September is definitely one of the best times to experience the true essence of the Himalayas. The monsoons are almost over and all you see around is lush green landscapes releasing misty fragrances. It’s during this time that the snow is almost completely melted, even on the high peaks, and you can actually catch sight of the entire mountain from the base till the summit. Sometimes, during the day, the fluffy clouds flow down so low that you are able to walk through them and catch a glimpse of what is beyond those clouds. And on clear nights, you can just look outside your tent and just be amazed at all the gleaming stars that shine to give you that galactic experience!

Exciting Treks in September – Click Here to Explore!

Now as pleasant and refreshing the weather is during September, it’s not the most popular time to go for a trek in the Himalayas. When I came to think of it, I could not really find any particular reason for that. So I decided to speak to a lot of fellow trekkers and mountain lovers to find out that reason. After having a chat with a bunch of folks, I came to a conclusion that no one really had any substantial reason as to why not go trekking in the Himalayas during September. The most common thread that I could gather up was that the trails are wet and slippery and there are chances of landslides. Now all those things are true. Hiking on slippery trails could be a bit dangerous but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it also becomes more adventurous and fun. Surely you are going to have a couple of clumsy falls while climbing down, but in the true spirit of adventure, you are going to shrug that mud off your back and continue hiking to your destination. And that’s what trekking is all about, right?! So trust your instincts and plan that autumn trek in the mighty Himalayas.

Must Read: Best Monsoon Treks in the Himalayas

To make it easy for you to decide, I’ve listed down some of the most popular treks for the month of September, below.

Best Himalayan Treks in September

1. Har Ki Doon Trek

Har Ki Doon

  • Maximum Altitude – 3550m/11650ft
  • Region – Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 6N/7D (Ex. Dehradun)

One of my absolute favourites, Har Ki Doon Trek has the distinction of being one of the oldest trekking trails in India. The valley is located in the high altitude region of Garhwal and is a part of the Govind Ballabh Pant National Park. Sankri serves as the base camp for the trek and from there it usually takes around four days to hike to the valley and back. The most enticing feature of this valley is the unspoilt dense forests and the riverside camping which offers a blissful experience for nature lovers, bird watchers and shutterbugs. An after monsoon trek to the Har Ki Doon valley is highly recommended for both, the experienced and the beginners.

Explore Har Ki Doon Trek

2. Indrahar Pass Trek

Indrahar Pass Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 4342m/14245ft
  • Region – Mcleod Ganj (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 3N/4D (Ex. Mcleod Ganj)

Located at a high altitude of more than 14000 ft, Indrahar Pass lies in the Dhauladhar Ranges of Himachal Pradesh. Due to the high altitude, the pass is covered in snow from October to April which makes it difficult to trek to the top. And during the peak monsoons also it’s not the best place to go hiking due to the heavy rainfall, thus leaving trekkers only a handful of months (including September) to trek here. The trek takes you through some of the prettiest landscapes in the Dhauladhar ranges covered with dense forests of cedar and rhododendron trees. During the trek, you even get a chance to hike to a glacier known as Laka Got.

Explore Indrahar Pass Trek

3. Beas Kund Trek

Beas Kund Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3700m/12140ft
  • Region – Manali (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 2N/3D (Ex. Manali)

Beas Kund, a small alpine lake, is the source of Beas River that flows through the entire Kullu Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh. During autumn, this is one of the most popular treks to do around Manali due to the fact that the weather is absolutely clear and you can locate peaks such as the Friendship Peak, Ladakhi Peak and hanuman Tibba. The trail is filled with a heap of boulders and makes for a terrific spot for photography. During the trek, you will be camping in one of the most scenic campsites in the entire Himalayas, and that is one of the many reasons this is an extremely popular trek in the area.

Explore Beas Kund Trek

4. Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib Trek

valley of flowers

  • Maximum Altitude – 4600m/15090ft
  • Region – Joshimath (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Easy to Moderate
  • Duration – 5N/6D (Ex. Haridwar)

One of the most popular treks during the monsoon, Valley of Flowers is also one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Himalayas. Located in the remote Chamoli area, it is an Indian National Park known for its stunning meadows and the variety of flora. During the monsoons, hundreds of unique varieties of flowers bloom in this region and the entire valley looks like a watercolour painting on a colourful canvas. One of the other reasons this treks is very popular is the fact that one gets to trek to one of the highest located Gurudwaras in the world – Hemkund Sahib. Although one is advised to plan this trek in the first half of September as the unique variety of flowers are on full bloom during this time.

Explore Valley of Flowers Trek

5. Hampta Pass Trek with Chandratal Lake

Hampta Pass with Chandrataal

  • Maximum Altitude – 4270m/14009ft
  • Region – Manali (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 5N/6D (Ex. Manali)

Although it’s open only for a few months, Hampta Pass is one of the most trekked mountain passes in the entire Himachal Pradesh. Technically located in the Pir Panjal range, Hampta Pass acts as a passage between Lahaul’s Chandra Valley and the Kullu Valley. During the expedition, you will be spending the night at some of the prettiest campsites in this part of the Himalayas. Another reason of its popularity is its proximity to the shimmering blue lake known as Chandratal Lake which is located at a high altitude of 4250m and can be driven to. During September, the weather remains rather pleasant but you should be prepared for a couple of cold nights.

Explore Hampta Pass Trek

6. Markha Valley Trek

Markha Valley

  • Maximum Altitude – 4270m/14009ft
  • Region – Ladakh
  • Grade – Moderate to Challenging
  • Duration – 8N/9D (Ex. Leh)

A tributary of the Zanskar River in Ladakh, Markha River originates at the junction of Langtang Chu and Nimaling Chu. The barren land that the river flows through is known as the Markha Valley. During the trek, one gets to hike through some of the remotest mountain villages in the entire Himalayas. Since the trail goes through Hemis National Park, one gets a chance of sighting some the rarely seen animal species such as the snow leopard. All along the trek, one also has an amazing view of the Kang Yatse which is one of the highest mountain peaks in the entire region. Being a challenging trek, one is advised to prepare for a few weeks before going on this expedition.

Explore Markha Valley Trek

7. Nag Tibba Trek

Nag Tibba

  • Maximum Altitude – 3050m/10000ft
  • Region – Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Easy
  • Duration – 1N/2D (Ex. Dehradun)

Ideal for a weekend trip to the mountains, Nag Tibba Trek offers a legitimate Himalayan trekking experience in a span of just two days. Anyone travelling from Delhi can just travel overnight to Pantwari village in Tehri and start the trek in the same afternoon. The hike from Pantwari to Nag Tibba base is rather easy and doesn’t take more than four hours. An early start on the next day will make sure you reach the top and be back in Pantwari by three in the afternoon. The short trek is absolutely perfect for beginners and for people wanting to give their kids their first trekking experience.

Explore Nag Tibba Trek

8. Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 5500m/18045ft
  • Region – Sagarmatha (Nepal)
  • Grade – Difficult
  • Duration – 13N/14D (Ex. Kathmandu)

Although Everest Base Camp Trek (EBC) has the word Everest in it which makes it sound like a daunting task, it’s really not that difficult a trek. Anyone carrying a few high altitude trek experience can plan this expedition after putting in a couple of months of physical training. One unique thing about trekking to the EBC is the fact that instead of camping in really harsh conditions you will be staying at comfortable tea houses (guesthouse) throughout the trek. Besides the surreal trekking experience, you will also have an exhilarating experience during the adventurous Lukla flight. And of course, you will get to see some of the highest mountain peaks on the planet such as Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse and Mt Makalu among others.

Explore Everest Base Camp Trek

There are plenty of other treks that you can go on during this time but I’ve put together the list basis various factors and a bunch of my experiences. So beat that scepticism and plan that Himalayan trek in September!

 

Trekking during the harsh Himalayan winters is not the most comfortable adventure to pursue, but it has its takers. From walking in knee-deep snow to regular snowfall sessions, trekking in the month of January offers constant thrills. Although the weather can be biting cold with temperature hitting as low as negative thirty degree Celsius in some places, the milky-white landscape makes it all worthwhile.

Explore Popular Treks in the Himalayas

Due to the inaccessibility of a few high altitude passes, many treks in the state of Himachal Pradesh are not operational in the winters but Uttarakhand, on the other hand, offers plenty of options for snow treks. Over the last few years, Ladakh has also gotten quite popular as a winter trekking destination.

Explore Exciting Winter Treks in India

As hard as it may have been to compile, I’ve tried to put together a list below, of the best treks in the Himalayas in the month of January.

12 Best Himalayan Treks in January

1. Chadar Frozen River Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3500m/11480ft
  • Region – Zanskar (Ladakh)
  • Grade – Moderate to Difficult
  • Duration – 8N/9D (Ex. Leh)

chadar-frozen-river-trek

One of a kind, Chadar Trek offers an experience matched by no other trek in the country. It derives its name from the word Chadar (Sheet), which is referred to the sheet of ice i.e. the Zanskar River which gets frozen in winters due to sub zero temperatures. Located in one of the coldest and uninhabitable places on earth, this trek gives an opportunity for one to walk on a frozen river and even locate frozen waterfalls. Although the hike itself is not so much treacherous, walking on thin ice makes is a challenging and exhilarating experience.

Explore Chadar Trek

2. Kedarkantha Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3810m/12500ft
  • Region – Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 5N/6D (Ex. Dehradun)

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Located in Western Garhwal, Kedarkantha is one of the most popular treks during the winter season. Although the trek is operational pretty much throughout the year, it’s during the winters is when this area is the most crowded. This is also one of the few treks where a less experienced trekker can get an experience of doing a proper snow trek. During the winters, certain stretches of the trail gets covered in knee-deep snow which makes it a winter wonderland. One unique part about this trek is that in a short span of time, one gets to summit a peak.

Explore Kedarkantha Trek

3. Brahmatal Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3840m/12600ft
  • Region – Chamoli (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 5N/6D (Ex. Dehradun)

brahma-tal-trek

One of the most stunning places to go for a trek in the entire Himalayas, Brahmatal Trek is a favourite of many seasoned trekkers. The sheer beauty of this area mesmerises one as soon as one starts hiking towards the first campsite i.e. Bekaltal. After the shutting down of Roopkund Trek a couple of years ago, this has become one of the most crowded places to go for a trek. From the summit, one gets to witness amazing views of Mt Trishul (7120m) and Mt Nanda Ghunti (6309). Although not a difficult trek, beginners should prepare for a few weeks.

Explore Brahmatal Trek

4. Har Ki Doon Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3550m/11650ft
  • Region – Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 6N/7D (Ex. Dehradun)

har-ki-doon-8

One of the oldest treks in the country, Har Ki Doon trek offers probably the most beautiful riverside campsite in the entire Himalayas. Although it is not as popular as some of the other treks in the region, anyone who’s been there will tell you that it’s one of the most gorgeous places that they have ever seen. During the winter season, the entire valley is covered in a thick blanket of snow which makes the trek a little challenging and quite adventurous. During the expedition, one also gets to see some of the prettiest mountain villages.

Explore Har Ki Doon Trek

5. Kuari Pass Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3814m/12516ft
  • Region – Joshimath (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Easy to Moderate
  • Duration – 4N/5D (Ex. Haridwar)

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Located at an altitude of 3814m, Kuari Pass is also known as the Curzon Trail. The trek is ideal for someone looking to catch a glimpse of few of the highest mountain peaks in the country. From the top of the pass, one has a view of Nanda Devi (7816m) along with other high peaks such as Dronagiri (7066m), Kamet (7757m) and Trishul (7120m) to name a few. This is also an ideal trek for a beginner looking for a winter trek experience. The trail is filled with rich flora and fauna including Rhododendron, Oak and Deodar trees.

Explore Kuari Pass Trek

6. Chopta Tungnath Chandrashila Trek via Deoria Tal

  • Maximum Altitude – 4000m/13123ft
  • Region – Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Easy to Moderate
  • Duration – 3N/4D (Ex. Haridwar)
On the way to Tungnath
On the way to Tungnath

Chopta is a village located in the meadows and is a part of the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Over the last few years, this area has started to receive a lot of travellers from all over the country. Although a short trip, one gets to experience different aspects of the mountain life during the course of the 4 day trip. From spending time at the gorgeous Deoria Tal to taking blessings at the Tungnath Temple, from climbing the slopes of Chopta to summiting the Chandrashila Peak, this trek offers an amalgamation of unique experiences.

Explore Chopta Tungnath Chandrashila Trek via Deoria Tal

7. Dayara Bugyal Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3657m/12000ft
  • Region – Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Easy to Moderate
  • Duration – 2N/3D (Ex. Dehradun)

dayara bugyal

Dayara Bugyal trek is located in the stunning alpine meadows of a remote region in Uttarkashi. This trail takes one through some of the most scenic and vast landscapes in the area. Ideal for less experienced/beginners, the expedition starts from the village of Barsu and offers views of peaks such as Gangotri (I, II, III), Black Peak and Srikanth etc. The trail is filled with forests of Deodar, Silver Oaks and Rhododendron trees. The hike to the Bakaria top is rather relaxing and the views from the top are absolutely splendid.

Explore Dayara Bugyal Trek

8. Nag Tibba Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3050m/10000ft
  • Region – Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand)
  • Grade – Easy
  • Duration – 1N/2D (Ex. Dehradun)

nag tibba

If someone is short on time and looking to hike in the snow then they should look no further than Nag Tibba. The trek starts from Pantwari village and offers a relatively easier hike considering the well laid out trail throughout. After reaching the base, one has to camp overnight and then hike to the top and back on the next day. There is a beautiful little temple at the top which is usually covered in knee-deep snow during the winters. One can also catch a mesmerizing sunrise on the second day if the hike to the top is started early.

Explore Nag Tibba Trek

9. Prashar Lake Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 2750m/8956ft
  • Region – Mandi (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Grade – Easy
  • Duration – 1N/2D (Ex. Mandi/Kullu)

prashar-lake-trek

A weekend getaway for people living in North India, Prashar Lake trek is one of the most popular short treks in the winters. During the summers, one can even drive to the lake but it becomes impossible to do it in winters due to the heavy amount of snow. The hike starts from a village called Jwalapur, which is easily accessible by road. Even during the peak winters, it should not take more than four to five hours to reach the lake from the starting point. One of the signature experiences of this short trek is the lake side camping.

Explore Prashar Lake Trek

10. Hampta Valley Snow Trek

  • Maximum Altitude – 3080m/10100ft
  • Region – Manali (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Grade – Easy
  • Duration – 3N/4D (Ex. Manali)

pic17_u3g9gp-1

Located in one of the most popular trekking destinations in the Himalayas, Hampta Valley is also one of the prettiest places to go for a winter hike. After spending a day in Manali to acclimate, the trek starts from a village called Prini on the second day. During the expedition, one gets to explore quaint Himalayan villages such as Sethan and Chika. The trail is breathtakingly beautiful and presents some of the most picturesque views of the entire Kullu Valley. In January, the Hampta Pass top is closed due to heaps of snow but a hike till Chika is also good enough for mountain lovers.

Explore Hampta Valley Snow Trek

11. Sham Valley Trek

• Maximum Altitude – 3750m/12300ft
• Region – Ladakh
• Grade – Moderate
• Duration – 5N/6D to 7N/8D (Ex. Leh)

Sham-Valley-Trekking_1455607704

Also known as the Apricot Valley, Sham Valley is one of the least explored valleys in the entire Ladakh region. One of the major reasons for that is the fact that most of the villages in the valley are not accessible by road and can only be trekked to. While travelling from Leh, one can drive up to the village of Likir and from there the hiking starts. The major points of attraction on this trek are quaint Himalayan villages such as Hemis and Nurla etc. During the winters, the weather in the valley is biting cold but the snow covered trails and the magnificent landscape makes it a treat for the eyes.

Explore Sham Valley Trek

12. Snow Leopard Trek in Spiti Valley

  • Maximum Altitude – 4480m/14700ft
  • Region – Spiti
  • Grade – Moderate
  • Duration – 6N/7D (Ex. Shimla)

snow-leopard-trek

Less of a trek and more of an exploration expedition, Snow Leopard Trek in Spiti Valley is one of the most unique hiking trips in the Himalayas. During the winters, one can enter the Spiti Valley only from Shimla as the road from Manali to Spiti is not accessible due to snow. The valley is located at a really high altitude and that’s why one needs to take extra precautions when it comes to hydration. From Kibber, one gets to explore different parts of the area to catch that one rare glimpse of the stunning beast that is the snow leopard. Apart from snow leopard, one can also sight other majestic animals such as the Tibetan Wolf and the Blue Sheep.

Explore Snow Leopard Trek in Spiti Valley

There are lots of confusions and questions around trekking like, when will the trekking start? What all will be the precautions to be taken? Will it get more expensive? Will it be safe to trek? Which company to trust? Things to keep in mind before booking with a company?.. and many more like this. It is a fact that trekking in India is one of the most popular adventure activities which means many people’s earnings are also dependent on this popular outdoor activity/trip.

In the prevailing COVID 19 situation, nobody in their capacity could give concrete foolproof answers, including me. To make life easier for everybody, I have tried to address a few of these uncertainties, from my own experience and from what I have understood after analyzing and speaking with experts in the industry.

1. When will the trekking start? 

shutterstock_1518801341-manali

Irrespective of the lockdown status of different states and the aircraft or trains starting services, trekking operations can be started as soon as the Government gives a nod for tourism activities. It also depends upon when governments of Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Ladakh, North Eastern States , or the Western Ghats States like Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra releases their individual advisories for trekking operation and start welcoming the trekkers. These states have the most popular trekking trails like Chadar trek, Sar Pass trek, Hampta Pass trek, Kedarkantha trek, Sandakphu trek etc., respective state governments consent is very important before trekking starts. Whichever state first decides to open their doors for trekkers and rolls out the SOPs and policies, trekking activities will start there with people starting to come.

2. Who will trek First? 

Ideally, the one who can drive up to the trek start point in an own or private vehicle from their home would be the safer and first lot. Followed by the people who fly down and drive up to the trek start point in a private vehicle. Slowly and gradually when things get better and the COVID-19 contamination worry reduces, more people will be trekking on different slopes. 

3. What are the precautions to be taken by the trekkers? 

The trekkers need to take all the necessary precautions advised by the government and shared by the trek operator without any fail. Adding to that few important and general precautions suggested are 

  • Travel to the trek start point in an own or private vehicle rather than in public transport or shared vehicle
  • Carry your own camping gears(Tent, Sleeping Bag, Sleeping Mat, Sleeping Liner, Water bottle, etc) and cutleries(Plate, Spoon, Mug, Fork)
  • Sign up for private treks or the treks with small group sizes of 10 to 12 people. 
  • Priority to be given to the company’s quality in operating treks safely and following the SOPs rather than the pricing where safety could be jeopardized. 
  • Trekkers need to focus on quality rather than just only the price.

4. What will be the major precautionary steps taken by the companies? 

The trekking companies must follow all the general measures advised by the respective governments and the specific trekking operation related measures advised by organizations like ATOAI(Adventure Tour Operators Association of India). The major measures are likely to be and not limited to what is mentioned below. 

  • The company must have all the transactions and paper works done online to minimize direct human contacts. 
  • The company should have the capacity to arrange sanitized private vehicles, for transfers from trek start point and endpoint. 
  • The company must be willing to operate treks for private groups of families or close friends rather than groups of unknown people.
  • The treks must have small group sizes, ideally not more than 10 to 12 participants in each group.
  • The company must check and record the temperature of every trekker and staff daily, using non-contact thermometers. The data must be made easily accessible to everybody in the team.
  • The oxygen level of every trekker and the staff must be checked and recorded daily.
  • An evacuation plan followed by a quarantine strategy must be in place in case any member of the team is found to have an abnormal temperature or oxygen levels.
  • The company must ask the trekkers to bring their own tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag and cutleries. Sanitizing these gears everyday and every time after use may not be practically possible in the wilderness but at the same time mandatory in case used by different people on different days. By owning gears and using it personally reduces the chances of contamination.
  • The company must provide adequate support and information to the trekkers regarding all the precautions to be taken and about the SOPs.
  • The company must provide adequate support in selecting and purchase of equipment. 
  • The company should provide proper solutions to sanitize the cutlery after every use. 
  • The kitchen tent and dining area must be well sanitized before and after every use. 

Must Read: Positive Evolution in Indian Adventure Travel Post COVID 19

5. Will the trek become more expensive? 

climbing-mistakes

Answer to this is quite simple and straightforward ‘Yes‘. If the trek needs to be safe, sanitized, sustainable for the environment and at the same time the trekkers get fun-filled deeper value added adventure experience, the price would definitely spike up. The real question to ask is, is it really worth going outdoors compromising the safety of the people at your service and your own? What about the sustainability of nature? Who will carry back all those extra trash you are taking up in those pristine nature to keep oneself safe from one another? When the number of people in a group reduces for the safety and sustainability, the overheads are not decreasing like the cost of the support staff or the vehicle transferring the group. So it’s obvious that when the cost will be divided between the smaller number of people individual costs go a little higher side.

Another important thing to consider is, the guides and all the trekking staff across the country have been jobless since lockdown. People going on trek is their only source of income. After such a long gap of non employment, the trekkers getting back to slopes is their only hope. In this situation, squeezing their livelihood for the trekkers benefit may not be the right way forward. When the trekkers start looking for deals and cheaper options a crazy price war gets triggered, which ultimately boils down to squeezing the trekking staff’s remuneration or cutting the corners by compromising the safety or hiring less experienced or qualified staff.

6. Which Company to trust? 

This is a tricky question and mostly dependent on many factors and your gut feel. But as a rule of thumb, top points you can refer to make the process easy are below. Go with the company or the operator who 

  • Can show you a track record of safe and value added trek operations through previous customer feedback or reviews in reputed domains like TripAdvisor or Google.
  • Voluntarily share the SOP’s and safety precautions followed by them to ensure safe and sustainable trek operations
  • Ensure a small group sized and private trek departures
  • Has the expertise, knowledge and advised you to opt for less popular and beautiful trails over the crowded famous trails
  • Provides or advises you to opt for adventure insurance as a default option or mandatory for the trek
  • Proactively provides you all the latest government or governing body advisories and ensure it to be followed
  • Not offering illogical discounts and deals which could boil down in compromising the safety.

Conclusion

location-shoting

Whatever happens trekking will be one adventure sport which will catch up really fast, as soon as the situation gets better. There lies a huge responsibility on the companies operating trekking and equal responsibility upon the trekkers. By now all of us must have understood the importance of nature and keeping it intact for our future. Sustainable operations of trekking is inevitable, when we say sustainable it must be giving value added rich experiences to the trekkers without adding further damage to the ecosystem and the local culture or the people. 

The trash issue may arise in the post COVID – 19 scenario trek operations due to the extra usages of disposable masks, hand sanitizers, gloves and many other personal protection equipment. Trekkers and the companies must take this additional responsibility of bringing these non-biodegradable materials back from and dispose off the right way. It will also be great if reusable personal protection equipment is used over the disposable and non-biodegradable.

COVID- 19, may give humans one more chance to make things right towards nature, so let us utilize this opportunity in the right way to re-live and re-nurture this world into a better one for our future generations. 

COVID -19 pandemics have brought devastation in the World economy and disastrous effect on the travel industry. When the whole world is fighting to come out of this, COVID -19 is successfully establishing it’s strong empire over humanity. We, humans, are one among the greatest survivors of all living creatures, even this will be survived by us with our strong capability of evolving and transforming for better.

Indian adventure travel was needing a major restructuring and remodelling long back. As Shannon Stowell, Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) President says “We have the opportunity to enact change that perhaps we never felt the freedom to do before, If there was ever a time to rebuild right, the world has the opportunity.” Indian adventure and travel industry should take this as an opportunity to make things right. It’s high time that we start to make our great outdoors a place for sustainable tourism activities. It’s a widely accepted fact that adventure is going to be the major travel solution preferred by people post this world pandemic. This is the best time for the Indians to start learning, understanding and making adventure and outdoor travel part of their lifestyle.

Explore Adventure Trips in India

So let’s look into some positive adaptations we can plug into our regular adventure travel. These will help us progress towards making adventure travel positively evolve and become part of our regular new normal lifestyle post-pandemic

1. Own Personal Camping Gear

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As we all are super excited to go out as soon as the pandemic situation relaxes. The first thing travellers would be willing to do is to travel to the nearby camping locations, in nature’s adobe. Which may not require travel in public transportation like air or train. Even though the camping company would be doing everything for the safety and hygiene of the campers, having their own gear helps to be more confident and less worried about sanitation and hygiene. Having your own camping gear like a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat etc will make travel easier and less stressful since these gears will be of personal use the chances of contamination become feeble. Personal camping gears is a good investment which can be reused on all the upcoming camping trips to other destinations as well. If gears are given proper care, it will last for years and having your camping gear makes travel much safer, hygienic and economical.

2. Own Crockeries

Post this pandemic situation, the biggest worry in the back of mind while eating in a campsite would be about the hygiene of the crockeries used. An alternative solution could be using disposable crockery, which can become a disaster when it comes to waste management in the wilderness. The sustainable and safe solution is carrying your own reusable crockery (Plate, Spork, Lunchbox and Bowl). This will be your personal which can be reused after washing, on your every trip to wilderness and nature for years.

3. Campsites for self camping

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It is commonly agreed by the industry experts that post-pandemic, people would prefer to travel in small groups composed of close family members or friends in their vehicles or privately hired vehicles. When the camping gear and crockery are easily accessible and owned, then self camping would be the best way to be safe and away from the crowd. The concept of camping will evolve for better and many open campsites will emerge to cater to the need. Many of the previously operated assisted camps would also open up their space for people to camp on their own.

4. Explore More Outdoor Activities

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Most surveys reveal that post-pandemic people would want to go to open less crowded places in a small group. This would be possible only by involving in an outdoor adventure like trekking, camping, kayaking, scuba diving, paragliding, surfing etc. Gyms, Swimming pools and cinema halls will be of less popular options.

Explore Popular Treks in India

Exploring more and different adventure sports will give an idea which sport suits the best for each individual. Once that is understood it is obvious to take that particular sport seriously and make it part of life. Having command over an adventure sport allows exploring more remote and beautiful places in the world away from the crowd and chaos. There are many sports to explore and to develop command over it, like, mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, kayaking, sailing, paragliding, scuba diving just to name a few.

5. RV (Recreational Vehicle) or Campervan Culture

People ready to travel once it’s safe would prefer RV’s if it’s readily available and its associated logistics are in place. RV’s give a sense of adventure and safety, as once sanitised and cleaned properly the whole trip can be covered worry less. Being a private vehicle external contamination is very minimal and the stress of choosing different hygienic accommodation, in different destinations of a trip becomes irrelevant. The culture of RV touring which was not popular in India will soon catch up. It would be a very convenient option for both domestic travellers and later even for international travellers.

6. Watersports To Get Popular

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India, though having diverse geographical and climatic features, watersports did not catch up with general travellers to its full potential. When travelling becomes safe again, people would love to go to less crowded places closer to their home avoiding public transportation. For people living in many parts of our country water bodies would be more viable options than the mountains. Rivers, lakes, backwaters, lagoons, ocean and beaches viable for watersports will be the preferred travel destinations. Adventure sports with easy or short learning curves would get popular very soon. Paddlesports like, Stand Up Paddling, Kayaking, Canoeing and rafting would likely get more attraction followed by surfing, sailing and scuba diving.

7. Awareness of Outdoor and Adventure activities

In the new normal life post-pandemic, when outdoor activities and adventure travel become the popular way of travel, the awareness around adventure ethos and sustainable travel operations become very important. There would be lots of awareness generation by every organisation related to adventure travel, which in turn make the whole concept more popular.

Adventure Travel in India will evolve for better

Now, it may not be clear when exactly is it going to be safe to start travelling or when exactly it will be the new normal for adventure travel. But one thing is clear, adventure being closest to nature and most of the time far away from crowded places, this is the one kind of travel which can be carried out with much confidence. As it says, “Survival of the Fittest”, the survival of this industry also depends on how fast the industry is evolving to become the fittest to receive the guests by giving them safe, hygienic and deeper adventure experience. It is also imperative that the outdoor and adventure companies do all it takes for the guest safety and to provide confidence to the travellers so that they can entrust their life and travel dreams to them.

When travel becomes safe and we are on the other side of this pandemic, sustainable and ethical travel needs to be the priority of both traveller and travel company. Every adventure operator’s priority needs to be the traveller’s safety and providing meaningful experiences. The mass tourism with hundreds of people on a trail or a campsite has to be replaced with smaller closed groups who can appreciate nature and the adventure activity itself. The pricing of the adventures must reflect the quality, safety and value addition in an experience rather than just being a deal; conscious understanding of this must be there with both the traveller and the adventure company.