Arjun Majumdar’s Top 10 Autumn Treks for 2025

I love trekking in autumn! 

If you’ve followed my explorations over the years, you’ll notice that almost all of them have been in autumn. And there’s a reason for that.

Autumn is when you get the best of everything. The rains have passed, the dust has settled, and the skies open up with crystal clarity. 

Winter hasn’t set in yet, so the weather is just right — crisp, cool, and steady. The colours of the mountains are at their richest in autumn. Meadows turn a burnished gold and ridges stand out in stark contrast against the deep blue skies.

That’s why autumn stands apart. 

And when I look at treks in this season, I put them into two categories: Big Treks — the high-adventure expeditions, and Treks for the Eyes — the ones that drench you in pure Himalayan beauty.

How Do We Define Big Treks?

Big treks are the adventure treks — the difficult ones, or the moderate-to-difficult ones. These require preparation, and I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone starting out on their first Himalayan trek.

There is absolutely no other season to do them. Big treks can only be attempted either in summer or in autumn. And of the two, autumn is the one which now faces our trekkers. 

So which one are the ones which I would do?

1. Rupin Pass

The first one, Rupin Pass and immediately people will ask me why not Buran Ghati.

If you ask me to choose between two treks — Rupin Pass or Buran Ghati — in autumn I would choose Rupin Pass. The sheer variety you see on Rupin in autumn, the adventure it offers — it belongs to another world altogether.

No other season brings it alive the way autumn does.

2. Kedartal

The next one is Kedartal.

In the same region, you also have the Gaumukh Tapovan trek. But if you ask me to choose between Gaumukh Tapovan and Kedartal, in autumn my choice is Kedartal.

Kedartal is a big adventure. Nowhere else do you get such grand mountain views — 6,000 and 7,000-meter peaks rising right in front of you, so close it feels like they’re towering over your head. That experience is unmatched. Which is why, for me, it has to be Kedartal

3. Goechala

Then moving east, Goechala. 

This is the season to do the Goechala trek. Nowhere else, and in no other season, will you get such crystal-clear views of the big mountains — Kanchenjunga, Mount Pandim, Kabru, Kabru Dome, all standing in sharp detail against the sky. Autumn brings them alive with a clarity you won’t find at any other time. 

And beyond the views, the trek itself is glorious — Autumn landscapes make Goechala unforgettable.

4. Everest Base Camp (EBC), Nepal

There are two treks outside India that I must include, because autumn is the best time to do them. The first is the classic route to Everest Base Camp (EBC).

Of all the seasons, if you want to do EBC, do it in autumn. Choose autumn over summer. Choose autumn — because you go to EBC for one thing above all else: the mountain views. And in autumn, you get the grandest showcase of mountains anywhere in the world. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam — they stand before you in their sharpest, most breathtaking form.

I’m not just saying this in the context of India or Nepal. In the entire world of trekking, few places match what EBC gives you in autumn.

5. Khopra Ridge, Nepal

And then there is Khopra Ridge, near the Annapurna range.

From this ridge, you see as many as 23 big summits. But what takes your breath away is Dhaulagiri, standing right in front of you, almost overwhelming in its presence. Alongside it, at least 15 other major peaks rise into view. Machapuchare, with its striking fishtail shape, is unmistakable. And of course, the Annapurna range dominates the horizon.

All the great mountains of Nepal seem to gather here. That’s what makes Khopra Ridge another outstanding autumn trek.

So, when I think of the big treks of autumn — the ones that truly challenge and reward you — these five stand out.

But not everyone is tuned for big treks. Many trekkers prefer trails that are less demanding, but breathtaking to the eye. And autumn is the best season for these.

No other time of the year matches autumn for sheer beauty. Not summer, not spring. Only in autumn do you see colours this vivid.

This is why autumn is a treat for the eyes, and you must make the most of it. Out of all the options, these are the five treks I would choose. You may have your own favourites, but this is my list.

6. Surya Top

The first is Surya Top.

People often ask me — why not Dayara Bugyal, which is right next to it? My answer is simple. Surya Top gives you the best of Dayara Bugyal and more. You walk through those same lush meadows, but you also climb to a summit that opens up the grandest views of the Gangotri ranges and Bandarpunch.

Add to that the meadows of both Dayara and Surya, glowing in autumn light, and the circuitous trail that keeps the landscape changing — Surya Top, for me, stands above Dayara Bugyal in this season.

7. Ali Bedni Bugyal

Next is Ali Bedni Bugyal.

This trek is not just about meadows, though they are some of the finest in India. It’s about the drama of the scenery — ancient oak forests, rolling grasslands, and meadows that turn molten gold when the autumn sun strikes them.

No other trek gives you this play of light and colour the way Ali Bedni does in autumn. This is why so many of those iconic photographs you see of Ali Bedni are from this season. Add the backdrop of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti rising dramatically out of the meadows, and you realise why Ali Bedni is unforgettable in autumn. You can't beat that site

8. Ranthan Khadak

Then comes a rare gem — Ranthan Kharak.

This trek is known in spring for its rhododendrons. But in autumn, it transforms into one of the best beginner-friendly summit climbs you can do. And that’s why I recommend it so strongly. Beginners love summit climbs — they love that moment of standing on a top and taking in the mountains around them.

From Ranthan Kharak, the views are staggering — Nanda Devi, Sunanda Devi, Nandakot, and on the other side, the Panchachuli range. I mean astounding. 

The clearings are alive with birds and the wildlife that you get to see. 

Again a rare trek. Not many people do it. 

9. Har Ki Dun

The fourth on this list is the classic — Har Ki Dun.

I debated whether to include this, because we also have Phulara Ridge and Kedarkantha in the same region. But Har Ki Dun stands apart.

It’s a superb valley trek, steeped in culture, with ancient villages and traditions that go back centuries. In autumn, the valley is drenched in vivid colours, and the crisp air sharpens every mountain view. 

The adventure, the thrill, the cultural richness — they all come together here. For me, Har Ki Dun is a shade more special than the other treks in this region.

10. Panch Tiger Trail, Central India

Finally, this is the time to take the Central Indian treks — the Panch Tiger Trail.

India is the only country in the world with such a thriving tiger population. And in autumn, the forests of Central India open up for trekking. Here, you walk in the heart of tiger territory, surrounded by the omnipresence of wildlife.

It’s a very different kind of trek, but no less thrilling. You will be surrounded by the omnipresence of wildlife, and this is the season when these treks open up. So the Panch Tiger Trail is definitely one to do in autumn.

So these were my five for the eyes and I've already told you the five ones for the big treks. So that's my list for this autumn.

The Conclusion

This list is not a suggestion; it’s a compass. If you want to experience the Himalayas — really experience them — autumn is the time.

The big treks will test you, push you, and reward you with the grandest adventures. The treks for the eyes will leave you spellbound with autumn’s colours and clarity.

Either way, you cannot go wrong. If you’re trekking in 2025, trek in autumn. And trek here.