Trekking in North India For A High-Altitude Himalayan Escape

Auli offers some of the finest slopes of the where you can go treks in North India. Peaks ranging from about 2500 to 3000 m, Auli has some well-defined trekking routes for trekking enthusiasts. You can trek up to Himalayan peaks such as Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat, Dunagiri, and Joshimath from Auli. Other smaller trekking ranges are Gorson, Tali, Kuari Pass, Khulara and Tapovan.

Known For : Gulmarg Gondola Alpather Lake Apharwat Peak

Situated at an altitude of 2730 m above sea level, Gulmarg is surrounded by snow-covered mountains, lush meadows, deep ravines, evergreen forested hills and valleys. Such an atmosphere makes these treks in North India are so very exciting. Popular trekking routes include Pir Panjal Range or Naga Parbat, Apharwat Peak and Alpather Lake trek.

Best Time: October to June

30 Gulmarg Attractions

Gaumukh-Tapovan trek, one of the most gratifying treks in North India. This stunning Himalayan trek will bring out the trekker in you while passing through an orchard of coniferous pine trees at Chirbasa and birch at Bhojbasa.

Known For : Amarnath Cave Amarnath Yatra Baltal

Amarnath is one of the most important pilgrimages in India for the worshippers of Lord Shiva. The Amarnath cave is a haven to an enshrined image of ice called the Shivaling formed naturally, which resembles Lord Shiva. The trek to see the Shivaling is a total 45 km to traverse; out of which, the first 15 km to Chandanwari can be traversed by a bus in a few hours.

Best Time: May - July

4 Amarnath Attractions

Known for its majestic and moon shaped terrains, Ladakh is visited by nature lovers and adventurous enthusiast. Sitting in the lap of the mighty Himalayas, this is one of the best treks in North India. From traversing over a glacier, climbing long stretches of mountainous terrain, and manoeuvring their way through a long and steep ridge, Ladakh treks have easy to difficult challenges, even for professional trekkers. A myriad of beautiful and serene high altitude passes, valleys, flora and fauna make Ladakh a dream vacation destination.

Aritar apart from offering beautiful panoramic vistas is also a paradise for adventure enthusiasts. Situated near Lungchok valley is some of the amazing trekking routes leading towards Lokdara and Chujachen.

Valley of Flowers is located in Chamoli district (near Badrinath) of Uttarakhand, approximately 300 km to the north of Rishikesh. This is a picturesque national park, gracing the beauty of Western Himalayas. Valley of flowers was discovered in 1931 and is a World Heritage Site for its wild untamed blooms surrounded by white peaks. Trekking here is almost tailor-made for nature lovers and fearless trekkers. It is suitable for backpackers touring nearby Uttarakhand sites like Dehradun, Mussoorie etc.

Tungnath, a quaint village in Uttarakhand, is known as the starting point of the popular Chopta Chadrashila Trek. At a height of 2680m, this village is surrounded by evergreen forests of pine, deodar and rhododendron. This is one of the easier treks in the Himalayan region and hence, recommended for first-timers. The trek covers a large region, starting from Haridwar and ending at Chandrashila.

Sanasar also falls in the way of a number of trekking trails. The trekking trails of Ladoo Ladi is a modest nature walk of about 4km from Madhatop. One can also trek their way to Shanta Gala which is a pass on the Shanta ridge and offers the view of the Panchari valley, on the other side of the ridge.

Basking under the glory of nature, Nanda Devi trek is one of the major attractions of Garhwal region in Uttarakhand. It is a trans-Himalayan trek, which embarks from Munsiyari, perched at an altitude of 2290 m. The trek is quite amusing that leads to the higher Himalayan region adorned with mysterious nature’s beauty.
On the way, you will also spot the quaint settlements and the hamlets like Martoli and Rilkot reminding of the rustic lifestyle of mountain folks. These settlements might have roots going back to at least a hundred and fifty years, linking to the Indo-Tibetan trade via silk route.

Considered a highly sacred place by the Hindus, known as Harmuk Ganga at a height of 3570 m above sea level is Gangabal trek. The lake is known a large population of fish, the rainbow trout fish being the star of the lake.

Nestled away from the hustle bustle of the city, Har Ki dun is a beautiful cradle shaped valley with untouched panoramic beauty. This is one of those treks in North India, perched at an elevation of 3,566 mts above the sea level, which offers a plethora of views of the Himalayas.

Khuliya Top is an easy 10km trek from Munsiyari. It offers a magnificent view in summers of great Himalayan ranges. The five famous peaks namely Panchachuli, Hardeol, Rajrambha, Nandakot and Nandadevi are clearly visible from here and this makes it an amazing experience for even a first-time trekker. With trekking in summers, the winters offer a perfect spot for skiing with snow-laden alpine slopes

With countless trekking trails and spots in the region interspersed with streams and rivers and some breathtaking views, Tehri Garhwal tends to be quite a favourite for treks in North India. Popular spots include Nagtibba, Khatling Glacier, Sem-Mukhem, Pawanli Kantha, Sahastratal, Masartal and more.

Treks in North India have been one of the favourite activities among adventure travellers and Dehradun is a hub for trekkers. Jwala Devi, George Everest, Bhadraj Temple, Shivalik ranges, Doon valley, Dakpather, Asan Barrage are some of the places to be mentioned when we talk about trekking in Dehradun. Pachhwadun region is one of the starting points for a lot of treks.

Words are rendered redundant when one tries to describe the beauty that the enchanting land of Kasol holds. Ranging from emerald green mountains to the flowing frothy rivers, Kasol is undoubtedly one of the gorgeous places up north. And what more can a traveler can ask for, if a land like this offers the enthralling experiences of trekking and rock climbing! Famous for its forest treks in North India, Kasol will give you the ultimate adrenaline rush with its multiple varieties of adventure sports.

A paradise for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts, trekking in Dalhousie is particularly famous amongst trek-lovers. The hill station is a dream come true for trekking fiends as it offers the best trekking trails for beginners. As you pass through the verdant surroundings, you can't resist yourself from soaking in the tranquillity and calmness of the place. There are dense forests of Deodar, pine and fir trees which look extremely quaint. For trekkers who want to trek in the snow, Dalhousie is one of the best treks in North India for it. The snow-covered mountains and landscapes enhance the beauty and make the trek even more exciting.

The Khajjiar trek is a 14km trek through landscapes of Deodar and Pine trees interspersed with streams. While the sceneries and views are breath-taking, this trek in North India can be a bit challenging. It is best to do it in an organized structure on a format provided by your hotel or tour provider. Do take a guide or professional with you. Other than this, the Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary is also ideal for trekking.

A number of treks are available in and around Mcleodganj, ranging from simple to difficult terrains. There are also a number of institutes that provide training as well as tools and facilities for these treks in North India. Trekking is a hobby for most of us. Himachal Pradesh is a famous and a favourite spot for many trekkers. One can trek to Triund, which is a very short and modest trek. Triund also has a number of trekking options with a backdrop of some breathtaking sceneries. Other treks include Kareri River Trek, Guna Devi Temple Trek, Bhagsu Trek and the Indrehar Pass Trek.

Spiti is the haven for adventure seekers and trekkers as it offers treks through some of the most unseen, dream-like landscapes, watched over by majestic sceneries. For the more experienced trekkers there is the Pin-Parvarti route. Other routes include Kaza-Langza-Hikim-Comic-Kaza, Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza, Kaza-Losar-Kunzum La and Kaza-Tabo-Sumdo-Nako.

Known For : Waterfall Point Jalori Pass Serolsar Lake

Shojha is a small village sitting quietly in the middle of wilderness and panorama. Its untouched beauty might be just the thing that you need to relax and unwind. Located amid the Banjar Valley, the village is dotted with several temples made of wood.

Best Time: April to June

5 Shojha Attractions

With the absolutely magnificent views and sights that Kangra has to offer, some more popular treks like the Dharamshala-Laka Pass, Baijnath-Parai Jot and Bhim Gasutri Pass, Dharamshala-Talang Pass, McLeodganj-Minikiani Pass-Chamba, are a more difficult, but absolutely more gratifying treks.

Known For : Great Himalayan National Park Serlosar Lake Jalori Pass

The land of untouched and mystifying beauty, Tirthan Valley is a destination with a plethora of delights. Lying nearly 3 km from the entrance of Great Himalayan National Park, this place is abundant in adventurous activities and a paradise for nature lovers. '

Best Time: Mar to June, October to November

7 Tirthan Valley Attractions

Kullu is a popular destination for those in search of a trek through mountains, valleys, streams and more. Trekking in Kullu Manali is usually at a high altitude, cover various terrains, some welcoming and some not so much, as well as some unexplored landscapes and sacred temples. One can keep trekking in and around Kullu Manali for 10-12 days to 2-3 weeks. For something which demands lesser time, one can try out the Putasar Lake trek which takes about 4 days to complete. April to June and September to October are the months when you can make the most of you trekking experience in Kullu.

There are basically about 9 treks in North India routes that fall in this region. 1. Bhabha- Pin valley (4 days trip) 2. Kinner Kailash Parikarma (3 days trip) 3. Sangla to Dodra Kawar (3 days) 4.Sangla to Dhamwari (5 days) 5. Sangla to Barang (1 day) 6. Tappri to Chhitkul (5 days) 7. Tapri to Kalpa (3 days) 8. Reckong peo to Nako (6 days) 9. Chhitkul to Gangotri (5 days, special permission requires for this route).

Travellers have many options for trekking in Nahan with some really exciting paths. The trek from Nahan to Renukaji, though easy is quite amazing. Churdhar peak also provide for various treks that offers spectacular view from the top.

With plenty of trekking trails, Pahalgam is the base camp for countless trekkers. Challenging mountain ranges, pristine lakes and plateaus make the region of Pahalgam suitable for all types of trekking. Best time to trek in Pahalgam is from April to June.

With plenty of trekking trails traced on the map of this town, Sonamarg is a delight for trekkers. Challenging mountain ranges, pristine lakes and plateaus make the region of Sonamarg suitable for all types of treks.

A number of treks originate in and around Kargil. These are Lamayuru-Leh, Padum-Lamayuru, Padum-Hemis, Sankaru-Dras, NunKun etc. Trekking in the region may be challenging due to the weather conditions, but rewarding because of the beautiful setting of the region.

Trekking is one of the most popular sport activities in Tattapani. The small village housing more hills than roads offers various trekking paths where one can relish the natures beauty along the way. Shikari Devi Peak, Dev Bedeog Peak and Shali Peak are the most well known trek paths.

Given its forests and terrain, Shoghi is popular for its modest nature walks as well as elaborate trekking trails.

There is no dearth of trekking in Uttarakhand. The state is home to the mighty Himalayas and offers treks for all kinds of enthusiasts. There is a range of beginner level treks along with more advanced options. The best time to visit Uttarakhand for trekking is in the summer months of May-June.