A lot of people have often asked what is alluring about trekking that one wants to keep going again and again? If you want to break down trekking into the basics- one might say it is basically walking/climbing in beautiful places. But don’t you get bored? After a certain point, it’s just more of the same. So, I thought I will list down 5 things that one can experience in a trek that makes each trekking experience unique, and leaves room for you to crave for more.

1. OBSERVING NATURE and culture

Treks can take you to a myriad of habitats; meadows, mountains, grasslands, alpine forests, dense jungle and each of these habitats support unique flora and fauna. Trekking gives you time to immerse yourself in these distinctive attributes of nature. Its one of the best ways to hone your observation skills. Also, there is an excitement of never knowing what you may stumble upon while you are trekking.

Trekking also takes you to remote locations where you get to meet people who lead very different lives than you. Its a great opportunity to learn about diverse people and cultures and opening your mind to a world that exists beyond your own.

2. physically challenging yourself

We all want to be fit and healthy. But not all prefer the same form of exercise or working out. Some like the outdoors and some indoor. Trekking gives you the ability to work on yourself, push your physical and mental limits and train your body to achieve small and simple goals. For example, very often in treks you end up talking and motivating yourself- Come on, just another 10 steps and then you can take break! Come on, we are so close to the top, you can do this!

3. quiet space for your mind

This is a more personal feeling and therefore could be contested. When you trek, you will often find yourself walking long sections of the path alone. Even if you are with a group and you are chatting and walking together, there will be moments when you get some alone time. This ends up being a great time to reflect on things. Your mind automatically finds the time and space to think about problems and issues with more clarity. You tend to see things from a fresh perspective. You get to introspect on things for which you would otherwise not have time.

At the same time, trekking offers an exhilarating adventure along with a profound sense of freedom. Once you get a taste of this feeling, you crave for more.

4. Camaraderie

You might choose to go trekking with a large group or with a small group. But either way, trekking together fosters a camaraderie that leaves lasting impressions on your life. It could be the little episodes of care and empathy that help you bond with other human beings. For example, during the Rumtse to Tsokar trek (Ladakh 2021), I remember that we spent considerable time with Kaizang, after we reached our campsite. The trek was done with 4 horses and their master, that was Kaizang (you might like to read this story about Kaizang). Each time we reached a campsite, we did chores together and made our meals together. Although our verbal communication was limited due to language barriers, a sense of bonding still emerged.

5. Overall mindset change

Personally, I feel trekking helps to develop a resilient mindset, which is capable of overcoming difficult or uncomfortable situations (see this story!). It involves moving out of your comfort zone. When you trek, you often are faced with unpredictable situations. The weather suddenly gets bad. You are cold and wet. You suddenly realise that you are not able to keep up with the pace of the walk. Your muscles ache. The food is unpalatable. You fall sick! You don’t know how to use dry toilets. You are just too tired! But by overcoming each of these experiences, you feel it slowly changes the way you perceive the issue next time. You become more perseverant, observant, patient, develop grit and resilience and the best part it- these features overflow into your everyday life (outside of trekking).

In summary, I think trekking offers in some sense a holistic development of body and mind, thereby making us more adaptable individuals in various aspects of life.

How many of you relate with these points? Do share on the comments 🙂

You might also want to read this post:5 trekking tips to save you from life-threatening situations

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