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22 of the Best Himalayan Treks You Must Do In 2023
Category Guides To Choose Treks
By Gautam Singh
2022-12-27
Here are the 22 best Himalayan treks to do this year. Although it was not easy to pick the best Himalayan treks as every trek is beautiful in its own way, we have put together the best Himalayan treks that we think you should not miss!
Beginner-friendly treks like Dayara Bugyal, Brahmatal and Kedarkantha are great to do all year round, except in monsoon.
In monsoon, between July and September, there are treks like Hampta Pass, Valley of Flowers, Kashmir Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar.
Suppose you want to trek in the snow; target trekking between November and April. And, if you’d like to trek in spring, look out for treks in March and April, like Sandakphu Phalut, Khopra Ridge and Goechala.
To help you choose your trek based on your fitness level, we have divided the treks into four categories of difficulty:
- Easy-Moderate
- Moderate
- Moderate-Difficult
- Difficult.
We have also divided the difficulty ratings into levels:
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
Click here to understand what each difficulty rating and level mean.
To see the complete list of treks and choose a trek based on the season, difficulty level, and month of your choice, head to our Upcoming Treks page.
22 of the Best Himalayan Treks You Must Do in 2023
1. Brahmatal Trek
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Easy - Moderate | Level 2
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Brahmatal Trek: All seasons, except monsoon
Brahmatal. Picture by Sandeep Suresh Babu
Like several other treks, the Brahmatal was explored and documented by Indiahikes. The highest point on this trek is the Brahmatal Top at 12,250 ft. It is a stunning trek. A new set of mountains open before you – Mt Chaukhamba, Mt Neelkanth, Mt Hathi Ghoda, Mt Trishul, and Mt Nanda Ghunti are by your side throughout the trek.
Brahmatal is an excellent trek to do solo as well. There is a lot of snow on the trail in December, January, and February. The trek runs until the end of April.
2. Dayara Bugyal Trek
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Easy - Moderate | Level 1
Region: Uttarakhand
Dayara Bugyal. Image by Sanal
Dayara Bugyal has all the elements of a perfect Himalayan trek — superb forests, beautiful campsites, ancient villages, thrilling climbs to high points, wonderful mountain views and a few of the best alpine meadows of Uttarakhand. These meadows are completely blanketed in snow in winter. This is an easy-moderate trek– a gift we rarely see.
3. Kedarkantha
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Easy - Moderate | Level 2
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Kedarkantha Trek: All seasons, except monsoon.
Winter at Kedarkantha. Picture by Bappaditya Chandra
Kedarkantha is one of the first few treks we began organizing. It has a stunning summit climb and is a perfect trek to do in all seasons. The Kedarkantha peak stands at an altitude of 12,500 ft with a 360-degree view of other Himalayan peaks. Over the years, we have discovered new and adventurous routes to the summit.
4. Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Easy-Moderate | Level 2
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Deoriatal Chandrashila Trek: All seasons except monsoon
Rhododendron tree at Deoriatal Chandrashila. Picture by Yogesh Shinde
The Deoriatal Chandrashila trek with Indiahikes is a 6-day trek. It is an extremely special trek because it is not just a section of the Himalayan ranges that you see, but all the major summits of Western and Eastern Uttarakhand from the summit.
Not only that, but if you trek from March – April, you will also walk amongst the full-bloomed rhododendrons! And because of the different species of birds you see on the trail, it is rightly called a paradise for bird watchers.
5. Har Ki Dun – Ruinsara Tal
Duration: 8 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate | Level 3
Region: Uttarakhand
Best times to do the Har Ki Dun trek: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Colours of Har-Ki-Dun. Picture by Gautam Doshi
“The Har Ki Dun – Ruinsara Tal trek brings out the perfect blend of culture and beauty in the Himalayas. Getting to experience the ancient Himalayan villages along with breathtakingly beautiful valleys, lakes and meadows is a very rare combination to come by”, says our co-founder Sandhya.
Indiahikes added the Ruinsara Tal trek to the Har Ki Dun itinerary because the Har Ki Dun trek is incomplete without the Ruinsara Tal.
Ruinsara Tal is located in complete isolation, and the Ruinsara valley is said to be prettier than the Har Ki Dun valley itself!
6. Phulara Ridge Trek
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate | Level 3
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Phulara Ridge Trek: Summer, Autumn
Phulara Ridge. Image by Ravi Ranjan
The Phulara Ridge trek is great to do in September, October, November, May and June. It is a unique ridge trek in India, and one of the newer treks. The beautiful Pushtara meadows are another reason why every trekker must do this trek.
Further, for a short duration of a trek, the Phulara Ridge trek has a beautiful dense forest section. If you are a wildlife, or bird lover, this is definitely the trek for you. We have spotted over 10 species of Himalayan birds on this trek.
7. Sandakphu Phalut Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate | Level 3
Region: West Bengal/Nepal
Best time to do the Sandakphu Phalut: All seasons except Monsoon
Sleeping Buddha. Picture by Swati Gavde
The Sandakphu Phalut trek is one of the few treks from where you can see 4 out of 5 of the tallest mountains in the world — Mt Everest, Mt Lhotse, Mt Makalu and Mt Kanchenjunga. Amongst all Himalayan treks, this view is what the Sandakphu treks stands out for. Along with this, you also see the Kanchenjunga range with other Himalayan mountains, famously known as the Sleeping Buddha — an image that will stay with you for years to come.
A unique feature of this trek are the tea houses you will find. They are similar to hotels and restaurants, but are indescribably different. You will have to stay in one, to experience the warmth of a tea house.
8. Valley of Flowers Trek
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate | Level 2
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Valley of Flowers Trek: July – September
Valley of Flowers. Picture by Prasad
The Valley of Flowers trek is filled with legends. It is said the trekkers fall unconscious from the heavy scent of the flowers on the valley floor. The moment you enter the valley, you have a sweeping view of it’s vast expanse covered in a layer of flowers. Flowers, leaves, buds of various shapes, sizes, colours are seen here.
The trek also goes through the Hemkund Sahib, one of the highest places of pilgrimage and worship.
9. Tarsar Marsar Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate | Level 3
Region: Kashmir
Best time to do the Tarsar Marsar Trek: Mid-June – September
Tarsar Marsar. Image by Sudheer Hegde
The Tarsar Marsar trek in Kashmir is the prettiest trek in India. The only other trek that comes close to its beauty is the Kashmir Great Lakes trek. It is a moderate trek, so you must come well prepared to do the trek.
The trek takes you from one lake to the other, from Tarsar to Marsar, and then to Sundarsar. You also get to camp beside two of these stunning lakes. In this aspect, Tarsar Marsar is better than the Kashmir Great Lakes trek.
At Indiahikes, we closely monitor the social, and political situation in Kashmir. The safety of our trekkers and staff on the slopes are always our first priority.
10. Hampta Pass
Duration: 6 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate | Level 3
Region: Himachal Pradesh
Best Time to do the Hampta Pass Trek: Monsoon
Shea Goru. Image by Ravindra
“Hampta Pass was the first trek that we explored outside our big ones in Uttarakhand. This was in 2010. It is perhaps one of the best treks to do in Himachal. It is a trek close to my heart because I know Indiahikes put it on the map for trekkers to do. It is a trek that I would do again. My list of great treks is incomplete without this one in it”, says our founder, Arjun Majumdar
You must do this trek because it is one of the most dramatic crossover treks in the country pass. It begins from the lush green valleys of Kullu through a narrow gorge-like valley to an overhang high in the mountains. From the pass, you can see the entire Spiti valley in one wide panoramic sweep.
11. Gidara Bugyal Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate–Difficult | Level 2
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Gidara Bugyal Trek: Summer, Spring
Gidara Meadows. Picture by Nitesh Kumar
The Gidara Bugyal trek is an ancient and well-known trek among other Himalayan treks. It is one of the largest high-altitude meadows you will set foot on. It is possibly larger than the popular Ali Bedni Bugyal trek. Further, this trek has a beautiful ridge walk that not many treks can boast about.
The campsites on this trek are incredible. They are nestled in the grasslands of Gidara, just as you leave the wonderful forest section.
12. Goechala
Duration: 10 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate-Difficult | Level 3
Region: Sikkim
Best time to do the Goechala Trek: Spring, Autumn
Samiti Lake. Picture by Ganesh
The Goechala trek route is almost 75 km long and it rises to an altitude 15,100 ft. One of the biggest reasons to do this trek is the stunning mountain views that you get, not just one mountain, but 14!
The highlights of this trek are many. The most unforgettable one being the sunrise on the Kanchenjunga range. Further, in the summer months of April and May, you see countless, beautiful rhododendrons lining your path. The crystal clear Samiti Lake is another reason why you should do this trek.
13. Khopra Ridge Trek
Duration: 9 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate-Difficult | Level 1
Region: Nepal
Best time to do the Khopra Ridge Trek: Spring, Autumn
Silhouettes of Mt Macha Puchare. Picture by Ritabrata Das
There are treks in Nepal, and there is Khopra Ridge trek. One of the many reasons why you must do this trek is because of the 22 big mountains you get to see on this trek!
The beauty of the Khopra Ridge is the fact that it is a ridge. You walk two whole days on this ridge. So for two days there are big mountains on either side of you. There are very few treks in this world where you walk for two whole days on a ridge. Leave alone a trek with such astounding mountain views. When you combine these two, the Khopra Ridge becomes a very special trek.
14. Buran Ghati Trek
Duration:8 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate Difficult | Level 1
Region: Himachal
Best time to do the Buran Ghati Trek: Summer, Autumn
Buran Ghati. Picture by Anirban Banerjee
Buran Ghati is the trek you get when you take all the best elements of all our different treks and put it into one trek. It is adventurous, to say the least, and full of meadows, a thrilling pass crossing, and historical villages.
The Rupin Pass trek runs parallely to the Buran Ghati Trek. The trail begins at the historical town of Janglik and goes into a delightfully deep forest and then bursts into Dayara meadows.
15. Rupin Pass Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate Difficult | Level 2
Region: Himachal
Best time to do the Rupin Pass Trek: Summer, Autumn
U-Shaped Gully. Picture by Jothiranjan
If there is a classic trek in India, it has to be the Rupin Pass. This trek is like an orchestra, building up momentum with surprises in scenery every hour or so. With every step, the trek throws up a new vista to see, a new scenery to unfold.
The Rupin Pass trek is a trek that gives you a true sense of adventure. There is a surprise in scenery at every turn. One of the biggest highlights of this trek is the climb to Rati Pheri from the Upper waterfall campsite, and the steep ascent to Rupin Pass through the Rupin Gully, all this at 15,279 ft.
16. Gaumukh Tapovan Trek
Duration: 8 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate-Difficult | Level 1
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Gaumukh Tapovan Trek: Summer, Autumn
Bhagirathi Sisters. Image by Arabinda Deb
The Gaumukh Tapovan trek is one of the oldest and legendary Himalayan treks in India. It offers a chance to experience beautiful sunsets, get a view of Mt Shivling from the base to the summit, and last but not the least, the Gangotri glacier, the source of river Ganga.
The base camp for the Gaumukh Tapovan trek is Rishikesh, a must visit place steeped in culture.
View Gaumukh Tapovan Trek here
17. Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Moderate – Difficult
Region: Kashmir
Best time to do the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek: July – September
Twin Lakes. Picture by Suresh Kerketta
The Kashmir region is picturesque, with each lake being more beautiful than the previous. You get to experience the larger than life settings of the lakes on this trek.
After this trek, every other trek feels as though it is a movie on a small screen. Kashmir Great Lakes, however, is an IMAX 3D experience – such is the grandeur of the trek. If you have not done this trek, put it on your bucket list!
18. Kedartal Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Difficult | Level 2
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Kedartal Trek: Summer, Autumn
Kedartal. Image by Srikanth Chikkala
Kedartal is a difficult trek compared to other Himalayan treks. This trek is for experienced trekkers, and adventure lovers. The trek climbs to the glacial Kedartal lake, that is surrounded by big mountains. Some of the most famous mountains rise in front of you in this cauldron – Mt Thalaysagar, Mt Bhrigupanth, Mt Nanda Parvat, Mt Jogin, and Mt Gangotri.
This trek is extremely challenging with river crossings, spider wall, and the sheer altitude itself.
19. Pin Bhaba Trek
Duration: 9 days
Difficulty level: Difficult | Level 1
Region: Himachal
Best time to do Pin Bhaba: Monsoon
Pin Bhaba. Image by Satyen Gupta
The Indiahikes Pin Bhaba itinerary is 9 days long. The base camp to do the Pin Bhaba Pass Trek is Kafnu. The vast expanse of the trek is overwhelming, you can do this as a solo trek as well.
Pin Bhaba is known to be the most dramatic trek. Each day there is a complete change in scenery. It is almost like a brand new trek every day! When compared with its riskier cousin, the Pin Parvati Pass trek, where your life is at stake, the Pin Bhaba is not only a great alternative, but a more beautiful, and safer one.
20. Bali Pass Trek
Duration: 8 Days
Difficulty level: Difficult | Level 3
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Bali Pass Trek: June, September
Bali Pass. Image from Indiahikes Archive.
The Bali Pass trek is a difficult Himalayan trek. This is partly due to the high altitude that rises to over 16,000 ft. The Bali Pass trek is more than an adventure filled trek, you also pass through some historical villages and trek to Ruinsara Tal – a stunning high altitude lake.
Another aspect that stands out on the Bali Pass trek is the rocky approach to Bali Pass itself. In the month of June and July the higher regions of the pass are covered in snow! In monsoon it is a drier patch. If you enjoy high altitude pass traverses, this is the trek for you.
21. Pangarchulla Peak Trek
Duration: 7 Days
Difficulty level: Difficult | Level 1
Region: Uttarakhand
Best time to do the Pangarchulla: June, September
Birds eye view of Pangarchulla Peak. Image by Avinash Sharma
If you are looking for a power-packed and thrilling summit climb, the Pangarchulla Peak trek offers just that. The summit point of the Pangarchulla Peak trek is situated at a challenging altitude of 15,069 ft.
At the summit, enjoy the breathtaking 360-degree views of Garhwal peaks. Nanda Ghunti, Trishul ranges are visible from the summit for the first time.
If you are into adventurous summit climbs, this is the perfect trek for you!
22. Warwan Valley Trek
Duration: 9 Days
Difficulty level: Difficult | Level 3
Region: Kashmir
Best time to do Warwan Valley: July, August
Villages of Warwan. Image by Ashwin Sasidaran
Warwan Valley Trek is the grandest in our country. At Indiahikes, we call it ‘The’ Warwan. There is no trek you would have done that can match the experience of this trek. And no trek you do after this will come close.
The trek has everything to offer - Varying colours, Pass crossings, River crosses, Glacial walks, Alpine lakes and beautiful villages.
However, this means that this trek is not meant for everyone. The trek is a difficult one. You need to be extremely fit with some prior high-altitude trek experience to get on this trail.
Conclusion
Do you know of any other Himalayan treks that you consider the best according to you? Let us know by naming them in the Comments section below.
For easy navigation, here is the Table of Contents to quickly jump to your favourite section:
Trek Name | State | Difficulty Level | Duration (No. of Days) | Best Time To Do |
Uttarakhand | Easy - Moderate | Level 2 | 6 | All seasons except monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Easy - Moderate | Level 1 | 6 | All seasons except monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Easy - Moderate | Level 1 | 6 | All seasons except monsoon | |
Deoriatal Chandrashila | Uttarakhand | Easy - Moderate | Level 2 | 6 | All seasons except monsoon |
Uttarakhand | Moderate | Level 3 | 8 | All seasons except monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Moderate | Level 3 | 6 | Summer, Autumn | |
West Bengal/Nepal | Moderate | Level 3 | 7 | All seasons except monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Moderate | Level 2 | 6 | Monsoon | |
Kashmir | Moderate | Level 3 | 7 | Monsoon | |
Himachal Pradesh | Moderate | Level 3 | 6 | Monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Moderate–Difficult | Level 2 | 7 | Summer, Spring | |
Sikkim | Moderate-Difficult | Level 3 | 10 | Spring, Autumn | |
Nepal | Moderate-Difficult | Level 1 | 9 | Spring, Autumn | |
Himachal Pradesh | Moderate-Difficult | Level 1 | 8 | Summer, Autumn | |
Himachal Pradesh | Moderate-Difficult | Level 2 | 7 | Summer, Autumn | |
Uttarakhand | Moderate-Difficult | Level 1 | 8 | Summer, Autumn | |
Kashmir | Moderate – Difficult | Level 2 | 7 | Monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Difficult | Level 2 | 7 | Summer, Autumn | |
Himachal Pradesh | Difficult | Level 1 | 9 | Monsoon | |
Uttarakhand | Difficult | Level 3 | 8 | June, September | |
Uttarakhand | Difficult | Level 1 | 7 | June, September | |
Kashmir | Difficult | Level 3 | 9 | July, August |
Gautam Singh
Finance Manager
About the author
Gautam Singh is the Finance Manager at Indiahikes. He is a B.Com graduate who realized Chartered Accountancy was not his cup of tea, a bit too late. At heart, he is an adventure seeker. He loves riding bikes, travelling solo, exploring places, and meeting new people. He is an avid runner, and it took him on the journey from being 'Fat to Fit'. He was also one of the lucky few who saw Kashmir both as a State and as a Union Territory on his first Himalayan trek - Kashmir Great Lakes. You can write to him at gautam@indiahikes.com
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