Do you wish to experience some adrenaline rush? How about trekking in the Himalayas? Find the best winter treks in India here.
Ah, Himalayan Trekking! That too during the winters! The mere thought of trekking in the Indian Himalaya cause your teeth to clinch while the mind starts to picture treading the snowy ways, trekking in the biting cold while still under the sun.
The Himalayan range is the majestic mountainous range which appears magical during the winters while you can also behold grey and white all around you. Treading over the icy sheets in the sub-zero temperature via snow-covered mountains and enchanting oak forest, cascading waterfalls, frozen grasses, rarest of flora and fauna, rare animals, the entire trekking experience in the Himalayas is hair-raising.
There isn’t any dearth of trekking destinations in India, and so trekkers from all across the globe flock the nation in the winter season to feel the heat of trek locations.
The best winter treks in India will show you forbidden terrains and also let you experience earth like never before. Whether you are a snow lover, animal lover or the lover of adventurous activities, you should try out notable winter treks in India. Trekking in the Himalayas will give a chance to behold Snow Leopard Trek, see the rarest of animal species such as Tibetan wolves, snow leopard, horned sheep, and blue sheep.
Trekking during the winters gives a chance to walk on the snow and feel the excitement. Challenging trails will double your excitement level while the easy ones are apt for beginners. Apart from adventure and excitement quotient, trekking during the winter season is scenic too.
So, don’t wait anymore! Just check this section to find the list of best winter trek destinations in India. Put on your boots and be ready to hike through the snow peaked mountains, narrow pathways, dense thickets to experience the best. Be prepared for a refreshing, relaxing and breath-taking trekking experience.
Explore best winter treks in India
Chadar Trek- the challenging yet exciting
Adventure, experience, mesmerizing sights and an enchanting journey, all combined here. Yes! Chadar Trek Frozen River in Ladakh gives a different sort of trekking experience. It is exciting, beautiful, picturesque but challenging. It is tough, challenging but here you will create beautiful lifetime memories. A lot many national and international tourists trek in the Chadar Trek. The trekking zone or path is over the Zanskar River. Isn’t it exciting?
It is severely cold at Chadar Trek and so prior preparation is required before you embark on this excursion. The trekking stretch spans over 100km. It nearly takes 8-10 days depending on you.
The points to consider
• Maximum altitude is about 10900 feet
• it takes nearly 8-9 days to finish trekking here
• average difficulty
• distance covered between 70 and 100 km
Kedar Kantha Trek: the most popular and classical
If you want to go for trekking in Uttarakhand in January, then choose Kedarkantha. Kedarkantha is classical and a beautiful winter trek where one passes through a mesmerizing landscape of unsurpassable beauty, beautiful pastures, meadows, remote villages, snowy courses. The list goes on and on. Here you get the majestic view of snow-capped Himalayas. You may start from Sankari village while your entire excursion is scenic.
Among all the major treks, Kedarkanth is the easiest of treks perfect for kids and first-timers. You will come across tons of lakes, hills, and valleys. The trail takes you all the way to exotic and rarest flora and fauna of Govind National Park. When you reach your target, you will get the most elegant views of the mountain ranges like Swargrohini, Black Peak and Bandarpoonch.
Its chief highlights
• the maximum altitude is 12500 feet above the sea level
• it takes 5-6 days to complete the trek
• the difficulty level is easy to challenging
• it covers a 20kms distance
Among all the winter treks, Kedar Kanth winter trek is the most amazing one. It is in the Himalayas, in the state of Uttarakhand. Kedar Kantha is close to Har Ki Doon Valley which is less visited by tourists. The villages are strange yet beautiful. You will witness long and beautiful meadows and wonderful snow-covered paths.
Kalindi Khal Trek: the most challenging winter treks
In the Garhwal Himalaya, Kalindi Khal Trek is referred as Daddy of all treks and is one of the best winter treks in India. If you have some experience in trekking, then you should go for this challenging Kalindi Khal trek where you traverse through the uneven route over the snowy fields and glaciers. You move all the way from Bagirathi to Alaknanda Valley. Start from the strenuous Gangotri while the trekking terminates near Badrinath. Don’t forget to carry Garhwal Himalaya Map.
En route you explore:
• Gomukh
• Kalindi Khal
• Nandanvan
• Vasuki Tal
You will come across the most imposing peaks such as Bhagirathi, Vasuki, and Satopanth. The most challenging, yet rewarding and awe-inspiring trek option is an interesting mix of beauty, moraines, and majestic peaks. It offers the best glimpses of nature, pilgrimage, and climbing. Trekking in the Indian Himalaya is fun here.
Striking features
• it covers a distance of 99kms
• the best time to trek here is between June and September
• you may scale here 6000 meter Himalayan Pass
• you will climb the amazing Chaturangi Glacier
• just view Tapovan meadow and behold the exact region of origin of Ganga
Monsoon season adds immense charm to Kalindikhal Trek. There are many strenuous winter treks in India, but Kalindikhal is the most challenging and interesting one.
Sandakphu Trek: one of the best places to trek in December
Adventure seekers and nature lovers cannot avoid Sandakphu Trek, the most beautiful Himalayan trek. This is the best winter trek in India that throws beautiful open panorama of highest snowline in the world, swerving from snow-capped peaks of Bhutan and Nepal and reaching out to the eastern Tibet. The trekking route meanders along Singalila Ridge and then moves towards the Indo-Nepal border, and then switches borders towards the enchanting and visually charged summit.
You will love its charming wilderness and wildlife that is often expected from a Himalayan trek. This hike is perfect for nature-enthusiast. All through your trekking trip, you will behold exotic flora and fauna, intriguing birds, temperate coniferous, sub-tropical coniferous. It is one of the best places to trek in December.
Trek Specifications
• the duration of trek 6-7 days
• the maximum altitude may be 12000 feet
• trek grade- moderate
• trekking kilometers covered 46 km
Here you will witness the Kanchenjunga Peaks where the sunlight falls upon the ice-covered peaks, the finest site to behold. In the Singalila National Park, you can behold the charming red pandas while also come across The Black Lake mid-way.
Bhahmatal Himalaya Winter Trek
Want to enjoy the mesmerizing views of Mt. Nanda Ghunti and Mt. Trishul? You don’t have many options in Himalayan winter treks that may be explored between January and February. Brahmatal, the classic winter trek, gives an exciting experience. Camping beside the shore of frozen Bekaltal Lake and climbing up the frozen Bhahmatal Lake can fill your heart.
Chief highlights
• Climb to Bhahmatal to experience the thrill
• from the top, have beautiful views of the summit
• you may check in the snow-laden forests
Brahmatal is a fabulous and the best winter trek in India where you may trek anytime between December to March.
Lohajung is its base camp. You may reach out to Lohajung from Kathgodam.
Move to Bekatlaland and spot Mandoli Village after a short trek.
Camping near the adjacent Lake Khopdhalia after a day’s trekking can relax your senses.
The sights of Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda are sure to get imprinted in your memories forever.
For the ones who are beginners in trekking might look forward to easy winter treks in India like Bijli Mahadev, Triund, Prashar Lake, Chandrashila in Uttarakhand, Deoriatal in Uttarakhand, Har Ki Dun, etc.
The above list of best winter treks in India will certainly help in the upcoming winter trek.
For winter trekking, ensure that you have the right trekking shoe and done your backpacking properly with winter specific clothing.
Happy trekking!