Every season we meet trekkers standing at the start of their very first Himalayan trail, a little nervous and very excited. This guide collects the advice we give all of them.
Choose the right first trek
Your first trek should be long enough to feel the magic of the high mountains, but gentle enough that you enjoy it. In Uttarakhand we usually suggest Gorson Bugyal, Dayara Bugyal, Kuari Pass or Kedarkantha.
Train for 4–6 weeks
Trekking is mostly walking uphill for several hours with a pack. Build cardio with jogging, cycling or stair climbs, and add squats and lunges for your legs. A good target is jogging 5 km in under 40 minutes.
Respect the altitude
Above roughly 8,000 ft your body needs time to adjust. Walk slowly, drink 3–4 litres of water a day, and tell your trek leader about any headache, nausea or unusual breathlessness. Good itineraries gain height gradually — that is why we never rush the first days.
Go slow, drink water, and speak up early. Those three habits prevent most altitude problems.
Pack light, pack warm
Layers beat bulky jackets: a thermal base layer, a fleece, a down jacket and a waterproof shell. Add good trekking shoes you have already broken in, a warm cap and gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Trek with people who know the mountains
A good trek leader reads the weather, watches the group and makes the hard calls. All our leaders are from the Joshimath region — ask us anything before you book.
