Himalayan winter treks are truly nature’s gift to mankind. Even the toughest of trails feels like a walk in paradise, thanks to the majestic snow-covered landscape. Below are 9 winter treks in India that you must do in the upcoming winter.

September and early October are the months when you should start planning your winter trek. It is wise to choose from the best winter treks in India as early as possible, so that you can decide on dates and book your flight tickets at a reasonable price. An early decision helps you prepare physically and mentally for the snow trek.

Use this guide to make a wise choice among the top winter treks in India. Do not miss the pro tips mentioned along with the trek information.

Top 9 Winter Treks to do in the Himalayas

Not every winter trek in India means walking through snow. 

Our country has such varied landscapes that winter looks different in every region. While Uttarakhand and Himachal give you those classic snowy trails, there are completely different experiences too — like treks in Maharashtra and the Pench Tiger Trail and Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek in central India, which make for mesmerising winter treks.

It is obvious that winter treks in the Himalayas are completely different from winter treks in central India and Maharashtra. However, all the regions offer equal opportunities to enjoy and soak in the beauty of nature while simultaneously learning from your surroundings. Here are the nine best winter treks you can do in the winter season.

1. Dayara Bugyal Winter Trek

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

This is a trek I love simply because it’s such a relaxing climb and yet gives you such grand returns. You never expect such views and experiences on such an easy trek! Dayara Bugyal Trek is one of the best winter treks in Uttarakhand, thanks to the meadows blanketed in shimmering white snow. It feels like an unending snow trek!

Protip: Given the ease of the climb, it is one of the easiest winter treks for beginners and family groups. But don’t let that stop you if you are an experienced trekker—you can go on this trek ten times and you won’t tire. I would also recommend it to those who have already seen it in another season. It’s a completely different trek in the winter.

2. Brahmatal Winter Trek

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

Most of the staff at Indiahikes love winter treks. Brahmatal is our co-founder Sandhya’s favourite trek. When she went the last time, she stood at the summit with a riveting view of two of the most celebrated mountains—Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti. She also saw the entire Roopkund trail laid out before her—literally a bird’s-eye view. I would highly recommend reading this personal note she wrote after her Brahmatal trek to get an idea. It is one of the perfect winter treks in India when it comes to mountain views.

Brahmatal vs Dayara Bugyal: Which is a better snow trek?

Protip: It is one of the best winter treks in the Himalayas. So, choose this if you want a grand snow experience. Most trekkers come back raving about the snow here. Also, be physically prepared because it has some good climbs.

3. Deoriatal – Chandrashila Winter Trek

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

Known as one of the best winter treks in India. When it comes to winter trekking, Deoriatal Chandrashila never loses its charm. It’s one of those trails that just keeps calling you back, no matter how many times you’ve been there.

The trail is beautiful with its vibrant forests, the lake and the climb to the Tungnath temple and Chandrashila summit.

Protip: This trek gives a highly unfair reward for the amount of effort you put in. You get to see almost all the most magnificent peaks in the Indian Himalayas, including Mt. Nanda Devi, India’s highest summit. You get the real experience of winter treks in Uttarakhand, thanks to the never-ending blanket of snow. If the dates suit you, don’t think twice; just go for it.

4. Kedarkantha Winter Trek

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

Do I need to introduce this trek? This trek exploded in terms of popularity when we opened it up in winter 2011. Since the beginning, Kedarkantha has been among the most popular winter treks. It has endeared campsites and a thrilling summit climb, which makes it one of the most sought-after winter treks in India.

Most trekkers treat it as a bucket list trek, and they’re completely justified because it’s not every day you come across such a perfect winter trek. Here's everything you need to know about the Kedarkantha trek.

5. Sandakphu – Phalut Winter Trek

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 7 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

If you are not interested in winter treks in Himachal or Uttarakhand, then Sandakphu – Phalut in West Bengal can be the best choice for trekking in the winter. It offers you a strong cultural experience. You get a peek into what the Nepali trekking culture is like. It’s a trek on the border of India and Nepal, constantly weaving in and out of the two countries (feels very international, I tell you!). It feels as if you are doing one of the winter treks in Nepal.

While it’s difficult to do other Nepal winter treks, this one gives you views of four of the tallest mountains in the world—Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu and Mt. Kanchenjunga with moderate climb. No other trek gives you that.

Protip: Not many trekkers know this, but on this trek, you stay in tea houses for a few days, and you also get the Indiahikes camping experience for two days. It’s a great way to experience the best of both worlds. The snow on this trek will give you the feel of winter treks in Kashmir, Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh. So do keep that in mind.

6. Kuari Pass Winter Trek

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

Looking for one of the easy winter treks in India? This should be your choice. Irrespective of you being a seasoned trekker or a beginner, the Kuari Pass is a snow trek you need to do. It is a must-do for the views of some of India’s most celebrated mountains – Mt. Nanda Devi (25,673 feet) and Mt. Dronagiri (23,182 feet) – in any season.

Protip: In winter, there is an added attraction. The snow in its almost perfectly crafted forests. During the season, snowflakes settled on the Oak leaves above a white carpeted forest floor. All this gives you an unmatched winter trekking experience in the Himalayas!

7. Aancha Top Winter Trek

Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Duration: 6 days (Including travel to and from the basecamp)

Aancha Top is one of those hidden gems in Yamunotri that somehow stays quiet, even in winter. 

The forests along the trail are lovely, but honestly, it’s the summit day that makes this trek unforgettable. In a single day, you walk past glacial lakes, open meadows, and then along a narrow ridge that finally opens up to the summit. 

And when you step up there, the view hits you — some of the grandest Himalayan peaks rise all around you, sharp and majestic against the winter sky.

Winter is really the time to do it. Being so close to the Yamunotri Valley, the mountains here just open up, wide and clear. 

This is a trek for those who want something quieter, a trail that doesn’t feel crowded, but still gives you those sweeping Himalayan views and that crisp winter feeling that stays with you long after.

8. Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 4 days

While most winter treks in India are situated in the Himalayas, this one goes through the heart of the dense jungles of Chhattisgarh.

It’s hard for the jungles not to set your imagination ablaze. As you trek to the jungle, you feel the omnipresence of wildlife and tribal life as well. For every trekker, this trek is a must-do.

9. Pench Tiger Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Duration: 4 days

Or there’s the Pench Tiger Trail — a trek straight through the forests that inspired The Jungle Book. Teak forests, open grasslands, and winding riverbeds reveal the raw, untamed beauty of Central India. And if luck is on your side, you might even spot the tracks of tigers or leopards in their natural home.

January is the coldest month here. Nights can dip to around 5°C  — perfect for pulling out your thermals — but the days are just right for trekking, crisp and comfortable.

Central India might not give you snow, but it offers something just as magical: wild, untouched forests at their very best.

As we come to an end to this list of seven winter treks, we recommend you to explore at least one this year. To enjoy a grand snow experience, you can plan your winter treks in December or any other month till the end of March.

For a hassle-free experience, choose from the list of upcoming treks and book your winter trek with Indiahikes.

If you need help making a decision, drop in a comment below.

We’ll help you out!