Difficult
Uttarakhand
Roopkund Trek
Plan your Roopkund trek with our 2026 guide: route, itinerary, permits, costs, best time & packing list for India's mysterious Skeleton Lake at 5,029 m.
8 days 5,029 mSep – Nov
Walk the white season
Snow Treks in India
Snow treks put you on white trails through frosted pine forest and frozen meadows to glowing sunrise summits. With the right route they are the winter Himalaya at its most photogenic and, surprisingly, its most beginner friendly.
9
Treks in category
3
Prime regions
India wide
Coverage
Walk the white season
Why choose snow treks?
There is nothing like your first walk on snow. Winter routes in Uttarakhand and Himachal deliver the full alpine experience of powder, snow laden forests and wide summit panoramas without any technical climbing, given the right guide and gear.
There is nothing quite like your first walk on snow. Winter routes in Uttarakhand and Himachal give you powder underfoot, snow laden forests and a wide summit panorama, and the classics ask for nothing more than good gear and a guide. The season runs from December to February, and December is the gentlest way in.
Top snow treks
BeginnerEasy–Moderate
Uttarakhand
Surya Top Trek
Surya Top Trek is an easy-to-moderate trail in Chakrata, Uttarakhand, reaching ~2,700–2,900 m with panoramic Himalayan views, best done October–November or April-May.
3 days 2,900 mOct – Dec
Moderate–Difficult
Ladakh
Snow Leopard Trek Hemis
The snow leopard trek in Hemis National Park, Ladakh, offers the world's best chance of spotting a wild snow leopard, with 70–80% guided sighting success rates
7 days 6,000 mJan – Mar
Difficult
Himachal Pradesh
Buran Ghati Trek
The Buran Ghati Trek is a difficult 40 km trail in Himachal Pradesh crossing a 4,700 m pass with India's only glacier rappel descent on a mainstream trek.
7 days 4,700 mSep – Nov
Difficult
Himachal Pradesh
Bara Bhangal trek
The Bara Bhangal trek is a 65–70 km, 7–8 day difficult trek in Himachal Pradesh crossing Thamsar Pass (~4,708 m) to reach one of India's most remote villages.
7 days 4,708 mJul – Sep
BeginnerModerate
Uttarakhand
Kedarkantha Trek
The Kedarkantha trek is a beginner winter trek in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, reaching 12,500 ft (3,810 m) in 4–6 days from Sankri village.
6 Days ~12,500 ft (3,810m)Dec – Apr
BeginnerEasy–Moderate
Uttarakhand
Har Ki Dun Trek
Har Ki Dun trek is an easy-to-moderate, 47 km round-trip trail in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas, reaching 3,566 m with no technical climbing required.
6 days 3,566 mSep – Nov
Moderate–Difficult
Uttarakhand
Panchachuli Base Camp Trek
The Panchachuli Base Camp Trek is a 55–60 km round trip in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, reaching 3,850 m. Best season: September–October. Inner Line Permit required
7 days 3,850 m (12,631 ft)Sep – Nov
Moderate–Difficult
Jammu & Kashmir
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is an 8-day, 72 km moderate-difficult route from Sonamarg to Naranag, crossing 7 alpine lakes and 4 passes up to 4,191 m, open July-mid-September.
8 days 4,191 mJul – Sep
Compare snow treks
How these snow treks compare on difficulty, duration, season and altitude.
| Trek | Difficulty | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Roopkund Trek | Difficult | 8 days |
| Surya Top Trek | Easy–Moderate | 3 days |
| Snow Leopard Trek Hemis | Moderate–Difficult | 7 days |
| Buran Ghati Trek | Difficult | 7 days |
| Bara Bhangal trek | Difficult | 7 days |
| Kedarkantha Trek | Moderate | 6 Days |
| Har Ki Dun Trek | Easy–Moderate | 6 days |
| Panchachuli Base Camp Trek | Moderate–Difficult | 7 days |
| Kashmir Great Lakes Trek | Moderate–Difficult | 8 days |
Planning your snow treks
- Carry microspikes and gaiters because snow and ice underfoot are a given
- Pack winter grade insulation and an insulated sleeping system
- Trek from December to February and choose December if you are new to snow
- Never head above the snowline alone and go with a guide in winter
snow treks, frequently asked questions
9 snow treks across India, each with a full route breakdown, difficulty, permits, cost estimates and live trail conditions.
Keep exploring
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