FAQs

Have Questions?

Booking and Registration

Q1: How would I know which treks are running?

Depending on season, availability, and forest permits, we keep changing the schedules of various treks and tours. To know which treks are running, follow these steps:

Choose the ‘Treks’ , ‘Himalayan Treks’ , or ‘Backpacking Trips’ option from the menu bar at the top.
You will see calendars respective to different pages. Choose a date with a red dot.
All departures on the selected date will appear in the right column.
To check the itinerary, click on one of the events.
That’s it.

If you have any other doubts/queries, call us. Here are the numbers:

Bangalore: 07760710005
Himalayan/Backpacking Trips: 08147086083

Registering with us is pretty smooth. Here are the steps to follow:

You choose your destination.
‘Select Date/Book’ from the right column.
Fill out your details.
Make payment via a mode of your choice: UPI, bank, Google Pay, Net Banking, Wallet, etc.

If the tour is not running on your favourable date, ring us and let us know about your scenario and the number of people. If it is feasible, we will customise your trek.

Yes, we customise treks and tours all the time. You can go with your group, choose dates, and get a personalised experience. In those terms, we are highly reachable.
You can reach us by any of these:

Write to us at [email protected].
Subject: Customise "Trek Name"
Body: Your details and a paragraph briefing your plan.
Dial +91 7760710005 for
Bangalore
customisations.
Dial +91 8147086083 for
Himalayan/Backpacking trip customisations.
Dial +91 8147086083 for
Corporate Enquiries.

Inclusions and exclusions are unique for each trek. You can find this information in the ‘Price Inclusions’ and ‘Price Exclusions’ sections of the respective event.
Most of the time, the following things are included:

Accommodations in Homestay/Camps on sharing basis as per itinerary.
Trekking & Safety equipment
First-aid kit
Meal Plan as suggested in the descriptive itinerary
Meal(mostly Vegetarian).
Trek leaders and local guide
All permits and camping charges
Oxygen Cylinder (on Himalayan Treks)

Also, know about the exclusions:

Personal expenses.
Additional accommodation/food costs incurred due to any delayed travel.
Any lunch and other meals not mentioned in Package Inclusions.
Any Airfare/Rail fare other than what is mentioned in “Inclusions” or any type of transportation from which is outside the itinerary.
Parking and monument entry fees during sightseeing.
Additional Costs due to Flight Cancellations, Landslides, Roadblocks, and other natural calamities.

You can get discounts in two ways:

Coupons: If you have a coupon, you can avail of them while booking.
Membership: Anybody can benefit from our membership plans.

We follow online-based transactions for payments, and you will be asked to pay the total amount as you book your travel/trekking slots with us.

After choosing your trek, on the right side of the respective page, you will find a booking option where you can choose your preferred dates and book your slots. We accept multiple options of online payments, such as wallets, debit cards, and net banking, to name a few.

For international fund transfers and payments, contact us.

GST of 5% is applicable on all our trips and travels. When you book your trek or tour, there are many options for individual preferences. Some available options are:

Single/Double/Triple/Quad occupancy;
Bike/Bus/Private cab;
‘Travel’ and ‘No Travel’.

Check various inclusions and exclusions of respective treks to estimate personal expenses on the trip.

Booking trips depends on the availability of slots. In many scenarios, seats are available one day before departure. Although on long weekends or festive holidays, tickets fill out in the wink of ]an eye. So, ensure you make your bookings in advance.

Cancellations, Reschedule and Transfers

Yes, tickets are transferable at PTU, excluding when there are inclusions of a need for permits and personal document checks. If you want to transfer your ticket, inform us about it in advance, contact us here.

For Departures from Bangalore: This is the cancellation policy we follow:

If you cancel seven days before – 90% of the amount will be refunded.
If you cancel between 3 – 6 days – 50% will be refunded.
If you cancel between 0-3 days – No Refund.

Note: For all the above refund cases, Transaction Fees/Internet Handling Charges will be deducted from the overall amount, and the balance amount shall be refunded. You can transfer your ticket to anyone, saving your hard-earned money.

Transfer to a future date is only possible if you cancel between 3-6 days before the trek date and not on the day of departure or a day before.

Check this link for a detailed Refund/Cancellation Policy.

Safety, Group Size and Sex Ratio

The exciting thing about travelling alone is you get to meet new people from diverse backgrounds, and towards the end, you are no longer strangers. Solo travellers are always welcome to join us on our trips. Read more about solo travelling here and get inspired!

Safety and security are our priorities at all times. It is safe for women/girls to join us on our treks and travels. Our trek leaders always accompany the team, and our campsites are secured and safe for accommodation. We also have female trek leaders who accompany us on most of the treks.

Women are as adventurous and adrenaline-pumped during treks and backpacking expeditions as men. Just like regular days, periods should not stop you from pursuing an adventure or travel. It is normal. Doctors recommend exercise and hiking to reduce pain and menstrual cramps.

Remember, periods can be uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t keep you off the trail. Many women have comfortably trekked and travelled with us before. Read this guide for detailed information about ‘Things Women Need to Know While Trekking’.

Our treks usually have an equal gender ratio. Be assured your friend will feel safe, have fun, and love the whole experience.

We believe that age is just a number and does not hinder one from exploring and travelling. The earlier you start, the better it is. However, we recommend children below 12 be accompanied by a guardian.

Read this ‘Humans who Trek’ story of a Father-Daughter duo who trek together . Read Sharvesh’s story, who is learning outside the bounds of his classroom.

Our destinations and stay locations are chosen with the utmost care, supervision and adequate research on reviews and customer satisfaction. Therefore our homestays/campsites are very safe for accommodation.

The usual size of our groups, excluding long weekend escapades, backpacking trips, Himalayan adventures, and new year events, is usually 8-30 people strong.

Our trek leads generally are well versed with the area and trekking routes. In addition, we have a local guide accompanying us on most of our treks.

Most of the time, there are no cafes on the trail. We recommend you carry snacks, preferably in a small box or container. Avoid taking plastic or anything that might harm the environment.

A trek can be exhausting, but if you are prepared for it, you enjoy the breathtaking views, radiate positive vibes and soak in everything that is not easy to find.

Cardio:Cardio raves up heart rate, as a result of which our body starts utilising stored glucose, i.e., glycogen; hence, giving the body energy to perform more tasks at hand.

Strength Training: It helps to build your muscle fibres in bulk. Strength training helps in toning muscles and improving core strength. As a result, muscle power improves.

Mental Endurance:On a trek, maintaining harmony is necessary. If height scares you and walking long distances makes your legs shiver, practice breathing exercises and meditation. These will significantly help you in controlling your senses.

Accommodations & Travel

Accommodation would be in shared tents or homestays, based on the itinerary of the respective trip. Our stay areas will offer basic facilities and ensure a comfortable stay.

We have separate rooms/dormitories/tents for men and women.

The food served is nutritious, adequate, and involves local/traditional cuisine.

To maintain good group dynamics, we strictly follow the 0 liquor policy. If we find anyone indulging in alcohol, we will take strict action against them. In this regard, we cut no slack whatsoever. PTU is known for its professionalism. Women feel safe with us; this reflects in the gender ratio on every trek.

Note: Although we respect everybody’s preferences, alcohol will not be allowed under any circumstances. If you pressurise trek leads or pass comments on co-trekkers for not allowing you, be ready to face the consequences.

Yes, we are flexible with stay types. We provide separate tents(or tents for two) if informed two days before the trip. Additional charges will apply

We ensure a sufficient number of washrooms in our campsites/homestays.

Luggage and baggage can be left in common rooms at the campsite, dormitories, or homestay rooms. These are our trusted partners, and you can keep your trust in them while leaving your personals. Still, we recommend you safeguard your valuables all the time.

We travel by tempo travellers and minibuses, based on the size of the group.

Sufficient charging points will be provided in the campsites and homestays. Hence you can charge your electronic devices. We suggest you nonetheless carry a power bank.

Yes, you can join us at the campsite directly. The package price will decrease if you use the ‘Without Travel’ option. Activities, stay, and food are the same for all customers in both cases. For any query about finding the stay or selection of route, you can contact us; our team is always happy to assist you.

There are two options for transportation: ‘With Travel’ and ‘Without Travel’.

* With Travel: PTU will arrange a vehicle. This will include the following –

PTU will arrange all your transport to and from the base city.
Any travel to places mentioned in the itinerary within the destination.

Example – Shubham chose the ‘With Travel’ option. A seat would be reserved for him to travel to and from the base city, travel for activities, travel from and to homestay to trek base, or any other case.

* With Travel: PTU will not arrange any vehicle. If you choose this, you will have to arrange for your vehicle to travel for the entire duration of the itinerary. This means –PTU will not arrange any vehicle to or from the base city.

Unless exclusively mentioned, PTU will not arrange for any travel within the destination.

Example – Shubham chose the ‘Without Travel’ option. He will not be eligible to board a PTU-arranged vehicle for any duration. Even if Shubham reaches the destination, say Gokarna, by bus or train, he will still be arranging auto/scooty for travelling within Gokarna.

Note: PTU will not be responsible for arranging vehicles in extreme scenarios, like private vehicle damage. We will only be accommodating people based on availability. No matter the distance, this would always be INR 1000 or more per person.

Pickup and Dropoff

The pickup and drop locations are usually the same as the website. Any change regarding the same will be intimated over email and WhatsApp.

Yes, we have other options for picking a traveller on board with a few locations provided that are on the route to our destination.

Croma Store, Sony World Signal
Trinity Circle Metro Station
Yeshwanthpur Metro Station
Goraguntepalya Metro Station
Nayandahalli Metro Station

Rest assured, all details regarding the bus and point of contact are communicated well in advance over WhatsApp and email.

Packing

Details on mandatory items and other trek requisites are below each trek's itinerary. For a detailed list, bookmark the below links:

First-ever trek
Himalayan treks
The Western treks
Mountaineering expedition

Trekking shoes or shoes that provide a good grip would suffice for a regular weekend trek. Please note that Himalayan treks have different requirements for shoes. To plan better, check out our detailed Guide on How to Choose the Best Trekking Shoes.

We don’t just organise treks and tours. Plan the Unplanned is known for detailed guides about everything related to trekking. Over the years, we have written multiple guides on choosing the right gears for your fit; read these piece by piece and get ready for the best experience.

Backpacks: Choosing the right one?
How to Choose High Altitude UV Protected Sunglasses?
How to wear Sunglasses over spectacles?
Contact Lenses or Spectacles
Which Jacket to buy?

We recommend you carry your id proof (Aadhar Card, Voter ID, licence etc.). If you are a foreign national, it is mandatory to carry your passport. In addition, if there are any other requisites, the same will be intimated to you before the trip.

Safety and First Aid

Each trek leader is trained in giving first aid. In medical emergencies, we ensure that the fellow trekker is taken to the nearest hospital in medical emergencies. If you want insurance, please get in touch with us.

Trek and Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive guide.

Wild can get really Wild. When you land your foot at a high altitude, you are prepared to land into trouble. You may have muscle pain, past diseases that may worsen, external injuries, or normal fatigue. All pain suggests something is wrong with the normal functioning of the body. Any symptoms your body throw must be quickly brought under the radar. First aid can help you mitigate the risk and recover from injuries in the wild. Hence, we made a comprehensive list of essential items and medicines to keep in a first-aid kit for treks.

Read this Best first First Aid kit for Hiking.

Membership

Anybody can avail of our membership plans. For more details, check here.

By being affiliated with ATOAI, and receiving the Travel and Hospitality Award for 2021 and Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor in 2019 & 2020, we have repeatedly proved that we are committed to you.

That is why we present this small gift to you—Travel Club Membership. Get up to 50% discount, up to 90% refund on cancellations, earn money with referrals and win a cool PTU merchandise T-Shirt or bag. 1000+ members have already availed of the membership. Limited slots left. Grab Your Membership Plan now!

Details for availing of free treks or discounts are in the following link.

Others

Working, Getting Featured

As we grow, we need your support to keep our pillars of strength intact. We are looking to expand across dimensions, and we need your help. Check out current openingshere..

Humans Who Trek is an initiative to connect and motivate people using the power of storytelling. If this form reaches you, you are the light. If you have a story to share, kindly fill out this form ; we would love to share your story with the world.

All about Treks

Easy Treks: Tarsar Marsar Trek, Agumbe Exploration, Hampta Pass and Chandratal Trek, Kotagiri Trek, Nishani Motte Trek Coorg, Kasol Kheerganga Trek.

Moderate Treks: Brahmatal, Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, Kedarkantha Trek, Valley of Flowers Trek, Bandaje Trek, Nethravathi Peak Trek, Dudhsagar Trek.

Difficult Treks: Kumara Parvatha Trek, Pangarchulla Peak Trek, Harishchandragad Trek.

The difficulty level is subjective for each individual. We put a trek into one of these categories based on different parameters.

Beginners, gear up! Kickstart your journey into the wild and a life of adventures, and travel with some of our best weekend trips planned with utmost quality and fun!

Misty Peaks and the gorgeous greens of Coorg offer amateur trekkers four of its best spots: Shepherd’s trail, Kopatty, Nishani Motte and Tadiandamol for trekking.

Lush tea gardens of Wayanad, Kodaikanal, Kotagiri, and Munnar have the best itineraries too!

Kurinjal Peak trek in Kudremukh could also be your pick if panoramic views and dense jungles fascinate you.

One could also start by cooling off on the sandy shores of the ocean. Join us on the Gokarna beach trek and Camping or Kumta Beach trek.

If you have just one day and would love to try something fun and light, hop onto our Uttari Betta Sunset Trek, Gudibande Sunrise trek, Makalidurga trek, or Kunti Betta Day trek. They are all easy!

Popular One-day treks near Bangalore:

Makalidurga Trek
Uttari Betta Trek
Skandagiri Trek
Kunti Betta Trek

Popular Two-day treks near Bangalore:

Bandaje and Ballalarayana Durga Trek
Kudremukh Trek
Dudhsagar Trek
Kumara Parvatha Trek
Kodachadri Trek
Nethravathi Peak Trek

Contact Us Directly

Your questions should not go unanswered. To speak to us directly, call us on the following numbers from respective departments:

Bangalore: 07760710005
Himalayan/Backpacking Trips:08147086083
Refunds/Cancellations:09482070194

To get in touch via email, write to us at [email protected]. We usually reply within 24 hours.