Upcoming Treks in India That You Need to Sign Up For
By Editorial
Most tourists, including backpackers, travelling through India almost always talks about the Golden Triangle destinations — Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. They put yoga ashrams, Buddhist monasteries and spiritual organisations on their list. They never miss out on Goa, or Mumbai or the backwaters of Kerala. But India is a geographically, historically and culturally rich country that can barely be covered in a few months.
What most visitors miss out on, or in most cases, exclude from their trips are multi-day treks. Surprising, because native travel enthusiasts swear by these treks! We’ve compiled a list of treks and tours that you should be on your list if you’re a backpacker who’s planning to spend summer in India. High on adrenaline, rich with natural beauty and a race to secure your place in one these tours.
Leh Ladakh Bike Tour
REGION: Ladakh
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
HIGHEST ALTITUDE: 18,000 ft
DISTANCE: 1800 km
BY: Trek Mates India or Stok Kangri Trek
A Leh-Ladakh bike trail is easily one of the rites of passage for bikers in India. The journey takes you through Khardungla, the highest vehicular road and covers Pangong and Tsomoriri lakes. The other way is to bike to Stok Kangri, a natural peak that is a window to Ladakh’s stunning landscape. Any true-blue biker or travel enthusiast shouldn’t ever miss a classic Leh-Ladakh bike trip.
The Rupin Pass Trek
REGION: Himachal Pradesh
DIFFICULTY: Moderate-Difficult
HIGHEST ALTITUDE: 15,380 ft
DURATION: 9 days
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: 13–18°C Day to 0–7°C Night
BY: IndiaHikes
Only a few spots remain and you can book through the website. One of the classic treks in India, the itinerary takes you through it all — Himalayan villages, dense forests and of course, snow-capped passes. It’s ideally for fit and experienced trekkers who are always up for a challenge and have done previous high-altitude treks. Due to its demand you’d need to hurry to book it.
Alaknanda River Rafting Expedition
REGION: Chamoli-NIM Beach/Laxman Jhula
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
DURATION: 7 days
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Cliff Jumping, Body Surfing, beach Volleyball
BY: Alaknanda River Adventure
Essentially a camping expedition, the tour takes you rafting from Chamoli to Rishikesh. The trip also includes volleyball, body-surfing and cliff-hanging as part of the whole experience.
Tons River White Water Rafting
REGION: Mori, Tons Valley, Uttarakhand
DIFFICULTY: Difficult
DURATION: 7 days
BY: AquaTerra Adventures
This trip includes a chance to camp amidst thick forested hillsides, hikes and overnight treks and white water rafting on the Tons river till the Ichhari dam. A package filled with nature, activities that imbue adrenaline rushes, and one to put on your to-do list this summer!
Bird-Watching Treks in Lava & Neora Valley
REGION: West Bengal
ALTITUDE: 183 m to 3200 m
BY: Extensive Information by Darjeeling Tourism
Trekking through the dense forests of Jalpaiguri, criss-crossed with mountain streams and the river Neora flowing through, is a wondrous experience indeed. The natural biodiversity of the area has been preserved well and there are even inaccessible forests still. Add to that the experience of spotting exotic birds. The Algarah Road in Lava is considered to be the best “birding mile” of India. Lava and Neora Valley is home to several rare species such as the Satyr Tragon, Rufous-throated Partridge, the White-Tailed Robin, and the Rusty-bellied Shortwing. There are about 265 species of birds in the park, which remains closed for three months during the monsoon season.
Glamping in Ranthambore
REGION: Rajasthan
BY: Aman-i-Khas or Vanya Villas by Oberoi
While the majority of traveler may choose the thrill of putting their physical abilities to the test, a nice luxurious retreat is always welcome and an experience of a different kind. This summer, instead of the usual wildlife trek, try glamping in Ranthambore with Aman-i-Khas or Vanya Villas. Home to tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles, and once a royal hunting ground, the Ranthambore National Park can be an exhilarating destination for a much-needed break. Crisp and sunny days in Mughal-style tents, camel safaris, bird-watching treks and wildlife tours are all part of the package.
Kaziranga Rhino Tour
REGION: Assam
DURATION: Tours range from 3–13 days
BY: Kaziranga National Park
Nestled between the hills of Assam, the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary will always be an unique experience that pleases repeat visitors and new tourists equally. You can avail customized tours that range from wild buffalo and rhino tours, to photography tours through scenic landscapes, bird-watching treks and tours to caves and waterfalls in and around Shillong. If you feel like having a more spiritual journey than a nature-filled one, try their Monasteries of North India tour.
Kedarnath Trek
REGION: Garhwal
DIFFICULTY: Easy-Moderate
HIGHEST ALTITUDE: 3584 m
DURATION: 8 days
BY: Peak Adventure Tour
The legendary temple, a journey that starts from the hot spring of Gaurikund, and takes you across dense forests, intimidating waterfalls, crystal clear lakes and outstanding views of the Chaukhamba Peaks and the Mandakini Valley, are what the Kedarnath Trek is made up of. Visit to the temple (legend has it that the Pandavas built it in 8th Century CE) is of course, optional, but completely worth it just for the history and the bragging rights.
Roopkund Trek
REGION: Garhwal
DIFFICULTY: Moderate-Difficult
HIGHEST ALTITUDE:16,499 ft
DURATION: 8–10 days
BY: Trekking in India
Another legendary trek for more seasoned adventure seekers, the Roopkund Lake is shrouded in mystery and history. Surrounded by 500 skeletons at an altitude of 5029 m, the trek takes you through lush green conifer forests and leads you to frozen scapes of Bedni Bugyal and Bhagwawasa, in a scenic journey. You can also visit Hemkund via Shail Samundras glacier.
The treks above were chosen with respect to booking demand for the months of May, June and July, and the availability of seats (places are flying out, so you’ll need to hurry!). There are obviously many more iconic treks and tours that you’ll be able to take late summer (July onwards) — the Chadar Valley trek, the Valley of Flowers Trek, the Hampta Pass Trek, Tours in Jim Corbett National Park and so on, which are not listed on the list above. For further research, check out the link resources below:
Best Treks to take in Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand
