The Pontiac Standard
Great trips are built on small things done well: the right leader, a warm bed, a good meal, a clear plan. Here is exactly what you can expect from us.
Nine commitments
Every trip is led by a Pontiac trip leader, supported by local guides — and on treks, porters — from the region you're travelling through. They know the routes, the weather and the people.
Groups are sized for the route, so camps stay calm and everyone moves at a comfortable pace. Any trip can also run privately, from just two travellers.
On treks we camp in A-frame tents with proper 2-inch mattresses. On tours you'll stay in lodges, farmhouses, houseboats, boutique and heritage hotels — each one chosen for its location and its welcome. Every trip page tells you exactly where you'll sleep.
All meals are included on our treks and camps: a hot breakfast, a packed lunch on the trail and dinner by the campfire. On tours we choose restaurants and homestays for good local food.
We meet you at the start point — or at the airport or station on request — and arrange every transfer, jeep, permit and entry ticket along the way.
Each day starts with a briefing on the route, the weather and what to carry. Water activities are accompanied by an expert, and our guides know the terrain they work in. Before you leave, we send a clear packing list.
One trip planner works with you from the first message — adjusting routes, stays and pace — and stays reachable on WhatsApp while you travel.
We work with local people in every region we travel — guides, drivers, cooks, homestay families — so you meet the place, not just see it. Many of our routes pass through farms, villages and markets most visitors never reach.
“We welcome you to be a part of nature, and to take part in responsible tourism by protecting the nature and the people.”
That line has opened our itineraries for years. In practice it means boiled water instead of plastic bottles, waste carried out, and fair work for the local people we travel with.
On the trail
Every camp night ends around a fire, with the day's stories and a sky full of stars.
Packed lunches eaten on a ridge or by a stream, not in a hurry.
Time with farmers, artisans and families along the way, not just at the sights.
Boiled drinking water at every camp, so nothing is left behind.
Talk to us
Tell us where you'd like to go. A trip planner will reply with ideas, dates and prices — usually the same day.