What Do Our Trek Difficulty Ratings Mean?

Share this story

What Do Our Trek Difficulty Ratings Mean?

Category Expert Opinion

By Sandhya UC

2013-08-17

We often get calls from our trekkers asking us how we classify a trek as “easy” or “difficult”.  To be fair, when we say “easy”, we mean “easy in comparison to other Himalayan treks. ” There are certain standards by which you grade a trek.  We will talk about them one by one.

The Trek Difficulty Rating has two parts: Broad category and specific level. 

Broad Category: Easy-Moderate, Moderate, Moderate-Difficult and Difficult

Treks are classified under the broad category by these criteria:

  • Altitude gained every day of the trek
  • Highest altitude of the trek
  • Temperature during the trek, snow/ice on the trail, camp site locations
  • Availability of water

Specific levels: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3

A ‘level’ differentiate treks on the basis of

  • Length of trek each day
  • Gradients during the trek
  • Nature of terrain (grass, even path, gravel, stones, boulders or slippery)Level 1 is the easiest, Level 3 is the toughest.

“The levels help you plan better, prepare better. You realise that after a Level 1 trek of an Easy-Moderate trek, the natural progression is not to ‘Moderate’. It’s to Level 2,” shares Arjun Majumdar, founder and CEO of Indiahikes. 

indiahikes trek difficulty rating easy moderate difficult

What does an 'Easy-Moderate' trek indicate?

On an easy trek, the trails are even and gently laid out. As a pahadi would call it, the trail would be a seedha rasta. They usually run through meadows and forest cover. This means the altitude does not go so high that it hits alpine sections.  These treks are not more than 5-6 days long. You trek around 4-5 hours a day. Camp sites have good access to water. The trail also has easy exits — should anything go wrong.

Deoriatal-Chandrashila, Dayara Bugyal, Kuari Pass treks are easy-moderate treks. They are the best Himalayan treks for beginners.

Mt Neelkanth - Kuari Pass - Neeraj Bisht -  Treks in Uttarakhand - Mountains of Uttarakhand - Indiahikes - "Keyword"
"kuari pass temperature"
"kuari pass height"
"kuari pass trek distance"
"kuari pass trek difficulty"
"kuari pass indiahikes"
"kuari pass trek price"
"joshimath to kuari pass" "Keyword"
"kuari pass height"
"kuari pass temperature"
"kuari pass trek distance"
"kuari pass trek difficulty"
"kuari pass trek map"
"kuari pass indiahikes" "Keyword"
"kuari pass"
"kuari pass temperature"
"kuari pass height"
"kuari pass trek map"
"kuari pass trek package"
"kuari pass trek the himalayas"
"kuari pass trek blog"
"kuari pass trek route"
"kuari pass trek wikipedia"
"kuari pass location"
"winter kuari pass trek"
"tth kuari pass"
"joshimath to kuari pass"
"kedarkantha trek vs kuari pass trek"
"rishikesh to kuari pass distance"
"kuari pass trek" "Keyword"
"neelkanth mountain story"
"neelkanth peak trek"
"rishikesh to neelkanth by foot"
"badrinath to neelkanth distance"
"neelkanth mountain rishikesh"
"neelkanth trek distance"

Kuari Pass has short trekking days and not much altitude gain. It is an easy-moderate trek perfect for beginners. When there’s winter snow, it becomes slightly more difficult. Picture by Dipabali Paul

What would you call a 'Moderate' trek in the Himalayas?

The trails are generally even but may have steep climbs or descents. The number of trekking hours could last up to 6 hours in a day.  The trail may run into snow or climb above 14,000 ft. Campsites generally have good access to water. There are easy exits possible from some campsites, not all of them.  For example, in Hampta Pass, once you have crossed over the Pass, the exits become extremely difficult.

So Hampta Pass, Phulara Ridge and Tarsar Marsar would be classified as good moderate treks.

They can attempted by beginners as well, only if your fitness matches the requirement of the trek.

Hampta Pass has nearly 6 hours of trekking each day and difficult exits from campsites such as Shea Goru. That makes Hampta Pass a moderate trek. Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

What is a 'moderate-difficult' trek in the Himalayas?

The trails could have some rough sections. Prior high altitude trek experience and peak fitness is ideal for treks like these. There could be long sections on snow, moraines and boulders. Steep climbs and descents sometimes over three hours long could be present on some days. One or two sections would require careful navigation. Trek could last 6-7 days. Temperatures at higher camps could dip in minus. Highest altitude gained could be above 15,000 feet (4,500 m). Chances of altitude sickness is very high. Easy exits possible from the initial camps. As you go further into the trek, it becomes difficult.

Pangarchulla, Rupin Pass, Pin Bhaba Pass and Kashmir Great Lakes are few treks that would classify as moderate-difficult treks.

kashmir great lakes trek
kashmir great lakes trek solo
kashmir great lakes trek yhai
kashmir great lakes trek map
kashmir great lakes trek difficulty
kashmir great lakes trek the himalayas
kashmir great lakes trek cost
kashmir great lakes trek temperature
indiahikes kashmir great lakes
Tarsar marsar trek vs kashmir great lakes
best time to visit kashmir great lakes
kashmir great lakes trek package
Treks in kashmir
 high altitude treks in kashmir
June treks 2022
kashmir great lakes route
"kashmir great lakes best time"
"kashmir great lakes indiahikes"
"kashmir great lakes trek difficulty level"
"kashmir great lakes temperature"
"kashmir great lakes trek route"
"kashmir great lakes trek solo"
"is kashmir great lakes trek safe" "Keyword"
"kashmir great lakes map"
"kashmir great lakes best time"
"kashmir great lakes indiahikes"
"kashmir great lakes temperature"
"kashmir great lakes trek package"
"kashmir great lakes trek 2022" "Keyword"
"kashmir great lakes trek"
"kashmir great lakes trek solo"
"kashmir great lakes trek yhai"
"kashmir great lakes trek map"
"kashmir great lakes trek difficulty"
"kashmir great lakes trek the himalayas"
"kashmir great lakes trek cost"
"kashmir great lakes trek bikat"
"kashmir great lakes trek temperature"
"indiahikes kashmir great lakes"
"yhai kashmir great lakes"
"bikat adventures kashmir great lakes"
"tarsar marsar trek vs kashmir great lakes"
"best time to visit kashmir great lakes"
"tth kashmir great lakes" "Keyword"
"kashmir great lakes trek"
"kashmir trekking packages"
"kashmir great lakes trek cost"
"best treks in kashmir"
"1 day trek in kashmir"
"short treks in kashmir" "Keyword"
"kashmir treks indiahikes"
"kashmir treks review"
"kashmir treks in november"
"kashmir treks in may"
"kashmir treks in april"
"short treks in kashmir"
"winter treks in kashmir"
"kashmir great lakes trek"
"kashmir hikes and treks"
"best kashmir treks" "Keyword"
"trekking in himalayas for beginners"
"best himalayan trekking companies in india"
"himalaya trekking cost"
"trekking in india"
"best himalayan treks"
"best trekking companies in india"
"himalaya trekking packages india"
"himalaya trekkers review" "Keyword"
"trekking in himalayas for beginners"
"himalaya trekking cost"
"trekking in india"
"himalaya trekkers review"
"best trekking companies in india"
"best himalayan treks" "Keyword"
"trekking in himalayas for beginners"
"trekking in himalayas in april"
"trekking in himalayas in july"
"trekking in himalayas in june"
"trekking in himalayas videos"
"trekking in himalayas blog"
"things to carry while trekking in himalayas"
"sunglasses for trekking in himalayas"
"best trekking in himalayas"
"solo trekking in himalayas"
"easy trekking in himalayas"
"shoes for trekking in himalayas"
"trekking places in himalayas"
"trekking experience in himalayas"
"trekking packages in himalayas"
"trekking groups in himalayas"

Kashmir Great Lakes classifies as a moderate-difficult trek because of the long days and the lack of easy exits once into the trail. Picture by Prasanth Premchandran

How do you classify a 'difficult' trek in the Himalayas?

Trails could be uneven on some days. Trek days could be long, stretching to 8-9 hours. Highest altitude gained could be above 16,000 feet (5,000 m). There could be some high altitude camps where air is thin and temperature in minus. There usually would be long walks and climb on snow. Glacier/crevasse crossing possible. Chances of altitude sickness high. Weather is generally unpredictable with rain/snow chances any time. Few exit options. 

Warwan Valley, Kedartal and Bali Pass are few of the difficult Himalayan treks.

Bali Pass is classified as a difficult trek because of rough terrain, incredible altitude gain and the high risk level of the trek. Exit is nowhere in the picture either once trekkers enter the trail. Picture by Preetham TS

We hope this post gives you a clear picture of the difficulty levels of Indiahikes treks. You will find all our upcoming treks on this page, classified by their difficulty levels.

Plan your next trek according to your fitness level and past experience.

Almost all the above treks (except the difficult ones) can be attempted by beginners with good fitness levels. Just ensure you go through the trek information thoroughly before registering.

If you have questions, head over to the Indiahikes Community Forum and ask your question. You'll get valuable help from fellow trekkers, who have a good amount of experience trekking in India.

Sandhya UC

Co-Founder & COO

About the author

Sandhya is a founding partner at Indiahikes. Over the past ten years, she has explored and put on the map few of the greatest Himalayan treks in India, including Kashmir Great Lakes and Kedarkantha. She is a TedX Speaker and has been awarded the Women of Worth Award by Outlook Business in 2017.

She believes in sustainable living just as she believes in sustainable trekking.

Read a feature on Sandhya in Outlook Business

Read Sandhya's other articles

Read Sandhya's TedX Talk
How I Climbed The Mountain Of Entrepreneurship

Related Videos

How Difficult Is The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek

REALITY CHECK On The Difficulty Of The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Why Fitness Is Important For The Goechala Trek