With digital detoxing becoming a need, rather than a trend, a secret trek offers a chance for hikers to immerse themselves in nature without any attachments
Participants trek without smartphones in Khopoli; (right) Participants during a previous trek to a waterfall near Khopoli. Pics Courtesy/Swadesitreks
It was the American poet Joyce Kilmer, writing in the post-Industrial age who observed, “I think I shall never see/A poem as lovely as a tree.” Then again, Kilmer did not have to bother about the hundred notifications on her phone, as many hikers do in 2025. To change this scenario, Swadesi Treks is planning a new series of hikes starting in November that have one clear criterion — no phones.
“The world is shifting to the digital world in more ways than one. Even when people are out amidst nature, they are looking at it through their phone camera,” shares Sachin Singh, who has been organising treks since 2015. While he admits it is inevitable, Singh adds, “It poses different challenges for organisers. For instance, we have to go out of our way to get people involved in the hike that they are participating in.” This is where the idea for a ‘no-phone hike’ comes in.
Open to 25 participants, the first 12-hour trail will lead to a waterfall in a village near Lonavala. “We have been exploring these locations for the last decade. The location is easy, safe, and 10 minutes from the nearest village. The guides are trained in medical assistance as well,” says Singh. Upon signing up, participants will be informed of the location, and the important rule of leaving their phones at home. “Those who do bring the phones along will have to leave it on the bus while we get on the trail. The phones will be returned when they return to the bus,” he adds. With one guide for every set of three people, the group will have a chance to learn about the natural beauty on the trail.
Sachin Singh
Singh’s reasoning stems from multiple observations. “Any trip into nature is a sensory experience. From the time we began in 2016, phones were always present. But in recent years, there is a community of people who travel just to develop content. So, even when people show up for treks, they are not as attuned.”
This lack of attention poses a concerning risk as well. With travel vlogs on the rise, pristine trekking destinations face the risk of overcrowding. The need to create viral reels and ‘Insta-worthy’ profiles has also sparked safety risks. Singh points out, “People often choose to go on a trek simply because it has gone viral. In the last two to three years, we have witnessed such viral destinations resulting in people having accidents. Nature can be ruthless if you are not careful.”
This is where the organiser has a role to play. “Everyone has something to discover in nature, and my role is to ensure that they have that experience,” he adds.
For this, participants need to switch off their online mode. “There is so much to learn from nature. It is up to us to open up and log off from the digital world,” he concludes.
ON November 8
LOCATION Near Lonavala (revealed on registration)
LOG ON TO @swadesitreks
CALL 9819701781 (only 25 participants)
COST Rs 1999 (inclusive of travel, breakfast, and lunch)
Tips for an unplugged trek
. Be present and aware of your surroundings
. Take care of yourself, and the people around you on the trek
. Have fun, but within the limits of the law
. Ask questions of the guide. It can make the trail interesting
. Carry only the essentials, and ensure that you bring them back, to dispose off later. Littering can destroy the environment on location
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