Most bad trips are not caused by bad weather. They are caused by booking with someone who subcontracted you to a third party, cut the acclimatisation day, or had no first-aid training.
These are the questions worth asking before money moves. The answers matter less than whether the person can answer at all.
1. "Who will actually be leading my group?"
The single most useful question. Large operators routinely sell under their own brand and subcontract delivery to whoever is available. You end up with a guide you never chose and cannot look up.
Good answer: a name, and ideally a profile you can read. Walk away if: they will not commit to a name before payment.
2. "What first-aid certification do you hold, and when did it expire?"
Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder, current. Mountain certifications from NIM, HMI or ABVIMAS for anything at altitude.
The expiry date matters. These lapse, and a certificate from 2017 is decoration.
3. "Where does the acclimatisation day sit?"
For anything above 3,500 m there should be one, and the guide should be able to say exactly where without checking.
The Spiti circuit needs a rest day before you sleep at 4,000 m. The Chadar mandates two days in Leh. Goecha La needs the Dzongri day — which shorter nine-day itineraries quietly remove.
Walk away if: the itinerary is a day shorter than everyone else's and nobody will explain what was cut.
4. "What exactly is not included?"
Anyone can list inclusions. The exclusions are where the surprises live: permits, insurance, gear rental, evacuation costs, the last night's hotel, transport to the trailhead.
Good answer: a written list. Walk away if: "everything is included" — nothing is everything.
5. "What happens if the route closes?"
Roads shut. Passes snow in. Rivers fail to freeze. Ask what the refund and reschedule policy is, in writing, before you pay.
The 2026 Chadar suspension is the live example: operators who had a policy handled it cleanly, and operators who did not are still arguing with people.
6. "What is the group size, and is it capped?"
A capped number means they will turn away business to keep it. An uncapped number means you might be in a party of thirty at a campsite built for eight.
7. "Do you carry oxygen and a pulse oximeter?"
For anything above 4,000 m this should be an immediate yes. A guide who has to think about it has not needed it, which means they have not been in the situation where you need it.
8. "Can I speak to you before I book?"
Ten minutes on a call tells you more than any listing. Do they ask about your fitness? Your experience? Do they push back on anything?
A guide who asks you no questions is not assessing whether you can do the trek. That should worry you.
9. "Where does my money go?"
On village homestays, ask whether payment reaches the household or an agency. It is a fair question and a good guide will answer it without defensiveness.
What a reasonable rate looks like
Rough day rates for a licensed guide in India, as of 2026:
- Heritage or city walking guide: ₹1,500–2,500
- Regional guide, day trips: ₹2,000–3,000
- High-altitude trek leader: ₹3,000–4,500
- Specialist — naturalist, dive, high-altitude expedition: ₹4,000+
Well below this range, someone is being underpaid — usually the porters. Well above it, ask what you are getting for the premium.
The one red flag that outweighs the rest
Pressure to pay quickly, in full, to a personal account.
A legitimate operator takes a deposit, gives you written terms, and does not need a decision today. Urgency is a sales technique, and on a trek it is also a safety signal — because the same corner-cutting shows up on the mountain.