Know before you come

Passport:

Make sure your passport is valid for up to 6 months from your return date.

Visa:

You need a Visa from the Indian Embassy of your home country before travelling to India.

Clothing in India

Proper clothing is an important aspect of travelling. You need to dress according to your travel theme and weather. There are certain remote rural areas where locals are conservative about clothes and wearing body revealing clothes are regarded as socially unacceptable and rude. Make sure your stay in India is most comfortable and enjoyable by selecting India- Friendly clothes..

If you are going for mountaineering, you must be well equipped with items like:

  • Good underwear
  • Expedition weight bottoms
  • Fleece jacket
  • Storm pants
  • Expedition parka
  • Weather friendly hats
  • Gloves and mittens
  • High quality boots
  • High quality socks
  • Gaiter
  • Sunglasses
  • Small first aid kit
  • Hand warmers
  • Head torch
  • Sunscreen and small thermos
  • Camera J
Likewise Trekking can be more fun and pleasurable if you have items like
  • Light weight walking boots
  • Spare laces
  • A pair of track shoes
  • Warm jacket
  • Woolen shirts ad thick sweaters
  • Windproof/ waterproof trousers
  • Thermal underwear
  • A tracksuit
  • 2 pair of loose fitting long shorts
  • Light weight sleeved shirt
  • A woolen hat, a pair of gloves
  • Sun hat and Sunscreen
  • Torch or flashlight
  • Water bottle
  • Spare sunglasses and prescription glasses or lens
  • 1 pair of sandals, thick woolen socks and other personal equipments and accessories.
  • If it is early and late season you can require a pair of gaiters to walk on the snow over the passes.
Clothing list for Cycling in India:
  • Poncho/ Light weight Kagool
  • Long sleeved shirts
  • Cycling Shorts- breathable is ideal
  • T- Shirts
  • Sandals/ flip flops for wearing around the camp in the evening
  • Fleece
  • 3-4 additional torso layers
  • Trousers for evening
  • Additional warm hat
  • Underwear (should be lightweight, cotton and loose fitting)
Cycling Gear List: This is all essential
  • Cycling Helmet. You must bring your own
  • Cycling gloves
  • Cycling shorts
  • Buff/ Neckerchief
And if you are joining us on a Motorbike tour, the essential items to bring along would be:
  • Good crash Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Sunglasses
  • Waterproof bike boots, shin and ankle protection
  • Protective trousers
  • Protective jackets
  • Protective gloves
  • Windproof and waterproof trousers and jackets
  • Scarf or bandana to keep dust out of your nose and mouth
  • Warm Fleece

You can get a more comprehensive detail on the clothing required for your particular trip from Himalayan Challenges.

First Aid Kit:

We carry an extensive medical kit and Oxygen (for high Altitude) on every trek/tour, but would advise you to bring your own small personal first aid kit too, plus any medication that you might be already taking. A list if the items you might require are:

  • Suncream and after sun cream and lip salve
  • Anti Septic Cream
  • Suitable insect repellant
  • Antihistamine cream (for relief from insect bites)
  • Anti- diarrheal (Diocalm, Immodium…)
  • Analgesics- but NOT Codiene- based painkillers
  • Antibiotics- A broad spectrum Antibiotic for treating a variety of infections.
  • Plaster and a blister repair kit- such as Compeed
  • Rehydration salts- (Oral) such as Dioralite or similar.
  • Glucose tablets (Dextrose or similar) or energy boosts.
  • Multi Vitamins Tablets are also a good idea.
  • Hand sanitizers
  • Plasters of various sizes
Indian Currency:

India currency comes in the form of paper notes and coins. Paper notes are called Rupees (Rs.) and only 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees notes are available. Where as coins are called Paise and there are coins of 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 paise and Rs. 1, 2, 5 and 10. One Indian Rupee is equivalent to 100 paise. Information on current exchange rates is easily available at banks and Western Unions. You can get your money exchanged at the International Airport or at Western Unions (you might get a better exchange rate here). While travelling to India, you must carry with you some cash in Indian Currency and Travelers’ Cheques. When it comes to foreign currencies, US Dollars are widely accepted. If you are travelling with cash, bank notes and travelers’ cheques amounting to US $2500 or equivalent in any other currency, you do not need to submit declaration form at the time of entering India but for US $ 10,000 or more you certainly have to.

Eating and Drinking in India:

While travelling to India you must stay physically fit and healthy to have the best travel experience. For this, you need to be very cautious and conscious about what you drink and eat. As you must be aware that most of the diseases are waterborne, therefore you must drink only safe water. Never drink tap water and stick to bottled mineral water bought from decent looking shops and not road side vendors. Prior to purchasing the bottles always check the seal cap, labels and expiry date. Reputed hotels and restaurants provide good drinking water. If you are travelling in rural areas, you may not be able to get bottled water. Here you can either drink boiled water or use water purification tablets.
As for eatables, eat in places that look relatively hygienic. Also avoid eating raw food like salads. If you want to eat fruits remove the skin before eating. Hand sanitize your hands before eating.

Insurance

You must be covered by a comprehensive travel insurance policy, which covers you for all the activities you intend to undertake. It must also cover you for helicopter rescue and for repatriation. Make sure that your insurance company is prepared to accept that your guide can request helicopter rescue without having to contact them first for approval. This is extremely important, as the guide needs to be able to act immediately if he believes an emergency evacuation of the sick or injured client is necessary. Please seek confirmation in writing from you insurers that each of these three conditions is satisfied and bring it with you. We will need to see it in order to make a copy for your file.

Extra Day in Delhi

Due to the unpredictability of weather in mountainous regions, not every flight can be guaranteed. Therefore, in order to try and minimize the risk of missing your international connection, we allow for an extra day in Delhi before you return to your country, in case of cancellation and reschedule of your flight.

Altitude Advice

Most of our trekking and climbing holidays involve going to fairly high altitude. If you are healthy and reasonably fit, this should not be something to worry about. However, age and level of fitness have been shown to have no connection with the onset of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). If you have suffered serious problems at altitudes before, you should seek advice of your doctor or a specialist on the subject before making a booking. All our itineraries are designed to provide the best possible acclimatization program, but some people will react to altitude in minor ways. We are widely experienced in these matters and are always ready to give help and advice to minimize any temporary discomfort that you might experience.

Diamox:

A number of studies have consistently shown that the controlled intake of Diamox (Acetazolamide) can be effective in reducing some of the symptoms of AMS. We would recommend that you ask your doctor for advice and provide you with a small supply of Diamox (12 x 250mg tablets). Depending on what country you live in. you may have to get this drug on a private prescription.

Getting Fit(ter)

It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trek or tour to get some additional exercise. The fitter you are, the more enjoyable your holiday would be. Our treks can be physically demanding, but more as a result of altitude and terrain than distances walked. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country. Jogging, squash and swimming are also good for developing better stamina.

Tipping

Not just in India, everywhere in Asia tipping is a big part of the culture. The tip is usually an additional payment for good and very good services and is an important ritual at the end of each trek/tour. People expect tip not just in hotels and restaurants, each porter, driver and the whole trekking crew hopes for a generous tip at the end of their services.
But one must remember that tip is not a supplement for wage. All of our employees are paid fair wages. Therefore give tip only if you are satisfied with the work of the team. If you are disappointed let us and the trekking team know.
How much to tip? Many clients ask for the amount to be given. A simple hint: put around $ 5-7 per day aside. For 10 trekking days around $ 50- 70 for the team.

Respect People and their Culture

Every country has its own particular customs. These may appear strange to you, as you are strange to them. Please remember when travelling to remote places that the local people have a right to privacy and respect, after all you are visiting their home. As a general rule, wear appropriate clothing- nothing too revealing. Please try to learn about the culture and customs of the country you are visiting before you travel. Don’t ask people to behave in a manner contrary to their own traditions. Always ask before taking a photograph. You will find most people are happy for you to do so, but avoid being intrusive with your camera. Being on holiday is no excuse for inappropriate behavior.

Leave nothing but Footprints behind

We must all make every effort to minimize our impact to the environment, which we are privileged to travel through. By following some simple “Do’s and Don’ts” we can all make a contribution.

Dos’
  • Remove any extra packaging before you travel.
  • Dispose of any waste at a suitable place
  • Be aware of the impact of any of your actions.
  • Encourage others to behave responsibly also
  • Leave places as you found them (or better)
  • Take your old batteries home, as we have no facilities to dispose of them safely
  • We bring out all the non-biodegradable waste on the trek and take responsibility for our rubbish.
  • Ask your guide, or any of us for advice.
Don’ts'
  • Cause unnecessary noise
  • Cause offence to the local traditions and customs
  • Cause damage to plant and animal life
  • Attract unnecessary attention to yourself

By these simple guidelines you’ll find making friends with the local people much more rewarding. The environment you have travelled through can then remain unspoiled for the benefit of the inhabitants and for other visitors like you.