A Legendary Trail the World Wants to Trek in

TREK DIFFICULTY

TREK DURATION

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The Valley of Flowers trek is one of India’s most popular treks in the Himalayas. People who haven’t even stepped into the Himalayas, have heard about the Valley of Flowers trek. 

But there is a solid reason behind Valley Of Flower’s legendary popularity – it is one of India’s oldest known treks. 

In 1980, the Indian government created the Valley of Flowers National Park, and later in 2002, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This pushed Valley of Flowers on the bucket list of trekkers from around the world.

Having said that, you must note that the Valley Of Flowers trek is not easy. It is a moderate level trek, with slightly longer trekking days and a steep ascent to Hemkund Sahib that will challenge your endurance. So, prepare well for this trek. We have talked in detail about this in the ‘difficulty’ section of this trek guide.

This extensive trek guide contains all details you need to know to do this trek.

And, it also contains an interesting insight, a story of how one can fall in love with Himalayan treks after trekking to the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib. Yes, that can happen. We know because it happened with Sandhya UC, Co-Founder and COO of Indiahikes.

It is important to time your visit well. Valley of Flowers has something different to offer each month. Read this article to find out the best time to trek here. 

This fee includes everything from basecamp to basecamp.

Please note: The insurance has to be claimed within 7 days from the specific incident for it to be deemed valid.  

Valley Of Flowers - Complete Trek Information 

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Valley of Flowers trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

Watch these videos to prepare well for your trek.

Use this itinerary to plan your trek and travel.

Study this map to know about how does each day looks like on the Valley of Flowers trek.

- It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo ID for entry at forest check posts on the trek.

- Your stay will be arranged at lodges throughout the trek (Karchi, Ghangari and Dhak). The number of people per room depends on the availability at the time. These rooms are 4 to 6 sharing rooms. The room division will be based on gender. The cost for your stay is included in your trek fee.

- We have a cloakroom facility at the base camp for excess luggage. Anything beyond one luggage is chargeable at Rs 500 per luggage. Do not leave behind any valuables in the cloakroom.

- Any additional cost incurred due to landslide that happens before or after the trek will have to be borne by trekkers.  

- If you are travelling on your own to the basecamp, then you'll have to pay Rs 3,500 per vehicle (6-seater) for the transportation from Karchi to Poolna and Rs 3,500 per vehicle (6-seater) for the transportation from Poolna to Dhak. If you are opting for Indiahikes transport, you don't have to pay these separately. The cost of transportation includes these.

The Valley of Flowers trek is done in peak monsoon season. This is a time when heavy rain can affect your road journey. While roadblocks usually get cleared within a few hours, there have been instances where it has taken a day or so. So it is always good to book flexible flight tickets for your journey. Most travel agencies offer this for a small added cost.

Choose trains over buses to reach Rishikesh

Train journeys are less tiring and more punctual than bus journeys. It's even better if you reach Rishikesh by evening and stay there for the night. It will give you more rest and refresh you before your journey to Govind Ghat.

The Valley of Flowers trek is well-known in the world for its flowers. Sandhya UC, Co-founder and CTO, Indiahikes also loves the trek for its flowers. She says, "A narrow path in between the flowers beckons you to go deeper. You now start seeing a variety of flowers. Not only in colours but in shapes, sizes, textures and smells. A few tens of steps bring you to a new variety of flowers. You wonder who got them here. What made the variety change? It was also interesting to see the big fauna change along with the changing flora.

I stood by the flowers, sat down beside them, and lay down on the small exposed trail trying to immerse myself and feel a part of the multitude of flowers in the valley. The cool mountain breeze coming from the glacial end of the valley brought with it scents that I had never known before."

This video takes you through some of the flowers from the valley. 

Valley Of Flowers was my first Himalayan trek. Not did I love the trek but I also fell in love with trekking in the Himalayas because of it. After Valley Of Flowers, I went on to do a lot more Himalayan treks, but the Valley of Flowers stays very close to my heart! A lot of people tend to discredit the trek thinking there is not much to it. That would be a mistake. A lot is going on the trek.

What I Like and Don’t Like About Valley of Flowers Trek

What I Don't Like About Valley of FLowers Trek

To be honest, the Valley Of Flowers trek, which climbs to 14,107 ft, is not difficult. It is rated as 'moderate'. That too only because trekking days are slightly long. 

A moderate rating refers to marginally longer trekking days with a few steep climbs (example: climb from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib). This makes it a notch more difficult than the easy-moderate treks like Kedarkantha and Dayara Bugyal.

To give you a perspective, the Valley of Flowers trek is 38 km long. And you cover this distance in 4 days. Every day you gain an altitude of approximately 2000 ft, and on some days even more. For your body to handle this trekking distance and altitude gain, you need to have good fitness levels.

And here’s a yardstick for that – before the trek begins, you should be able to comfortably run 5 km in under 40 minutes. Click here for the fitness schedule to achieve that goal.

But the trek has easy exits and there are no technical sections.

To make it easier for you to take note, here’s a list of difficult and tricky sections on the Valley Of Flowers Trek:

Yes. Valley of Flowers trek is safe because it is one of the most well-known treks in the Indian Himalayas and has well-laid trails frequented by pilgrims. Yet, you would need to be careful on slippery sections on the trail especially when it is raining.

The altitude gain while trekking from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib is also something that you need to be mindful of since AMS can hit trekkers at this altitude.

At this point, it is important to look at the details of the trek from the perspective of safety. It helps in being mentally prepared for the trek. That is as important as being physically prepared to stay safe. For this, it is crucial to have a clear mental picture of the trek. Quickly, here it is:

| Trek in a nutshell: On the Valley Of Flowers trek you go up to an altitude of 14,107 ft over a trek of 38 km. This is spread over four days where you trek for around 6 hours and gain 2000 ft on an average every day. It is possible that you could be hit by AMS on any of these days, especially while on your way to Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. At Indiahikes, we believe that as long as you are well-informed and well-prepared, you can easily survive at high altitudes.

To do this effectively, let’s break down and examine various aspects of the Valley Of Flowers trek from the perspective of safety:

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider several factors. These include, altitude gained every day, length of a trek every day, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

The gates to Valley Of Flowers open at the beginning of June. But the best time to visit is between July and September. You can extend it to the end of September.

Even in the best months between July and September, the trek is not the same every month.

The Valley of Flowers trek is not timed for its snow experience but early in the season you do get to walk on snow bridges and snow patches. The trail to the valley of flowers has snow bridges formed over the river and at many places, you walk right beside the snow bridges.

On the trail to Hemkund too, you get a handful of snow patches to cross early in the season. Expect to see melting snow flowing into Hemkund Sahib early in July. Most of the snow is gone once the rains set in by August.

Day Time Temperature: Between 10 °C to 18 °C, based on precipitation and cloud cover | Night Time Temperature: At night, the temperature drops to almost 3 °C to 5 °C

Valley Of Flowers Trek In July-August-September:

Number of warm layers recommended: 3 warm layers. You will be staying in lodges and will be provided warm blankets. 

It is lush green. The flowers are just beginning to bloom. Peak flowering season starts after mid-July. There are a few old snow bridges and some melting snow patches. Expect a riot of colours. Rains pick up after mid-July. The valley is least crowded in July. Making it the perfect time to go on this trek if you are someone who appreciates trekking on a less crowded trail. 
But there won’t be many flowers until mid-July. Since the trek climbs to such a high altitude (~14,000 ft), it retains snow even in July. Only later in July, does the rain wash off the snow.

Monsoon also starts setting in in July. But it doesn’t rain much in the first half. Monsoon gains momentum in the second half of July. Snow too starts getting washed off by then. 
Hence, to conclude:

If you go in the first half of July, you will find greenery, snow, and the least number of crowds. 

If you go in the second half of July, you will find greenery, blooming flowers, and very little crowd.

In August, monsoon clouds hang low and wash over the entire valley. Maximum flowers in the valley bloom during this period. While you get a good amount of rain at Govindghat during this time, at the higher altitudes it turns into a drizzle.

| Tip: Watch out for the precious Brahmakamal as you climb to Hemkund Sahib. This beautiful flower only grows around the altitude of 14,000 feet so is a rare sighting.

The only downside of trekking in August is the huge number of crowds that fill the trail. If you time your trek on weekdays, you will find fewer trekkers. However, the trail is completely filled on holidays. 

Flowers begin wilting by the second half of August and by September, very few flowers are left. But there’s a different kind of beauty to this month of retreating monsoon. Skies start clearing up and you witness some clear mountain views.

But September is also the time when the crowd in the valley starts thickening with a flood of pilgrims. During this month, pilgrims flock to visit the Gurudwara of Hemkund Sahib.

| Note: During peak monsoon, make it a point to visit the Valley of Flowers in the first half of the day and be back by 2 pm. Post that, the intensity of the rain increases. And that makes it risky to cross the rickety bridges over Lakshman Ganga.

Carry these medicines with you, easily accessible at all times. Do not take any medicine unless you have consulted your trek leader. 

Diamox (1 Strip): Diamox helps you in case of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Carry it with you and your trek leader can take a call on whether to take it.  

Dolo 650 (5 tablets): This is a paracetamol. It helps to tackle fever, mild pain

Avomine (4 tablets): Carry this especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Pop one-half hour before the start of your road journey.

Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol. 

Digene (4 tablets): Take it if you feel the food that you’ve taken is undigested. Alert your trek leader immediately. It could be a sign of AMS. 

ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid-day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking.  Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.

Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.

Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.
| Pro tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit.   

Given below is a list of all the gear you need for the Manali Kaisdhar trek:

If you don’t have certain items, you can rent high-quality gear like trekking shoes, backpacks, and jackets from the Crosstrek Rental Store by Indiahikes. It costs less than Rs 2000 for the entire trek. We highly recommend renting gear since it is both more affordable and environmentally friendly. 

Additionally, you’ll notice a small medical kit in the list. While our trek leaders carry medical kits with 17 medicines including life-saving drugs, you must bring your personal medical kit as well. We are already equipped with BP machines, oximeters and canned oxygen, but your medical kit is for quick access to you, especially while travelling.

Most importantly, you must digitally upload and carry mandatory documents to get government permits for the trek - your ID card, medical certificate, and disclaimer certificate. Keep them in a plastic bag to keep them safe in your backpack. There are no printing or photocopy facilities at the basecamp.

Here is a list of everything you need for your trek.

Trekking shoes with ankle support (Available on rent)

Backpack with rain cover (Available on rent)

Warm layers (Padded jackets available on rent)
- 3 layers if you're trekking in spring, summer and monsoon (1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 4 layers if you're trekking in autumn (1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 5 layers if you're trekking in winter (1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)

3 Collared T-shirts (Wear one, carry two)

2 quick-dry trek pants (Wear one, carry one)

Sun cap, preferably with flaps (Available for purchase)

Waterproof gloves (Available for purchase)

Woollen socks (2 pairs of Dry fit + 1 pair of Woollen)

Rain jacket + pants / poncho (Poncho is available on rent)

Toilet paper (Wet wipes are strictly not allowed on our treks)

Reusable plastic covers (for used clothes)

Steel lunch box, spoon and a coffee mug (Lunch box is available on rent)

Two water bottles or Hydration Pack (Water bottles are available on rent)

Once you run through this list, don't miss this ultimate guide on what gear to take on a trek. It contains tips on what gear to choose, where to get it from and how much to spend on it.

Our only tip: Keep your backpack light. Indiahikes practices low impact sustainable trekking in every aspect of the trek. Carrying your own personal backpack reduces your impact on the mountains by 20%. We expect all our trekkers to carry their own backpacks unless they have a justifiable reason not to.

Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.  

These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.

Original and photocopy of identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar Card, or passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.  

1 passport size photograph. This is required to obtain the trekking permits

Disclaimer certificate: There are two sections in this. The first part is a personal medical record.  The second part is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully, fill in and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp. – Download disclaimer certificate

Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate

Treadmill Test: If you are above the age of 58 years, you’ll need to submit a Treadmill Test (not older than 12 months) within a week of completing your trek registration. 

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Valley of Flowers Trek

We recommend jogging as the best routine to get fit for a trek. It works on the same muscles that you use while trekking — your calves, glutes and hamstrings. It helps increase your stamina day by day. It is also an easy routine that does not require any equipment or tools. 

To do this trek comfortably, you must be able to cover 5 km in under 35 minutes. This is the minimum fitness required for this trek.

If you cannot run 5 km immediately, start with 2 km and increase to 5 km over 2-3 weeks.

Once you’re able to run 5 km, increase your pace day by day. 

Gradually increase your pace and bring it down to 5 km in less than 35 mins.

You must be able to run 5 km in 35 mins consistently for at least 2 weeks before the trek. 

This trek requires at least 6-8 weeks of preparation. The longer, the better. So plan your trek soon and start preparing. 

Here's a complete guide to get you trek fit.

How to get Fitness Approval from the Indiahikes team:

Every trekker needs fitness approval from the Indiahikes team 20 days before the trek date. Without this, you will not be allowed on the trek. 

A minimum of 3 screenshots of your runs/jogs/walks/cycling 

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. 

Over 20,000 people trek with Indiahikes each year and vouch for our unmatched safety standards.

Click Here For Frequently Asked Questions

Trekker Stories And Experiences With Indiahikes

Over 20,000 people trek with Indiahikes each year and vouch for our unmatched safety standards. See what they have to say below. Click to read more.

We go to great lengths to keep you safe on your trek. However, trekking with the safest organisation in India comes with certain commitments from your end.

Eligibility Criteria for Valley of Flowers trek

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Experience Kyrgyzstan’s Pristine Glacial Lake 

Trek Difficulty

Trek Duration

Highest Altitude

Trek to Kyrgyzstan’s Pristine Glacial Lake

The Ala-Kul or the Ala-Kol trek in Kyrgyzstan is a grand crossover trek that takes you close to the most beautiful glacial lake we have seen outside India, the Ala-Kul. Kul or Kol in Kyrgyz means a ‘lake’, hence the name means the ‘Ala Lake’ trek.

The milky-blue Ala-Kul lies at approximately 11,580 ft in the Tien Shan mountain ranges of Central Asia. You’ll have to cross the thrilling Ala-Kul Pass at 12,750 ft to get to this lake.

This challenging trek takes you through the most beautiful coniferous forests and grasslands of the Altyn Arashan and Karakol Valleys, where the landscape is dotted with wildflowers of varying colours and gushing rivers.

As you gain altitude, the lush green valley opens up to alpine meadows sprinkled with juniper shrubs, moraine and scree. This combination of scenery is rarely seen elsewhere. It’s like a combination of our treks from Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand, where you get to walk on the green carpet of meadows lined with coniferous trees, and see snow-capped mountains, witness a glacier, and camp next to a glacier-fed lake.

Kyrgyzstan also has a striking resemblance to India. So much so that when our founders and the rest of the team landed in Bishkek, they felt like they were in a city that is much like Srinagar in India. They felt welcomed in a land that is so far away from home.

Not just the city, it has a rich culture and tradition, and the people are very approachable. Just like shared taxis here in India, Kyrgyzstan has ‘marshrutkas’ (maxi-van type shared taxis) and buses that keep you well connected across cities. Whether it is stays, food or travel, everything is pocket-friendly.

The Ala-Kul trek is suitable for trekkers who have experienced high-altitude treks before. And if you are a beginner, you’ll have to be in the best of fitness to do this ‘moderate-difficult’ level trek.

Please note that the experience of this trek will be different from a typical Indiahikes experience:

The trek will be run in an assisted Do-It-Yourself (DIY) style: This means we are going to be doing the trek all by ourselves, without the regular Indiahikes support team. In terms of safety, our highly trained Trek Leaders will be with you. You will not have to carry any tents or sleeping bags but you have to help with cooking meals and pitching tents, including toilet tents.

The food will be different: You may not find your usual Indiahikes food. Instead, you will be served good local cuisine. On camp days, the food will be Indian.

Apart from these, you can expect to see our own tents, our toilet tents and our Green Trails practices.

This fee includes everything from base camp to base camp.

Watch these videos to get a glimpse of the trek

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a high altitude trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Ala-Kul trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW9wBGHRlOkX3ebrRznJnA71WstYDswhKnSzKLYWnW2n5xDw/viewform

Have questions about the trek? Fill this form to schedule a call

This trek will be run in a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) style. This means we are going to be doing the trek all by ourselves, without the regular Indiahikes support team. You have to help with cooking meals, pitching tents, including toilet tents. You will not have to carry any tents or sleeping bags, but you will have to help with other things and work together with the team.
Expect the experience to be different from a typical Indiahikes experience. In terms of safety, our highly trained Trek Leaders will be with you. You can expect to see our own tents, our toilet tents (much better than the current system there!) and our Green Trails practices.
In terms of food, you may not find your usual Indiahikes food. However, on camp days, the food will be Indian.

If you're planning to travel to Bishkek, opt to fly via Tashkent in Uzbekistan. If you have a couple of days to spare, Uzbekistan has a lot of places of interest like Samarkand, Madrasa etc., that cannot be missed if you are travelling all the way to Kyrgyzstan.

While returning, you will reach Karakol by late afternoon. Plan your travel by keeping a couple of spare days in hand. Visit Issyk Kul lake, Osh Bazaar and many other tourist attractions in Kyrgyzstan.

Swathi Chatrapathy heads the digital content - marketing team at Indiahikes. She is also the face behind India's popular trekking video channel, Trek With Swathi. Unknown to many, Swathi also writes a weekly column at Indiahikes which has more than 100,000 followers. A TEDx speaker and a frequent guest at other events, Swathi is a much sought after resource for her expertise in the digital content world. 

Here, Swathi Chatrapathy is in conversation with Arjun and Sandhya about one of the 'Best Treks for Summit Views in Kyrgyzstan'. 

Here, we rate Ala-Kul as a ‘moderate-difficult’ trek. It is a high-altitude trek that takes you close to 13,000 ft. The trek climbs rapidly and your safety depends a lot on the preparation you put in for the trek.

The trek is long and strenuous. It also climbs quickly. Having prior experience trekking in the high altitudes helps accustom you to hardship. Having know-how about Acute Mountain Sickness greatly helps in dealing with altitude issues you may face on the trek.

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider a number of factors. These include altitude gained every day, length of trek everyday, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

The best time to be on this trek is from the beginning of July to the middle of September. In fact, that’s the only time you can trek here. In all the other seasons, The Ala-Kul lake trail is buried under snow.

July to September happens to be peak summer transitioning to Autumn and the best time to trek in Karakol. The landscape comes alive during this window. And even though the window is tight, you notice the landscape changing colour and texture as the months proceed.

This is peak summer in Karakol. The upper reaches of the trek starts crawling out of the snow blanket in July. It’s warm and you experience light evening showers during this month.

The trail to Ala-Kul opens in the first week of July. Snow still remains at higher altitudes, at Ala-Kul Pass and at the Ala Kul lake. But the trek is more or less accessible.

Caution: It’s risky to attempt a pass crossing when there’s too much snow. So hold back and exercise safety.

As the snow melts, colourful flowers start appearing on the meadows. You see flowers throughout the Ala-Kul trekking season. But the colours of these flowers vary based on the month.

The landscape has lush green meadows punctuated with the Ala-Kul lake that is still frozen in parts.

After mid-July, a robust trekking season begins on the Ala-Kul trek. Expect bright sunny mornings with some evening showers.

The trail is carpeted with green meadows everywhere. They look dramatic in contrast with the rugged, grey mountains around it. The best part is, these meadows are densely dotted with wildflowers!

Frozen chunks of ice in the Ala-Kul lake, and on the trail would have melted.

Ala-Kul Trek from mid-July to the third week of August

After the end of August, cold sets in.  Rains reduce giving way to one of the best times to do the trek. The clouds part during this time of the year and you witness brilliant blue skies. Their reflection deepens the blue of the Ala-Kul lake.

Photography Point: It's a sight to behold from Ala-Kul Pass. You can catch Mt Palatka with its glacier, Mt Karakol, the rest of the snow-clad mountains, and the Ala-Kul lake in one frame. The lake flashes a milky-blue colour under the clear sky.

Another stark change that happens in early September is the change in colour of the meadows. The grass no longer retains the soft, fresh green tinge. The flowers change. And yet, there’s a beauty to this change of tone.

We usually stop our trek after the second week of September. It turns colder and chances of snowfall increase. That raises the difficulty of the trek and it's highly risky to cross the Pass.

Ala-Kul Trek from end-July to mid-September

Diamox (1 Strip): Be on a course of a half tablet Diamox starting from Karakol every 12 hours (125 mg). Carry on the medication until you descend down to Karakol. Being on a preventive course of Diamox greatly reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the Ala-Kul trek.

Dexamethasone (1 Strip): This is part of the Live Saving Drugs kit. Do not take this on your own. Your trek leader will inform you in case the need arises. 

Nifedipine (5 tablets): Again part of the Live Saving Drugs kit. Do not take this on your own. Your trek leader will inform you in case the need arises.   

Avomine (4 tablets): Carry this especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Pop one half hour before the start of your road journey.

Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a Combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol. 

ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking. Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.

Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.

Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.

Pro Tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit. 

Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar card, passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.  

Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate.

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.
Consultation fee: Rs 300

Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.

Warm layers: 5 layers - 1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, and 1 padded jacket
(Cross Fleece Cap and Crosstrek Neck Warmer are available for purchase)

3 Full sleeved, dry fit, collared t-shirts (Wear one, carry two)

Synthetic hand gloves (with waterproofing on the outside and padded lining on the inside). Alternative - wear a tight fitting fleece hand glove inside the synthetic hand gloves. (Waterproof gloves - Available for purchase)

Balaclava or woollen cap (Cross Fleece Cap and Crosstrek Neck Warmer are available for purchase)

Woollen socks (2 pairs of Dry fit + 1 pair of woollen) (Available for purchase)

Rain jacket + pants/poncho (Rain jacket available for purchase)

Steel lunch box, spoon and a coffee mug (coffee mug available for purchase)

Once you run through this list, don't miss this ultimate guide on what gear to take on a trek. It contains tips on what gear to choose, where to get it from, and how much to spend on it.

Our only tip: Keep your backpack light. Indiahikes practices low-impact, sustainable trekking in every aspect of the trek. Carrying your backpack reduces your impact on the mountains by 20%. We expect all our trekkers to carry their own backpacks unless they have a justifiable reason not to.

We go to great lengths to keep you safe on your trek. However, trekking with the safest organization in India comes with certain commitments from your end.

Over 20,000 people trek with Indiahikes each year and vouch for our

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Complete information on the Ala-Kul Lake trek. Trek details, itinerary, reviews, cost, maps, photos, videos and more.

Ala-Kul Lake Trek 2024 - Treks In Kyrgyzstan - Indiahikes

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India's Best Ridge Trek, Where The Mountains Walk With you

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QUICK INFORMATION ON PHULARA RIDGE TREK

To begin with, ridge treks are extremely uncommon in our country. There is hardly a handful. In exploring the Phulara Ridge trek in April 2018, we discovered a ridge trek that is looking to be one of the best!

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