12 Best Winter Treks in India for Beginners 2024

Are you planning to experience the thrill of trekking on snow? Or do you want to enjoy the thrill of climbing summit during a snowfall? 

If that’s the case, you must be looking for the best winter treks in the Himalayas. Right? 

However, choosing a winter trek can be a challenging task, especially when you are a beginner or planning for the first time. 

But don’t worry! 

In this blog, I have penned down the twelve best winter treks in India for beginners with complete details. Knowing such in-depth details about the snow treks will help you choose the trek that best suits your needs. 

So, without wasting time, let’s jump to the best winter treks in India for beginners. 

1. Nag Tibba Trek / Nag Tibba Weekend Trek  

Duration: 2 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,000 ft  Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Nag Tibba Trek 

• Easy grade trek and perfect for weekend. 
• Camping inside the dense oak forest or on a meadow with a 360° view. 
• 100° view of Himalayan peaks: Gangotri, Kala Nag, Swargrohini, Bandarpoonch, 

Best Time For Snow

• From the last week of December to February. 

If you are looking for a trek that is easy, has a short duration, and can offer you a snow experience, Nag Tibba trek is an ideal option for you. 

This trek is located in the picturesque hills of the Garhwal region, just an hour ahead of the Mussoorie. It is a two-day trek, perfect for weekends, especially for trekkers living in Delhi and the NCR region.

Although it is a weekend trek, it also offers you thrill of climbing a submit like any other high altitude trek with stunning views of snow capped himalayan peak including Swargrohini, Bandarpoonch, Kala Nag, Srikanth, and Gangotri. 

During winter months, especially the last week of December and the whole of January, the region receives heavy snowfall, making it a perfect time for you to venture on this adventure. 

The biggest advantage of this trek is that it is an easy level trek and can be done by anyone, including children. 

2. Deoban Trek / Deoban Weekend Trek 

Duration: 2 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,000 ft  Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Deoban Trek 

• Easy grade trek and perfect for the weekend. 
• Dominated by deodar forest.
• View of 55 Himalayan Peaks from the summit.  
• Receives heavy snow during winter months.  

Best Time For Snow

• Early December and February month. 

Another short winter trek you can do on your weekend is the Deoban Trek. This trek is a perfect alternative to the Nag Tibba Trek and offers far better views of the mighty himalayas. Not only this, but the whole trek is dominated by the Deodar Forest, which has tall trees. You find such forest only on a multiple-day trek at a high altitude. 

Furthermore, the Deoban Trek is just 3 hours away from Dehradun, taking you through the picturesque Chakrata, a small hill station. The trek starts from a beautiful village, Lokhandi, which is 20 km ahead of Chakrata and also the base for Moila Top Trek. 

This trek is accessible throughout the years except during peak monsoon and snow months. 

If you want to do the Deoban Trek for a snow experience, early December and February are the best months. During these days, the snow on the trek is moderate, so you can enjoy trekking in the snow. 

3. Dayara Bugyal Trek / Dayara Bugyal Winter Trek 

Duration: 6 Days  Highest Altitude: 11,830 ft  Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Dayara Bugyal Trek 

• Massive views of mighty Himalayan peaks throughout the trek.
• Vast and unending meadows covered in snow. 
• Picturesque campsites of Gui and Chilapada. 
• Receives heavy snow during winter months.  

Best Time For Snow

• Second week of December to early March. 

Dayara Bugyal Trek is for someone who is looking for a multiple-day snow experience with massive views of the himalayas and chilling temperatures. 

Are you also among them? Great!

This trek is located in the scenic mountain valley of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand and is highly soughtafter winter trek in India. During winter months i.e. December to March,  the whole trek receives good amount of snow, making it perfect for trekkers like you. 

You get to experience snow from day one when you reach Raithal. After this you walk on snow, camp on snow, play on snow and cross vast and unending Dayara meadows full of snow. It is a completely different experience. 

If you are lucky, you might also experience a snow fall on any day. Chances of snow fall on this trek are very high. 

Besides the snow experience on the Dayara Bugyal trek, you also get to see amazing and massive views of Himalayan peaks. I assure you that you will be mesmerized by these glittering peaks, especially in the morning and afternoon. 

Nonetheless, if you want to time you trek right to experience snow with less crowd, I suggest to plan trek in the months of January. 

4. Brahmatal Trek/ Brahmatal Winter Trek 

Duration: 6 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,250 ft   Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Btahmatal Trek 

• Massive views of Mt.Trishul and Mt. Ghunti
• Experience walking on frozen lakes.
• Picturesque Campsites on snow. 
• Accessible during peak snow months: January and February.  

Best Time For Snow

• The second week of December to February

Next on this list of the best winter treks in India for beginners is the Brahmatal Trek. This trek is a bit different from most other treks in Uttarakhand as it opens only in the winter, when the region receives snow. Additionally, it is the only trek that is open in peak winter months, January and February, when most other treks are closed. 

As already discussed, it opens in snow months, so the amount of snow you  find on the trek is massive. You get to witness the snow from the Lohajung (basecamp for this trek) and continue enjoying it till the end of your trek.  

Along with thrilling snow experience, the Brahmatal trek is also known for its massive views of himalayan peaks such as Mt. Trishul and Mt. Nanda Ghunti. In fact, the views are so massive, that it beats all trek with snow clad peaks. 

Another great thing about the Brahmatal trek is that you get to experience two frozen lakes on this trek, which are Brahmatal Lake and Bekaltal Lake. 

That said, such experience of trekking and camping on snow while being in the wilderness, is something that you rarely get in your lifetime. 

5. Keadrkantha Trek / Kedarkantha Winter Trek

Duration: 6 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,500 ft  Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Kedarkantha Trek 

• Thrilling summit climb.
• Camping beside the frozen lake- Juda ka Talab.
• Beautiful Campsites on snow. 
• 360-degree view from the summit.

Best Time For Snow

• December to February 

The Kedarkantha trek is India’s most famous winter trek, and there are multiple reasons for this. 

First, it receives heavy snowfall during the winter months, from December to February. The whole landscape is covered in snow during these months, making it perfect for experiencing snow. 

Second, Kedarkantha offers you an adventurous climb to the summit. In fact, you experience being on a mountaineering expedition as you start the summit climb early in the morning, around 2-3 am, on snow and climb steep slopes. Such an experience is only possible on the Kedarkantha trek. 

Third is the view from the summit. Once you reach the summit, you are welcomed with a massive 360-degree view of numerous snow-clad peaks. The summit usually happens in the early hours and also offers the thrill of witnessing a beautiful sunrise. 

The fourth reason is that it is suitable for everyone. This trek can be done by both beginners and experienced trekkers. In addition to these reasons, you also get to camp beside frozen Juda Ka Talab.  

6. Chopta Chandrashila Trek/ Deoria Chandrashila Winter Trek 

Duration: 4 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,083 ft  Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Chopta Chandrashila Trek 

• Charming Deoria Tal Lake
• Tungnath Temple 
• View from Chandrashila 

Best Time For Snow

•  From 15 December to mid-March ( Closed during peak snowfall in the first two weeks of January)

Chopta Chandrashila Trek is considered a perfect weekend trek due to its short duration, which ranges from 3 to 5 days, and easy accessibility. It is the culmination of two small treks: Deoria Tal Trek and Chandrashila Trek. This is why this trek has different itineraries depending upon the organisation and season. 

The shortest itinerary is run during the winters when the whole landscape is draped in white snow. 

This region usually receives good snow from the second half of December until March. But remember, in January, sometimes the level of snow is so high that roads and trails are completely inaccessible. Therefore, I suggest avoiding booking a trek in January. 

7. Kauri Pass Winter Trek/ Winter Kuari Pass Trek

Duration: 6 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,516 ft  Location: Uttarakhand 

Highlights Of Kauri Pass Trek 

• Unique View Of Mt. Nanda Devi
• Beautiful Forest and Meadows
• Opportunity To Explore Auli

Best Time For Snow

• December to March 

Compared to other winter treks, the Kauri Pass trek receives heavy snowfall, which starts in December and lasts until March. During these months, snow is found right from the base camp and to the summit point. It is a pleasure to be in a landscape draped in white snow. If you are lucky, which is a high possibility on this trek, you can witness soft, powdery snowflakes falling from the sky. 

Besides the experience of white Winterland, you get a unique and massive view of Mt. Nanda Devi, Mt.Dronagiri, and Kamet Peaks, as well as an opportunity to explore Auli. 

Considering everything, the Kauri Pass trek is the perfect option if you want a high probability of snow experience and want to explore Auli. 

8. Sandakphu Trek/ Sandakphu Phalut

Duration: 7 Days  Highest Altitude: 11,930 ft  Total  Location: West Bengal 

Highlights Of Sandakphu Trek 

• Amazing Sunrise and Sunset
• Singalia National Park
• Sleeping Buddha
• Tea Houses
• View Of Tallest Peak in the World

Best Time For Snow

• January to February

Among all the winter treks, Sandakphu is a bit different trek.

It offers you the opportunity to explore the fusion of Nepalese and Buddhist culture with one of the best sunrises and sunsets. Furthermore, you get to witness the Sleeping Budhha and the four tallest peaks in the world: Mt. Everest, Mt.Lohtse, Mt.Makalu, and Mt.Kanchenjunga. The sleeping buddha is a group of peakes resembling like a sleeping human. 

The trek also offers the experience of living in tea houses and walking under the canopy of bamboo trees in Singalia National Park. 

Considering snow, the trek receives mild snow in January and February. Although the snow is mild, it ensures that the trek is open throughout the snow months. This is a big plus as most of the trek gets closed for some time due to heavy snow. 

To sum up, this trek is the perfect option if you want to explore Buddhist and Nepali culture and ensure that the trek doesn’t get close due to snow. 

9. Chadar Frozen River Trek / Chadar Trek 

Duration: 8 Days  Highest Altitude: 11,100 ft  Location: Ladakh

Highlights Of Chadar Trek 

• Walk On the Frozen Zanskar River
• Frozen Nerak Watrefall
• Naturally Formed Caves
• Sledges 
• Freezing Temperature Ranging From -10 °C to -30°C 

Best Time For Snow

• January

Chadar Trek is the most unique and among the best winter treks in India for beginners. 

Everything on this trek, including scenery, temperature, atmosphere, river, culture, and campsite, is unique in some way. 

However, the most eye-catching factor of this trek is the frozen Zanskar River. Throughout the trek, you walk on this frozen river, which is a thrilling and one-of-a-kind experience you get only on this trek. 

Alongside the frozen river, towards the end of the trek, you also get to witness the marvellous frozen Nerak Waterfall and naturally formed caves. These caves are your shelter sometimes when it becomes difficult to put camps beside the river. Spending time in these caves takes you back to ancient times. 

All the thrilling things you do on the Chadar trek are done in extreme temperatures ranging from -10 °C to -30°C.  Bearing such freezing temperature is an experience that you get only on this trek.

But here is a twist. Although the conditions and temperature are extreme, doing this trek is not hard if you plan wisely, prepare well, wear multiple layers of clothing, and choose a reliable and safe trekking partner.

If you are considering trekking companies, check out this blog on the best trekking companies. 

10. Chirbatiya Trek / Patnganiya Top Trek 

Duration: 2 or 3 Days  Highest Altitude: 8,402 ft  Location: Uttarakhand

Highlights Of Chirbatiya Trek 

• 270 Degree View Of Himalayas 
• Pantangniya Meadows
• Sunset and Sunrise 
• Birds 
• Pine and Rhododendron Forest 

Best Time For Snow

• Late December and January

If you are looking for a short and easy trek near Delhi, the Chirbatiya trek is a perfect option. 

This trek is known for its easy accessibility, amazing forest walks, views of the himalayas, meadows, and soul-soothing sunset and sunrise. The best part of this trek is that you won’t find a crowd on trial, hence perfect for someone who avoids crowds and likes solitude. 

During the last week of December and throughout January, Chirbatiya receives a good amount of snow, making it a perfect snow trek for the weekend. The snow is usually 2 to 3 feet high on this trek. 

In the video below, you can experience the magic of snow on the Chribatiya trek. 

11. Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek 

Duration: 6 Days  Highest Altitude: 12,550 ft  Location: Uttarakhand

Higlights Of Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek 

• Meadows – Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal
• Massive view of Mt. Trishul
• Walk through Pine Forest 
• Sunset and Sunrise

Best Time For Snow

• December to February

Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek is a shorter version of the legendary Roopkund Trek and is located exactly opposite Brahamatal Trek. 

This trek is considered as the most beautiful snow trek due to the vast snow cover and unparalleled views of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks. Furthermore, forest walks under the trees laden with snowflakes are an experience you will cherish the most. 

Another highlight of this trek is the vast and undulating meadows: Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal. When you reach these meadows, you are surprised by their vastness and view of Mt. Trishul and Nanda Ghunti. You get a massive and clear view of these peaks. It seems they are just a meter away from you. Watching these snow-clad peaks is a completely different experience. 

Tip: This trek was opened in 2022 by various trekking organisations like India Hikes and Trek The Himalayas. However, if you check their website, you will not find a booking for the winter season. There can be many reasons for this, but the major one is the lack of demand among trekkers. This might be due to Brahmatal Trek’s popularity in the same region.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for a different trek and want to avoid crowds, go ahead with this trek. You can connect with locals and many other small trekking companies for this trek. Or, if you have a large group, the best trekking companies might customize this trek for you.  

12. Moila Top Trek 

Duration: 2 Days  Highest Altitude: 9051.8 ft  Location: Uttarakhand

Highlights Of Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek 

• Meadows 
• Budher Caves
• Deodar Forest 
• Chakrata

Best Time For Snow

• December and February

Moila Top Trek is not well known in the trekking community, as the leading trekking companies have yet to discover it. But I am mentioning this trek because I did it last winter and found it perfect for a weekend escape.  

The trek is not very long—just 3 km—and starts from the Lokhandi. The whole trek is inside a dense deodar forest from Lokhandi to Moila top, a large meadow. 

The first 1.5 km is a straight walk on the road until a forest hut. From the forest hut, it is a short climb to the meadows.

Upon reaching Moila Top, you come across a temple and Budher Caves at the other end of the meadow.

It is completely covered in snow during winter, making it a perfect weekend snow trek. However, avoid doing this trek in late December and January, as the snow on the trek is very high, and the routes are usually blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

Conclusion

These were some of the best winter treks in India for a beginner like you. 

Every trek has its own beauty and views. Therefore, first thoroughly analyze your needs and then check which trek best suits you. 

Once you finalize the trek, focus on your fitness and pack the right gear. For tips on these things, check out these blogs.

Best Trekking Tips For Beginners

Trekking Essentials For Beginners

Lastly, if you need any other information about the treks mentioned above, do comment below.