This is the handbook for the best monsoon Himalayan trek in India. I particularly chose this period as this is the time of the season when life thrives. The Himalayas are home to a whole diverse ecosystem. Our prime focus would be on Himachal treks, treks in Kashmir, treks in Ladakh and treks in Uttarakhand.
here you will find all the major nature hotspots and weekend destinations along with the prerequisites to the trek tagged along.
The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek:
Elevation: 13,800ft
Trek distance: 75 km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 7 days
difficulty level: Moderate
“Kashmir Great Lakes Trek” also known as the heaven on earth, home to breathtaking Himalayan ranges like the Karakoram range, Pir Panjal range, Ladakh range and many more. KGL is a trek that helps us to dive deep inside to the northeast of Srinagar giving us a 360-degree * view of the rugged Himalayan ranges, rolling meadows and alpine ranges. This trek would be at the top of my bucket list if I were you. It validates the heavenly status of Kashmir. It’s fully packed with varied amounts of natural stimuli. Going into the heart of the Himalayas and covering a good amount of time in trekking helps us find the marvels of nature every day. You could get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the beauty of alpine lakes, not 1 one but 7 alpine lakes! Vishansar, krishansar, gadsar, Harmonukh, and Gangabal Twin Lakes, namely.
Tarsar Marsar Lakes Trek:
Elevation: 13,500ft
Trek distance: 48km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 7 days
difficulty level: moderate
Next would be Tarsar Marsar lakes trek which lies by the iconic Pulwama city in Kashmir. tarsar marsar is a masterpiece of nature, while you trek through it you will see blue lagoons, snow-capped mountains and a staggering number of waterfalls. Tarsar marsar are two different lakes adjacent to each other, no other trek would provide you the facility to camp beside royal blue snow-fed lagoons. It’s the pinnacle of nature’s artistry, snowclad mountains rugged together for miles and miles away are a stunning sight along with marvels such as crystal-clear blue lagoons. Tarsar marsar is the main attraction of the Pir Panchal ranges.
Warwan Valley Trek:
Elevation: 14,500ft
Trek distance: 95km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 9 days
difficulty level: Moderate
Famed as the “Switzerland of India” Warwan Valley is packed with mesmerizing wonders around it, wildflowers, and many tough glaciers and the best part is it has many undiscovered routes. this is a must-trek for Himalayan enthusiasts. The valley’s remoteness and isolation compound this beauty. This is a side of Kashmir that even most Kashmiris haven’t seen. This is also called the “Lost World” as it is completely isolated from the outside world. The locals there ride horses in the valley and refuse to embrace the modern culture. It’s a complete adventure-packed marvel for all the trekkers as it
Nafran Valley Trek:
Elevation: 13,789ft
Trek distance: 40km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 7 days
Difficulty level: difficult
Nafran Valley Trek, Another breathtaking masterpiece of nature, home to diverse flora and fauna is a 7-day trek deep into the Himalayas, you would get a good view of “Kalhoi Glacier” also known as the goddess of light, and thousands of streams flow down through the valley from all sides making it a feast for eyes. more vibrant flowers of different colours can be seen. Diverse local tribes like Gujjar shepherds. A special part is the beautiful Harnag Lake situated at 11480 feet, where trekkers can rest and have a meal in a peaceful place. Camping near the lake is like a dream for people who love adventures. Crossing the old Harnag Pass shows amazing views of the big Kolahoi peak and glacier, making the trek more special.
Brahma Valley Trek:
Elevation: 11,600 ft
Trek distance: 48.5km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 7 days
Difficulty level: Moderate
Brammah Valley Trek is a uniquely distinguishable trek. This is a novel trek situated at Kishtwar National Park, it blends the beauty of Kashmir with the mesmerizing panorama of the Himalayas like nowhere else. The main highlights of this trek are stunning views of all four prominent Kishtwar peaks which are above 6000mts, this is a unique aspect that sets it apart from other treks as we don’t get the same view of prominent peaks at any other treks. There is a camping site at Kidder Maidan which gives us a breathtaking view of various mighty Himalayan peaks.
Valley of Flowers Trek:
Elevation: 14,107ft
Trek distance: 49km
Location: Uttarakhand
Duration: 6 days
difficulty level: moderate
Valley of Flowers Trek, This valley is a scenic masterpiece filled with natural wonders, there are at least 600 different types of vibrant flower species. You would find expansive fields of colourful meadows with all the diverse species of butterflies feeding on the Nectar of flowers. It’s a UNESCO-recognized site for its unique biodiversity. trailing along this valley is a dream come true for many nature enthusiasts. We can even spot rare species like the blue poppy and the Himalayan bellflower.
Hampta Pass Trek:
Elevation: 14,100ft
Trek distance: 26km
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Duration: 5 days
difficulty level: moderate
Hampta Pass is one of the passes which is suitable even for trekkers with less experience. This pass has various attributes similar to many diversified treks together. It offers a brain-busting view of the Himalayan ranges. This is a trek where you transition from a lush green trekking trail to the stark beauty of the Lahaul Valley. This trek takes us through remote villages that have their cultural roots still intact unlike anywhere else. Hampta Pass offers a gushing adrenaline rush as we get to navigate through challenging mountain terrain, crossing rivers and passing through some high–altitude mountain passes. The feeling of accomplishment once you reach the summit is out of this world.
Markha Valley Trek:
Elevation: 17,100km
Trek distance: 61km
Location: Ladakh
Duration: 7 days
difficulty level: moderate
Markha Valley is known for its rich cultural heritage and remote Ladakhi villages. There are monasteries on the way. Here you would get a very good view of the legendary Zanskar mountain ranges. This valley in particular stands out due to its multiple river crossings one needs to encounter on the way to the summit. over Markha Valley with its diverse cultural heritage along with millions of streams surrounding it makes it a heaven for nature enthusiasts.
Bhrigu Lake Trek:
Elevation: 14,000ft
Trek distance: 25km
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Duration: 4 days
difficulty level: moderate
Bhrigu Lake sits at an altitude of 14000 ft. It is a nature’s engineering marvel. It’s a short and relatively easy trek suitable for beginners with slight elevations occasionally. Crowned with lush meadows and forests on 4 sides your trail takes you into natural habitats in the mountain ranges home to diverse species. Ascending this summit would give one immense satisfaction.
Beas Kund Trek:
Elevation: 12,772ft
Trek distance: 15km
Location: Manali
Duration: 4 days
difficulty level: moderate
Beas Kund located at Manali is a trek that takes you to the origin of Rivier which we trek alongside as we ascend. Ever-green grassland flourishes all over the valley below the summits of 3 tallest mountains in Manali and hidden between them is the magnificent lake out of which the river beas emerges. Beas Kund a life enricher to the people surrounding the jacked terrain have their cultural and survival heritage etched into the beginning of settlements there. The panoramic view of snow-capped pir Panchal ranges alongside the green grasslands of the lake is a memory to be made once every lifetime.
Narang Gangabal Trek:
Elevation: 12,139ft
Trek distance: 30 km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 6 days
difficulty level: easy
One of the most beautiful treks in the Jammu and Kashmir region is the Narnag Gangabal trek. Gangabal is a pristine lake located at the foothills of Mt Hasmukh in the Ganderbal district. It is a perfect destination spot as it’s a perfect blend of nature’s wonders and ancient roots. It is studded with lavish meadows on all sides along with a temple of lord shiva. It’s a short trek suitable for beginners and elderly people going for the trek.
Kolahoi glacier trek:
Elevation: 11,00ft
Trek distance: 50km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 6 days
difficulty level: moderate
The magnificent Kolahoi glacier not only is a natural beauty but is also revered by locals as the “goddess of light” for being the eternal power source of water which even fuels the epical Jhelum and Lidder rivers. The journey starts at the village of Aru taking us through the green meadows crowned with mighty mountains. we trek alongside the sparkling and chilly banks of the Lidder River. There are wide Himalayan panoramic valleys to feast your eyes upon along the way. Our trails sit at the heart of deep forests covering entire mountain ranges from multiple sides. Along with many other high-altitude lakes, meadows are decked with flowerbeds. The summit gives immense positive radiations to one’s soul as nowhere in this trek would you not be pleased.
Pin Bhaba Pass Trek:
Elevation: 16,100ft
Trek distance: 51km
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Duration: 8 days
difficulty level: moderate
Pin Bhaba Pass trek would be one of my top 3 picks If I were you as its scenery is everchanging. It’s like a duality of nature etched right before our eyes. At the pass, you would see colourful shades of flowers blooming on the stark mountains of Spiti. At the same time while we gaze upon the babha valley we find lush greenery sprouting out. This shift in landscapes is rare among the mountains. On this trek we find high grasslands resonating to the vibrance of air swirling around the valley along with many other marvels, there is a river delta at the camp, and setting your eyes on the river delta has a very slim chance no matter how many treks you go on.
Stok Angri Trek:
Elevation: 20,180ft
Trek distance: 40km
Location: Ladakh
Duration: 9 days
difficulty level: hard
The magnificent Stok Kangri lies in the Stok range of the Zaskar mountains, which are part of the trans – Himalayan Mountain range in Ladakh. Located in Hemis National Park, 12km southwest of the village of Stok is my personal favourite. It is taller than the highest mountains in all of Africa and Europe. We get to have a good view of the Karakoram range from the summit of Stok along with the Zanskar range. This peak is a dream for many trekkers and is once in a lifetime chance. When on this mountain one would feel the ambiance of a mountain expedition to the peaks.
Gurez Valley Trek:
Elevation: 13,185ft
Trek distance: 38km
Location: Ladakh
Duration: 6 days
difficulty level: Moderate
Gurez valley…. The end of India! Think about it, we can roam anywhere in India the extreme western to eastern parts, from the extreme south point of Kanyakumari to the north until this point. We cannot proceed any further as we have reached the edge of our country as a whole. That part of our country is Gurez. Gurez is 6 hours away from Srinagar but when you start moving from Srinagar to Gurez the topology completely shifts, we can see a rapid and varied change in the weather, the ambience and even trees and plants seem different. This would be one on my bucket list as it is unique.
Tulian Lake Trek:
Elevation: 12,087 ft
Trek distance: 32km
Location: Kashmir
Duration: 5 days
difficulty level: moderate
Tulian Lake is the only trek that challenges the beauty of treks such as Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar etc as it is home to vibrant and diversified flora. One would find different hybrids of flowers ranging in the visible spectrum. There is fir, pine, chir and many other magnificent trees. The magical blue Tulian lake sitting at a whopping 12,000 ft with ice skimming on its layers is unlike any other you would encounter at the KGL trek. This is almost a kilometre long in the shape of 8 with towering beautiful mountain ranges towering all around. This trek is one of the top pics among trekkers.
Miyar Valley Trek:
Elevation: 14,500
Trek distance: 63 km
Location: Himachal Pradesh
Duration: 9 days
difficulty level: hard
Hidden across the Rohtang pass, very few people would choose this trek. Thanks to the Atal tunnel came the possibility of trekking Lahaul. Monsoons are the best time to visit this masterpiece. the S-shaped Miyar Valley rests between the Zanskar and Chamba masterpieces. It is nearly 75 km long. The Miyar Glacier itself is nearly 3km long to Kang La. At the edge of the glacier, one would find seven crystal clear blue ponds, considered to be eternal by the Buddhists. Reaching this point is a lucky endeavour, consider yourself lucky if you ever go on this trek.
