Careers · Trek Leader

Lead the trek. Carry the group.

A Trek Leader is not someone who gets a free weekend in the hills. You are the person twenty strangers trust to bring them home safe: on time at the bus, calm when it rains, firm when it's time to turn back, and kind to the slowest walker. If that sounds like you, read every section below before you apply. You'll be asked to agree to each one.

Apply to be a Trek Leader Read what it takes first

23+
minimum age: 3
Western Ghats treks done: 5 weeks
from applying to leading

Who can apply

Before you apply

23 years or older.
You've done at least 3 treks in the Western Ghats (with us or anyone else), and you can walk at the back of a group all day.
A valid first-aid certificate, or you complete our first-aid session during training.
You speak Kannada and English. Hindi helps, and so does any other language.
A smartphone with WhatsApp and data on the trek days, and you're comfortable using our portal.
You can give us your availability every month, and keep it.

The job · Western Ghats

What a weekend looks like for you

Before the trek

Go through the trekker list, pickups and medical notes on the portal.
Call first-timers and anyone with a medical note. Check the weather and the plan with the office.
Check the first-aid kit, torch, spare batteries and the permits.

At the bus

Reach the first stop 30 minutes early. The bus never waits for the Trek Leader.
Check every trekker in on the portal at their stop. Count heads at every stop and every break.
Meet solo women travellers in person at the Suburban Bus Stand.

On the trail

Set a pace the slowest trekker can keep. One of you leads, one sweeps at the back. Nobody walks alone.
Water and food stops on time. A fixed turn-back time, and you keep it, summit or not.
Forest rules and permits are followed to the letter. Nobody goes off the trail.

At the stay

Rooms sorted before the bags come off. Women's rooms are for women only.
Food counts to the kitchen, veg and non-veg. Lights out at the time we promised the homestay.

After the trek

Everyone dropped back, and every stop checked off.
Fill in the trek report on the portal the same day: anything that went wrong, money spent, bills.

The job · Himalayan treks

Higher, longer, more responsibility

Himalayan treks are for Trek Leaders with Western Ghats experience with us and earlier high-altitude treks of their own. The pay for each Himalayan trek is agreed when you're assigned.

Acclimatisation comes first. Rest days are kept even when the group feels strong.
Know the signs of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, breathless at rest, unsteady walking). When in doubt, the trekker goes down. Never up.
Morning and evening health checks for every trekker, oxygen readings written on the portal.
Work with the local guides, cook and porters with respect. You're the link between them and the group.
Know the evacuation plan and the nearest road and medical help before day 1.
Weather decides the summit day, not the itinerary.

People and bad days

When things don't go to plan

Turning back is not failure. Getting everyone home is the job. The summit is a bonus.
Someone is hurt: stop, keep the group together, give first aid, call the office, then decide. Write it down.
Someone is slow: the sweep stays with them. Change the plan for the group; never shame the person.
Someone is rude, late, drunk or difficult: stay calm. Never shout, never argue in front of the group. Set the limit politely and clearly, and call the office if it keeps happening.
You'll meet irritating trekkers. They paid like everyone else and they get the same care. Your patience is part of the job, not a favour.
You made a mistake: tell the office the same day. We fix things together and we don't blame people for being honest.
Don't take a bad day out on the group, the driver or the homestay.

Code of conduct

Non-negotiable

Respect women. No comments on looks, no personal messages after the trek, no entering women's rooms. Women travelling alone must feel as safe with you as with their family.
Every trekker is treated the same: no favourites, no special treatment for friends, no flirting.
Respect nature. Carry back every wrapper, bottle and paper. No speakers, no fires outside the bonfire spot, no plucking or feeding wildlife.
Be on time, every time: at the bus, at every stop, at the turn-back time.
No alcohol, smoking or drugs while on duty, from the bus leaving to the bus arriving.
Harassment of any kind, by you or anyone in the group, is reported the same day. Harassment by a Trek Leader ends their time with us immediately.
Everything goes through the portal: availability, assignments, changes, reports. Nothing by word of mouth.

How you join

Five weeks, start to finish

Every step happens within 5 weeks of applying. If it runs over, the application closes and you can apply again later.

1Day 1Apply online and pick an on-ground interview date from the dates we publish.
2Week 1Interview at our office in Mysuru: we talk about the job, safety, first aid and how you handle people.
3Weeks 2–4Two training treks with an experienced Trek Leader. Unpaid, but your travel, stay and food are covered.
4Week 4–5One trial trek you lead yourself, with an experienced Trek Leader next to you. Paid ₹1,500 for a two-day trek, ₹1,000 for a one-day trek.
5By week 5When that Trek Leader says you're ready, you're appointed.

Pay

What you earn

₹2,000

a two-day trek

₹1,000

a one-day trek

Agreed

per Himalayan trek

Two-day trek (a Friday-night or weekday-night bus, the trek, back the second night): ₹2,000.
One-day trek (leave around 4 AM, back around 9 PM): ₹1,000.
Himalayan treks: agreed when you're assigned.
Increments are discussed as you gain experience.
You're paid after every two treks, by UPI, and you can see every rupee on your portal.

After you're appointed

How we keep treks running

Give your availability for every month on the portal by the 25th of the month before. It's mandatory.
You can change days you're not assigned to. Once you're assigned, ask for a change on the portal and wait for it to be approved.
Not turning up, or changing an assigned date without permission, loses the pay for that trek. More than twice ends your time as a Trek Leader.
Assignments are made by the team. You can ask for treks you'd like to lead, and you can decline at most 2 assignments a month. The third one has to be accepted: the company has to run reliably.
Declining the third anyway is a warning. Two warnings means a temporary suspension, and a call with the person in charge before you're back (or not).
Every trek is rated by the trekkers (punctuality, respect, safety and responsibility) and by the homestay. We aim for at least 5 ratings each trek.

Perks

Why it's worth it

Paid weekends in the Western Ghats, and the Himalayas as you grow.
Free training treks, and our first-aid session.
Your photo and story on our website as a Trek Leader.
First pick of Himalayan treks as your experience and ratings grow.
A certificate and a reference letter for your work with us.
A team that has your back when a day goes wrong.

Checks

What we ask for

ID proof: Aadhaar, driving licence or passport.
An emergency contact: someone we can call if something happens to you on a trek.
A first-aid certificate, or our first-aid session during training.
Police clearance (optional now, appreciated): in Karnataka, apply online through the Karnataka State Police citizen services or Seva Sindhu for a police verification certificate, with ID and address proof. It usually takes 1 to 3 weeks. If you have a passport, a Police Clearance Certificate from Passport Seva works too.
Everything you upload is kept private and seen only by the people who hire.

Questions

Asked often

Read it all and still keen?

You'll create an account (or use Google), agree to each part of this page, tell us about yourself and pick an interview date.

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