Everything you wanted to ask us
Booking, safety, altitude, what is in the bag and what happens if it snows — the questions we get most, answered honestly and in full.
General
5 QuestionsWho we are, what we run, and whether our treks are the right fit for you.
What kind of trips does Olixora organise?
We run guided Himalayan treks and adventure trips across five regions — Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Jammu & Kashmir. Most of our departures are beginner-friendly summit treks like Kedarkantha, Chopta Tungnath Chandrashila and Kuari Pass, alongside moderate crossovers like Hampta Pass and a winter ski course in Gulmarg. Trips run from 3 to 7 days, with fixed departure dates you can join as an individual or a group.
I have never trekked before. Can I still join?
Yes, and most of our trekkers are first-timers. Treks like Kedarkantha (12,500 ft) and Chopta Tungnath (13,123 ft) are graded easy and are specifically chosen as introductions to high-altitude trekking — the trails are non-technical, well-marked, and the altitude is gained gradually across several days so your body adapts. What you do need is basic cardiovascular fitness. We suggest starting a walking or jogging routine three to four weeks before departure, aiming to cover 5 km comfortably in about 40 minutes. Prior trekking experience is not required; basic fitness and a willing attitude are.
How large are your trekking groups?
We deliberately keep groups small so the trek leader can pace the walk around the slowest person rather than the fastest. Our typical batch size is 10 to 15 trekkers with a dedicated trek leader, supported by local guides and kitchen staff. Smaller groups mean faster response if someone feels unwell and a far better experience at camp.
Can I join a trek on my own? Is it safe for solo women travellers?
Solo travelers make up a large share of every batch, so you will not be the only one. You will be grouped with trekkers of similar interests, and our trek leaders are briefed to look out for anyone travelling alone. For women trekking solo, tents and rooms are shared same-gender only, never mixed, unless you are travelling with your own group and request otherwise. If you would prefer to speak to someone before booking, message us on WhatsApp at +91 85820 75402 and we will talk you through it.
Do you organise private or customised trips?
Yes. Alongside our fixed departures we arrange private departures for families, friend groups, college batches and corporate teams, on dates that suit you. We can adjust the itinerary length, add rest days, upgrade accommodation at the base, or combine a trek with sightseeing. Private groups usually need a minimum of 6 people to be viable. Send us your dates and rough group size and we will put together a plan and a quote.
Booking & Cancellation
5 QuestionsPayments, refunds, date changes, and what happens if a departure is called off.
How do I book a trek with Olixora?
Pick your trek from our trips page, choose a departure date, and complete the booking through the enquiry or checkout form on that trip’s page. You can also book directly over WhatsApp at +91 85820 75402 or by emailing info@olixoratravels.com if you would rather talk it through first. Once we receive your booking amount you will get a written confirmation by email along with a detailed pre-departure kit — route plan, packing list, pickup time and point, and what to expect each day.
How much do I need to pay to confirm my booking?
We ask for an advance to confirm your slot, with the balance payable before the departure date. The advance covers costs we commit to well ahead of the trek — permits, ration purchases, transport bookings and campsite arrangements — which is why it is treated separately from the balance. If you book within the balance-due window, the full amount is payable at the time of booking. We accept UPI, bank transfer and major cards.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Cancellation requests must be sent in writing to info@olixoratravels.com from the email address used for the booking; requests sent only over WhatsApp or phone cannot be processed. Refunds are calculated from the number of calendar days between the date we receive your written request and your departure date:
- 30 or more days before departure — full refund minus the advance
- 21 to 29 days before departure — 75% of the total trek fee
- 11 to 20 days before departure — 50% of the total trek fee
- 10 days or fewer, no-show, or leaving mid-trek — no refund
Travel you book independently to reach the base — trains, flights, buses — is outside our scope and cannot be refunded by us.
What happens if Olixora cancels the trek?
If we cancel a departure before it begins — because of heavy snowfall, road closures, landslides, government restrictions or any other situation outside our control — you can move to another date, switch to a different trek of equal value, or take a full refund of what you have paid us. If a trek has to be cut short after it has started, we will always prioritize getting the group down safely; in that situation we are not able to refund the unused days, since campsites, rations and staff for the full duration have already been committed. This is why we ask everyone to keep some flexibility in their return travel plans.
Can I transfer my booking to someone else or to another date?
Yes to both, provided you tell us in writing at least 15 days before your departure date. Transferring your slot to a friend or family member on the same batch carries no charge — we simply need their details for permits. Moving to a different date or a different trek is also possible, with any difference in trek cost payable by you. Rescheduled bookings become non-refundable after the change.
Policies & Safety
5 QuestionsAltitude sickness, medical support, insurance, age limits and the rules we enforce.
What about altitude sickness? How do you handle AMS?
Acute Mountain Sickness becomes a real risk above roughly 8,000 ft, and it is not related to how fit you are — it depends on how quickly your body adapts to lower air pressure. Our itineraries are built around gradual altitude gain with acclimatisation built in, which is why our beginner treks stay below the 14,000 ft mark where AMS becomes significantly more common. Trek leaders monitor the group for early symptoms — headache, nausea, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping — and carry a pulse oximeter to check oxygen saturation at higher camps. If symptoms appear, the response is always the same: stop, rest, and if needed descend. Tell your trek leader immediately if you feel unwell. There is never any penalty for speaking up, and no trekker is ever pushed to continue.
What safety equipment and medical support do you carry?
Every departure carries a comprehensive first-aid kit, a pulse oximeter, and emergency oxygen. Trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid and in recognising altitude-related illness. We brief the group on the evacuation route from every campsite before we set out, and our leaders carry the contact details of the nearest medical facility and, where relevant, local rescue services. Mountain conditions can change quickly, so our leaders have full authority to alter or abandon a route on safety grounds — a decision that is never overruled.
Do I need travel or medical insurance?
We strongly recommend adventure travel insurance that specifically covers high-altitude trekking, including emergency evacuation. Standard travel policies often exclude activities above a stated altitude, so check the fine print rather than assuming you are covered. Note that helicopter evacuation in the Himalayas is weather-dependent and can never be guaranteed regardless of insurance.
Is there an age limit for your treks?
The minimum age for our treks is 15 years. Trekkers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the same departure. There is no upper age limit — we have had trekkers well into their fifties and sixties complete our beginner summits comfortably. What matters is your current fitness and health rather than your age. If you have any heart condition, respiratory condition such as asthma, uncontrolled blood pressure or diabetes, or if you are pregnant, please speak to your doctor and then to us before booking so we can advise honestly on whether a particular trek is right for you.
What is your policy on alcohol and smoking during the trek?
Alcohol is not permitted on any of our treks. At altitude, alcohol worsens dehydration and interferes with acclimatisation, which measurably raises your risk of altitude sickness. Smoking is strongly discouraged for the same reason — reduced oxygen availability is exactly what your body is already working against. This is a safety rule rather than a moral one, and trek leaders enforce it.
Extras
5 QuestionsInclusions, gear rental, offloading, reaching the base and group discounts.
What is included in the trek price, and what is not?
Included: accommodation throughout the trek (hotel or guesthouse at base, tents on trail), all meals from the start point to the end point, transport from the designated pickup city and back, a qualified trek leader and local guides, forest permits and camping charges, safety equipment including first-aid and emergency oxygen, and shared common gear such as tents and kitchen equipment.
Not included: travel from your home city to the pickup point, personal trekking gear and clothing, personal expenses and snacks, travel insurance, porter or mule charges for personal bags, anything caused by delays outside our control, and anything not listed under inclusions on that trip’s page.
Please always check the specific trip page, since inclusions vary slightly by trek.
Can I rent trekking gear, or do I need to buy everything?
You do not need to buy expensive gear for your first trek. We can arrange rental for the items most people do not already own — insulated jackets, sleeping bags, trekking poles and microspikes for snow sections. Rental items are charged separately and should be requested at least 7 days before departure so we can carry the right sizes. Personal items like trekking shoes, thermals and socks should be your own, both for hygiene and because badly fitting shoes are the single most common cause of a miserable trek.
Can someone carry my backpack? What does offloading cost?
Yes. Porter or mule offloading is available on most of our treks and is charged per day. It must be requested in advance — arranging it on the spot at the base is usually not possible, since porter numbers are fixed when permits are filed. Offloaded bags are carried to the campsite, so you will need a daypack for water, snacks, a warm layer and anything you need during the walk. There is a weight limit per offloaded bag.
How do I reach the starting point? Do you help with travel?
Our Uttarakhand treks depart from Delhi or Rishikesh, and our Himachal treks from Manali; the exact pickup point and time are listed on each trip page and confirmed in your booking email. Travel from your home city to that point is not included in the trek cost, but we will happily advise on the best trains, buses or flights and the timings that connect with our pickup. We recommend booking your return travel for at least one day after the trek ends, since mountain road delays are common and beyond anyone’s control.
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes — groups booking together on the same departure are eligible for a discount, and the rate improves with group size. This works well for college groups, corporate teams and families. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 85820 75402 with your group size and preferred dates for a quote. We also run seasonal offers on selected departures, which appear directly on the trip pages.
On the Trip
7 QuestionsTents, food, toilets and mobile signal, plus what to pack, when to go, and what happens if you cannot continue.
Where will I sleep during the trek?
At the base village you will usually stay in a guesthouse or homestay, and on the trail in tents at established campsites. Tents are shared on a twin-sharing or triple-sharing basis, always same-gender unless you are travelling with your own group. We provide the tents, sleeping bags rated for the season, and insulated sleeping mats. Nights at higher camps get genuinely cold — expect −5°C to −10°C on winter treks — so the sleeping bag rating and your own thermal layers matter more than anything else you pack.
What kind of food do you serve? Can you handle dietary requirements?
All meals on our treks are vegetarian, freshly cooked at camp by our own kitchen team. A typical day includes bed tea, breakfast, a packed lunch or hot lunch on the trail, evening snacks with tea, and dinner. Portions are generous, because you will be burning far more than usual. We can accommodate Jain, vegan and most allergy requirements if you tell us at the time of booking rather than on the morning of departure — remote campsites give our kitchen team no way to improvise. Please flag any serious allergy in writing when you book.
Are there toilets and washing facilities on the trek?
At the base village there are normal toilets and running water. On the trail, campsites have dry toilet tents — a deep pit dug at each site with a tent placed over it, which is the standard arrangement across Himalayan trekking and is cleared and restored when we leave. There are no showers on trail; most trekkers manage with wet wipes for the two to three nights at altitude, and honestly, in sub-zero temperatures very few people miss the shower. Carry your own toilet paper and a small bag for waste, since we carry all non-biodegradable waste back down with us.
Trekkers who are menstruating during the trek can and regularly do complete these treks without difficulty. Bring what you normally use plus a supply of zip-lock bags for disposal, and let your trek leader know if you would like any additional support — it will be handled discreetly.
Will I have mobile network? Can I charge my phone?
Expect network at the base village on Jio and Airtel, and expect to lose it entirely once you start climbing. On most of our treks you will have no signal for two to three days. There is no electricity at the campsites, so carry a fully charged power bank — and keep it inside your sleeping bag at night, because cold drains batteries fast. Tell your family in advance that you will be uncontactable for a couple of days; our office remains reachable at +91 85820 75402 for anything urgent, and trek leaders carry their own means of communication for emergencies.
What happens if I cannot complete the trek?
Nobody is ever forced to continue. If you decide to turn back, or if the trek leader judges on medical grounds that you should descend, you will be accompanied down by a support staff member to the base and looked after until the rest of the group returns. Descending on medical advice is not a failure and it happens on plenty of departures. Please note that the trek fee cannot be refunded for unused days in this situation, since the costs for your full duration have already been committed.
What should I pack for a Himalayan trek?
The short version: proper trekking shoes with ankle support that you have already broken in, three warm layers rather than one thick jacket, a waterproof outer shell, thermals, woollen socks, gloves, a warm cap, sunglasses with UV protection, sunscreen, a one-litre water bottle, a power bank, a headlamp, and any personal medication. Cotton is the one thing to avoid — it holds sweat and stays cold. Every trip page carries a detailed packing list, and we send the full checklist with your booking confirmation.
What is the best time of year for these treks?
It depends on the trek and on what you want to see. Kedarkantha and Chopta Tungnath are at their best in winter, from December to April, when the trails hold snow. Kuari Pass works well in spring for rhododendron blooms and in autumn for the clearest mountain views. Hampta Pass runs from mid-June to September, once the pass opens after the winter. The Gulmarg ski course runs through the winter months. Each trip page lists its own recommended season.
Question we have not answered?
Twenty-seven answers still will not cover everything — and the ones people ask us on WhatsApp are usually the most specific. Tell us your dates, your fitness, or the thing you are quietly worried about. We answer honestly, even when the honest answer is that a trek is not right for you.
Or email info@olixoratravels.com — we reply within a day.