Scared You Can’t Backpack? Try It for a Weekend

Intro to Backpacking

Uttarakhand

Trip Highlights

Carry your world on your back. For two days, everything you need to live outdoors (shelter, food, water, warmth) travels with you. Find out it’s lighter than you think.
Pitch your own tent. Learn to choose a campsite, set up your shelter and make it home for the night, the skill at the heart of every backpacking trip.
Cook as a team. Fire up the stove, cook dinner together and learn how real backpacking trips feed themselves, from rationing to clean-up.
Pack like a backpacker. Learn what goes in, what stays home, and how to load your pack so the weight sits right through a full day on the trail.
Leave no trace. Water, waste, campfires and campsites: the habits that keep wild places wild and make you a backpacker the mountains want back.
The first step to longer trips. Two days that answer the question “Can I do this?” and prepare you for multi-day backpacking in the Himalayas.

Most people who want to backpack never start.

Not because they can’t, but because they’re not sure they can. Carrying everything on your back for days, pitching a tent, cooking in the cold, finding your way: it all sounds like something other people do.

Intro to Backpacking is where that changes.

Over one weekend, you’ll do everything we do on our longer backpacking programs, just in a shorter, gentler form. You’ll pack your bag, carry it on the trail, choose a campsite, pitch your tent, cook dinner with your team and wake up having lived outdoors on your own terms.

By Sunday evening, backpacking won’t scare you. It’ll be something you’ve already done.

Who this is for

This weekend is built for beginners who want to backpack but aren’t sure they’re ready. If you’ve done a few supported treks and want to go independent, it’s for you too. And if you already backpack, bring a friend who’s been meaning to try it.

When & Where

February weekends, across the winter trails around Dehradun and Mussoorie. We’ll confirm the exact location and meeting point one week before, based on the weather and the terrain.

Day 1 Saturday

Meet the team and gear check
How to pack a backpack: what to carry, what to leave behind, and how to load it
Hike to camp, carrying your pack, with the team’s shared gear split between everyone
Choosing a campsite and pitching your tent
Water: finding it, carrying it and treating it
Cooking dinner together on the stove
Layering for the cold and setting up for a warm night
Overnight camping (twin-sharing tents)

Day 2 Sunday

Breakfast, cooked by the team
Breaking camp and repacking
Leave No Trace: leaving the campsite as we found it
Hike out with your pack
Debrief: what you learned and how to plan your first multi-day trip
Lunch and depart

Minimum Fitness Required

You should be comfortable with:

Spending two days outdoors in winter conditions
Hiking for several hours a day on uneven trails, carrying a backpack
Sharing chores and working as part of a team

You don’t need:

Any previous backpacking or camping experience
Your own tent, stove or sleeping bag
Advanced trekking fitness

Our Expectations from Participants

Willingness to try and to get things wrong the first time
Patience with yourself and your team
Respect for the outdoors

Inclusion

Course: A full two-day, instructor-led backpacking course, with hands-on learning at every step.

Camping Equipment: Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, stoves and all group gear.

Meals: All rations from Saturday lunch to Sunday lunch, cooked together by the team.

Accommodation: Saturday night camping in twin-sharing tents.

Safety: Instructor supervision throughout, with a first aid and medical kit on hand.

Exclusion

Transport: Travel to and from the course location. We help coordinate shared vehicles from Dehradun; the cost is split among participants.

Personal Gear: Backpack, winter clothing, trekking shoes, headlamp and water bottles. We’ll send a packing list in advance.

Insurance: Insurance is not included. We recommend one that covers outdoor activities.

Accommodation Outside the Course: Any stay on Friday or Sunday night, if you need one.

Personal Expenses: Extra snacks, drinks and anything personal.

Anything not listed under inclusions.

I’ve never camped before. Can I join?

Yes. The weekend is built for exactly that. We start from the basics and do everything together, step by step.

How heavy will my backpack be?

Heavier than a daypack, lighter than you fear. You’ll carry your own gear plus a share of the team’s tents, food and stove, just like on a real backpacking trip. We’ll help you pack it so the weight sits right.

Do I need to buy any gear?

No. Tents, sleeping bags, mats, stoves and rations are provided. You only need your personal gear: a backpack, warm layers, trekking shoes and a headlamp. We’ll send a full packing list.

Who cooks?

Everyone. Cooking is part of the learning. You’ll prepare meals as a team, with our instructors guiding you.

Can I bring a friend who’s experienced, or one who’s never done this?

Yes, either. Experienced backpackers often bring friends who’ve been meaning to try it. Everyone learns at their own level.

What’s the difference between this and Navigation 101?

Intro to Backpacking teaches you to live outdoors: packing, carrying, camping and cooking. Navigation 101 teaches you to find your way: maps, compass and reading terrain. Together, they’re the foundation for independent backpacking.

How do I reach the course location?

Dehradun has direct flights from most major cities, and buses and trains from Delhi. We’ll share the exact meeting point and time one week before the course.

₹ 5,499 + 5% GST

Trip Category :

backpacking

Difficulty Rating :

Altitude :

8000 ft

Pickup & Drop :

Dehradun- Dehradun

Solitude Rating :

Distance :

18 km

We’re here to help. If you have any questions, call 928-639-2846 or contact us.

SELECT DATE TO REGISTER

2027-February

Feb 06 - Feb 07, 2027

5 seats

Feb 20 - Feb 21, 2027

Inclusion

Exclusion

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