It depends on the trek you do. Not all of our treks include luggage horses and porters. Most of our multi-day treks include pack animal support (usually horses or mules) or porters to transport the heavy gear. For the treks that do not include luggage support in the standard price, you have the option of adding this as an additional service. Please check the inclusions and exclusions carefully for the trekking tour that you choose.

For luggage carried by a pack animal, we ask that you bring a duffel or backpack that we can strap to the pack horse – typically we allow about 15 kg of personal luggage per person to be carried by the animals. This is where you put your clothes, sleeping bag, and overnight items.

Meanwhile, you’ll carry just a small daypack with the essentials you need during the day’s hike (water, snacks, jacket, camera, etc.). Each morning, you’ll hand over your main bag to our staff who will secure it to the horses and you won’t see it again until we reach camp that afternoon.

By carrying your heavy gear, we ensure that you can hike and trek comfortably without a heavy load, focusing on the stunning mountain scenery rather than the weight of your backpack. It’s also a nice aspect of community tourism as we hire local horsemen and their horses who know the terrain.

Please double-check on the trek page or with the Visit Alay staff whether a luggage horse/porter is included in the trek you are interested in booking.