TrekNomads Resumes Operations Post COVID-19!

Last Updated: 22/01/2021

Dear Nomads,

We are resuming operations!

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about some unprecedented challenges in the tourism and trekking sector.

After due considerations and post understanding the guidelines and precautions set by the respective State Governments and the Government of India, we have decided to resume our operations and reopen our treks, ensuring full safety and security of our Nomads and our on-ground staff.

While the COVID situation is still rampant in the country, we are doing our best to ensure safety while trekking. This is why we have decided to resume trekking for select treks across the country.

When did we resume trekking operations?

We started operations on 20th September 2020 and about 200 Nomads have trekked with us since then. Both are domestic and international departures are now open for booking.

Click here to view all our upcoming treks.

Departures in November:

Trek to Pangarchulla Summit
Trek to Kuari Pass

Departures in December:

Trek to Pangarchulla Summit
Trek to Kuari Pass
Trek to Kedarkantha Peak

Departures in January:

Trek to Kedarkantha Peak
Chadar Frozen River Trek
Mount Kilimanjaro Full Moon Summit and Safari

Departures in February:

Trek to Kedarkantha Peak
Mount Kilimanjaro Full Moon Summit and Safari

Departures in April & May:

Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Ri, Chola Pass & Kala Patthar Summit
Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar Summit 
Annapurna Circuit Trek

Travel Advisories:

As we prepare to reopen our treks, we’re also closely monitoring the travel advisories that the states are currently following. While these advisories keep changing, here is the most recent regulations by respective States & Union Territories and Countries.

• Trekkers will need to mandatorily register for an E-pass on Uttarakhand’s smart city web portal.
  • The process to register is mentioned below:
    • Visit http://smartcitydehradun.uk.gov.in/pravasi-registration
    • Click on the Apply button on the first box shown on the page
    • Fill up all the details on the page and upload necessary documents
    • Submit the form
    • Once you submit the form, you will receive a PDF with your registration ID
    • You can then download your registration pass with the ID that has been provided to you
    • Additionally, you will be required to submit a self-declaration form at Dehradun airport.
• It is not mandatory for Nomads to carry COVID-19 negative test report and no tests will be conducted upon arrival
• Nomads shall not require any kind of quarantine unless they test COVID positive or start showing symptoms after reaching Uttarakhand.
• The latest circular can be found here.

• You will be RT-PCR tested on arrival at the airport.
• You will need to quarantine yourself in a hotel until you receive a negative test result on your report. Reports usually take 24 hours.
• The State has opened its borders to tourists arriving by air only at the moment.

Current COVID regulations for tourists & trekkers going to Ladakh:

• Nomads will need to get COVID-19 RT-PCR done at any of the ICMR testing labs at Leh within 72 hours of arrival in Leh.
• Nomads must have trek insurance.

COVID regulations for tourists & trekkers going to Nepal:

• The government of Nepal has decided to allow mountaineering and trekking activities for foreigners from Oct 17 2020.
• Foreign nationals heading to Nepal will be required to carry a COVID-19 negative test not older than 72 hours from their home country while traveling to Nepal post-October 17th.
• As per the latest update – there is no requirement for mandatory hotel quarantine upon arrival in Nepal
• An antigen and PCR test will also be conducted at the Nepal airport for reconfirmation upon arrival
• All foreign nationals who meet the required criteria will be provided a visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport after October 17
• Further details on visa can be found here.

COVID regulations for tourists & trekkers going to Tanzania:

• India has as of 2 November 2020 entered into an air bubble agreement on commencement of to & fro flights to Tanzania. Further details on flight schedules are awaited. More information can be found here.

Click here to view all our upcoming treks.

Booking your Treks:

You can start booking your treks with us for all the above-mentioned departures. Any changes in regulations or schedules will be communicated to you directly. If you have any queries or concerns before booking your trek, please call us on +91 9886444809 or write to us at info@treknomads.com. 

Click here to view all our upcoming treks.

What do we recommend?

Considering the circumstances, we recommend and suggest that Nomads book their treks with private teams. When you trek with private teams, you have a sense of comfort when it comes to traveling together, sharing accommodation, and even spending 9 or more days without worrying about the pandemic. With this familiarity comes a sense of care where you start looking out for each other. To begin with, a private team will require a minimum of 4-6 Nomads.

We Have Relaxed our Cancellation Policy:

With the changing travel advisories and newer regulations coming into the picture, we understand that deciding and booking a trek can get tricky. This is exactly why we have decided to extend our COVID cancellation policy for all treks booked up until 31 December 2021.

For every trek booked until 31 December 2021, cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the departure date will eligible for a full trek voucher refund after deducting a 5% booking fee if you test positive.

The trek voucher will be valid until March 2022 and can be redeemed across any treks that we offer.

You can now plan your treks without worrying about last-minute cancellations.

What are the steps we’re taking to ensure the safety of our Nomads?

We have extensively studied the guidelines brought out by the World Health Organization, FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and state guidelines and developed our protocols along similar lines. These protocols will not only ensure the safety of our Nomads but also the safety of our on-ground staff who live in the mountains and our trek guides.

To take a look at the safety protocols we are following on our treks, click here.

FAQs on booking your upcoming treks:

If you’re interested in trekking solo:

If you’re a solo trekker or 2-3 people looking at joining a group, we’re happy to let you çan book your trek with us without a worry. We will accommodate your booking with an existing solo trekker or a small group such as yours.

So, how many Nomads are we taking on our treks:

We need at least 4 Nomads for a departure. The maximum number of registrations we’re accepting per departure are 8.

What happens if we do not have 4-6 participants?

If we don’t have 4-6 participants, that departure would be canceled and we may reach out to you and either give you a refund or request you to postpone your trek and give you a trek voucher. (Do note that these are uncertain times and Nomads may back out in case they show COVID-19 symptoms or due to any other emergencies.) 

What is the accommodation like for solo trekkers?

On a regular basis, our standard accommodation is twin sharing with separate beds. If you’re a solo trekker, you could either – share a room/tent with another solo trekker of the same gender or opt for single accommodation at an added cost (extra cost will be shared with you post raising a request with the TrekNomads team)

We’re a group of 2-3 members, how do we register?

The booking process shall remain the same, unless you have any other requests. You can book directly the trek for the departure of your choice on our website. The link to specific treks can be found at the beginning of this blog.

We can’t wait to see you on the trails!

For a list of all our upcoming treks, click here.