Himalayan Treks

Kedarkantha Trek is one classic gem of winter treks in Garhwal Himalayas that never stops to attract trekkers with mesmerising views along the climb up to its summit point. There are a total of 13 peaks of the Himalayan range visible from the Kedarkantha peak. There are many mythological stories surrounding Kedarkantha. It is believed that the temple Kedarnath was originally located here, but while disturbed by the villagers, the Pandavas went away from the place to the present Kedarnath location. Local people believe that the place is still the residing place of the lord. Based in Western Garhwal in the Uttarakashi district, the Kedarkantha Trek is known for being one of the easy treks of the country which can be attended by people who are inexperienced trekkers and have no knowledge of prior trekking. This trek is easily accessible any time of the year and gives trekkers a different serene experience in different seasons. In winters this trek is spectacularly beautiful, also what it is famous for. The trek passes through the Govind national park and gives you ample time to soak in the vast beauty of this reserved area. The view from the top offers a spectacular panorama of the region all around. Other lesser known peaks of the Supin Range, villages located nearby, valleys of Himachal and Garhwal. From the top of the Kedarkantha Summit, you can also view the Dhauladhar range of Himachal Pradesh, The Rupin valley, Har Ki Dun valley and views that go down to the dense settlement of Purola. You will get to see Godly peaks like Swargarohini, Black Peak, and Bandarpoonch during Kedarkantha and come back absolutely thrilled and refreshed. The best time to do Kedarkantha Trek (for snow) is December to February. The highlights of Kedarkantha trek are: The beautiful campsites, snow-covered pine forests, 360-degree view of the mountains, Saud Village (traditional way of life without modern technologies), Juda Ka Talab is a mesmerising pond, surrounded by lush pastures, and forests of maple, oak and Morinda spruce trees and the chance to stand on top of one of the easiest trekkable peaks in the Himalayas. With charming and captivating sights of snow capped Himalayas, the verdant greenery, lush landscapes, myriad collection of flora, frozen ponds, to the sights of mesmerizing peaks, this trek has all the delightful marvels that a trekker wishes to experience and view in his journey. However physical fitness is required where one should be able to jog for at least 4 kms in 30 minutes before committing for the trekking tour. As the altitude rises, the air becomes thin and people need to carry backpacks too, which can all be very difficult, without proper physical fitness. The trekkers are rewarded with magical views, exhilarating experiences and delightful moments!   read more read less

The Pankhu Top (Pakhwa Bugyal), also known as ‘the trek through the biggest alpine meadows of the Himalayas’, is a scenic and beautiful trek in the Bageshwar district of Kumaon, Uttarakhand. You cannot miss the mesmerising sights of the snowy Himalayan Peaks, and camp at gorgeous locations. The trail consists of many lone settlements, green valleys with beautiful wild flowers, waterfalls, wild forests and varied landscapes that grab the attention of every explorer! It is a moderate level trek appropriate for all that love and enjoy nature! Staying in tents and campsites makes the experience of this trek even more adventurous. The view of different Himalayan peaks, like, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Nanda Khat, Changuch, and more while trekking or while resting at campsites never fails to bring peace and joy to the trekker.   read more read less

The Deoriatal-Chandrashila summit is one of the most beautiful Garhwal Himalayan treks that you can start with. Trekking through dense jungle trails, the snow-capped mountains are truly something to watch. The Chopta Tungnath and Chandrashila trail goes through the scenic beauty of the place on each step of the trek. The forests bloom with rhododendrons and beautiful green grassland. Reaching the summit, you can experience the gallery of stunning snow peaks all the way and a spectacular view of the Himalayan peaks like Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedarnath and many more! The Chandrashila summit trek, is considered as one of the easy to moderate level treks in the Indian Himalayan region, located in Uttarakhand. We recommend this trek to all nature lovers. The trek is easy but needs preparation beforehand for beginners. Also called the Mini Switzerland of India as the beauty of the green plain mountains on the top will make you feel like heaven on earth. read more read less

Har ki Dun, which means Valley of Gods, is situated deep inside Govind Pashu National park. Rich in flora and fauna, the trails are quite often covered in different shades of orchids and other wild flowers. The area was made popular by the Doon school master Jack Gibson after his Banderpunch expeditions. Har Ki Dun Valley is a cradle-shaped hanging valley in the Garhwal Himalayas. It is surrounded by snow-covered peaks and alpine vegetation. It is connected to Baspa Valley by the Borasu Pass. Har Ki Dun is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Western Himalayas. From Har ki Dun one can see the entire North Face of Swargarohini (6,252 m) peak. The legends associated with it say that Swargarohini is the path to heaven that was followed by Pandavas of the epic Mahabharata. Though, the same story is also associated with the Swargarohini steps seen from Satopanth Lake, which lies ahead of Badrinath. Har Ki Dun trek is a classy river valley trail and it has never lost its charm to trekkers all over the world. Walking through the widespread valley, the remote villages, local lifestyle, culture and hospitality are not to be missed. The sunrise and sunset at Har Ki Dun needs special mention. Ample amount of snow makes it a compelling choice. Walking towards Marinda Tal/Jaundar glacier on the exploration day ignites the adrenaline in an adventurous mind. A winter wonderland and trekkers delight, the Har Ki Dun Trek is a stairway to heaven that will make you fall for its beauty. The thing that makes it an alluring trek is its accessibility both in summer as well as winter season. Har Ki Dun catchment area is a  major source of Yamuna River System and a main source of the largest tributary of Yamuna, the Tons river. ( Har Ki Dun and Ruinsara Nallah forms the beautiful Tamosa river near Osla. Tamosa flowing beside Taluka and below to Sankri merges with Supin River near Jakhol. Rupin and Supin combined together at Netwar forms the Tons River). This glacier carved spectacular valley is an amphitheatre ringed up by high spurs of rocky Himalayan range. Summer and monsoon brings life to this National park area and remains snow-covered in winter. Accessible for a longer duration of the year and Tea-Houses at Taluka, Seema and Har Ki Dun are compelling factors for many beginners to explore this route. Other attractions include the temple at Osla which is dedicated to Duryodhana, it was built by the inhabitants of Saur. It is about 13km from Sankri which lies on the steep mountain trail to Har Ki Dun. It is a 5,000-year formation of wooden chambers that are carved elegantly. This trek is heaven for nature lovers, adventure seekers and also shutterbugs. You can even spot various species of birds that thrive in this region. A mixture of exploration and adventure, trek and capturing some thrilling pictures on the trail is an experience of a lifetime.   read more read less

Kuari Pass is located near Joshimath in Chamoli district at a height of 12700 ft. This is one of the best trekking destination near Auli. Kuari pass offers glorious view of the eastern peaks of Garhwal Himalayas. Since the Indian viceroy Lord Curzon had once trekked up to Kuari pass, the route is known as the Curzon Trail. From the top you can see greater Himalayan range clearly, the peaks visible from Kuari pass are Nanda Devi, Doonagiri, Bethartoli and Devarthan. Trekking on high altitude meadows and camping among the flowers, under the stars is a lifetime experience. The forests composed of fir, rhododendron and birch are found up to 3300m, after which vegetation gradually moves from alpine to grasses and herbs. It is home to several mammals, Himalayan musk deer and bharal, over a hundred bird species are found here. The surprising scenic beauty makes Kuari Pass a visual delight. read more read less

Dayara Bugyal (meadows) is a paradise for those who are looking for an easy to medium level trekking in the mighty Himalayas. This beautiful meadow located in picture square laps of Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 120000ft. For this beautiful destination, the last village accessible by road is Barsu, or Raithal depending on which you are going to take. This high pastures meadow are filled with beautiful red, yellow, white wildflower during spring and summer, also you can see Gujjar shepherds walking with their cattle. Best season to visit this place is May- July and September- October. During winter December to March, this entire grassland carpeted with snow and temperature varies unexpectedly at higher altitudes. Traversing through thick forest with Pine trees, Oak trees and Rhododendron trees loaded with red, pink flowers and green meadows covered with yellow blue and red flowers made for excellent eyesight. Once you reach the top one can go higher in to the vast mesmerizing fields of greenery. Suddenly you will find yourself watching that Windows XP wallpaper. During summer you can see many flocks of ships and shepherd huts surroundings. All major snow cap peaks like Gangotri range, Shrikanth, Jonly and Bandar Poonch are clearly visible from here. So, sit back and enjoy the amazing view you have and explore more until dusk. The trek to the top passes through steep valley climbs through forests but culminates with slow sloping grasslands. A lovely place to be for the weekend, Peaceful, simple, heavenly. How to Reach: By Air : Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun, Airport is just 25 km from the main city. There are daily flights from Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi to Dehradun By Train : Take the night train from Delhi to reach Dehradun Nandadevi Express - Train no: 12205 (Departure 11:50pm; Arrival - 5:40am) Dehradun Express - Train no: 12687 (Departure - 9:10pm; Arrival - 5:00am) By Bus: There are frequent regular buses from Delhi ISBT Kashmere Gate. We would suggest you take only government buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate. Usually, buses drop you at Dehradun ISBT. From there you can catch auto which will take 15/20 mins to Dehradun Railway Station. Tata Sumo or similar vehicles will pick-up you from Dehradun Railway Station at 6:00 am to 6.30am. read more read less

Gangotri Glacier is a well-known glacier in Garhwal Himalayas, situated in Uttarkashi district. The glacier originates at the northern slope of Chaukhamba ranges of peaks. This is not a single valley glacier, but a combination of several other glaciers is fed to it and it forms a huge mass of ice. The river Ganges river originates from the Gaumukh glacier & ends in the Bay of Bengal after covering a distance of about 2500KM through the world-famous tiger reserve ‘Sunder Van’ which is a delta. Gangotri is the base camp for high-altitude treks to Gaumukh and Tapovan. It is a serene, beautiful place. One can reach there only by trekking. It is an out of the world experience to trek in barren mountains, with little vegetation, but you tend to turn spiritual. One thing is for sure, it is not for fun, the journey tests you physically and mentally both. As you climb higher, transformation of landscape into lush green valley is truly overwhelming. The absolute wilderness of ethereal mountains is truly fascinating. Tapovan & Nandanvan are on two oppositely directed mountains from Gomukh. You have to cross over the Gaumukh (Gangotri glacier) to reach from Tapovan to Nandanvan. The major part of the trek is fairly easy with a few steep inclines. You should consider one trek to this mountain at least once in your life and it will change or modify your perspective. Views of the Bhagirathi peak and Shivling greet the entrance to the valley. How to Reach: By Air :-  Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun, Airport is just 25 km from the main city. There are daily flights from Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi to Dehradun By Train :-  Take night train from Delhi to reach Dehradun Nandadevi Express - Train no: 12205 (Departure 11:50pm; Arrival - 5:40am) Dehradun Express - Train no: 12687 (Departure - 9:10pm; Arrival - 5:00am) By Bus: -  There are frequent buses from Delhi ISBT Kashmere Gate. We would suggest you to take only government buses from ISBT Kashmere Gate. Usually buses drop you at Dehradun ISBT. From there you can catch an auto which will take 15/20 mins to Dehradun Railway Station.  Tata Sumo or similar vehicles will pick-up you from Dehradun Railway Station at 6:00am to 6.30am.   read more read less

One of the best places in India to enjoy the beauty of the mighty Hiamalayas. Pindari Galcier is located in the Bageshwar distict in Kumaon region state of Uttarakhand. For those who want to try their hand at adventure, this is the right place to do it. Best thing about this trek is the terrain is without litter and crowds. Traversing through thick forests with Pine, Rhododendron and Oak trees also you can enjoy crossing revulets along the way. The trail to the glacier takes you through a string of picturesque villages, Khati is the last inhabited village on the trail. Waterfalls, hanging valleys and jagged cliffs greet you at zero point where the trek ends. read more read less

Spiti means ‘The Middle Land’ and its lies between Tibet & tourists’ favourite, Himachal Pradesh, south-east of Ladakh. The most amazing trip of your life is through this wonderful mountain desert. Everything about it is so magical. Clean and clear blue waters, vegetation free, multicoloured mountains and a patch of green around the lakes. The dominant feature of Spiti valley is its Buddhist culture. Spiti is home to some thousand-year-old Gompas (Buddhist Monasteries) and Tibetan art. The place also boasts of the world's highest motorable and inhabited villages.   Spiti is a smaller and more untouched version of Ladakh, it is truly is one of the hidden wonders of the Himalayas in many ways, but be prepared for fairly basic conditions in some parts of Spiti. The terrain is harsh, desolate & inhospitable but your final destination makes it all worth it. The naked & rugged snow top mountains, sparsely populated villages at long distances, beautiful blue sky & equally beautiful blue Spiti River are the main features of this isolated land. A place where a lucky few can still find fossils in the valleys or manage to sight Snow Leopards, Ibex etc. Spiti is the land of several perennial rivers - Spiti, Pin and Chandra, whose gurgling sounds will soothe you in the night and whose ferocity will awe you when you travel alongside them in the day time. There are beautiful green rivers formed with the melting ice through the route. Kinnaur has these beautiful green mountains while Spiti turns to these dry Rocky Mountains. The people of this place are very friendly, but this place is not for people who need luxury and comforts.  Beauty of Spiti cannot be expressed, you need to experience it. The beauty of rugged yet gorgeous terrain once you cross Spillow village,small mountainous villages, stunning blue skies, pristine lakes and above all simplicity of locals will mesmerise you. This will come with a bonus of no mobile connectivity, so no disturbances from the outer world!   read more read less