In this video, we suggest 9 of the best Himalayan treks for beginners in the state of Uttarakhand. We also show you some highlights from each trek so that it makes it easy for you to decide which trek you want to do next. 

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. 

Uttarakhand, particularly, has a few of the best beginner-friendly treks in India, giving you a variety of forest trails, grasslands and alpine sections. Even the easiest and shortest trek gives you a wholesome experience of different experiences in the Himalayas. 

Use this video as a guide to choose your first Himalayan trek. 

Here are the top Himalayan treks for beginners in the state of Uttarakhand, ranging from snow treks to meadow treks.

9 Best Himalayan Treks for Beginners in Uttarakhand - 2022 - Indiahikes

uttarakhand beginners best treks himalayan treks 

9 Best Himalayan Treks for Beginners in Uttarakhand

The biggest reason to do the Goechala trek is the grand views of the big mountains that you see. You don’t just see one summit — the Kanchenjunga — but 14 other big summits. That’s a lot for any trek — especially as close to the eyes as on the Goechala trek. It is no wonder that trekkers consider Goechala to be the closest to the big mountain treks of Nepal.  

Goechala is also a high-altitude trek that takes you beyond 15,000 ft. The trek climbs rapidly and your safety depends a lot on the preparation you put in for the trek.  

In this video, Swathi Chatrapathy Chief Editor at Indiahikes, takes you through all the difficult sections of the trek. 

She covers important points like the altitude gain, ascents and descents, the challenges of climbing to viewpoint and the weather on the Goechala trek. She also throws light on the possibilities of acute mountain sickness (altitude sickess) on the Goechala trek.

She finally ends the video with some important tips on how to prepare for the trek. Watch the video to physically and mentally prepare yourself for the Goechala trek. 

Read about the altitude gain, ascents and descents, the challenges of climbing to viewpoint and the weather on the Goechala trek.

Why Fitness Is Important For The Goechala Trek - How To Prepare For Difficult Sections

Why Fitness Is Important For The Goechala Trek - How To Prepare

Something is terribly wrong at Sikkim. The government, the trekking agencies and the local guides seem hell bent on ruining the trekking world of Sikkim.

The first one really gets my goat. Trekkers on the Goechala trail are in for a shock on the final day of the trek. Trekkers are encouraged to start at three in the night from Lamune (the last camp) to get to view point 1. When trekkers get there most guides are reluctant to go ahead. Some show trekkers view point 2 and 3 with a wave of the hand.

The usual answer is, “the view is the same and not different from here”. If pressed, trekkers are taken to view point 2. Rarely do they venture to view point 3 (and no one knows where it is). God forbid if it is cloudy. On a murky day guides quickly bundled down trekkers from wherever they are saying since there is no view so there is no point in going ahead.

What happened to Goechala, the pass the whole trek is named after? Suddenly on the final day no one talks about the pass, or even makes a reference of getting there. Some of the guides are audacious enough to say that it is dangerous and tricky to go to the pass. Some say it is too far. Or trekkers are taken to a high point and told, this is Goechala.

Here are some truths about Goechala: There is nothing called view point 1, 2 or 3. Understand this clearly. The view points are a total figment of imagination of the local guides. You either get to Goechala or you don’t. Calling spots on a trekking trail as viewpoints is a gross injustice to the trek. Every good trek has vantage points from where you get grand views. But using them as substitutes of being to Goechala is unfair. Even the internet forums are now so full of these viewpoints that the joke is now becoming a reality.

You get to Goechala only when you climb past the beautiful green Goechala lake (not to be mistaken for Samiti) and get to the last ridge. That’s the start of Goechala. Anywhere past that is Goechala and it is ok to return from there but not before that. The view and the ambience are indeed spectacular at Goechala and totally different from what you see at these so called view points. Just to see the snow encompassed Goechala lake would be worth the effort to get there.

More than the views the thrill is in climbing your way past the big snow field, around the flanks of a great moraine and climbing the ridge above the lake. These are classic trekking moments. I have always been surprised why everyone camps at Kockchurang after their return from the view points. Now I realise they haven’t trekked much! If trekkers have truly reached Goechala then Thansing is the appropriate camp on return. Reaching Kockchurang would be too tiring!

Is it difficult to reach Goechala? Is it technical and risky? Is it far? None of these are true. Goechala is in fact easier than most high altitude treks. There is nothing risky. From the so called view point 1 it is another two hours to Goechala over some wonderful landscapes on moraine. 

Not getting to Goechala is like missing the last half hour of a spy thriller. The fun, thrill and adventure are all in the last bit.

The second injustice about Goechala is intriguing. Camping is not allowed at Samiti lake though it is one of the most picturesque places to establish camp. In addition it makes trekking to Goechala a lot easier. The local administration says the lake is getting dirty by trekkers. That’s far from the truth. The camping site of Samiti is almost 400 meters from the shores of the lake. How does the lake get dirty from such a distance? If a ‘flourishing’ trekkers hut can be maintained at Kockchurang and Tshoka, is it difficult to maintain one at Samiti? Can’t toilets be maintained at Samiti? Why are trekkers paying such a big environment fee to the government then? These are questions the administration hates to answer.

The third injustice makes me livid! Foreigners are shamelessly fleeced in Sikkim. To do the Goechala trek a foreigner cannot trek alone or join a group. He needs to be accompanied by another foreigner (apparently for his safety). He needs an inner line permit to enter Sikkim. While this is somewhat agreeable, he needs to get another trekking permit from Gangtok. For this he needs to get there a day in advance. Trek permits that cost only a few hundred rupees are charged Rs 4,000 – Rs 6,000 from foreigners. There is no direct window from where a foreigner can buy a trekking permit. The government has made a rule that only trekking agents of Sikkim can get permits for foreigners. This produces a vicious cycle of corruption. Agents charge a hefty fee for this service. A trek that could cost a reasonable amount suddenly starts costing Rs 18,000 upwards for a foreigner. Foreigners, naturally, are getting wiser. When they see the time, travel and trek cost, they rather go to other parts of India to trek. Sikkim was always a wonderful alternative to trekking in Nepal. But trekking in Sikkim is now more of a pain. The last thing we need is Sikkim trekking ruining itself.

Editor’s note: Indiahikes is working with local agents to make it a fair proposition for trekkers. We are insisting that trekkers go up to Goechala. We are also working with the ministry and the government to make a transparent window for securing permits. We hope to succeed in this effort.

Arjun Majumdar talks about the sikkim situation

The Injustice about Goechala

Please note that this is a special trek. The trek fee is Rs 3000 more than the regular fee. To know more about special treks, click here.

You are joining our waitlist. Your chances of getting a confirmation are high, but not certain. We will notify you as soon as a trekker cancels their trek.

Please note that this is a special trek. The trek fee is Rs 3000 more than the regular fee.

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