Some famous Treks in Uttarakhand:

The foothills of the Himalayas are just perfect for trekking and camping aficionados in the country. The rugged beauty of these lofty mountains allure the tourists from all over the globe. Garhwal  provides all types of exciting trek routes to the visitors from easy to strenuous. The Garhwal hills offer the wonderful opportunities for the adventure-bugs and is full of enticing destinations for trekking. The top 25 treks in Garhwal region are:

Nagtibba Trek:
Duration: 6 Days
Altitude: 3048 m/9998 ft
Grade: Easy
Season: Round the year except July & August
Located in the lesser Himalayan region, Nagtibba or more popular as the ‘Mountain of the Serpent’ is a paradise for the adventurists. This range is named as Nagtibba as it is regarded as an abode of the Nag Devta, and local people of the region worship the respective deity. In addition to spiritual value, the trek is famous for providing the fabulous sights during the sunrise and sunset. The trekkers are also greeted by the vistas of the Bandarpoonch peak, Gangotri group of peaks, Kedarnath peaks and peaks of Changbang. Thus, owing to the exquisiteness of this trek, trekking in Uttarakhand becomes worthwhile.

Valley of Flower Trek:
Duration: 7 Days.
Altitude: 3858 m/12654 ft
Grade: Easy
Season: End June – September
For all those who are a true lover of the Mother Nature, a visit to the Valley of Flower is a must. It is a stunning valley that boasts the beauty of nature at its best. Embellished with beautiful wildflowers, this valley is also an abode to various fauna species such as the Musk Deer, Bharal, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear and so on. In addition to this, a soothing site for the sore eyes is provided by various colorful birds and butterflies. This trek is certainly a paradise for nature lovers and photographers

Auden  Trek:
Duration: 18 Days
Grade: Challenging – Tough
Altitude: 5450 mts/17876 ft
Season: Mid May to Early October
Auden’s Col, one of the toughest treks in Garhwal that joins the Jogin I and Gangotri III summits on one side and on the other side, it joins two glaciers, one of which is the Khatling. The trek starts from Gangotri and on the way to Nala Camp, you will pass through the pine and birch forests after which there is a day trek to the Rudra Gaira Base Camp that offers an extraordinary view of the snow-clad Himalayas. Gangotri base camp is the next stop and from here begins the way up to the Auden’s Col base camp. The fascinating trek to the Khatling glacier is arduous but well-worth the view. The descent commences after Masar Tal, Vasuki Tal and then end at Kedarnath.

Bali Pass Trek:
Duration: 13 Days
Altitude: 4800 mts/15744 ft
Grade: Moderate
Season: Mid April – June & September – Mid November
The Bali Pass trek is a popular trek to Yamunotri. The trek is inside the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, an abode to the rich flora and fauna. The trek begins at Sankri. The trail continues along the Supin River and climbs gently to the village of Dhatamir and Osla. During the trail you cross the rivers Tons and Siyan Gad. The expedition continues to Har Ki Dun, which is a cradle shaped valley abundant with a variety of flowers, rare wildlife and scenic views of the surrounding peaks of the Himalayas. The route then continues to Ruinsara Tal through conifer forests and grasslands. A steady climb from Ruinsara takes you to the base of Bali Pass. After crossing the pass, the trail is downhill through the open forests and pastures to the Yamunotri Shrine. This place is good to halt and proffer an obeisance to the God. The route then continues to Janak Chatti and Hanuman Chatti.

Chopta Chandrashila Trek:
Altitude: 4090 mts/13415 ft
Duration: 06 Days
Season: Round the Year
Grade: Easy to Moderate
Chopta, situated on the Gopeshwar-Ukhimath road, is nestled at an altitude of 2900mts above from the sea level. Rich in flora and fauna, this enchanting route covers a whole illustration of the magnificent panoramas. The Chandrashila Trek can be done all through the year except the months of December and January, when the Garhwal Himalayas are covered with heavy snow. The summit of Chandrashila, a rock face above the Tungnath temple, offers a beautiful sight of Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Trishul and Chaukhamba peaks. The hike is short but arduous after Tungnath, the highest temple in the Himalayas.

Dayara Bugyal – Dodital Trek:
Duration: 10 Days.
Altitude: 4150 mts /13612 ft
Grade: Moderate
Season: Mid March – Mid November
Dayara Bugyal is one of the most awe-inspiring places in Uttarakhand. The possibility of Nordic and Alpine skiing is vast here, as during the winter season, it offers one of the best ski slopes in the country. The famous Dayara Bugyal Dodital Trek passes through the picturesque places of Barsu and Barnala Bugyal. The route above Barnala climbs the ridge where there is a sparkling lake known as Barnala Lake. After this, the trail ascends through a lush alpine forest that takes you to the meadows of Dayara. The trail then takes you to Nimdhar and ends at Dodital, an emerald lake enclosed by the dense forests of pine, oak and Deodar. The panoramic view of the Himalaya from here is breathtak

Dodital Darwa Pass Trek:
Duration: 8 Days
Altitude: 4150 mts /13612 ft
Grade: Moderate to tough
Season: Jan – June & September – December
Dodital is located at an elevation of 3024 m north of Uttarkashi. The lake is surrounded by the dense oak woods, deodar, pine and rhododendrons. The forest surrounding the lake is also full of flora and fauna. It gives an idyllic set up for rest and recreation activities like angling, boating and bird watching. It takes two days to trek from Dodital to Hanuma Chatti via Darwa Top. The serene surroundings, splashing streams, dense alpine forests and crystal-clear water make for a perfect retreat. The lake is also a home of himalayan golden trout. The panorama of this trek is beyond your expectations.

Gomukh Tapovan Trek:
Duration: 10 Days
Altitude: 4463 mts/14638 ft
Grade: Moderate to tough
Season: May – June & August – Mid October
The Gomukh – Tapovan trek is one of the most pleasing and moderate treks in Uttarakhand. You will pass through an orchard of coniferous pine trees at Chirbasa and birch at Bhojwassa. The trek takes you to the Lanka and Gomukh from Bhojwassa. The herds of Blue mountain goats known as Bharal, are a common here on the mountain ridges. You will explore the Gomukh Glacier, just four kilometers ahead from Bhojwassa. From Gomukh to Tapovan the climb is sheer, and as you climb, the sight of the adjoining peaks becomes clear.

Har Ki Dun Trek:
Duration: 8 Days
Altitude: 3566 mts/11697 ft
Grade: Easy – Moderate
Season: March – June & September – Mid November
Situated at a height of 3566mts, Har-Ki-Dun is enclosed with gleaming peaks and lush-green forest. The valley is rich with  flora and fauna and is a veritable paradise for the nature lovers and photographers. During the trek, you can spend time identifying the herbs and shrubs. Har-Ki-Dun is a sacred place and it is believed that the Pandavas went to heaven through this mountain. You can find the trees of rare Bramhakamal and Bhojpatra in the trek. Jaundar and Swargarohini glaciers are located in the southeast and the Bandar Punch mountain is perched  in the west of Har-Ki-Dun region.
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Nanda Devi Sanctuary Trek:
Duration: 10 Days
Altitude: 4250 m/13940 ft
Grade: Moderate to Challenging
Season: Mid April – October
In the year 1934, a British team with 6 shepherds, was the first group to explore the splendor concealed in the wilderness of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. Thereafter, many travelers made their way to the sanctuary, which eventually led to environmental issues and the sanctuary was closed in 1983 by the Government of India. However, now the scenario has changed and the place welcomes the tourists whole heartedly. Trekking towards this high altitude sanctuary is an uphill battle, but once reached, the vista you observe is simply worth the entire struggle. Various beautiful and enticing mountain species like Bharal, Himalayan Thar, Serow, Brown Bear and so on can be seen frisking in the sanctuary. Another fascinating fact about this trek is that treats the eyes with the sight of twelve peaks, a few to name are Changabang, Dunagiri, Trishuli and Nanda Kot.

Roopkund Trek:
Duration: 09 Days.
Altitude: 4463 m /14638 ft
Grade: Moderate to Challenging
Season: May – June & September – October
Roopkund Lake or better known as the Skeleton Lake, is one such rare place that is popular not for its magnificence, but for the mystery of the dead. There are thousands of corpses resting in and around the lake, and as per the folklores it is said that a group of travelers was caught in a hailstorm. A furious hailstorm was caused because the local deity got enraged by the visitors. Another fact that lures the adventure lovers towards this trek that its challenging terrain complements with the picturesque snow-dressed peaks and Bedni Bugyal grasslands. Furthermore, the lake is also famous for various religious reasons, and one of them is the ‘Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra’. It is a pilgrimage that takes place once in every twelve years.