24/08/2026
In the past 2 years, we have been noticing that the costs of treks have gone lower and lower... We never lowered our costs because we always kept our side true to the core. The quality of our instructions, thorough planning, investment of good quality equipment, investment on the training and skill development of our leaders, countless hours in practice and preparation, equalising our Standard Operating Procedures and Internal Standards...
At first when the cost gaps were not that big, we were okay with the lowering costs because we could explain our USPs... But as this cut throat competition became worse, we couldn't compete, the costs kept getting lower and lower and we struggled with bookings. Now our USP explanations were not enough as the cost differences were too big for participants to even consider the bookings.
During these times, we also noticed that the complaints of participants for treks, the reports of overcrowding of places, the number of accidents related to trek organizers and participants. Trek organizers were now taking bigger and bigger crowds/batches to the outdoors and taking uninvited and uncalled risks... Technical organizers were conducting but not making enough money to even replace worn out equipment and bring on board skilled leaders... We could see bad ropes, harnesses, self anchors, helmets, carabiners and abseil devices being continued to be used because now the organizers were only making enough to barely survive in the market.
We have felt and seen what these low cost markets are doing to our trekking industry and outdoor industry and all those who depend on it.
We now understand that the problem has gotten too big to address it like any other... Awareness about it seems like the option to start with for now, so if you too believe in the solution, help us spread it. Other solutions include uniform cost mandates, stricter oversight and policing on the organizers and tourists for violating those mandates... We can start here and hope for the rules and regulations to follow in the near future.
-Team Sahas Adventures And Allied Sports.
