Overview
Hiking is an exciting sport to do and involves a blend of a variety of physical activities like trekking, camping, and mountaineering. You’ll get to see some amazing sights as well as get some great exercise as you go hiking. Let’s check out some of the best treks to do in India.
Chadar Trek
- Max Alt: 11,150 Feet
- Region: Ladakh
- Trek Distance: 62 Kms
- Start Point: Leh
- End Point: Leh
- No. of days: 9
- Difficulty Level: Slightly Difficult
The Chadar trek is one of the most famous treks in India and therefore one of the most popular. It’s a long trek that takes you across frozen streams, snowy mountains, and steep inclines. The best time to do this trek is between the months of January and March when the frozen lake is most stable. This is also the coldest time of the year so make sure your equipment is up to snuff and you’re prepared for temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius.
From Leh, where you’ll start your trek, you will walk along a frozen alpine lake that changes its shape and even disappears at times. It’s a wild and harsh landscape but if you’re up for an adventure, this trek is perfect for you. The Chadar trek offers everything from incredible landscapes to a rich cultural experience.
Bali Pass Trek
- Max Altitude: 12,000 Feet to 14,000 Feet
- Region: North Sikkim
- Trek Distance: 41 Kms to 48 Kms (to the base) and 34 Kms to 60 Kms (round trip) to 73 Kms to 85 Kms (round trip) and 84 Km to 113 Km (round trip)
- Start Point: Pelling Bus Stand or Rangpo or Maao or Gangtok Dzongkhag Bus Stand (30 Km from Railway Station) or Maao or Gangtok Dzongkhag Bus Stand
- End Point: Pass Bali (73 Kms to 85 Km) or Pass Bali (73 Kms to 85 Km) or Pass Bali (113 Km round trip)
- No. of days: 5 to 10
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate depending on your starting point and ending point.
There are many ways to go up to the Bali Pass. However, the easiest way is by starting at Gangtok and ending at Pelling. You’ll get to see a number of lakes and glaciers on this trek as well as some stunning views of the Himalayas. The best time to do this trek is at least between September and December when the temperatures are cool. And while on this trek, you also get to see Baby Lake and Mt. Kangchenjunga so it’s a must-do trek.
Vasuki Tal Trek
- Max Altitude: 12,000 Feet to 14,100 Feet
- Region: Uttarakhand
- Trek Distance: 32 Kms to 39 Kms (to the base) and 39 Kms to 64 Kms (round trip) to 63 Km to 75Km
- Start Point: Srinagar or Maao or Gangtok Dzongkhag Bus Stand (30 Km from Railway Station) or Nandprayag or Sonamarg or Srinagar
- End Point: Vasuki Tal Base/Peak (63 Km)
- No. of days: 4 to 7
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
If you’re looking for a short but exciting trek that will give you great views, try this one. The best time to do this trek is between November and April when the weather is cool and clear. The trek starts from Srinagar where you’ll see some amazing altitudes so make sure to stop by there for a look. And while on the trek, you’ll get to see some beautiful lakes and flowers as well.
You can also stay in a number of base camps like Annapurna Base Camp or you can go all the way up to the peak. And if you want to challenge yourself, go for one of the trekking peaks. It’s a safe and easy trek for beginners so it’s worth going on.
Sikkim Peak Circuit
- Max Altitude: 14,400 Feet to 16,100 Feet
- Region: Sikkim
- Trek Distance: 95 Kms to 125 Kms (to the base) and 120 Kms to 150 Kms (round trip) to 135 Km to 160 Km round trip.
- Start Point: Gangtok or Chukha or Chele Gompa(30 Km from Railway Station)
- End Point: Gangtok or Chukha or Chele Gompa (135 Km round trip)
- No. of days: 1 to 2 weeks
- Difficulty Level: Medium to Difficult. If you’re going in November, then it would be easy; otherwise, it’s a bit tougher. However, the views are amazing! Don’t miss this trek if you want some great adrenaline rush with breathtaking views of the Himalayas.
This trek is one of the best treks to do in Sikkim and it’s also the longest trek in Sikkim. You’ll get to see some amazing views of the Himalayas as well as a number of stunning lakes and a couple of mini-cliffs. While on this trek, you can also go for one of the hiking peaks or even go paragliding if you want. Since it’s one of the popular treks in Sikkim, there are many places to stay during this trek so you have some good choices.
Bhanubandh Trek
- Max Altitude: 14,700 Feet to 19,000 Feet
- Region: Himachal Pradesh
- Trek Distance: 100 Kms to 120 Kms (to the base) and 130 Kms to 150 Kms (round trip) to 70 Km round trip.
- Start Point: Bhakhra or Arki or Abhai (30 Km from R.S)
- End Point: Bhakhra or Arki or Abhai (70 Km round trip)
- No. of days: 2 to 4 weeks
- Difficulty Level: Difficult for some parts of the trek either due to snowfall, lack of oxygen, or bad weather conditions. However, if you are experienced and prepare yourself for the trek, it’s not that difficult.
If you want a different hiking experience, you can try this trek. You’ll get to see some amazing views of the Himalayas as well as some stunning lakes on this trek. And while on this trek, you can also go paragliding if you want to. The trek is also known for its rich flora, so if you want to go hiking and see some stunning views of the Himalayas, then this trek is a must-do trek.
Conclusion
But be careful while on the mountain hikes as you have to make sure that you are careful about your health and safety because if anything bad happens, it can develop into a serious disease. So make sure you’re careful while climbing and do take proper care to protect yourself.
I hope this post will help you plan your trip to the Himalayas. If you need any help while planning your trip to the Himalayas or want any other help with this post or even with your itinerary, feel free to comment in the comments section below.