SINCE 2021
hiking
FIELD COURSE
By Manav
A week-long, hands-on outdoor training program that teaches all essential hiking skills like navigation, camping, route planning, wilderness safety & more — designed for anyone looking to build confidence and skill in the outdoors
ABOUT THE COURSE
Most outdoor courses in India, like BMC and AMC, focus on technical mountaineering, leaving little room for essential hiking skills like navigation, camping, route planning, wilderness safety, etc.
The lack of focused & structured hiking education directly leads to more frequent rescues as hikers venture out unprepared. This causes unnecessary strain on already limited search & rescue resources.
The Hiking Field Course was started in April 2021. This 7-day field course is carefully designed to address your fears and ensure progressive learning through immersive outdoor experience. The program enables students to explore the outdoors safely, independently and responsibly.
Starting with fundamentals like camping, gear, hiking techniques and LNT, it advances to navigation, risk assessment, trek planning, and more. Participants learn to navigate themselves, carry their own gear, set up camp and cook meals. They gain hands-on backcountry experience through hiking assignments and multiple outdoor lectures.
With an instructor-to-student ratio of 1:5 or better (international standard for top outdoor courses), participants receive individual attention, quick feedback and better safety oversight.
COURSE CURRICULUM
The curriculum is developed over half a decade of fieldwork and refinement. It’s designed for high practical utility without unnecessary fluff and covers every skillset required to be an efficient and responsible independent hiker.
Hiking Styles
Practical Topography
Outdoor Navigation
Hiking Regions
Altitude & Seasons
Weather Forecasting
Hiking Techniques
Clothing System
Gear
Packing
Camp Craft
Food Planning
Outdoor Cooking
Male & Female Hygiene
Trek Planning
Cultural Interactions
Expedition Behaviour
Leave No Trace
Human-Animal Conflict
Wilderness First Aid
Risk Assessment
Self-Rescue & Safety
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Develop confidence by overcoming mental barriers.
See outdoors as an accessible, inclusive and navigable space.
Learn cost-effective strategies to explore more with fewer expenses and less time.
Acquire the skills to undertake solo and challenging treks.
Reading topographic maps and using GPS tools for precise navigation.
Learn how to identify hazards and mitigate risks.
Understanding animal behavior and avoiding conflicts.
Learn hiking techniques for diverse terrains — forests, meadows, snow slopes, streams etc.
Develop a deep respect for the wilderness through responsible hiking practices
COURSE BREAKDOWN
The entire course is divided into 3 phases:
Foundation
Field Course
On-going Support
FOUNDATION
After enrolment, you will get access to the online pre-course Foundation Kit to build a strong foundation before the field course.
There will be live online sessions for Q&As to ensure you are well-prepared for hands-on learning in the field.
Resources Included:
Foundation Kit
Live Q&A Session
Fitness Improvement Protocols
FIELD COURSE
Day 1 (Sun)
Welcome and Orientation
Hiking Styles
Wilderness First Aid
Backpacking Principles
Gear Check & Gear Issue
Day 2 (Mon)
Hike #1
Topography
Outdoor Navigation
Offline Navigation Apps
Sleep System
Campcraft
Camp Hygiene
Day 3 (Tue)
Hike #2
Outdoor Cooking
Hiking Techniques & Pace
Altitude & Hiking Seasons
Stream Crossing
Day 4 (Wed)
Hike #3
Weather Forecasting
Steep Slopes
Clothing System
Footwear
Nutrition & Hydration
Day 5 (Thu)
Hike #4 : Independent Student Group Trek (ISGT)
Human Animal Conflict
Risk Assessment
Self-rescue & Safety
Day 6 (Fri)
Hike #5
Trail Database & Maps
GPX Files
Unique Hiking Opportunities in India
Trek Planning Framework
Day 7 (Sat)
Skill Retrospective
Advanced Navigation
Long Distance Hike Planning
Farewell
It is optional but recommended to arrive a day early to be well rested and stay for few days after the course to do independent hikes to make the most of the course.
ON-GOING SUPPORT
After the course, students continue to receive educational and planning support.
Trek planning support to confidently apply your skills on your first few hikes.
Accountability to stay committed towards making time for the outdoors
Updated versions of course content
Option to join the exclusive DIY Community of like-minded hikers and explorers
HIGHLIGHTS
In-depth field lessons
Outdoor assignments
Small batch size
1:5 instructor ratio
Student handbook
2 live online sessions
Basic first-aid lessons
Open to all fitness levels
1-1 trek planning support
Accountability
One-week only
Offbeat trails
ISGT module
Completion certificate
ELIGIBILITY
Minimum Fitness : There is no minimum fitness criteria.
I believe that outdoors is for everyone — so the course is deliberately designed to be inclusive of all fitness levels while allowing each individual to learn and hike at their own pace.
The principles you learn in the course applies to any hike you may choose to do in the future.
Note : If you have a specific health condition or concern like heart condition, respiratory condition etc, please contact us before enrolling.
Minimum Age : 10 years or older
Regular batches are open to ages 16 and above.
Special Parent-Child batches are open for younger participants (10-16) where they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
