We’ve been doing something very special with our Indiahikes Trekking Club — Documentation Treks.

These are treks where we go on off-beat routes with the clear objective of creating a detailed trek documentation. The team comes together to contribute different sections — GPX recordings, trail descriptions, highlights, cultural insights, and photos.

Within 3-4 days of the trek, they produce a comprehensive trek documentation that anyone can use to know the trek and even do it on their own.

Why be part of a Documentation Trek ?

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai Chapters of the Indiahikes Trekking Club have already put together more than 20 trek documentations describing hikes around their own cities. And while this contributes immensely to growing trekking in our country,  we also see trekkers take away tremendous value from these treks.

• They get to work closely with the Indiahikes Documentation Team and get to understand how crucial reliable information is to trekking. They see the impact of the information they bring out, first hand.
• They get savvy with offline navigation and trail-recording tools like Gaia.
• They experience the trek at a depth no one else perhaps will — noticing every ridge, forest, and turn in the trail.
• They share the joy of showing the world a trek through their eyes.
• And finally, the adrenaline of working together as a team to put together a detailed trek report for generations of trekkers to use in the future is incomparable.

And now, for the first time, we want to open up this experience for trekkers, who might not be part of the Indiahikes Trekking Club. We’re putting together a similar team to documentAancha Top, a little-known Himalayan Trek in Uttarakhand's Yamunotri Valley.

Why Aancha Top ?

Aancha Top is one of the newest treks in our Indiahikes catalogue. While we already know the route, there’s so much more waiting to be discovered and documented.

• The trek starts from the remote Himalayan Village of Ranachatti. We want to document how trekkers can reach this place using nothing but public transport.

• The trail takes you through dense mixed forests, open meadows, and a high ridge— each with its own micro-ecosystem. We want to identify and record the flora and fauna that thrive here. 

• The local communities around Aancha depend deeply on these landscapes — for firewood, grazing, medicinal herbs, and seasonal produce. We want to understand this relationship between locals and the forest ecosystem. 

• Several mountain streams crisscross the route — we want to study maps and see where they emerge, what they are called locally, and which rivers they eventually join.

• We also want to bring alive the campsites — what they look like, what views they offer, how the landscape transforms through the day.

• Most importantly, we want to record the stories and lore that surround these mountains — the legends locals associate with the valleys, passes, and peaks.

What You'll Do as Part of the Documentation Team

Basic Objective:By the end of this trek, the team will produce a complete documentation of the Aancha Top Trek — a full-fledged trek report that showcases the route, its landscape, and its stories. This will also serve as the model for future Himalayan Documentation Treks at Indiahikes.

Here’s what the team will focus on to achieve the objective:

• Work with a detailed questionnaire covering the trek route, terrain features, flora, fauna, and cultural aspects.

• Make notes as you trek — describe trail sections, campsites, forests, streams, and ridges.

• Have conversations with local guides and elderly locals to collect stories and background information.

• Record a complete GPX file of the route.

• Capture strong visual documentation — trail shots, flora and fauna, campsites, and local life.

• Participate pre- and post-trek — researching before the trek and helping compile the final report after.

• Divide responsibilities within the team — some focus on route and terrain, others on nature, people, or visuals.

Note: Taking up these responsibilities is mandatory. It is the crux of the experience. If this doesn’t excite you or feels like too much commitment, we understand and that’s completely okay. But a Documentation Trek may not be the right fit for you. 

The Indiahikes Experience on a Documentation Trek

• This is not an exploratory or pilot group.
• The Aancha Top route is a known and well-established trail, and you’ll get the complete Indiahikes experience just like on any of our regular treks — with all the safety systems, infrastructure, and high-quality experience we are known for.
• In addition, you'll get to work closely with our Documentation Team who will guide you on every step of the experience.
• There are no extra charges for trekkers participating in a Documentation Trek. You only pay the regular Trek Fee for the Aancha Top Trek.

Like all other Indiahikes Trek, you will have:

• Trained Trek Leaders: Your Trek Leader ensures seamless operations on the trek and also serves as your lead facilitator, nature guide, and storyteller — making sure the trek is both safe and enriching. All Indiahikes Trek Leaders are trained naturalists and highly skilled in managing medical emergencies, ensuring your safety in high-altitude and remote wilderness conditions.
• Local Guides: Our local guides bring the region alive with their deep knowledge of local flora, fauna, geography, and customs — adding a rich cultural layer to your experience.
• Dedicated Kitchen Team: Our kitchen team takes charge of your food experience on the trek, preparing wholesome, delicious meals throughout.
• All Essential Camping Gear: You’ll have access to custom-made sleeping bags rated for sub-zero temperatures (up to -10°C), hygiene liners, sleeping tents, and foam mats. When required, additional safety gear such as helmets, gaiters, and micro-spikes will also be provided.
• Medical Safety Gear: Our team carries an elaborate medical kit, including oxygen cylinders that accompany the trek at all times. Trek Leaders and guides are trained to handle medical situations in the wilderness. Every campsite is further equipped with large oxygen cylinders and medical infrastructure for emergencies.

Before Registering, Please Note:

1. This is going to be a trek with a very definite documentation focus.
2. The aim is to produce a proper, detailed trek report at the end.
3. Team members will need to take up pre-trek and post-trek responsibilities to research the topics and compile a report.
4. Indiahikes will provide all guidance — knowledge, skills, and methods — to help you create the documentation.
5. If you are truly interested in being part of Pilot Groups or Exploration Treks, going forward, this is an opportunity you must not miss.