What Hiker India does

Hiker India is a Kerala-based, KFDC-licensed trekking and adventure-travel operator founded in 2019 by Faaiz Mohammed, Fathima Beevi, and Mohammed Shareef. The company curates and runs guided group treks across high-demand routes in Kerala's Western Ghats, with Meesapulimala as its flagship product and 190+ completed batches to date. Over time, it has extended its catalog to additional Kerala peaks (Agasthyarkoodam, Gavi, Chokramudi, Kolukumalai) and complementary cultural experiences such as Tribal Rythm (tribal village immersion) and Theyyam rituals, then expanded geographically to Manali, Kashmir, and Malaysia.

The core offering is an all-inclusive, per-person trek package covering forest permits, transportation, accommodation, meals, and guides, sold primarily direct-to-consumer to individual trekkers and small groups through online and social channels (Instagram is the visible marketing surface). Distribution is built on local relationships with jeep operators, campsite vendors, and community hosts across the Western Ghats, and the business depends on KFDC regulatory access to operate legally in forest-managed areas; this was reinforced when the company received the KFDC Best Tourism Promoter award.

Commercially, Hiker India is a bootstrapped, founder-led micro-operator with no disclosed external funding and a lean three-person leadership team. Revenue is generated entirely from retail package sales across multiple destinations, with ticket prices ranging from roughly INR 1,299 for short Kerala treks to INR 7,500+ for longer Himachal trips. The absence of enterprise or B2B contracts means the business is fully exposed to discretionary consumer travel demand, seasonal weather, and Kerala-specific regulatory conditions, while its growth path is built on incremental route, product, and geographic additions rather than capital-driven scaling.

Name

Hiker India

Legal name

Hiker India

Website

https://hikerindia.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hiker India is a KFDC-licensed, Kerala-based trekking and adventure-travel operator founded in 2019 that runs guided group treks across the Western Ghats and selected routes in Himachal, Kashmir, and Malaysia, selling all-inclusive packages direct to individual trekkers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Trekking Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (487110)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Tour Operators (THAAADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA), Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL), Technical Outdoor Guiding Services (Hiking, Trekking, Mountaineering) (THAAALAA)

Keywords

• Adventure trekking packages
• Kerala forest tours
• Guided mountain treks
• Wildlife eco-tourism
• Cultural travel experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Kadalundi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Trekking Package Sales: Hiker India generates revenue primarily through selling comprehensive trekking and travel packages. Packages include forest permits, transportation (jeep safaris), accommodation (tent stays at base camps), meals, guided trekking, and activities. Customers pay per person for all-inclusive experiences. Examples include Meesapulimala treks, Gavi eco-tours, Manali trips, Kashmir tours, and cultural experiences like Theyyam packages.
2. Adventure Tourism Experiences: Revenue from adventure-focused trips including Kolukumalai jeep safaris and sunrise experiences, Chokramudi peak camps, and specialized treks like Agasthyarkoodam. These are premium experiences with distinct pricing for different service tiers (e.g., Alpine Tents with Kolukkumalai safari at ₹1999 vs without at ₹1299).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hiker India is a KFDC-licensed trekking and adventure travel operator that sells all-inclusive, per-person trekking and cultural tourism packages. Each package bundles forest entry permits, multi-leg transportation (including jeep safaris), base camp tent accommodation, meals, certified local trek leaders, and campfire or cultural activities across destinations in Kerala, Manali, Kashmir, and Malaysia. The company focuses on guided access to restricted forest zones such as Meesapulimala, Agasthyarkoodam, Gavi, Chokramudi, Kolukumalai, and tribal cultural programs that independent travelers cannot legally access.

Product overview

Hiker India is a KFDC-licensed trekking and adventure travel operator based in Kerala, India. The company offers curated trekking adventures across South India's most scenic destinations including Meesapulimala (South India's highest trekking peak), Agasthyarkoodam, Gavi, Chokramudi, and Kolukumalai. Beyond trekking, the portfolio includes cultural experiences such as Tribal Rythm/Kaadu Ulsavam (tribal cultural immersion) and Theyyam (North Kerala ritual performances). The company also operates domestic trips to Manali and Kashmir, plus international packages to Malaysia. All packages typically include permits, transportation, accommodation, meals, guided treks, and campfire experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 190+ successful batches completed with consistent positive testimonials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKFDC (Kerala Forest Development Corporation) is the regulatory body controlling access to protected forest areas including Meesapulimala, Eravikulam National Park zones, and Periyar Tiger Reserve. Hiker India operates as a KFDC-licensed trekking operator, which is mandatory for trekking restricted zones. This partnership provides legitimate access to restricted trails, enables permit coordination for trekkers, and establishes credibility through official authorization. The company has successfully completed 190+ batches under this licensing arrangement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Tripoto: Indian travel content community and marketplace where users discover and book curated trips and treks. Adjacent to Hiker India in customer acquisition channel and SEO-driven trekking content strategy.

Regional players

• Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC): State-run tourism body operating hotels, tours, and packaged holidays across Kerala. Comparable to Hiker India on curated Kerala tourism experiences but at much larger scale and broader scope; functions as a regional incumbent rather than direct competitor.
• Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI): National non-profit running organized group trekking, camping, and adventure programs across India at subsidized prices. Comparable to Hiker India on batch-based group trekking formats targeting young and budget travelers in India.

Direct peers

• Indiahikes: India's largest community-driven trekking operator running guided treks across the Himalayas and Western Ghats. Directly comparable to Hiker India as a curated trekking experience company selling all-inclusive packages with permits, guides, and base camp logistics.
• Trek The Himalayas: Mid-sized Indian trekking company organizing guided multi-day treks across Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Kashmir. Comparable business model to Hiker India: per-person package pricing, fixed departure batches, end-to-end logistics including permits and meals.
• Banjara Camps & Retreats: India-based experiential travel brand offering curated nature stays and guided outdoor experiences including camping and trekking packages. Comparable to Hiker India's positioning around immersive, all-inclusive outdoor experiences with shared accommodation and meals.
• Grassroutes Cultural Treks: India-focused experiential travel brand specializing in rural and cultural immersion trips with overnight village stays. Comparable to Hiker India on cultural-experience add-ons like Tribal Rythm/Kaadu Ulsavam and on all-inclusive guided small-group format.

Emerging players

• Backpackers United: Indian adventure travel community and booking platform offering group treks and trips, particularly in Himachal and Uttarakhand. Comparable to Hiker India on batch-based, fixed-itinerary group departures targeting solo and young travelers.

Broad incumbents

• MakeMyTrip: India's largest online travel aggregator with broad adventure, holiday, and trekking inventory. Comparable only at the broad incumbent level — not a direct operator competitor, but competes for the same customer wallet.
• Thrillophilia: Large Indian adventure and experiences marketplace aggregating treks, camping, and outdoor activities across India. Comparable to Hiker India as a distribution and discovery layer for the same end customer, though it aggregates rather than operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hiker India