I feel sorry that I have to write this on our website, but I think it's high time we start talking about these issues publicly and not just within our closed circles. I truly hope that awareness is the only way forward. Well, let me begin.
There has been an enormous boom in the trekking industry, and unlike the past, nowadays, every other person who has trekked once or twice in the Himalayas starts their own adventure travel venture, often with just a few local contacts. For some, this is a side income, but for many, it serves as a way to break the monotony of corporate life and relieve stress. Meanwhile, the number of trekkers in our country has skyrocketed. Unlike in the past, when only a select few ventured deep into the Himalayas, now everyone wants to trek.
Please do not misunderstand me. We absolutely do not have any issues with the rise of new trekking companies or the increasing number of trekkers venturing into the Himalayas. What concerns us is the way they operate—irresponsible, money-driven practices and unsustainable methods.
Continuing with these practices, we are certain that, in the near future, our future generations won’t be able to experience the Himalayas as we do today. Practically speaking, even we don’t get to experience the Himalayas the way our predecessors did. And no, I'm not just referring to global warming, forest degradation, and melting glaciers—those are given. What I’m concerned about is the deteriorating ambiance of trekking in the deep Himalayas. The unwanted noises that now echo through the once-silent valleys, the DJ parties, drinking and smoking parties, oversized campfires for fun, large, unmanageable groups, litter everywhere, and cost-cutting fixed camps that ruin the beauty of the high alpine meadows. I could go on!
Mountains Are Calling, And I Must Go...
In the past, we or our elders ventured into the mountains with respect, crafted countless new routes, and taught us not only how to love but also how to care for the Himalayas. Today, however, many trekkers aim to explore the Himalayas without taking responsibility for the damage they leave behind. People come, trek, and return without even remembering the names of the campsites they stayed at, let alone understanding or respecting local culture and sentiments, or cleaning up the trails and campsites they pass through. Even after multiple treks, many still don’t know how to properly pack their rucksacks or understand the finer details of trekking.
A large number of trekkers today are eager to answer the call of the mountains, but they often join large groups and trek like sheep, led by their guides. Some even take pride in doing a "solo trek" within a big group. They come with unrealistic expectations for the remote mountains. They come to socialize, make noise, party hard, spread litter, act insensitively towards local cultures, demand excessively, and do much more. They then return to their pseudo-society on the internet to share their so-called "thrilling" Himalayan adventure, seeking attention. Yet, they fail to truly understand the sport or the place they visited. I confidently say this because to truly experience the Himalayas, one must embrace silence, solitude, and rawness—values that come with a cost and a sacrifice. Unfortunately, they return with more friends, and the cycle repeats.
Top Indian trekking companies have worked tirelessly to glamorize trekking in the Himalayas, and they market it effectively. Not only do they boast about being India's largest trekking company, but they also colonize fixed camps in remote areas to cut operational costs, set up large toilets in eco-sensitive zones, and dump tons of human waste each year. They spread plastic and food waste across pristine regions of the Himalayas. While food waste is often overlooked, it's still a harmful presence in such delicate environments!
Mountains Do Not Call For Glamour, But Rather Take You Away From A Fake World, Into Reality, Away From Noises, Into Peace, and Silence
We stand on the opposite end with a different belief system, approach, and thought process.
We believe that mountaineering is a deeply personal sport, not meant for glamour or media attention. It’s about bettering ourselves, becoming stronger and humbler with each journey, and getting closer to nature by stepping out of our comfort zones. The Himalayas, in their vastness, remind us that as human beings, we are mere specks in comparison to the grandeur of Earth. Here, love means hard work and honesty; without it, you fail, and the consequences can be severe—sometimes even fatal.
The rapid increase in the number of trekkers has led to a rise in companies eager to capitalize on this demand. Adventure tourism, once a specialized service sector, has now become a product-based industry. Trekking tours are increasingly being sold like commodities—cheaper prices driving more sales. Some companies don’t even organize treks but simply sell them to local agencies at a cut-rate price. They depend on large groups to make the venture financially viable, promising fun but sacrificing quality.
It’s like a fish or vegetable market: the more you buy, the cheaper it gets. But the lower the price, the more the noise, and the worse the quality.
This phenomenon is damaging not only the quality of trekking but also costing lives. The biggest losers are the local stakeholders who are being pushed out by large companies that dominate the market with their social media and marketing power. The problem deepens as local agencies, desperate to compete, offer even cheaper rates, cutting corners in the process. As a result, news of trekkers receiving inadequate equipment, suffering from poor conditions, or even dying on treks due to mismanagement has become all too common. In 2021 alone, over 15 trekkers lost their lives due to poor-quality guides and mismanagement. Additionally, we’ve witnessed incidents like trekkers clashing with agencies, misbehaving guides, porters abandoning groups, and companies failing to obtain proper permits.
So, who loses in this race? Ultimately, it’s the true trekkers—and the Himalayas themselves—that suffer.
The consequences of these practices are so grave that I feel compelled to address them here on our website. Our peace and integrity matter just as much as the service we provide to you. So, here it is...