Over the years, I notice that trekkers have developed a deep love for Dayara Bugyal in winter. 

Ever since we first opened it in winter 2017, trekkers have fallen in love with the wintry charm of this trek — the lovely snow-draped oaks and maples, the soft glow of early morning sun on the white meadows, the icy lakes and ponds, the towering Gangotri ranges that accompany trekkers like sentinels from the first day to the last… 

Today, I thought I'd chat with some of our team members on what they love about the Dayara Bugyal trek in winter. They all put forth some compelling reasons to do this trek in winter. Let me take you through them.

Why we love the Dayara Bugyal trek in winter: 

1. The snow-laden forests on Day 1 and Day 2

“The first thing that comes to my mind are the forests of Dayara Bugyal,” begins Dhaval Jajal, a Senior Trek Leader and Filmmaker at Indiahikes, who spent two winters leading the Dayara Bugyal trek in 2019 and 2020. 

“The forests become extremely beautiful in winter. Especially in peak winter months of January and February, the boughs of the trees are heavily laden with snow. Every time you shake a branch, you’ll feel soft powder snow drizzle over you. It’s an incredibly romantic setting,” says Dhaval. 

Peak winter settings in the forests of Dayara Bugyal. Picture by Dhaval Jajal.

“Even if there is no snow in early winter, the angle at which light falls through, especially in the mornings, is extremely charming. Since you’re headed in an easterly direction from Raithal to Gui, you’re directly in the path of the slanting rays of the sun. It lights up the maple and oak leaves around you with tremendous colours,” adds Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes, who has been to Dayara Bugyal in winter multiple times.

The initial forest walk from Raithal to Gui in the early morning light. Picture by Sudheer Hegde

But that’s not all. “This is not a continuous forest walk like you see at Deoriatal-Chandrashila or Brahmatal. There are multiple openings throughout the forest, which make for nice breaks in scenery. It’s very similar to the celebrated clearings of the Kedarkantha trek. We even camp in these clearings,” adds Dhaval. 

The Indiahikes campsite at Chilapada. Picture by Akshay Aralikatti

Not many treks allow you to experience walking on a frozen lake. Kedarkantha has Juda Ka Talab on the Sankri route, but it’s too crowded in winter, often losing its charm. The Brahmatal trek has Bekaltal and Brahmatal. Bekaltal is rarely frozen, since it lies at a relatively lower altitude. Brahmatal is perhaps the only lake that you get to see in a frozen form. 

On the Dayara Bugyal trek, though, you have two lakes that are frozen — the Gui tal (which you camp very close to) and the Barnala tal, which you come across while trekking from Barnala to Chilapada. 

“Gui is literally like a skating rink in the middle of nowhere. In peak winter months of Jan and Feb, it’s frozen with a thick, almost unbreakable layer of ice. Even though it isn’t very big, it’s a very thrilling experience to walk on it,” shares Izzat. 

When it isn’t frozen, it's like a piece of sky on earth. It’s a cool blue surrounded by snow.

The half-frozen Gui tal in winter. Picture by Sudheer Hedge

Barnala is extremely picturesque too, especially when it is frozen. Trekkers love to spend time by this lake, just reflecting on their experience. “There’s a Nag Devta temple by the bank of the lake, which adds a certain spiritual charm to it,” shares Izzat.

The frozen Barnala tal in winter. Picture by Deep Thakkar

3. The biggest expanse of snow you have seen 

Once you exit the treeline, you come to the much-awaited alpine meadows of Dayara. “I have been to at least 5 different winter treks. But I have never seen such a vast expanse of snow,” shares Dhaval, who has led trekkers to Brahmatal, Kedarkantha and Deoriatal in winter. 

“When I first stepped in the meadows of Dayara in peak winter, I was wowed by the view. It was miles and miles of undulating snow. It looked like a field of vanilla ice cream! There’s not a single tree or a plant or a rock that obstructs the snow. It’s just velvety snow for as far as your eyes can see,” he adds.

Ant-like trekkers in the vast meadows of Dayara Bugyal in winter. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

You’re not likely to see this much snow on any other winter trek. “This is the kind of snow that brings the child in you alive,” adds Izzat. “Every time I have been there, I have made all my team members just close their eyes and fall backwards in the snow. The kind of weightlessness and glee you feel when you sink into soft snow is amazing,” she smiles. 

“The number of snow slides on this trek while descending is a lot! You don’t get to see or experience that many snow slides on any other winter trek, not even on higher altitude treks like Rupin Pass and Buran Ghati,” she adds. “I admit these are not big slides, but just short fun slides that are such a joy!”

4. An expedition-like summit climb in snow

The climb to Dayara top in winter gives you an almost expedition-like feel. First comes the overwhelming rush of emotions upon seeing the snow-blanketed meadows; then comes the adrenaline surge of climbing to a Himalayan mountain top! 

“From upper Chilapada all the way to the summit is extremely beautiful. I remember, we started our summit climb in the early hours, when it was still dark. We could only see the snow at our feet, under the gleam of our headlamps,” says Lakshmi Selvakumaran, head of the Experience team at Indiahikes, who trekked to Dayara Bugyal in winter 2019.

Trekkers making it to Dayara Top under the light of their headlamps. Picture by Munendra Rana

“At the break of dawn, we started seeing snowflakes glistening like diamonds all around us. As we climbed higher, the vast expanse of snow opened up around us, getting grander and grander every minute. The enormity of the snow covered landscape really hit me when the sun came out fully.

“Added to that, we started seeing the big peaks that Dayara Bugyal is known for. Mt Bandarpoonch was right in front of me, almost at a touching distance. The Gangotri ranges were glowing in the morning light. It felt very surreal to walk in these settings, feeling the warmth of the sun and seeing the alpenglow on the mountains,” shares Lakshmi.

Izzat, here, shares another perspective. “In peak winter, the climb becomes quite a challenge. I remember that we had to use ropes to secure the trail. The technical guides were cutting steps in snow, while we waited to climb with the ropes. It felt like we were climbing Everest, full with a queue at the Hillary Step and everything,” she laughs. 

This is indeed a reality of trekking to Dayara Bugyal in winter. The difficulty becomes a notch higher, and requires you to be fit and agile to deal with high snow.

“Several times, the snow is so deep that you cannot proceed beyond a point. But the good thing with Dayara Bugyal is that even if you just reach the meadows and return, you have a wonderful sense of accomplishment. That doesn’t happen on most other winter treks if you are forced to leave halfway,” he says.

5. The easiest winter trek for beginners 

Despite the winter challenges, we have always maintained that the Dayara Bugyal trek is too rewarding for the least amount of effort put in. That makes it the best trekkers for beginners in winter.

“You hardly cover 5-6 km everyday. The ascents and descents are gentle. The rewards come to you quickly. Yet, you climb to a high point of around 12,000 ft. You experience snow. You see some of the best views reserved for very few people in our country. It spoils trekkers too much, if you ask me,” admits Izzat. 

No other winter trek gives you such views and rewards with such ease.

Dayara Bugyal has always been a favourite at Indiahikes. Be it among beginners, or among the most seasoned team members. Many of us have done the trek multiple times, and still never tire of it. Which is why we even built our own campus at the start of the trek in Raithal. It is our home in the mountains that we always wanted.

True, it has always been a heart-melter in summer. But in a winter setting, you have one of the best snow and mountain experiences in the Himalayas. The snowscapes are unmatched and the trek is truly the biggest expanse of snow in winter. 

So if you’re a beginner looking to trek in January or February, my top recommendation would be Dayara Bugyal.

Dayara Bugyal trek is a delight in winters! Indiahikes experts share 5 insightful reasons why

5 Compelling Reasons To Do the Dayara Bugyal in Winter

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No one tells you this

Like every year, trekkers are again making a rookie mistake this winter. 

They are completely missing out on trekking in early December and choosing the peak holiday season (late December) for a winter experience. They are under the impression that late December is what makes for the best winter experience. 

Not many trekkers know this, but early December offers one of the most unique winter experiences.

I understand that many are concerned about the lack of snow and not getting leaves from office. 

While you cannot do much about the leaves, for other issues, you have your answers. Read on. 

It’s a myth that you do not find snow in early December. 

"Though not much, we start getting the first bouts of snow in mid-November. In early December there is a good deposit of snow, especially in the upper reaches above 10,000 feet, but not the thick heavy blanket. In these settings it is better to go on a trek in early December," shares Akshay Upreti, who has been a slope manager in many of our winter expeditions.

Explaining the thought he adds, "Waiting for peak winters means risking instances of heavy snowfall which could disrupt your trek. If you ask me, I would prefer to trek in a period where there has been a basic amount of snowfall and chances of getting a clearer sky are higher. And for me, late-November and early-December is that period."

Last year, the Kuari Pass trek received its first snowfall as early as October. The frequency of snowfall gradually increases by December. By early December, most treks have a good dusting of snow in the higher reaches.

But this snow is not deep. Between snowfalls the snow melts quickly exposing the vibrant colours of autumn. And that makes for some of the most beautiful and unique sights in the Himalayas.

Winter treks are popular for sprawling white landscapes. But on the flip slide, too much snow makes it difficult to complete the trek.

Heavy snowfall can disrupt the trek. And it could take days to open the route again. Unfortunately, chances of a heavy snowfall increase post-mid-December. This is because the Western Disturbances start to take a more defined shape in the later part of December. 

Under circumstances when it snows heavily, it is normal to change routes and campsites, moving to a more compatible route. Sometimes trekkers even have to return to the base camp without completing the trek. 

But the situation is not so in early December when winter is just beginning to set in.

A slight dusting of snow in early December at the Khorurai campsite of Brahmatal. Photo by Nitesh Kumar

“The probability that you would complete the trek in early December is much higher. You don’t get big amounts of snow on the ground. This doesn’t hamper your trek,” says Arjun Majumdar, Founder-CEO, Indiahikes. 

In fact, early December offers a perfect introduction to winters in the Himalayas if you are new to trekking. 

Reason 3: The weather is drier, more comfortable

Another aspect that works in favour of early December is the precipitation. “There is almost no, or very low precipitation in early December. This means no overcast skies or wet terrain. This is much more comfortable for someone who is just starting to trek in the Himalayas,” shares Sandhya UC, Co-Founder and COO, Indiahikes. 

“Late November and early December is my favourite time to lead a trek. At this time, you can see a transition between seasons on the same trek. At the lower campsites you see the orangish hues. The last touch of autumn is still there. But as you climb higher, you also get the feeling of winter,” shares Shachi Tripathi, Trainer and Slope Manager at Indiahikes.

Treks become much more challenging during peak winters. There's deep snow everywhere around, often seeping into your shoes. Shoes become wet and a nightmare to trek in. 

It’s also more comfortable to trek in early December because temperatures are still manageable. “In early December, the minimum temperature you encounter is around -2 degree Celsius. There is a sharp, delicious chill in the air which you enjoy in early December.

A star-lit sky captured during the Collaborative Leadership Program that took place in early December 2021 at Dayara Bugyal. Photo by Izzat Yaganagi. 

Later in December the temperature drops to -8. And many trekkers don’t realise that this difference is huge. It’s four times colder,” shares Arjun. 

"In early December the cold is not as annoying. It’s just the right amount of cold, which is very refreshing!" says Shachi remembering the days she had spend on treks in early December.

3 Himalayan Treks you must experience in early December

If you are planning a trek in early December, these three treks should be on the top of your list

Truth is, this is a very narrow window -- between autumn and peak winter -- and very few trekkers get a chance to see it this way. 

early december; treks in december; less crowded treks; 

Why Early December is better than Late December for Trekking

UPDATE: Many trekkers wrote to us after reading the mail/blog. I have updated this blog with some of their responses.

I am writing this blog as a concerned trekker. 

You see, too many trekkers are offloading their backpacks on treks. 

This season, one out of three trekkers offloaded their backpacks on an easy-moderate trek like Beas Kund. The case was similar on the Bhrigu Lake trek. Thankfully on the difficult treks, like Kedartal, less than 25% of trekkers offloaded.

If you’re wondering what is ‘offloading’, it is the act of letting a mule or porter carry your backpack, instead of you carrying your own load on a trek.

This trend is worrying because the social and environmental impact of offloading doesn't seem to bother anyone. 

And today, I want to share why offloading your backpack is not okay. 

To understand the core of the concern, it is important to look at various aspects of offloading. The reason behind offloading, its consequences, what happens when you don’t offload. I’ll touch upon all these aspects. 

Some insights and observations shared in the blog about offloading will surprise you. I'll get to them in a bit. 

But first, let’s begin with the ‘why’.

15 years ago, it was a norm to carry your own equipment, ration, tent and personal gear while trekking. Porters or mules came along only to carry bare essentials that couldn’t be carried by the team. 

But things changed when organised trekking grew in our country. 

“Modern trekking changed the concept of service. People expect more comfort while trekking. They don't want to carry their backpack if they can pay someone else to do it for them,” says Arjun Majumdar, Founder-CEO of Indiahikes.

This is the case even when their backpacks are light, devoid of any camping equipment. 

“In modern trekking, you don’t carry the full load of 15-20 kg that you carried while trekking on your own. You are only carrying your clothes. They don’t weigh more than 8-9 kilos,” points Arjun.

Despite the light weight of the backpack, offloading is becoming a trend because of a false belief.

“Trekkers, especially those who are new to trekking, assume that they’d be more comfortable if they’re not lugging their backpacks on the trek. They look at the backpack as luggage, not something that’s integral to their trek,” points Shefali Joshi, Experience Coordinator. 

This situation can be credited to a big myth circulating among trekkers, especially among those who are new to trekking. 

Big Myth - Carrying Your Backpack on a Trek is Difficult

Many people who are considerably new to trekking assume that carrying a backpack is cumbersome. This is a false notion. 

Carrying your backpack on a trek is not difficult. In fact, even on our most difficult trek — Kedartal (highest altitude: 15,500 ft) — trekkers carry their backpacks.

Trekkers crossing the treacherous Spider Wall section on the Kedartal trek while wearing their backpacks. Photo by Sudheer Hegde

Carrying your backpack on a trek is doable. In fact, it is an integral part of trekking. 

Many trekkers who opt for offloading overlook the fact that backpacks are designed to be carried on a trek. 

If you wear your backpack well, you'll notice it is engineered to distribute the weight across your hips and shoulders (especially if you are carrying an internal frame backpack, as most of you will). It is the hip that is actually doing most of the lifting. Hips are the strongest bones of your body and can carry a lot more than the 8 – 9 kg of your backpack.

Due to the design of the backpack, carrying it on a trek is not difficult. 

A trekker, Rashmi Suresh, who recently trekked to Nafran Valley trek shares her experience here. Nafran Valley is not an easy trek. But Rashmi carried her backpack throughout the trek.


But many trekkers, who are just starting to trek, look at offloading differently. Quite a few times, they do not even consider carrying their backpack as they view offloading as an add-on service. Something that can be availed because the option exists. 

Offloading has grim consequences — socially and environmentally


1. Offloading creates very low level employment

When you offload your backpack, a muleman or porter takes up the job of carrying it on the trek. But it’s not a happy situation. 

No one wants to be a porter or a muleman. People living in the remote Himalayan villages have limited employment opportunities. They carry your personal belongings for a meager fee simply because of lack of better opportunities. This generates a very low level of employment.

This morally disturbs us at Indiahikes. 

“Just because it is affordable, especially in countries like India and Nepal, trekkers feel it is okay to handover their belongings to someone else — a person or a mule. That’s morally wrong. By making someone else — a person or mule — carry your personal belongings you are degrading more and more humans to do the lowest form of work,” points Arjun.

Unfortunately trekkers feel that by offloading their backpack they are helping to generate work for the locals. 

In reality while work is being generated, we must look to grow ‘skill level’ work and not low level work that does not help society. Skill based work has a future.

Skill based work opens up opportunities for the local people in the organised sector. Upskilling can help an assistant camp manager become a camp manager, then trek coordinator and so on and so forth. It happens all the time at Indiahikes. This is the true form of upskilling. 

We have stellar examples of how some of our local staff, who started as porters, got out of the role to grow professionally and become Trek Coordinators. 

We have also designed training programs to upskill our guides and cooks. These certified programs are aimed at honing the guiding and cooking skills of our staff in the mountains. Upskilling in these areas not only helps them to grow within Indiahikes, but also opens opportunities for them in the booming trekking industry. 

Unfortunately, mulemen and porters come under the category of daily-wage workers. Their association with us is limited to just one trek. This leaves them with almost zero opportunities to upskill or engage with any organisation.  

With this background in place I want to pose this question to you: As trekkers, are you okay engaging people in an employment — one devoid of personal growth and security — just to be more comfortable on the trek?

Offloading also negatively impacts the environment, especially when you have mules to carry your backpack. 

“Each mule weighs around 300-350 kilos. It carries around 45 kilos of weight. When such heavy pack animals go on trails, there’s a big trampling effect on the trails. They have metal hooves that damage the earth. The more the number of mules, the more the trample effect,” says Lakshmi Selvakumaran, says Head of Green Trails, Indiahikes.

It isn’t just the number of mules. The mules feed on the grasslands as fodder. This harms the grasslands the most. It also increases the number of muleteers on trails as well — who need to be fed and taken care of. They in turn add to the human pressure on the trail, including adding to the human waste. It is a vicious circle. The entire offloading ecosystem becomes heavier rather than minimal on the environment.

And then it’s not just about ‘one backpack’.

Mules carrying backpacks on the Kuari Pass trek. Photo by Sudipto

“Offloading has a cascading effect. You need a mule to carry your backpack, the mule needs a muleman who is also carrying his own resources on the trek. So in the end, it ceases to be just-a-backpack.

From a larger perspective, if every trekker carried his/her own backpack, there would be at least 3 less mules for every team of trekkers. If this becomes a practice in Indian trekking, it would go a long way in protecting these fragile ecosystems, reducing the overall carbon footprint,” says Sandhya UC, Co-Founder and COO, Indiahikes

On the other hand, carrying your backpack makes you a better trekker

Carrying your own backpack helps you connect better with the trek. We saw a beautiful example of this on the Tamenglong Trek in Manipur. On this trek, apart from their personal belongings, trekkers had to carry their own gears and camping equipment. This did not weigh them down. Instead, carrying all their load liberated them. They tasted their freedom as a trekker. 

“As we were carrying our own equipment, we could stop anywhere! So one afternoon we simply decided to cook food by the Alangta waterfall. It was an incredible experience to have the freedom to do it as we were carrying our own kitchen equipment, ration, gears,” shares Dhaval Jajal, Senior Trek Leader and Filmmaker who led the trek.

Trekkers enjoying the kadhi-khichdi they cooked by the Alangta waterfall on the Tamenglong trek. Photo by Dhaval Jajal.

Even on the usual trek, carrying your backpack gives you the freedom to access all your gear at any point on the trek. 

For example, a backpack gives you access to your warm clothes. Often there is a burst of rain or a long cloud cover that sweeps over the trail. The temperature plummets. Access to your warm clothes and rain gear is of utmost importance in such circumstances.  

The thought of carrying your backpack instantly makes you more mindful about what you put into your backpack. “I’ve noticed that trekkers who carry their own backpack ask better questions. They are more thoughtful about what they put in the backpack, how they pack,” shares Shefali. “Invariably they carry lighter backpacks.” 

These are essential skills for a trekker. If you are not carrying your backpack, you miss out on honing these skills. 

Carrying your backpack has a direct effect on your pace. 

“Many don’t know about this, but a backpack helps you to maintain pace on a trek. You cannot rush ahead if you are carrying your backpack. This compels you trek at a steady speed,” shares Arjun.

 Trekking at a steady pace has its benefits. It makes you more observant. You take in the trail, notice the turns, the mountain views. 

Carrying your backpack also builds your core strength. This in turn has a direct impact on your balance. Good core strength helps you balance on steep descends.  

When you miss out on carrying your backpack for one trek, you miss out on these essential stepping stones that make you a better trekker.

At Indiahikes we discourage offloading even when it is a source of revenue for the company. We do this because offloading does not align with the true spirit of trekking. 

Offloading is not a service. It’s not an add-on.

Many trekkers wrote back to us sharing how they felt about carrying their own backpack. 

"I carried my own backpack on Rupin Pass trek for two reasons. First, for a sense of achievement. It gives a different feeling that if I am completing the trek, I will do it with my backpack. I don't want to achieve it in an easy way. It's a matter of pride. Second, I can't imagine human being or a mule carrying my load. Especially I can't look at mules, I really feel guilty as a human being when we make harmless souls work for us. Anyway, humans and mules end up carrying equipment and rations which is unavoidable. Let's not make them carry more," shared Shantanu Javdekar. 

Quite a few even suggested, 'If offloading has such dire consequences, why not do away with the option altogether?'

In a country where the culture of trekking is just setting in. Many people across all ages are getting introduced to trekking. And some have genuine concerns. 

58-year-old trekker Mr JS wrote back sharing his concern. 

"Over the past couple of treks with IndiaHikes, some friends in my age group have joined me and I have actually been thrilled at their enthusiasm and willingness to trek - for several of them it's been a novel and exhilarating experience, and the sheer joy on their faces at accomplishing a stretch goal is something that perhaps those with the benefit of youth will never be able to comprehend or appreciate (at the moment).  

Some of them battled through physical pain - back and knee issues - without any complaints, and with a singular focus on the end goal. I feel their enthusiasm and resolve should be lauded and encouraged. The question is whether we encourage such participants with the offloading option, or demotivate them by insisting everyone carries their own packs," he wrote. 

Trekking is growing in our country. People from various age groups are getting introduced to trekking for the first time. And in light of such concerns, the option of offloading works as a safety net. Not to be accepted as a norm, but as an exception in genuine cases.  

Having said that, the trend for us to set must be to carry one's own backpack. Not as a choice, but as a norm.

Here's an in-depth blog on why offloading goes against the spirit of trekking

Why You Should Not Offload Your Backpack

offloading backpack carrying mules porter offload 

Over the past decade, we have noticed that the trekking demography in our country is changing. What used to be hardcore adventurers heading into the mountains has now transformed into regular people from cities heading outdoors for treks.

Given this reality, several trekkers write to us asking for advice on which trek to choose as their first trek. 

This is why we are putting together this list of the best Himalayan treks for beginners.

These are suggestions from the past 13 years of guiding trekkers onto their first Himalayan treks.

Before we get into details, here are a few points to note about these treks for beginners: 

These treks are suitable for those who have never stepped into trekking trails (even locally) 

No matter the difficulty ratings of these treks, they require at least 1 month of fitness training before the trek. 

These treks can be accessed for almost 10 months in a year. (It’s a myth that all Himalayan treks can be done only in summer).

All these treks will give you a good mix of jungle trails, grasslands and mountain views — some have more than the others. So run through the highlights of the treks to make your decision.

You can expect snow on most of them between December and April.

Having said that, here is the list of the best high-altitude treks suited for beginners! 

15 Best Himalayan Treks For Beginners in India

Best Treks For Beginners In Uttarakhand 

Duration: 6 days from Rishikesh to Rishikesh 
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Level 1
Highest Altitude: 11,950 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
* Child-friendly: For children from 8 years onwards
View trek: Dayara Bugyal 

Dayara Bugyal is a highly recommended trek for beginners because of the grand rewards for the little effort put in. It is suitable not only for beginners but also for families with children. 

Most people don’t know this, but it is also a favourite trek among a few of the most seasoned trekkers at Indiahikes. “This trek is superbly rewarding at any time of the year. The forests are splendid in spring, the meadows are an unbeatable green in summer, and they turn orange in autumn, with striking mountain views. The snowscape in winter is a world on its own. You can go any time, and you’ll not be let down,” shares Sandhya UC, co-founder and COO of Indiahikes. 

Duration: 6 days  
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Level 2
Highest Altitude: 12,083 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
* Child-friendly: For children from 10 years onwards
View trek: Deoriatal-Chandrashila


Deoriatal-Chandrashila is another go-to Himalayan trek for beginners. Over the years, it has become a stepping stone for beginners to test themselves and progress to lengthier and tougher treks. 

What we love about this trek is that it is enriching from the get-go. Within two hours of trekking, you reach the Deoriatal lake and see stunning views of Chaukhamba and the neighbouring ranges from the lakeside. The forests over the next few hours are another huge reward. Within a day, you feel you’ve got your money’s worth. Yet, the trek only becomes more and more rewarding as you climb to the Chandrashila summit for the 360-degree views! 

Duration: 6 days 
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Level 3
Highest Altitude: 12,598 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
* Child-friendly: For children from 10 years onwards
View trek: Kuari Pass


Kuari Pass is a trek that beginners often forget, and they’re making a big mistake! Because once you step onto the Kuari Pass trail, you will feel that very few treks come close.

On this trek, you get the closest views of Mt Nanda Devi and Mt Dronagiri. They are your constant companions on the trek. While these mountains are busy taking your breath away, the oak forests and meadows of Gorson Bugyal compete to steal your attention. It has too many highlights for such a short trek, which is a huge blessing for beginners. 

Duration:  6 days
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Level 2
Highest Altitude: 12,250 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
* Child-friendly: For children from 10 years onwards
View trek: Brahmatal


Brahmatal has become popular over the past three years as a winter trek among beginners. And why not? It has a few terrific winter settings:

Incredible views of Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti 

Yet, the mistake trekkers make missing out on this trek in all other seasons — spring, summer and autumn. Few people know this, but Brahmatal has a few of the best rhododendron forests in spring (between March and April). It has rarely seen greenery in summer and striking views in autumn. You can do it in all four seasons and see a different side of the trek.

Duration:  6 days 
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate | Level 2
Highest Altitude: 12,500 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
* Child-friendly: For children from 8 years onwards
View trek: Kedarkantha


Kedarkantha is a Himalayan trek that needs no introduction among beginners or seasoned trekkers. It has risen in popularity so much that we often discourage trekkers from going there in winter, its most popular season. 

But here’s the secret. While the trek may be incredibly crowded in winter, it is beautifully isolated in other seasons. This is especially true on the route we take at Indiahikes, starting from Kotgaon and not from Sankri. The walk through the forests, the camps in the clearings and the summit climb to Kedarkantha become extremely pleasurable in all seasons.

Duration: 6 days 
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 2
ighest Altitude: 12,550 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
* Child-friendly: For children from 10 years onwards
View trek: Ali Bedni Bugyal

Ali Bedni Bugyal is an excellent Himalayan trek for beginners because it gives you a taste of what an expedition might look like. After all, it takes you almost halfway up the famous Roopkund trek. 

Yet, Ali Bedni Bugyal has all the softness and charm of walking through lovely forests and meadows. These are a few of the most pristine meadows in our country. A sunrise or a sunset from these meadows, with golden light falling on Mt Trishul and Mt Nanda Ghunti, will remain one of your best memories for life.

Duration: 6 Days  
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 3
Highest Altitude: 12,345 ft
Best time: Summer, Autumn
View trek: Phulara Ridge 

Phulara Ridge is not your traditional beginner’s trek. It is usually for the most nuanced trekker, who understands the rarity of such splendid ridge walks. Yet, we have seen that several beginners have gone on this trek and come out as trekkers for life. 

It’s a trek that instils a deep love for the mountains in you. This happens for quite a few reasons. First, the ridge walks, where you’re at a vantage point for over 5-6 hours, trekking in parallel with a few tallest mountain peaks. Second, the pretty campsites give you an authentic feel of camping in the wilderness, mainly because there are hardly any other trekkers. Thirdly, because you’re in the vicinity of many trekking trails (like Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun), you feel a natural urge to explore more. 

Duration:  6 Days
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 2
Highest Altitude: 14,107 ft
Best time: Monsoon
View trek: Valley of Flowers

This list of the best Himalayan treks for beginners in India would be incomplete without a mention of the Valley of Flowers. One of the most ancient trekking trails in our country, this trail has introduced tens of thousands of Indians to the concept of trekking. 

The perks of going to Valley of Flowers as a beginner? It does not throw you into the deep end. You don’t camp in the wild or trek into the unknown. You are in civilization, staying in lodges and treading on well-laid trails. Helicopter evacuations are possible at your beck and call. So if you’re fearful of going on an isolated trek, this is a comfortable taste of the mountains. 

Duration:  8 Days
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 3
Highest Altitude: 11,850 ft
Best time: All year, except monsoon
View trek: Har Ki Dun - Ruinsara Tal

Har Ki Dun is another ancient Himalayan trek of our country that is suitable for beginners. It’s a trail dotted with remote villages of Uttarakhand, which are, to date, steeped in traditions. You get to observe this ancient culture at close quarters on this trek. 

Of course, we must warn you that this trek is slightly harder on the legs. We mark it as a moderate trek because the days involve long walking hours. In our itinerary at Indiahikes, we also visit the Ruinsara Valley, which is almost like doing a separate trek on its own. It’s an enriching valley walk (many of our Trek Leaders claim it’s more rewarding than the original HKD valley). Still, it does require an equal amount of effort on the part of the trekker. 

Best Treks For Beginners In Himachal Pradesh

Duration:  4 Days
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 2
Highest Altitude: 14,009 ft
Best time: Monsoon
View trek: Bhrigu Lake

Bhrigu Lake is one of our most recommended suggestions for beginners because, within 4 days, you trek to a lake at 14,000 ft and back without travelling much from a central place like Manali. (Most other treks involve an 8-hour journey to the base camp alone, from a central location like Dehradun).

While it has the perk of being easily accessible, the trek on its own is a feast to the eyes. With vast, unending grasslands spread against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains, it is a rare experience in 4 days. To top it off, you climb to Bhrigu Lake, the highest point on the trek, a frozen lake in June that turns a pretty blue and is surrounded by grassy knolls during the rest of the season. 

Duration: 4 days
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 1 
Highest Altitude: 12,772 ft
Best time: Monsoon
View trek:  Beas Kund

Here’s another twin of the Bhrigu Lake trek, which is suitable for beginners. Similar in duration and accessibility (4-day trek from Manali), it is the lesser-known among the two. 

Frankly, at Indiahikes, we find it hard to pick between the two treks because despite being so close, they are very different. Beas Kund is a valley walk where the Beas River accompanies you. You trek to the source of the river and back. The campsites, the snow-covered mountains, and the lush greenery in the valley make a great introduction to a typical valley trek in Himachal for beginners. 

Duration:  6 Days
Difficulty: Moderate | Level 3
Highest Altitude: 14,065 ft
Best time: Monsoon
View trek: Hampta Pass 

We’ll be honest with you. Hampta Pass is not a trek we usually recommend for beginners. It is a high mountain pass-crossing in the heart of the Himalayas. Yet, if you have a good fitness routine or are prepared to put in the 2 months of effort it takes to train for Hampta Pass, it would be an excellent trek for beginners. 

Top 15 Himalayan Treks For Beginners In India To Do In 2023 - Includes Treks In Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kashmir, West Bengal

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