Vivek Saini
In the Indian trekking world, the conversation around difficulty often begins and ends with three vague labels: Easy. Moderate. Difficult.
But if you've spent any real time on the trail, navigating tricky ascents, managing your pack on long days, or feeling the thin air at altitude, you know these labels are fundamentally broken.
They tell you almost nothing about the specific demands of a trek: how far you'll walk each day, how much you'll climb, the actual ground beneath your feet, or the highest point you'll reach.
This ambiguity isn't just inconvenient; it leads to unpreparedness, risks, and often, a disheartening experience.
At Odyssey, trekkers deserve more than guesswork. We're building a more honest, helpful, and detailed difficulty rating system, one that truly empowers you to pick the right trek, prepare effectively, and ultimately, love every step of your adventure
Why the Old System Fails Trekkers
Trekking isn't just a walk in the park, even if an "Easy" label might suggest it. It demands specific physical strength, mental resilience, thoughtful planning, and often, the sheer grit to keep going when conditions get tough. The current system fails trekkers by:
-Being Vague: "Easy" on one company's site might be "Moderate" on another, even for the same trail. There's no industry standard, leading to widespread inconsistency.
-Creating Misconceptions: An "Easy" tag can lull trekkers into a false sense of security, forgetting they are still heading into a challenging mountain environment.
-Lacking Actionable Information: How do you train for "moderate"? What gear do you pack for "difficult" terrain when you don't know what kind of difficulty it is?
This broken system primarily harms trekkers and potential participants who are left guessing on what basis to choose a trek, and critically, how to truly prepare for it.
Odyssey’s Solution: Clarity Through Detail
Instead of vague labels, we break down trek difficulty into four precise, quantifiable factors. These are the details that genuinely impact your experience and preparation:
Average Distance per Day: This tells you the sustained effort required. We calculate this by dividing the total trek distance by the number of trekkable days. A 10 km daily average over rocky terrain is vastly different from 4 km on a gentle slope.
Average Elevation Gain per Day: This reveals the daily vertical challenge. It's the total elevation gained over the trek divided by the number of trekking days. Knowing this helps you understand the intensity of the ascents you'll face daily.
Precise Terrain: This specifies the ground you'll cover, including not just the surface but also the gradient. Is it well-marked, uneven, rocky, snowy, or exposed? This detail is crucial for choosing footwear, trekking poles, and understanding potential hazards.
The (G) notation indicates the presence of a Glacial Traverse, with its overall technicality determining the terrain level.
Maximum Altitude of the Trek: This is critical for understanding acclimatisation needs and potential risks of altitude sickness. Knowing the highest point you'll reach directly informs your physical preparation and awareness of AMS symptoms.
Explaining the Overall Trek Level Determination
So, how does Odyssey assign an overall difficulty level to a trek?
We believe in providing a comprehensive picture. We calculate the average of the individual levels across all four factors:
Average Distance per Day, Average Elevation Gain per Day, Precise Terrain, and Maximum Altitude of the Trek.
This average provides the trek's primary overall difficulty rating, giving you a balanced understanding of its general demands.
However, a truly informed decision requires knowing more than just the average. For your safety and optimal preparation, it is crucial to pay close attention to any individual factor that stands out as significantly more challenging than the trek's overall average rating. This ensures you are always fully prepared for the most demanding aspect of your journey, as that is where your preparedness will be truly tested.
For example, a trek might have an overall average rating of Level 3.
But, if its Maximum Altitude factor is a Level 5, we will explicitly highlight this.
While the trek is generally a Level 3 overall,
You must decide and prepare for it as a Level 5 altitude challenge.
Ensuring you focus your training and acclimatisation
on this specific, demanding aspect, even if other elements are less strenuous.
Unlocking True Trekking Empowerment
By providing this granular detail, we unlock significant benefits for you:
Informed Choices: You can confidently select a trek that genuinely matches your fitness level, experience, and what you're ready to commit to, with no more unwelcome surprises.
More thoughtful Preparation: With precise numbers for distance, gain, and altitude, and specific terrain descriptions, you can tailor your physical training and mental preparation. You'll know if you have enough time to prepare, or if you need to build up more.
Reduced Risk & Anxiety: Knowing precisely what you're getting into significantly lowers the chances of injury or discomfort, allowing you to focus on the beauty of the journey, not the uncertainty.
Realistic Self-Assessment: You'll gain a proper understanding of your own capabilities, empowering you to progressively challenge yourself and build confidence over time.
We pair this system with our Solitude Index,
so you know not just how hard a trek is, but also how it feels,
whether it's a peaceful solo-style backpacking journey or a thrilling group adventure.
Our Promise: Clarity and Confidence
At Odyssey, our detailed Difficulty Ratings are here to help you train better, trek safer, and grow stronger. We want you to fall in love with the outdoors, not be deterred by poor planning or vague labels. We'll teach you how to build the skills, choose your path, and take your adventure one thoughtful, informed step at a time.
Because trekking isn't just about reaching a summit; it's about knowing what you're getting into, being prepared, and loving every bit of it.
