Either scaling high mountain passes or hiking for days to the hilltop lakes, Uttarakhand never runs out of options of trekking adventure. The long stretch of over 300 km (200 miles) of mountains hosts many mighty mountain peaks, of which some are the highest ones in the world. The trails that lead to these elevated giants make Uttarakhand one of the best trekking destinations in the world.
Trekking is among the best outdoor activities and the most happening activity to do in the open air. While the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand has some of the highly adventurous treks, Kumaon is the home to the most popular hiking destinations of Uttarakhand. You travel from village to village, pass through various water streams, forests, and meadows, and ascend from hills up to the Himalayan valleys.
Uttarakhand offers treks from 3,000 metres in height to over 7,500 metres which makes it suitable for both beginner and experienced trekkers. From green hilly landscapes to the white mountain top, from religious treks to adventurous ascends, from few days long to over a week-long trek, and from winter treks to the treks best for summer, Uttarakhand gives you treks perfectly fit for your criteria.
Trekking in Uttarakhand is a splendid experience that relieves you from all the mundane stress and energises you to live your ambitious lives.
Trekking becomes a timeless memory when you have done it well; we guide trekking enthusiasts to closely connect with nature while on their trekking adventures in some of Uttarakhand's most thrilling mountain trails.
At Peak Adventure Tours, each trek is articulated around the best experiences from the journey. Guided by leaders having first-hand experience of the treks, thus helps you from what you have to carry to the best spots for pictures in the trek.
While treks in Uttarakhand throng with unmatched experiences, Peak Adventure Tour will direct you to the best of them, so the journey could bring peace to the mind, calmness to the soul, energy to the mind, and last but not least satisfaction to you.Some of the most popular treks in Uttarakhand are:
The Valley of Flowers is a paradisiac destination, part of the UNESCO world heritage site, and one of the most popular names among the monsoon trekking destinations in Uttarakhand. At an altitude of 3,200 metres (10,498 feet), this heavenly place not only brings you the satisfaction of climbing but also the gratification of witnessing the raw blooming face of the Himalayas.
Trek to this valley is not strenuous but also not an easy task since the path, the geographical features and the geographical barriers require physical strength and a will of an adventurer. As this course is only available during the summer season, From June to October, it attracts thousands of nature enthusiasts on its trail.
Valley of Flowers trek is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and boasts over 400 species of flowers that bloom on the site adding beauty and freshness to the scenery. The different flowers in the valley create a Kaleidoscopic effect nurturing the eyes while the sweet fragrance pleases the senses. Taking a walk in the valley feels as if you are in the residence of divinity.
This Valley of Flowers trek is amazing for lovers of nature, artists and photographers in particular because the memories of this trek are so vivid even after the journey is over. But it's not for all, the physically active trail may be quite an undertaking for individuals with certain medical conditions. However, for those who dare to participate in this journey, the Valley of Flowers offers an unforgettable tour to one of the most beautiful trekking trails in Uttarakhand.
The Har Ki Dun trek is a popular and accessible trek in Uttarakhand, known as the Valley of Gods. It takes you through alpine meadows and pine forests, offering stunning views of the Swargarohini group of peaks. The Har Ki Doon Valley is a major source of the Yamuna River System and is located on the western flank of Garhwal in the Uttarkashi district.
The trek offers epic views of Swargarohini I & II peaks, which are believed to be the same route taken by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata on their ascent to heaven. The trek also features the majestic Jaundhar Glacier, which contributes to the Tons River. Other attractions to see on this trek include the temple at Osla, dedicated to Duryodhana, and built by the inhabitants of Saur.
Along the Har Ki Doon Trek, you will pass through one of the most ancient trek routes and some of the most remote villages in the country, such as Taluka, Gangar, and Osla. These mountain villages offer unique lifestyles and traditions, and the people are warm and friendly.
Though graded as an easy to moderate trek, Har Ki Doon lets you peek-a-view to the Black Peak, Hata Peak, Bandarpoonchand the Swargarohini group of peaks. Moreover, It is the best place to trek in Uttarakhand for both, winter and summer season.
The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is an expedition to discover the source of India's most revered river, the Ganga, which originates from the Gaumukh or Gomukh Glacier in the Himalayas. River Ganga, which flows for about 2600 km, nourishes north India with its raw power and sacred energy. The GaumukhTapovan Trek starts from the town of Gangotri, a pilgrimage site in the Garhwal Himalayas, and takes travellers through the holy trail filled with stories and natural wonders. Tracing the mighty Ganga's flow, you will cross through beautiful meadows, dense forests, rocky terrain, and high-altitude glaciers. At last, you will confront the source of Bhagirathi (headstreams of the Ganga River) and the giant massifs standing in front of you at Tapovan.
Tapovan, located a few kilometres from Gaumukh, is a beautiful meadow with breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. Witness the entire Himalayan mountain peaks like Shivling, Meru, and Bhagirathi from the base in Tapovan. Undoubtedly one of the best high-altitude treks in Uttarakhand, this trail gives you a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas and the rich culture and traditions of local communities.
The Kalindi Khal Trek is an expedition-style hike in Uttarakhand across the Kalindi Khal Pass in the Garhwal Himalayas which connects Gangotri and Badrinath. The route passes through steep glaciers, rocks, and crevassed snow, and at some point, hikers have to rope up and use ice axes and crampons. Some of the major places along the trail include Gangotri, Bhojbasa, Nandanvan, Vasukital, KharaPatthar, Kalindi Base, Rajparav, Ghastoll and Badrinath and glaciers include Gangotri, Raktavarna, Chaturangi, Suralaya, Shweta and Raj Parav. The Kalindi Khal trekking is an opportunity to observe high-altitude fauna and flora and to spend a night near glaciers and glacial lakes, which is a lucid dream for trek lovers.
Kalindi Khal can be done without prior climbing experience, but it is ideal for professional trekkers who wish to do reconnaissance-style trekking because of the technicalities involved, the harsh weather, and the acclimatisation conditions. Foreigners need an Inner Line Permit (ILP), and a group must comprise at least four foreigners; Indians do not have this restriction.
Kuari Pass Trek is a high-altitude trekking route in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand which offers wonderful views of the Garhwal Himalayas including Nanda Devi, Dronagiri and Kamet. It is also known as the Curzon Trail as it was discovered by Lord Curzon in 1905 when trekking at an altitude of 3876 m (12516ft). It is suitable for experienced tourists and physically fit persons, though it does not require a rigorous exercise regime. The trek simply boasts a natural beauty and intrigues you with the local culture. It starts from Joshimath in Chamoli district and involves interaction with the local people in the villages of Tugasi, Guling and Khullara.
This trekking adventure passes through flowers and forest meadows around the holy Alaknanda River. The highest point of Kuari Top gives a bird eye view of the Nanda Devi Massif. The best time to go for this trek is from December to March as the trail is filled with snow giving it a beautiful wintry look. The trail also goes through a few less explored areas such as Vinayak Pass, Tali Top, and GorsonBugyal with a chance to visit Auli, the famous ski destination.
Satopanth Tal is an offbeat glacier lake in the Garhwal Himalayas encompassed by towering snow-clad peaks and has religious importance. It is said that Hindu Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara did penance at three corners of its mountain. Starting from Mana village, the Satopanth Tal trek is a beguiling trek with spectacular views of rugged Himalayas and natural sightseeing. The trail runs along the Alaknanda River up to its source at Alkapuri from where the river begins to flow down passing through Lakshmi Van and Chakratirtha meadows and the famous Sahastradhara and Vasundhara waterfalls. The water in the lake is clear all year round and people from the village perform various sacred rituals here.
The Satopanth Tal trek is among the popular treks of Uttarakhand because of its beautiful vistas, mystical temples, lush green forests, and beautiful villages. Passing through gushing streams, oak and pine forests, snow-clad mountains and meadows is a rewarding adventure for trekkers.
The PanchKedar, five temples of Lord Shiva are important in Indian mythology, due to their mention in the historical Hindu epic Mahabharata. As per mytho, post Mahabharata War Lord Shiva was unhappy with the misdeeds of Pandavas and thus disguised himself in the form of Nandi in the Garhwal region. When Pandavas went in search of blessings from Lord Shiva, they began to search for Shiv everywhere. Nandi was seen by one of the Pandavas named Bhima. Shiva then vanished into the ground and emerged in five different places, which symbolised the five forms of the god. These five places are referred to as 'PanchKedar'.
PanchKedar Yatra is actually a pilgrimage and trekking tour to all these five Kedar temples in the Garhwal Himalayas. Thus, the tour helps the pilgrims connect with nature and god. The journey usually starts from Haridwar or Rishikesh and then continues to Joshimath and Guptkashi before starting the journey to the temples. The best time to visit the PanchKedar is between May and October because all five temples including Kedarnath are accessible. Out of the five temples, Kedarnath, Madmaheshwar, Tungnath, and Rudranath are closed during winter while Kalpeshwar is the only temple that is open all year round. This trek is not only a geographical journey but a journey of the soul where the pilgrims are given a chance to meditate with the divine while in the Himalayas.
Dodital-Darwa Pass trek is a 40 km trek that passes through the Assi Ganga Valley in Uttarkashi and includes forests and deep jungles. From Agoda village, the trek is about 40 Km to Dodital Lake, which is believed to be the place of birth of Lord Ganesha and the source of water for the Assi Ganga River. The lake, which is located near the Deodar trees, also gets partially frozen during winter and looks like a beautiful ice lake. A Ganpati temple beside the lake adds to the religious importance of the place. The trekking trail is a beautiful sight to behold, especially the mountain villages, the forests, and the beautiful streams. The climb to Darwa Pass is very steep and during this trek, one gets to see the majestic Bandarpoonch, Srikanth, Draupadi ka Danda and Black Peak.
The trek from Sangamchatti to Dodital is 22 km easy however if the trek is extended to Darwa Pass then it becomes moderately difficult. The Dodital Lake is an ornithologist's paradise where one can come across species such as Himalayan Monal, Bush Robin and Grey Shrike. Apart from being a popular trekking destination in Uttarakhand, the religious importance of being linked with Lord Ganesha adds to its popularity. It is better to do the Dodital-Darwa Pass trek in the months of April to June to get the summer feel and October to December to get the winter feel.
Adi Kailashor Chota Kailash is a beautiful and highly religious mountain peak in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The mountain is considered the resting abode of Shiva-Parvati Pariwar. This is located at an altitude of 5,945 metres; it is venerated by pilgrims because of its tranquillity and grandeur. The Adi Kailash Yatra is a pilgrim tour that passes through beautiful terrains and religious places. The distance of the trek ranges between 150-200 km and the total duration of the trek is 10-15 days. In the proximity of the Adi Kailash, you can visit the Parvati Tal, a mythological lake, Bheem Ki Kheti, a reference place from Mahabharata, and the Om Parvat, another majestic mountain that forms the Om symbol, a sacred sound and spiritual icon in Hinduism, on its peak.
Adi Kailash mountain is a replica of Kailash Parvat, thus this trek is considered an alternative pilgrimage of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet. This pilgrimage trek in Uttarakhand involves taking a bath at GauriKund and Parvati Sarovar which are two holy ponds at the foot of Adi Kailash and taking a darshan of Shiva-Parvati temple. The Adi Kailash Yatra covers the various Himalayan peaks, valleys, forests, waterfalls and other religious places of the region and the Shiva Temple at the bottom of Adi Kailash.
The Nanda Devi Sanctuary Trek is a trek to the territory of some of India's mightiest pinnacles. This is a somewhat popular trek in the Garhwal region for taking trekkers through the barely touched terrains, where you will see only nature in its true form. The name Nanda Devi comes from a Hindu goddess who is a manifestation of Goddess Parvati and the presiding goddess of the Chamoli.
This tantalising journey goes through Nanda Devi Sanctuary, a widespread lush mountainous region, with an altitude of over 4000 metres.
It gives you glimpses of the several peaks in Nanda Devi Sanctuary and perhaps a peek at India's second-highest mountain, Nanda Devi. The trail traverses through the Nanda Devi Sanctuary which is an inaccessible cirque where the Rishi Ganga River emerges and descends from Nanda Devi forming a steep valley.
The Sunderdhunga Trek in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand is a beautiful natural site to watch peaks like Maiktoli, Mrigthuni, Dharkot and Panwalidwar. The name of the place is derived from a local legend in which a man, washing his blanket in the river, found a precious beautiful stone, said to be valuable akin to gold, and thus the place got the name which translates to the Valley of Beautiful Stones. This trail passes through thickets, flowing streams and rivers before ascending to higher grounds with magnificent views of white mountain peaks. The valley is full of exotic flowers, animals and several beautiful waterfalls near Maiktoli, which enlists it in the beautiful trekking trails of uttarakhand.
Sunderdhunga Valley is a comparatively less explored area located in the Kumaon region near Nanda Devi although its existence is recorded in history. And though this trek starts from Kufri like the Pindari Glacier trek, it splits fromKhati to Jaikholi, DudhiyaDhaung and Kathalia. The valley is unique in the sense that every aspect of nature is clearly defined making the trek one of the most beautiful and adventurous.
The Nanda Devi East Base Camp trekis a challenging route to the eastern base of India's second-highest mountain, the Nanda Devi. The trek, which starts and ends in Kathgodam, passes through scenic locations like Ghangharia, Martoli, Bogudiar, Rargari, Raikot, Munsiyari, and Pachu Glacier. The route offers views of numerous Himalayan peaks, including Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Mount Changuich, SahalangDhura, Nanda Bhanar, and Nanda Lapak.
The trek also passes through Munsiyari, home to the Johari Tribe, known for their Ayurvedic medicines and woollen shawls. The region is adjacent to Nanda Devi National Park, home to diverse wildlife, including the snow leopard and Himalayan musk deer, a big reason for it being one of the best high-altitude treks in Uttarakhand.
The first attempt to climb Nanda Devi was in 1930, but it wasn't until 1936 that a British team and Sherpa climbers successfully summited the peak. But now the East base camp of Nanda Devi is the closest you can get to Nanda Devi mountain, as mountaineering and other adventure activities are banned in the Nanda Devi National Park due to its fragile ecosystem and the religious significance of the peak.
Although Uttarakhand is a year-round destination for trekking and hiking, different seasons transform the treks, giving trekkers a unique experience in each season. Thus, the best time for trekking in Uttarakhand solely depends on what the trekker wants to experience.
To experience the fresh and vibrant atmosphere of the mountains, choose Summer and any trek from the list of popular treks in Uttarakhand. The temperature from April to June ranges between 7°C to 18°C, which is also considered the best time to visit Uttarakhand by many.
Although trekking is not highly recommended during the monsoon due to slippery trails caused by the rain, the landscapes can be breathtaking at this time. However, certain treks, such as the Valley of Flowers and Chenab Valley trek, are best experienced during the monsoon season.
After the rainfall season ends, autumn turns the atmosphere cooler and crisper. The landscapes also turn verdant with clear skies, creating a perfect time to take memorable pictures in the mountains, nevertheless, occasional rainfall may hit. The temperature ranges between 5°C to 15°C.
If you love snow engulfed landscapes, winter is the time to choose treks like Har Ki Dun, Gangotri Gaumukh, Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Dodital, ChoptaTungnath, PanchKedar, or Kuari Pass trek. However, winter treks come with more challenges and solder temperatures ranging between 1°C to 14°C, sometimes below zero during the night.
The challenging treks of Uttarakhand are Kalindi Khal Trek, Nanda Devi Trek, Gangotri GomukhTapovan Trek and Satopanth Trek. These treks require a lot of physical strength, technical ability and experience, as they cross through steep and strenuous paths, glaciers and passes above 5000m.
If you are planning to trek in Uttarakhand during the summer then Kuari Pass Trek, Har Ki Dun Trek, and Dodital Trek are the best options. These treks provide pleasant climate, beautiful alpine meadows and breath taking views of the Himalayan ranges which makes it ideal to enjoy the nature of Uttarakhand.
Some of the best treks in Uttarakhand to be done during the monsoon include the Valley of Flowers trek and the Sunderdhunga Trek. The Valley of Flowers is famous for the variety of flowers that grow in the area and which bloom during the rainy season.
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