Best Treks for Beginners: Top Himalayan Treks you can start your Trekking Journey with
Best Treks for Beginners: Top Himalayan Treks You Can Start Your Trekking Journey With
If you are a beginner in trekking and seeking the best adventure to begin your journey with, you have come to the right place! The Himalayas in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh offer some of the most stunning yet beginner-friendly trails—no technical expertise required, just a passion for nature and adventure. Whether you’re looking for a short, scenic escape or a slightly more challenging but rewarding experience, these Himalayan treks for beginners promise unforgettable memories and breathtaking views.
Dayara Bugyal Trek
Dayara Bugyal is one of the most beautiful and an easy trek for beginners. It has huge snow-covered meadows in winter meadows in winter and is covered with colourful flowers in summer. The scenery of mountains such as Bandarpoonch, Black Peak, Srikanth and Draupadi ka Danda is just wonderful. The gradual slope and well-marked paths make it an ideal trek for newbies. Moreover, the ascent and descent are more or less even and there is no summit, making it a suitable choice for introducing yourself to high-altitude trekking in the Himalayas. What adds to the uniqueness of this trek is how easy and accessible it is—it’s perfect for families with children and older people who want to experience the essence of the Garhwal Himalayas without a laborious ascent.
Highest Altitude gained: 12,090 ft.
Best Time to Visit: March to June, December to February
Duration: 3 Nights, 4 Days
Base Camp: Raithal Village
Kedarkantha Trek
The Kedarkantha trek is the perfect pick for anyone looking for a winter wonderland experience in the heart of the Himalayas. It has breathtaking views of snow-covered peaks, icy lakes, and thick pine forests. The summit climb is an exciting but feasible challenge, making it a popular destination among first-timers. Fun fact: this trail was first discovered by one of the co-founders of Trekup India in 1993, and since then, it has been a rite of passage for several aspiring trekkers seeking to reach their first Himalayan summit.
Highest Altitude gained: 12,500 ft.
Best Time to Visit: December to April
Duration: 5 Nights, 6 Days
Base Camp: Sankari Village
Har ki Dun Trek
Har Ki Dun, or the ‘Valley of Gods,’ is an ideal beginner trek for those interested in mythological stories and scenic beauty. This is not a trek, it’s a walk through culture and folklore. Har Ki Dun is a cultural trail dating back centuries, ideal for trekkers as well as those interested in mythology. It’s an easy trek for beginners that goes through ancient villages, alpine meadows, and thick forests, with a combination of cultural and natural scenery. It’s also one of the best ways to witness how people in the Garhwal Himalayas live, providing an authentic glimpse into mountain life. If you’ve ever wanted to step into a world where mythology and nature intertwine, this is the trek for you.
Highest Altitude gained: 12,000 ft.
Best Time to Visit: March to June, September to November
Duration: 6 Nights, 7 Days
Base Camp: Sankari Village
Tarsar Marsar Trek
If you’re looking to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Kashmir minus the crowds in popular treks like Kashmir Great Lakes, then the Tarsar Marsar trek is ideal for you. The trek goes through alpine meadows that look straight out of dreams, valleys, and two sparkling lakes, Tarsar and Marsar against the majestic backdrop of snow-covered peaks. The landscape is so unreal that you’ll wonder if you’re still in India. The highlight? It’s a simple hike, which is perfect for novices who wish to experience the stunning beauty of Kashmir without undertaking a taxing challenge. The tranquillity of the location, coupled with its postcard-pretty scenery, will leave you completely enchanted.
Highest Altitude gained: 13,498 ft.
Best Time to Visit: July to mid-September
Duration: 6 Nights, 7 Days
Base Camp: Aru
Kuari Pass Trek
Kuari Pass Trek, popularly known as the ‘Curzon Trail’, is one of the best Himalayan treks for beginners. The trek sees a combination of dense forest cover, open pasturelands, and majestic views of peaks such as Nanda Devi and Dronagiri. It’s excellent for fit beginners looking for a moderately challenging trek. Other than this, if you’re an experienced trekker looking for a slightly more different trek, then you can consider going on the Pangarchulla Peak trek that not only covers Kuari Pass but also takes you to the thrilling summit of Pangarchulla Peak.
Highest Altitude gained: 12,516 ft.
Best Time to Visit: December to March
Duration: 5 Nights, 6 Days
Base Camp: Joshimath
Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek
Ali and Bedni Bugyal are two of India’s most scenic high-altitude meadows. The trek is one of the largest green pastures, the most spectacular mountain scenery, and a gentle trail that is beginner-friendly. The trek through lush rhododendron groves and scenic campsites makes it an outdoorsman’s dream trek. In spring, the meadows are a riot of colours, while winter turns them into a fairy-tale white carpet. It’s among the best beginner treks for a serene and scenic Himalayan experience.
Highest Altitude gained: 12,557 ft.
Best Time to Visit: April to June, September to November
Duration: 5 Nights, 6 Days
Base Camp: Lohajung
Sandakphu Phalut Trek
Sandakphu Trek is a special trek in the sense that it provides glimpses of four of the world’s highest mountains: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu. Trekking on the Indo-Nepal border, you’ll get to see a combination of cultures, sunrises that will take your breath away, and a ridge walk that makes this trek stand out from any other trek in India. The gradual climb and well-trodden paths make it an excellent beginner’s trek for those who desire to witness the majesty of the Himalayas with not too demanding a climb.
Highest Altitude gained: 12,950 ft.
Best Time to Visit: January to April, September to December
Duration: 6 Nights, 7 Days
Base Camp: Sepi
Valley of Flowers Trek
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Valley of Flowers trek is a most captivating starter trek in India. The route goes through a colourful valley that’s laden with exotic and rare flowers, thus turning out to be nature enthusiasts’ dream trek. The extensive diversity of flora set against the stunning background of snow-covered peaks results in a surreal experience of sorts. It is a well-trodden path, so it is an easy but satisfying endeavour, and monsoon is the peak time to visit if the valley is in bloom. It’s an experience that is like a splashing fairy tale.
Highest Altitude gained: 14,100 ft.
Best Time to Visit: June to September
Duration: 5 Nights, 6 Days
Base Camp: Pipalkoti
Share this article
Want To Trek Like Pro?
Check out the following videos if you want to trek like a pro trekker and improve your skills. These videos contain helpful tips, tricks, and techniques to help you trek like a pro. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trekker, these videos can provide valuable insights to enhance your trekking experience. So, watch the videos below by Trekup India experts to take your trekking skills to the next level.
Know Everything About Acute Mountain Sickness
Acute Mountain Sickness is a medical condition that can occur when individuals travel to high altitudes, typically above 8,000 feet. It is caused by the decrease in air pressure and oxygen levels in the air as altitude increases. Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness may include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping. To avoid Acute Mountain Sickness, it is important to gradually adjust to high altitudes and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen. To learn more about this condition, check out the videos by Trekup India.
