Best treks for Autumn in India
Planning a trek in Autumn? These 33 trails across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Sikkim are at their best in autumn, think clear skies, the right snow conditions and open meadows. Each trek below includes difficulty, altitude, base camp and how to reach.
Roopkund (Mystery Lake)
A glacial lake full of ancient human skeletons, reached across the vast Ali & Bedni Bugyal meadows.
Nag Tibba
The perfect weekend Himalayan trek, a quick snow summit with grand Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini views.
Kuari Pass (Curzon Trail)
The classic "Curzon Trail" with jaw-dropping close-ups of Nanda Devi, Dronagiri and the Chaukhamba massif.
Har Ki Dun (Valley of Gods)
A cradle-shaped valley steeped in Mahabharata legend, ringed by Swargarohini and ancient Garhwali villages.
Dayara Bugyal
One of India's most beautiful high-altitude meadows, gentle, rolling and vast, superb for beginners.
Deoriatal – Chandrashila
A summit trek via the mirror-like Deoriatal lake and Tungnath, the world's highest Shiva temple.
Gaumukh Tapovan
A pilgrimage-trek to the snout of the Gangotri glacier, the source of the Ganga, and the meadows of Tapovan below Shivling.
Pindari Glacier
A classic Kumaon glacier trek through terraced villages and forests to "Zero Point" at the glacier snout.
Bali Pass
A demanding high pass linking Har Ki Dun to Yamunotri, crossing between two sacred valleys.
Ali & Bedni Bugyal
Twin high meadows, among the largest in Asia, with a postcard reflection lake and Trishul towering above.
Kedartal
A steep, rugged trail to an emerald glacial lake sitting beneath the fearsome Thalay Sagar peak.
Milam Glacier
A long, historic trade-route trek up the Gori Ganga gorge to a giant glacier past abandoned villages.
Panchachuli Base Camp
A remote Kumaon trek to the foot of the five-peaked Panchachuli massif above Munsiyari.
Khaliya Top
A short, scenic meadow-top trek above Munsiyari facing the entire Panchachuli range.
Beas Kund
A short trek to the glacial source of the Beas river, ringed by Friendship Peak, Hanuman Tibba and Shitidhar.
Bhrigu Lake
A high oval lake said to never fully freeze, reached quickly across gorgeous meadows above Manali.
Triund
The iconic overnight ridge above McLeod Ganj with the Dhauladhar wall on one side and the Kangra valley on the other.
Kheerganga
A lush Parvati Valley trek ending at a natural hot-water spring with a mountain view, legendary among backpackers.
Indrahar Pass
A tough pass over the Dhauladhar range above Triund, with immense views of the Pir Panjal and Chamba valley.
Buran Ghati
A thrilling crossover with a near-vertical snow-wall descent (rope rappel) from the pass into the Pabbar valley.
Prashar Lake
A serene lake with a floating island and a pagoda temple, framed by Dhauladhar, Pir Panjal and Kinnaur ranges.
Churdhar Peak
The highest peak in the outer Himalayas of Himachal, with a Shirgul temple summit and sweeping plains-to-peaks views.
Markha Valley
Ladakh's classic "tea-house" trek through villages, monasteries and high passes with Kang Yatse towering above.
Goecha La
The iconic trek to a high pass facing the sunrise wall of Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain.
Dzongri Trek
The shorter classic to Dzongri Top for a front-row Kanchenjunga panorama, through blazing rhododendron forests.
Green Lake
A highly restricted expedition into the Zemu glacier basin at the very foot of Kanchenjunga's east face.
Sandakphu – Phalut
The highest point of West Bengal on the Singalila ridge, with the rare "Sleeping Buddha" view of four 8000ers including Everest & Kanchenjunga.
Singalila Ridge
A biodiverse ridge trek through a national park famed for red pandas, rhododendrons and unbroken Himalayan skylines.
Gorichen Base Camp
A remote, permit-heavy trek to the base of Arunachal's highest peak in the far eastern Himalaya.
Talle Valley
A lush wildlife-sanctuary trek through silver-fir and bamboo forest near the cultural Ziro valley of the Apatani.
Dzükou Valley
The "Valley of Flowers of the Northeast", surreal emerald rolling hills carpeted with the rare Dzükou lily in summer.
Nongriat Double-Decker Living Root Bridge
A steep 3,500-step descent to the legendary double-decker living root bridge and turquoise natural pools.
David Scott Trail
A gentle historic bridle path laid by a British officer, winding through Khasi meadows, sacred groves and waterfalls.