TOI/TSS Hampta pass Bad experience
I completed the Hampta Pass trek on June 22, 2026. While the trail itself was absolutely beautiful throughout, the sheer mismanagement by Trekkers of India (TOI) and The Searching Souls (TSS) heavily downgraded what should have been an amazing experience. If you are considering booking with them, here is a detailed breakdown of what actually happened on the ground.
1. Overcrowding & False Commitments
Before booking, we explicitly asked TOI about the batch size, and they assured us it would be around 40 people. However, once we arrived at the location, we found out that TOI and TSS had merged their batches. This brought the total number of trekkers to a massive 65 people. The crew was entirely overwhelmed and unable to manage a group this size.
2. The Tent Booking Nightmare (Double Sharing)
Communication prior to the trek was practically non-existent. We weren't told how to pre-book gear rentals or double-sharing tents, and were told "everything will be handled on Day 1." During the Day 1 briefing, we were hit with a shocker: TSS trekkers had been allowed to pre-book double-sharing tents online, but TOI never gave us that option. My wife and I were told we might have to sleep in separate, gender-segregated camps for the next 5 days. The guides told us they would "try" to find a double-sharing tent once we reached the first campsite, leaving us stressed and in limbo. We only finally got confirmation and a tent after physically reaching Chikka camp.
3. Subpar Rental Gear & Safety Equipment
- Trekking Poles: They ran out of poles for rent. Many people in our huge batch had to hike using random wooden sticks instead.
- Microspikes: While other trekking companies provided a pair (2 spikes) per person for the snow sections, TOI/TSS only gave us one spike per person, forcing us to hike on snow with a spike on only one shoe.
4. Poor Campsite Maintenance & Logistics
After trekking for kilometers every day, the last thing you want to do is wait around. Because tents weren't assigned in advance, we had to stand around for 10–15 minutes after arriving at every single camp just to be told where to go.
- The base camp tents were poorly maintained, clips were unfastened, and the sleeping bags were dirty.
- The Dry Toilets were a health hazard. They were in such terrible condition that using them felt like an open invitation to a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). At the Balu Ka Gera campsite, it reached its worst—there was no sand, sawdust, or shovels provided. When we reported this to the guides and trek leader, they did absolutely nothing and were incredibly rude to us for bringing it up.
5. Guiding and Support (A Mixed Bag)
- Day 2: The trek was incredibly long and grueling. My group was struggling heavily to reach the camp, and not a single guide stayed back to support or walk with us. We were entirely on our own.
- Summit Day: To give credit where it’s due, the guides were actually great on summit day. They stayed with the group throughout the climb and actively helped carry the backpacks of trekkers who were struggling to make it up.
Final Note to TOI/TSS Management:
PLEASE DO NOT COMMIT TO CONDUCT TREKS WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE IF YOU CANNOT MANAGE THEM. Almost every single negative experience we suffered on this trek boiled down to the fact that your trek leaders and guides were completely unequipped to manage a chaotic crowd of 65 people. The mountains were beautiful, but your logistics were a disaster.