Thank you for your interest in Acorns Indian Himalayas Trek, sign ups to this event are now closed. If you are interested in taking part in another trek for Acorns, please see our Malvern Hill Trek, Snowdon Challenge and Arctic Survival Challenge.
We’ve teamed up with five other leading children’s hospices for an amazing challenge, trekking the Indian Himalayas! Each charity has a limited number of places on the trek, with participants fundraising for their chosen charity, so don’t delay!
If you sign up and choose to support and represent Acorns on this very special trek, you’ll be supported by our very own expert Events team, and 100% of your fundraising will come to Acorns.
There will be opportunities to meet everyone taking part online and support each other through a chat group. You’ll also get to meet your fellow trekkers in person at a pre-departure briefing.
Trek through the Indian Himalayas and the home of the Dalai Lama – Dharamshala!
Once you arrive in Delhi, you will get to spend some time in the area before boarding the overnight train to Pathankot (in an air-conditioned sleeper class). Arriving in the stunning hills station of Dharamshala, home to the Tibetan Government in exile and the Dalai Lama and surrounded by dense forest and in the shadow of the Dhauladhar mountain range.
From here you will commence your journey into the Lesser Himalayan range of Northern India where, during four days of trekking, you will be awed by lush green forests, views of snow-capped peaks, deep valleys, gushing rivers and small villages with friendly and welcoming local people.
During the trek you will reach a maximum altitude of 2,842m (at Triund) and will walk approximately 14km per day, taking around 6 – 8 hours. After your trek ends, you will return to Delhi and enjoy a celebratory meal together.
Please note that flights will depart from London, and you will need to organise your own transport to and from the airport. Depending upon flight times, kindly note that the return flight may land in the UK on Sunday 11th or early Monday 12th October 2026. Flight times are finalised and confirmed for the trek group in early 2026.
Download the full Itinerary and Information Brochure for the Indian Himalayan Trek.
This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides, etc.) and a donation to Acorns Children’s Hospice. There is a minimum sponsorship amount that you are required to raise in order to participate.
By signing up with the sponsorship options, you are committing to raising a minimum of £3,990* for Acorns Children’s Hospice to help fund our vital care for local children and families. Part of this amount is used to cover the cost of your trip.
*Please note that interim fundraising deadlines apply.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides, etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for Acorns Children’s Hospice.
By signing up with the flexi option, you are committing to raising a minimum of £1,785* for Acorns Children’s Hospice to help fund our vital care for local children and families.
*Please note the interim fundraising deadlines above.
Our expert Events team will be on hand to support you with your fundraising to help you achieve this target. Please ensure you have read the Information Brochure and the full terms and conditions before signing up.
By taking part in this incredible challenge and joining #TeamAcorns, you will be raising money for life limited and life threatened babies, children and young people across the West Midlands.
If you have any questions or would like to book as a group, please email events@acorns.org.uk or call 01564 825 037.
Six leading children’s charities – Acorns Children’s Hospice, Children’s Hospice South West, Demelza, Helen & Douglas House, Naomi House & Jacks Place, and Shooting Star Children’s Hospices – have partnered for a unique trek. This collaboration aims to maximise fundraising, raise awareness of hospice care for children and young adults, build community among supporters, and share expertise to enhance care for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Each charity has a limited number of places on the trek, with participants fundraising for their chosen charity (identified at the point of sign up).
If you sign up and choose to support and represent Acorns on this very special trek, you will be supported by our very own expert Events team, and 100% of your fundraising will come to Acorns.
All trek participants (regardless of their chosen charity) will have opportunities to meet everyone taking part online and support each other through a chat group. Everyone will also meet in person at the pre-departure briefing (location TBC).
Please be aware that flights will depart from London, and you will need to organise your own transport to and from the airport. Flight times are finalised and confirmed shortly after bookings have closed in early 2026.
Outbound flights from the UK to Delhi will be overnight on the evening of Saturday 3rd October 2026. Return flights to London on Sunday 11th October 2026 may arrive in the UK the following day (Monday 12th October 2026) depending on flight schedules.
The trek is accompanied by local English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of trekking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by an excellent team of assistant staff, cooks and drivers, a Different Travel Company UK tour manager and two staff who will be representing the participating charities.
The terrain will vary throughout the trek but in general will be undulating (uphill and downhill). There are very few flat sections so you should ensure your training includes plenty of hills. Underfoot there will be stony pathways, grass, rocks and perhaps a few small streams to cross too. Each day you will cover approximately 12-15km (7-9 miles) which, because of the variable terrain, can take up to 8 hours to cover.
In Delhi temperatures can reach 33°C during the day, dropping to 17°C at night. The temperature in Dharamshala and during the trek is cooler with temperatures of approx. 20 – 28°C during the day, dropping down to approx. 0°C at night. Temperatures will depend on the weather which vary and can be bright and sunny, rainy, cloudy or humid. Please note that conditions in mountainous regions are unpredictable so you should be prepared for all climatic eventualities.
Although the conditions mentioned are historically accurate, climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic weather during the trip which is out of our control. The guides will assess and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.
Meals during the trek are cooked by your trek chef and will be eaten in a mess tent where a table, chairs, plates, mugs and cutlery is provided. Meals are delicious and plentiful and mainly Indian style (although there may be some Western-style meals).
Special dietary requirements can be accommodated if we are advised in advance. Please note we cannot guarantee that food preparation will have taken place in a contamination free environment.
During the trek you will stay in 3-man tents (two people to a tent). You will be provided with sleeping mats, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
While in Delhi and Dharamshala you will stay in hotels on a twin or triple share basis.
Toilet facilities at camp will be a hole dug into the ground with a small privacy tent surrounding it. Toilet paper is not provided so you will need to bring your own; please consider biodegradable toilet paper. To use the toilet during the trek you will find a private area off the main trail; any toilet paper you use along the trail must be placed into a nappy sack and disposed of properly at camp. You must NEVER leave toilet paper or other litter (including fruit peel, seeds, food wrappers etc.) on the trail. At the hotels there will be flushing Western-style sit-down toilets.
You must be 18+ to join this trek. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new. Adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected so do not expect standards to be the same as you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable (be it because of group pace, weather conditions, local bureaucracy or other factors) and itineraries may be altered to allow for this.
To get the most out of your challenge it is important that you are flexible, positive and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. Suitable fitness preparation before departure forms part of this.
You should have a good level of fitness to ensure fast recovery from each day of trekking.
You must engage in training (including plenty of walking up and down hills) before departure to ensure your best chance of enjoyment on the trip. This could include hill walking, running, cycling, gym workouts, boot camps, etc.
You can download a number of free apps to help you train and track your progress e.g. MapMyWalk, C25K, MyFitnessPal etc. Attempting to complete the trek without training will make it more challenging than necessary and will be detrimental to your experience, and the experience of your teammates.
The trek is rated moderate to challenging. There are many steep uphill and downhill sections to contend with and you must be prepared to carry a daypack weighing 6-7kg. Although the distances trekked may appear short, due to the hilly terrain it can take 6-7 hours to trek just 5km, as ascent and descent profile each day ranges from 515m-866m.
The recommended kit list for the trek can be found in the Information Brochure.
We’re here to support you all the way! By signing up for the event you will receive support from our Events team to help with your training and fundraising and the amazing feeling you’ll get from knowing you’re making a real difference to local children! Here are some simple ways to give your fundraising a boost, if you need more support we’d be happy to help. Just get in touch at events@acorns.org.uk.
