8 Best Himalayan Monsoon Treks To Do
Monsoon season is the best season to trek, as nature is at its finest during this season. In this season, you get to experience the true beauty of nature by travelling to the hills, which transform during the monsoon season. The rain makes the grass and plants lush green; you can also smell the dirt, redefining nature’s beauty. The best way to gain such experience is by trekking to the mountains, with nature at its finest. Monsoon is the season that makes all the places shine bright, but to experience nature up close, one has to visit the mountains. The rain makes trekking difficult, but the scenic views that await you are worth the tough walk. Forest becomes greener; there are several waterfalls, and rivers become bigger, adding to the picturesque view and the blooming radiant colours of flowers. There are various places whose beauty can only be discovered in the monsoon season when they are at their best. Some treks that should be on your monsoon bucket list are provided below. Please go through them to decide which treks to take for the most enjoyable experience.
1. Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
- Altitude – 13,750 ft / 4191 mtrTrek Distance – 72.4 km
- Trek Grade – Moderate+
- Trek Start and End Point – Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir)
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is one of the famous treks in Jammu & Kashmir; people worldwide come to do this trek. The best time to do KGL is from June to September. Due to the rain, the temperature drops during this season, making the weather pleasant. On this trek, you will see the greenest meadows and flowers blooming with vibrant colours, and you will also see huge pine & maple trees. You will also pass through rapid streams formed in the rain, adding to the natural vistas. The alpine lakes on the trek are an astonishing shade of blue, green, and turquoise. The beauty of the trek gets increased by the shape of rocks (boulders), clear water, and clear blue sky. At Nichnai, you would see green grasslands and lakes like Kishansar, Vishnusar and sea-green Gadsar, with ice floating in the lakes.
2. Tarsar & Marsar Trek
- Altitude – 13,498 ft / 4114 meter
- Trek Distance – 50 km
- Trek Grade – Gradual – Moderate
- Trek Start and End Point – Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir)
Tarsar Marsar Trek is best done in the monsoon season between July and November. Hills on this trek turn in the colours of yellow, orange, and red, while the Lidder River flows in the middle of meadow-carpeted mountains. Marsar during this time gets covered by the shroud of mountains, with deep blue lakes and snow floating on the lakes. These are the sights you behold on this trek; you might also see local shepherds grazing their herds. The trek is close to Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary, so if you are lucky, you might see Himalayan brown bears. There are many wonders around Tarsar Marsar Trek, including blue lagoons, snow-fed rivers, alpine trees, wildflowers, and snow-covered mountains. Tarsar Lake resembles an almond, while Sundersar Lake resembles a crescent moon.
3. Valley of Flower Trek
- Altitude – 14,100 ft / 4298 meter
- Trek Distance – 37 km
- Trek Grade – Gradual – Moderate
- Trek Start and End Point – Haridwar (Uttarakhand)
If you want to see flowers blooming like Brahma kamal, blue poppy, blue Primula, Red Fox, Blue Sheep, and several others, visiting Valley of Flowers in the Monsoon season is the perfect time to do so. Monsoon season falls between July and September. Different flowers cover the area every month. The weather remains cool this season, with temperatures between 13oC and 20oC. Although there may be showers in some areas and rainfall in others, it is still worth the trek if you want to see the majestic mountain vistas of colours in the distance. On this trek, you will pass through the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, where you can catch sight of gorgeous flowers in different shapes and colours. The hill will be covered with green grasslands, and at the top of the peak, you will seesee snow.
4. Hampta Pass Trek
- Altitude – 14,100 Ft / 4298 Mtr
- Trek Distance – 26 km
- Trek Grade – Gradual – Moderate
- Trek Start and End Point – Manali (Himachal Pradesh)
Hampta Pass Trek is the monsoon trek and can be done from June to October, as you enjoy rain in the mountains during this season. You will witness nature’s changing colours from June to September, and by the time October comes, the weather starts getting chilly and the temperature drops. The vibrant colours of flowers you could see are pink hill geranium, blue poppies, and marigolds. You could see the seasonal waterfalls surrounded by clouds, and if the weather is clear, sometimes you could see the valley with a clear blue sky above. Temperatures during this season range from 25oC to 21oC, making the weather pleasant, and at night the temperature may drop even further. The trail passes through various rivers, such as Rani Nala/ Stream, with pine trees and a few maple trees around.
5. Markha Valley Trek
- Altitude – 17,070 Ft / 5203 Mtr
- Trek Distance – 60 km
- Trek Grade – Gradual – Moderate
- Trek Start and End Point – Leh (Ladakh)
The monsoon season, which is in July and August, is the best time to do a Markha Valley Trek. Markha Valley lies between the deserted mountains, and as you come close to Markha Valley, you will start seeing lush greenery. The average temperature during the day ranges from 25oC to 30oC, and the temperature drops at night, but it all depends on the altitude at which you are. The weather and climate remain soothing these months, making the travel to places like monasteries, palaces, and other famous local places easy to explore. Also, you would pass through Hemis National Park, where you could see mountain sheep, rabbits, argali, and snow leopards.
6. Pin Bhaba Pass Trek
- Altitude – 16,098 Ft / 4907 Mtr
- Trek Distance – 49.8 km
- Trek Grade – Moderate
- Trek Start and End Point – Trek starts from Shimla and ends in Mudh (Himachal Pradesh).
Pin Bhaba Pass Trek in the monsoon season, from mid-July to early September, is the best time as the hills turn into the beautiful colours of Orange, Yellow, and Red. It receives showers of rain which turn the hills in the colour of green. The temperature during the days is mostly between 5oC to 12oC, and at night it gets low to 0oC. This season promises lush meadows and green forests in a lot of places. Gushing rivers are another sight found on this trek during this season, making picturesque views. Apple orchids of Kafnu Village in the Kinnaur and Spiti region are the provider of the finest apples found on this trail. On the trail, you would also see the trail leading through the huge tree forest with the greenest moss and bright yellow flowers. The scene from a fairy tale is the sight of roaring streams, green grasslands, dense forests and rocky trailsis.
7. Gurez Valley Trek
- Altitude – 13,185 Ft / 4019 Mtr
- Trek Distance – 38 km
- Trek Grade – Moderate
- Trek Start and End Point – Srinagar (Himachal Pradesh)
Gurez Valley Trek is the most recommended to visit during the monsoon season between July and September. During this time, the snow starts to melt, which makes it an ideal time to take the tour, as every other month, it is covered in snow. At the beginning of the monsoon, the weather remains hot during the day, and the temperature goes up to 25oC, but at night, the temperature reduces, making the weather pleasant. As August comes, it brings rain, which changes the valley’s scenery; the meadows become lush and green. By September, the weather starts getting colder, and the temperature drops from 15oC to 10oC, which makes it a picture-perfect landscape. Scenic scenes on this trek are of the calm deep blue lake and green mountains.
8. Nafran Valley Trek
- Altitude – 11,270 Ft / 3435 Mtr
- Trek Distance – 38 km
- Trek Grade – Moderate to Difficult
- Trek Start and End Point – Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir)
The Nafran Valley does not receive the same rain as other mountain treks during the monsoon season, making it an ideal trek to take in Kashmir. The green grassland surrounded by grey hills is a sight to be seen, and wildflowers bloom along with small flowers in red, purple, white, yellow, violet, and blue. In the daytime, the temperature ranges between 12oC to 18oC; at night, the temperature drops from 5 degrees Celcius to 10 degrees Celcius.
About Author
Kanishk
Kanishk has lived in these hills all his life, so every time he wished to travel somewhere, the hills were his calling card. He completed his schooling in Dehradun and graduated with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. As a result, he was open to sharing in detail his personal experience of exploring with friends and his family. He then looked through different career choices but couldn't find something that made him happy and content. Until he got an opportunity to work in a traveling company and that to trekking. In his mind, this was like the mountains calling, and he began explaining the adventure of going to the hills to people.
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