Setting: I am preparing a travel, by foot, across the Indian Himalayas. The duration would be about two months. There will be a general itinerary with a lot of uncertainty. Along the way I would like to be able to retrieve packages. The main purpose is to replace gear that I know will wear out and break along the way without having to leave the Himalayas and travel to a major city (e.g. Delhi). I hope for 3-4 "stashes" spread along the Indian Himalayas.
What would be the best way to accomplish this?
Definition of best: I know that "best" is highly subjective and questions get closed for that reason. Therefore, I specify what "best" means in this context. There are a few aspects, which I list in order of importance.
- Reliability: the package should arrive and be available for retrieval. Absolute priority. I want this on par with sending packages in Western Europe.
- Speed: Ideally, the package should be available about one week after sending from Western Europe, without a very hard guarantee. If deliveries would routinely take longer than 2-3 weeks, an alternative for emergencies would be required.
- Price: obviously enough, I want it to be as cheap as possible.
Possible solutions that I thought about
- Have a trusted person in place that can keep the package. Problem: I don't know anyone and sending someone would drive the price to insane levels.
- Sending to a hotel/lodge (for some fee and the promise of a stay). Problem: might be sensitive for theft. So, I'm a bit afraid about the reliability of this method.
- Using a courier service (e.g. DHL). Problem: when I check their website, I only find locations in towns rather far from the Himalayas. Along the line Jalandhar-Moradabad is about as far north as I find.