Shet, Bhavin Shah and Rahul Dedhia. Chartered Accountants and IT Engineers by profession, they have fit this passion of theirs into their busy lives. The group was formed in 2015 and has since conducted 25 trekking events each year. They also have leaders and co-leaders who are experienced trekkers, having been a part of challenging Himalayan treks, which brings the total team size to nine. With the main focus on trekking the Sahyadris, their treks range from easy to medium to difficult. While they conduct treks to Kalsubai, Bhimashankar, Harishchandragad and Sandhan Valley, they also trek to lesser explored places like Kohoj Fort, Songiri and Andharban.
You can check out their Facebook page here.
VI. South Calcutta Trekkers Association
South Calcutta Trekkers Association, a tiny initiative of a group of friends, started walking on the same terrain roughly from the year 1983. Their activities include climbing peaks, trekking in the mountains and camping in the jungles among others. The trekkers in this group do not trek for the heck of it, but rather to gain different perspectives on life, as well as to quench their thirst for adventure.
To know more about their treks, check out their website.
VII. Hyderabad Trekking Club
Hyderabad Trekking Club not only promotes outdoor adventure activities and trekking in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, but also helps connect people to nature, picturesque mountains and places of natural beauty. Their motto is to spread the love for nature and adventure. Along with trekking, the club also fuels participation in activities such as mountaineering, rock climbing and bouldering. You would have to be above 18 years for membership and children below 18 would require parental consent to proceed. Once you become a member, you are free to contact the Club authorities regarding events or any other concerns both in-person and telephonically, making it one of the most trusted trekking clubs in Hyderabad.
Check out their Instagram here.
VIII. Snow Leopard Adventures
Snow Leopard Adventures is a Gurgaon based company which specializes in trekking, river rafting, sea kayaking, mountain biking, trans-Himalayan jeep safaris, and much more. It is the first ISO 9000 certified company in this field. They run camps in the Himalayas at different locations. One camp is hosted in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh.
Snow Leopard has run nearly 50 adventure courses for the Indian Armed Forces, which clarifies their dedicated vision towards the intense adventurous activities out in the wild. They have also facilitated events like Four Square White Water Championship in India.
Check out their website here.
IX. Explorers
Since its foundation in 2001, the club has organised many treks throughout the Sahyadris. Not just trekking but the group is involved in organising off-road biking, river rafting, jungle camps, waterfall rappelling and other adventure activities. “We feel that, in Maharashtra there is tremendous scope for trekking, wilderness and adventure sports. We have realised this by exploring number of places. We are always taking efforts to find out new places related with a combination of history and adventure.
You can check out their website here.
X. Aasamant
Aasamant was founded by three enthusiastic individuals who wanted to share their love for nature and adventure with the city. This trio has partnered with experienced trekkers who organize and lead treks all around India. They have visited places like Jim Corbett National Park, Harihar, Anjaneri, Kakrala and many more. Their aim is to make trekking more fun, accessible and adventurous for all.
Check out their website here.
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