The Best Trekking Trips and Hiking Trails in the Indian Himalayas

We chat a lot about hiking trails and trekking trips throughout North America. Well that is our expertise after all. But what about the rest of this big, beautiful world? Well, we don’t know so much about that. So we teamed up with Routeprints.com to bring you the best and most beautiful mountain adventure treks in North and East India. Fill up your bucket list with these beginner to advanced hikes along the Indian Himalayan range!

Sydney Edwards and Ashutosh Bhatt run Routeprints.com – an online space where a community of travel bloggers share their experiences with a goal to help other travelers all around the world. Routeprints has a heavy focus on travel in India and explores it’s national parks, hiking trails and cycling routes.

Make sure you check out their blog for excellent tips from experienced and passionate travelers!

Below, we will share with you an article written by Syndey Edwards – thanks for the amazing information on India trekking! We have added these hikes to our bucket list and will definitely be hiking these Himalayan trails some day!

Have you hiked the Himalayas? Let us know your hiking highlights in the comments below! 👇

Hope you enjoy! ⛰️ 🥾

These Gorgeous Treks in North India Will Make You Fall in Love with Indian Mountains

Submitted to Fuel For The Sole, Written by Sydney Edwards of Routeprints.com

Mountain lovers would agree that when it comes to vacations or a break from the daily routine, trekking seems to be one of the most cherished activities of all.

And why not? India is land to an ample number of hiking and trekking spots and no matter which part of the country you go, you’ll always find one. But the most preferred ones are in the North and East side of the country because the Himalayan Range spread so widely here. 

Well, there’s nothing better than being amidst the mighty mountains, clear bodies of water, enchanting waterfalls, beautiful blooming flowers, walking through the outstanding alpine forests and carpets of green spreads, and appreciating the beauty of nature. 

So, we at Routeprints decided to bring you the list of the most beautiful and picturesque mountain treks that every trekking enthusiast dreams about. And even if you don’t belong in the same category, just move out and witness the marvels of nature and get an experience which very few people dare to take.   

1. Chadar Trek 

Let’s get started out with one of the most unusual and difficult Indian treks of all, Chadar Trek. Also called the “Zanskar Frozen River Trek”. This hike is in the region of Leh, Ladakh. The trek is best enjoyed during the months of winter when the river is frozen.

Do you know what the best part about the Chadar Trek is? 

You can treat your eyes with the rocks beneath the ice while walking on this mesmerizing path.

The trek is at a height of 11,123 ft. above sea level, and is only recommended to those with high fitness levels. No doubt, the trek is one of the best and most eye-pleasing Himalayan Treks in Leh and the snow-capped mountains and cold breeze will make you fall in love with the scene again and again. 

You need to start your trek at the beginning of frozen Zanskar, from a small village named “Chilling”. The entire hike covers a long distance of around 105 km (one way), that will take about 10 days or so to complete. 

If you’re strong enough to bear the cold temperatures and want to take in the true experience of this hike, make sure you visit between January and February when the temperature drops to -30 degrees to -40 degrees.

Already having Goosebumps? 

If you’ve made it this far, it’s safe to assume you are so into the outdoors. While you are here, why not check out our other outdoor adventure posts?:

• ‘How to Get in Shape for Hiking’
• ‘The Essential Backpacking Packing List’
• ‘The Ultimate Camping Packing List – With FREE Printable’
• ‘Healthy Food Ideas for Hiking’
• ‘Why You Should Consider Overland Camper Travel’

2. Kashmir Great Lakes Trek 

Kashmir, aka “Heaven on the Earth”, has another beautiful option for you near the Kashmir Valley in India. Hike the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and enjoy yourself on an alpine, high altitude lake trail. The reason why we have added this hike to the list, and what makes this trek so exciting, are the 5 marvelous lakes that you can witness one after the other. 

The trek is situated at a height of 13,750 ft. above sea level and you need to cover a distance of 72 km. Be aware that you will also need to be physically strong and have a great level of fitness for this hike.

Once you get started with this amazing yet tiring trek, you won’t be able to stop yourself from appreciating its outstanding beauty. The snow-capped mountains, wildflowers along the way, and the soft cotton clouds over the mighty mountain peaks won’t allow you to take your eyes off of it.

This is one of the prettiest options for trekking along the Himalayas in India. It comes with a moderate difficulty level and one should not miss trying this out!

The best time to visit the wonderful Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is from July to September, where July is considered the month with maximum snowfall. 

3. Valley of Flowers Trek – Best Option for Beginners

Here comes the easy to moderate level trek in India that is surrounded by blooming colorful flowers, mainly Blue Primula. One of the major reasons why you cannot resist taking your eyes off of the view in Valley of Flower Trek, is the snow-clad mountains on one side and beautiful flower valley on the other.

All you shutterbugs out there, keep your cameras ready to click one of the prettiest destinations out there. 

This famous Valley of Flowers Trek is situated at a height of around 15,000 ft. above sea level and makes it accessible for all age groups – take your kids, parents or friends! If you are a beginner and want to hike the Himalayas, this may be your best trekking option.

Once you are there, you will get a chance to seek a blessing from the popular Hemkund Sahib, one of the highest gurdwaras in the world at an altitude of approximately 4300 m. 

The ideal time to pay a visit to this stunning place is in July or August because these are the monsoon months and you can witness the blooming flowers at their best. So, this coming monsoon season, try not to miss out on this heavenly destination. 

New to the world of trekking? Remember that safety and comfort are top priorities when you are in back country areas. Here is our ‘Top 5 Must-Have Items for Multi-Day Backpacking Trips’:

• BAFX Products Trekking Trail Poles – do not attempt an advanced trail without trekking poles. These things will save your joints from high impact which will keep you hiking longer, safer and happier.
• Cobiz LED Headlamp – Flashlights are so last year.
• Geertop Lightweight Compact Mummy Sleeping Bag – our favourite budget sleeping bag 😊
• Trekology Camping Pillow – At less than 3 oz., this luxury item will significantly improve your rest and recovery.
• Sawyer Products Water Filtration System – lightweight and effective!

4. Roopkund Trek 

Have you ever heard about “Mystery Lake”? Well, if you haven’t, you definitely need to know about the Roopkund Trek. Another beautiful Himalayan trek on the list is situated on the laps of Massif of Trishul.

One of the more interesting things about the trek is that it is also known as the “Skeleton Lake Trek”. Yes, you heard that right. And you’ll get to witness skeletons lying on the sea bed or edge of the lake. It is said that these bodies are the remains of people from the 9^th century. 

The trek is situated at a height of 16,499 ft. above sea level and is located between two peaks, Nanda Ghunti and Trishul, which are covered with ice for most of the months. The difficulty level of the trek is quite moderate, still, you need good strength and fitness level to climb the mountains. So, it may be best to avoid this trek if you’re a beginner or looking for an appropriate first trek. 

All in all, this Indian trek is a glacier trek full of eye-catching vistas and outstanding meadows. And what really catches your eye is the layers of white and brown mountains.

Also, don’t forget your camera on this hike! You will want to capture the marvelous views of Mount Trishul. 

There are two ideal times of year to go on the Roopkund Trek. The summers are for the avid trekkers who aren’t afraid of challenges. This hike in the summer season remains covered with snow, but you will have the lowest chance of seeing any skeletons. Or you can make your way in August or September when the climate remains quite pleasant and you can witness some great views and the skeletons easily. 

5. Markha Valley Trek 

Many of you out there must know that Ladakh is considered one of the coldest and driest places in India. But Markha Valley Trek is one of the dissimilar kinds of treks in the Himalayan region. The beautiful Buddhist culture and totally different weather conditions in Ladakh make it really important for a traveler to learn about the place and explore it. The trek is also known as the “Tree House” trek. The hike allows you to feast your eyes on the mind-blowing Zanskar range, beautiful meadows, and various rivers.

This 75 km (approx.) long trail is situated at a height of 1500 ft and is considered one of the more difficult treks in the country. 

You need to pass through Gandala La and Kongmaru La, where you’ll witness charming monasteries, museums, temples, rivers, mountains, and Leh. Also, what adds a distinctive touch to this entire journey are the Tibetan prayer flags and rocking canyons. 

If you really wish to visit Markha Valley, make sure you visit from May to early September. November to February remains extremely cold and the temperature may even drop to -30 degrees.

What are you waiting for? Just make your way to this challenging trek and experience the culture and calmness of the Buddhist Kingdom. 

Well, these were some of the best, or we should say most stunning, treks in India you should not miss. And if you’re looking for some other amazing Himalayan hiking options, you can make your way to Everest Base Camp, Hampta Pass Trek, Goecha La Trek, Rupin Pass Trek, Kedarkantha Trek, or Kuari Pass Trek, to name a few. 

Did we miss any beautiful hikes in the Himalayas? Let us know where your favourite Indian treks are in the comments below! 👇

Happy Trekking! 

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