Top 5 trekking destinations in India

Trekking means walking for several days through hills or mountains, usually on rough trails. You carry your bag, sleep in tents, huts or village homes, and see places no car can reach. India has the Himalayas, so it has some of the finest treks on earth. Here are five top trekking destinations in India, from a valley full of flowers to a pass with a view of the world’s third highest peak.

We first published this list in 2015. We have now checked every trek again. Some old details were wrong, such as the best months for two treks, so we have fixed them. We have also added safety tips, because high mountains need respect.

Top 5 Trekking Destinations in India

1. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand

The Valley of Flowers is a national park in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. It lies between 3,352 and 3,658 metres above sea level. The park covers 87.5 square kilometres and is about 8 km long and 2 km wide. Together with the nearby Nanda Devi National Park, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Three British climbers, led by Frank Smythe, stumbled upon the valley in 1931 and gave it its name. A botanist from the Wildlife Institute of India later recorded about 520 kinds of alpine plants here. The park is also home to rare animals such as the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, musk deer and blue sheep. Look out for the colourful Himalayan monal, a bird of the pheasant family.

The walk starts at Govindghat. After a short taxi ride, you trek a little under 11 km to the village of Ghangaria. The valley is about 3 km beyond it. This trail is shared with pilgrims going to Hemkund Sahib, a Sikh shrine. You need a permit from the Forest Department at Ghangaria, valid for three days. You cannot stay overnight inside the park, so you sleep in Ghangaria.

The park is open from June to October. The best time to see flowers is July to early September, just after the monsoon arrives. Our site has a full guide to the Valley of Flowers National Park.

2. Hampta Pass, Himachal Pradesh

Hampta Pass connects two very different worlds. On one side is the green Kullu valley. On the other is the dry, rocky Chandra valley of Lahaul. The pass takes its name from Hampta village, which lies below Sethan village. Shepherds have used this route for a long time to take their flocks to summer grasslands.

The pass is 4,270 metres high, as listed by the Himachal Pradesh trekking portal. The portal rates it as medium in difficulty and suggests at least four days. Most treks begin at Jobri, a short drive from Manali. On the way you cross streams, meadows and glaciers, with peaks such as Deo Tibba and Indrasan rising above 6,000 metres. Some trekkers go on to Chandratal, a moon shaped lake at about 4,300 metres.

The old post said you can trek here until mid November. That is too late. The state portal listed the trek as open from May to the start of October. Snow can close the route at either end of the season. Starting from Manali? Read our post on Manali, India’s most popular hill station.

3. Markha Valley, Ladakh

The Markha Valley trek is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh. The whole route lies inside Hemis National Park, the largest national park in India. The park is famous for snow leopards. It has about 200 of them, one of the highest numbers of any protected area in the world.

The trek usually starts near Spituk, close to Leh. You cross the Ganda La pass, which is about 4,980 metres high. Then you walk through small villages such as Rumbak, Skiu, Markha and Hankar. The trek usually ends over the Kongmaru La pass, near Hemis. Along the way you can see Kang Yatse, a peak of about 6,400 metres, and old Buddhist monasteries. Near the end of the trek stands the 400 year old Hemis Monastery, which holds a colourful festival called Hemis Tsechu every summer.

The old post said the route crosses passes of 15,000 feet. In fact, Ganda La alone is over 16,000 feet. The trekking season runs from mid June to mid October. Tourists must walk inside the park and pay a wildlife fee at the entry check posts. Homestays in village houses are a good way to support local families. Learn more about the region in our post on Leh.

4. Goecha La, Sikkim

Goecha La is a high mountain pass at 4,940 metres in Gyalshing district, Sikkim. Its big prize is the view. From here you can see the south east face of Kanchenjunga. At 8,586 metres, it is the third highest mountain in the world. The old post called it the “third largest”, but height is what counts.

The trek starts at Yuksom, the first capital of Sikkim, founded in 1642. It sits at about 1,780 metres. Near the village is Dubdi Monastery, built in 1701 and the oldest monastery in Sikkim. From there the route climbs through Sachen, Tshoka, Dzongri and Thansing before the final push to the pass. Some days involve walking 10 to 17 km. Many groups take a rest day at Dzongri and climb to Dzongri La, a viewpoint at 4,417 metres, to get used to the height. The route passes through Khangchendzonga National Park. In 2016 this park became India’s first “mixed” World Heritage Site, listed for both nature and culture.

The old post said the best time is June to October. That includes the monsoon, when trails are wet and views are hidden by cloud. The main seasons are March to May and September to November, with October the busiest month. Because the height rises quickly on this trek, getting used to the thin air matters. For more about the state, read our guide to Sikkim’s history and tourism.

5. Pindari Glacier, Uttarakhand

A glacier is a huge, slow moving river of ice. The Pindari Glacier lies in the Kumaon Himalayas in Bageshwar district, south east of the peaks Nanda Devi and Nanda Kot. It is the source of the Pindar river, which joins the Alaknanda at Karnaprayag.

The trail passes Loharkhet, crosses the Dhakuri pass and reaches Khati, the last village on the route. It then goes on through Dwali and Phurkia to Zero Point near the glacier. The full round trip is about 90 km, and most people finish it in about six days. The old post said ten days, which is more than most walkers need.

For 2026, the summer season ran from 15 April to 15 June. Trekkers register at Hichori and Jakuni, and they must carry their plastic waste back. Check the autumn opening dates with local officials before you plan. Locals in Khati say far fewer foreign trekkers have come since the 2013 floods, and they have asked for better roads and rest houses. Sadly, the glacier is shrinking. Studies show it pulled back by about 1,569 metres between 1976 and 2014, possibly because of climate change.

Stay Safe on High Treks

All five treks go above 2,500 metres. At that height, some people get altitude sickness. This happens because the air holds less oxygen. Signs include headache, tiredness, vomiting, dizziness and poor sleep. Being fit does not protect you.

• Climb slowly. Experts advise raising your height by no more than 300 metres a day.
• Drink enough water.
• If symptoms get worse, go down at once. Going lower is the only sure cure for serious cases.
• Carry warm clothes, a raincoat, a torch and basic medicines.
• Bring back all your plastic and do not pollute streams.

This is general information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, talk to a doctor before a high trek.

What We Changed From the Old Post

• The Valley of Flowers park is about 8 km long, not part of a “55 km” trek. We also removed the claim that the valley changes colour every 15 days, as we found no proof.
• Hampta Pass is not open until mid November. The listed season ends in early October.
• Ganda La on the Markha trek is about 4,980 metres, well above the old figure of 15,000 feet.
• Goecha La’s best seasons are spring and autumn, not June to October. Kanchenjunga is the third highest peak, not the third largest.
• The Pindari round trip usually takes about six days, not ten.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the easiest trek on this list?

No high trek is truly easy. The Valley of Flowers has the shortest approach, a walk of about 17 km. Still, it reaches over 3,000 metres, so go slowly.

When does the Valley of Flowers open?

It is open from June to October. Flowers are at their best from July to early September.

Which trek gives a view of Kanchenjunga?

The Goecha La trek in Sikkim offers a close view of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak.

Do I need a permit for these treks?

Some parks need one. The Valley of Flowers needs a Forest Department permit, and Hemis National Park charges a wildlife fee.