How To Choose Your First Himalayan Trek

Almost 50% of our calls and emails every day are from trekkers who need help choosing a trek. They're always worried about whether they are making the right choice of trek, especially in terms of difficulty and timing. 

So if you have a similar concern, you're not alone. 

Having observed trekkers for over a decade, we find that around 60% of our trekkers are usually confused about which trek to do. 

The other 40% have usually heard about a certain trek from their friends and have already made up their minds about which trek to do. 

So how do you choose a trek and time it right?

To begin with, there are two possible cases here. 

1. You have holidays in a certain month and need to choose a trek.
2. You already have a trek in mind, you need to select the best time to do it. 

Let’s talk about both of these cases: 

│Case 1: You have holidays in a certain month and you want to choose a Himalayan trek

This is the most common case with many of the trekkers. They can take leaves in a certain month and hence, they choose to trek in that particular month only. So, in this case, your first task is to zero down on a month during which you want to trek. Your second aim here is to choose a trek which is at its best in that month. 

Each trek has a certain season during which it is at its best. We are very particular that every trek that we run must give a trekker a well-rounded experience of the Himalayas. It must have variety -- forests, meadows, lovely mountain views, a gratifying climb, and a “wow” factor.

For example, the Buran Ghati Trek is at its best in May, June, Sept and October. That’s why we run it only in these months.

On the other hand, treks like Deoriatal-Chandrashila and Dayara Bugyal are great treks almost 9 months in a year. They are constantly transforming. You see snow in winter. Flowers in spring. Greenery in summer. Striking mountain views in autumn. They’re beautiful in different ways in every season.

Below I have curated a list of best treks to do each month. These are carefully shortlisted treks based on our experience of trekking in the Himalayas extensively. They are sorted by their difficulty levels. Note: We also have non-Himalayan treks. These are great if you are looking to start small. I’ve marked them out with a star on the Indiahikes Trek Chart.

Click on the name of any trek and it will lead you to the trek page with details.

Consider the Difficulty Level of Treks

While choosing a trek, it is extremely important to consider the difficulty level as well. For this, you must read the trek details. We have an extremely detailed page dedicated to each trek, and you’ll find most information you need on it. 

We write in detail about what is good about the trek, when is it at its best, and when must you go. However, for the best time to do the trek you will get your answers within the first few minutes of getting to the trek page, usually within the first fold. You do not have to go looking deep. 

│Case 2: You have already chosen a Himalayan trek, now you need to find the best time to do it

If you already have a trip in mind, then it’s a lot easier for you. Just choose the best time of the year to do the trek and go for it. 

Now I must be straight with you here. You cannot always expect your favourite trek and the best time to do it to fall into place neatly. Sometimes the best time to do the trek may not match your holiday plans. 

If you ever come to that situation, always put the best time to do the trek over any other criteria, even office leaves or annual holidays. A trek is a lifetime experience. You want to get the best out of it. You need to do the trek when it is at its best. 

Check out the table above as we curate most of our treks and the best time to do it. You can also search for your chosen trek on the website and read through the details mentioned. 

How do we define trek difficulty?

As I stated earlier, trek difficulty is an extremely important criteria to consider while choosing your first Himalayan trek.

1.) Easy or Easy-Moderate Treks: If you’re a beginner, the easy or easy-moderate treks will suit you well. If you’re a senior (above 58) or you’re trekking with children below 10, then the easy and easy-moderate treks are a good starting point. 

2.) Moderate Treks: If you’re a fit beginner, who works out regularly, you could also choose one of the moderate treks. They’re not too hard, but have a few tricky sections, and longer days.

3.) Moderate-Difficult Treks: For moderate-difficult treks, you ideally need prior high-altitude trek experience. That will help you enjoy the trek better. But you can also attempt them as your first trek if you have a strict fitness routine. The days are long on these treks, they climb to higher altitudes and there are more tricky sections.

4.) Difficult Treks: For the difficult treks, prior experience is required. 

Note that most of the treks on our website are doable by a fit person, whatever the grading. Having said that, all treks need physical preparation for at least a month, even those labelled “easy.”

Wrapping Words:

We have a motto “Everyone Must Trek” because a trek transforms lives! Read through the trek information page of the trek you are planning to do. Have any doubts? Comment down & I will answer them as soon as possible.

Trek trivia: Most people believe the tallest mountain in India is the Kanchenjunga at 8,586m (28,170 ft). But did you know that the base of Kanchenjunga is not completely in India? The tallest mountain with it’s entire base in India, is Mt Nanda Devi, at 7,816 m (25,640 ft). Mt Nanda Devi is in Uttarakhand. You get the best views of Mt Nanda Devi from our Kuari Pass trek.