Updated on November 2026

Most people choose winter treks in Uttarakhand from snow photos, then find on day two that the trek is harder and colder than the photos suggested. Kedarkantha, Dayara Bugyal, Brahmatal and Nag Tibba all see snow between December and March, but they differ a lot in difficulty and in how reliable the snow is. A few treks on popular lists do not belong there in winter at all. This guide sorts them by difficulty and month, and gives indicative costs so you can book the right one first time.

Quick answer: For a first snow trek, choose Nag Tibba (2 days) or Dayara Bugyal (4 to 5 days). Kedarkantha (5 to 6 days) is the most popular pick for fit beginners. Snow is usually deepest in January and February, lighter in December, and melting by March. Pindari Glacier is not a winter trek: operators run it from April to June and September to November. The cost table below gives indicative group prices for each trek.

Winter treks in Uttarakhand at a glance

Ordered from easiest to hardest. Published altitudes and durations differ by source and by operator, so they are rounded or given as ranges here. Each trek's package page has the final numbers.

Trek	Days	Level	Max altitude (approx.)	Base village
Nag Tibba	2	Easy	3,020 m (9,915 ft)	Pantwari
Dayara Bugyal	4 to 6	Easy	3,640 to 3,800 m	Raithal
Chopta, Tungnath, Chandrashila	3 to 4	Easy to moderate	4,000 m (13,123 ft)	Chopta or Sari
Kedarkantha	5 to 6	Easy to moderate	3,800 m (12,500 ft)	Sankri
Brahmatal	4 to 6	Easy to moderate	3,734 m (12,250 ft)	Lohajung
Kuari Pass	4 to 6	Moderate	3,650 to 3,890 m	Pipalkoti
Har Ki Dun	7	Moderate	About 3,550 m	Sankri
Ali Bedni Bugyal	6	Moderate	About 3,800 m (Bedni Top)	Lohajung

Best time for winter treks in Uttarakhand

Winter on these trails runs from December to early March, and each month suits a different kind of trekker.

Month	Snow and weather	Works best for
December	Cold and stable. Light snow at lower camps, deeper snow higher up.	Kedarkantha, Dayara Bugyal, Nag Tibba, Christmas and New Year breaks
January	Usually the deepest snow and the coldest nights. Lakes such as Brahmatal can freeze.	Brahmatal, Kuari Pass, Har Ki Dun, Dayara Bugyal
February	Snow holds at height. Lower trails start to clear and days feel warmer.	Chopta, Chandrashila, Kedarkantha, Kuari Pass
March	Melting snow at lower camps and slush on some trails. Several operators still ran Kuari Pass, Chopta, Kedarkantha and Brahmatal batches in early March 2026.	Kedarkantha, Kuari Pass, Chopta (confirm batch dates)

Camps can fall well below freezing, and operator pages list lows near minus 10 degrees Celsius for Kedarkantha. Clear days are common, but snowfall, cloud and fog can change the plan.

January and February are the popular months for snow, but snowfall changes every year with elevation and recent weather. Ask your operator for the latest trail report before you travel. If you handle cold badly, late December or February is easier.

Easy winter treks in Uttarakhand for beginners

These treks need no technical mountaineering skill in normal guided conditions, but snow and ice make winter trails harder than the grade suggests. Follow your guide's instructions on the route.

Nag Tibba trek (2 days)

Nag Tibba is the shortest winter trek here and the one that fits a weekend. It is in Tehri Garhwal. The trail starts at Pantwari village and climbs through oak and rhododendron forest to about 3,000 metres, with an option to camp at Kathian. On a clear day you see Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Black Peak.

At that height it usually holds less snow than the higher treks, so January is the safer month. Two days is short, and you may get less snow time than the photos suggest.

Dayara Bugyal trek (4 to 5 days)

From Raithal village in Uttarkashi, the trail goes via Gui and Chilapada to a high meadow, about 9 to 11 km one way depending on the source. Published heights differ. The figure usually cited for the meadow is about 3,640 metres, and Dayara Top and Bakaria Top are given at 3,750 to 3,800 metres.

Operators grade it easy and call it workable for families. In snow, the walk from Dayara Top to Bakaria can take two to three hours, against about half an hour in other seasons.

Chopta, Tungnath and Chandrashila (3 to 4 days)

In Rudraprayag district the trail climbs from Chopta (about 2,600 to 2,700 metres) to Tungnath at 3,680 metres, then 1.5 km further to Chandrashila at 4,000 metres, or 13,123 feet. Chopta to Tungnath is about 3 to 3.5 km. A Deoriatal variant adds the lake, starts from Sari village and joins the same summit.

Tungnath temple usually closes for winter around early November, and the deity moves to Makkumath, so you will walk to a shut shrine. Check the closing date for your year. On clear days the summit view takes in Chaukhamba, Trishul and Nanda Devi.

Moderate winter treks

These treks ask for more fitness and more days, and the camps are colder.

Kedarkantha (5 to 6 days)

Kedarkantha starts at Sankri in Uttarkashi and tops out near 3,800 metres (12,500 feet) on a walk of about 20 km, inside the Govind Pashu Vihar protected area. The camp at Juda Ka Talab, a lake, is the usual stop before the summit push. Batches run from December to March, and it is among the most popular winter treks in the state, so peak weeks can get crowded.

Operators grade it easy to moderate. Summit day starts early, often in the dark, and operator itineraries put it at 7 to 8 hours from base camp and back.

Brahmatal (6 days)

Brahmatal in Chamoli starts at Lohajung and passes Bekaltal and the Brahmatal lake, with Trishul and Nanda Ghunti in view. The lakes can freeze in the coldest weeks, so January or early February gives the best chance of frozen water, though it varies by year. The high point is about 3,734 metres (12,250 feet). Operators grade it easy to moderate or moderate, and itinerary length differs by operator, so check how many days include the drive.

Kuari Pass (6 days)

Kuari Pass in Chamoli gives a long view of Nanda Devi, Dronagiri and Kamet. Winter batches from some operators run via Pipalkoti and the Tali forest camp and can finish at Auli, but start points differ by operator. After heavy snowfall, guides may shorten or reroute the walk.

Listings often call this route the Curzon Trail. Graded moderate. See the Kuari Pass trek page for dates.

Har Ki Dun (7 days)

Har Ki Dun is the longest trek here. It starts at Sankri in Uttarkashi, follows a river valley inside Govind Pashu Vihar and keeps Swargarohini in view. Graded moderate, it suits people who can take a full week and like long valley walks in snow.

Ali Bedni Bugyal (6 days)

Ali and Bedni are two large meadows in Chamoli, on the way toward Roopkund. The trek starts from Lohajung, with a short drive to Wan. In winter many shepherds move to lower ground, so fewer high huts are open. Many operators also list this trek in spring, so confirm that your date is a real winter batch before you pay.

Pindari Glacier and other treks that are not winter treks

Pindari Glacier appears on many lists of winter treks in Uttarakhand, but most operators run it from April to June and again from September to October or November. Winter snow and road closures make the route risky. Plan Pindari for those windows and confirm dates with your operator. The Pindari Kafni Glacier trek page has the season details.

Roopkund and Bali Pass also show up on some winter lists. Both are high-altitude routes that most operators run outside winter, so treat a winter listing for either with caution.

How to choose the right trek

Start with the days you have, then your fitness, then what you want to see.

• Two days: Nag Tibba.
• Three to four days: Chopta Chandrashila or Dayara Bugyal.
• Five to six days: Kedarkantha, Brahmatal or Kuari Pass.
• A full week: Har Ki Dun.
• Frozen lake: Brahmatal in January.
• Summit sunrise: Kedarkantha or Chandrashila.
• Wide meadow in snow: Dayara Bugyal.
• Big peak views: Kuari Pass.
• Something different: Himalayan Holidays also runs an Auli winter trek package.

Kedarkantha or Dayara Bugyal for a first snow trek

	Kedarkantha	Dayara Bugyal
Days	5 to 6	4 to 6
Grade	Easy to moderate	Easy
Base village	Sankri	Raithal
Distance	About 20 km round trip	About 9 to 11 km one way
Hardest day	Summit day, 7 to 8 hours from base camp and back	Gui to Dayara Top and back, listed at 7 to 8 hours by one operator
Forest rules	Forest entry permit (Govind Pashu Vihar)	Registration and entry fee at the checkpost

Take Dayara Bugyal if the easier grade matters most. Take Kedarkantha if you can handle an early summit start and want a peak at the end of the walk.

What winter treks cost

Prices differ widely between operators, mostly because inclusions differ. Compare what each batch includes before you compare the number.

Group batches commonly cover meals, camping or stay, a trek leader and road transport from the base city. They commonly leave out travel to that city, personal gear, insurance and personal expenses. Check the package page, and ask about rental charges for boots, microspikes and jackets and the cost of an extra night if snow delays the drive.

Documents, permits and rules

• Carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN or Voter ID. Forest permits are issued against it.
• Forest entry rules differ by route. Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun sit inside Govind Pashu Vihar and need forest entry permits. Dayara Bugyal needs registration and an entry fee at the checkpost. Ask your operator who arranges them and what the fee is.
• Some batches ask for a medical or fitness declaration. Fill it honestly.
• Press reports in 2026 described a proposed Uttarakhand trekking framework with mandatory registration for operators and guides. Check the current status before you book, and ask your operator whether it is registered.

How to book a winter trek

1. Pick a month and a difficulty from the tables above.
2. Shortlist two treks and read their inclusions and exclusions.
3. Send an enquiry with your dates and group size.
4. Get permits, documents and cancellation terms confirmed in writing.
5. Book travel to the base city with a spare day at the end.

Winter safety and gear

Winter trekking has real drawbacks: short days, deep cold, fewer open huts and route changes after snowfall.

• Cold injury: frostbite and hypothermia are the main risks. Layer up and keep hands and feet dry.
• Altitude sickness: headache, nausea and drowsiness are early signs. Climb slowly, drink water and tell your guide at once. If symptoms get worse, descend.
• Daylight and fog: leaders start early and fix camp before dark, and morning fog can cut visibility on open meadows.
• Route changes: a guide may shorten or change the route after fresh snow. Accept that call.

Pack in layers (thermal base, fleece, insulated jacket, waterproof shell) and bring grip boots with microspikes, two pairs of gloves, a headlamp and a sub-zero sleeping bag, which you can rent if the operator does not provide one. The winter trek planning guide has the full packing and fitness checklist.

Common worries, answered

• I have never trekked. Start with Nag Tibba or Dayara Bugyal and train for at least four weeks.
• I feel the cold badly. Layer properly and pick late December or February over January.
• I worry about safety. Choose a registered operator with a fallback plan and ask about the leader's training.
• I have few days. Nag Tibba takes two days and Chopta Chandrashila takes three to four.
• I want guaranteed snow. Nobody can promise it. January and February are the likeliest months.

Common mistakes

One mistake many people make is choosing from photos and reading the difficulty grade afterwards. Others to avoid:

• Booking Pindari Glacier or another high route as one of the winter treks in Uttarakhand.
• Wearing cotton layers, which stay wet and cold.
• Arriving in new boots that have never been walked in.
• Planning a flight or train on the evening the trek ends. Snow can delay the drive.

Pro tips

• Keep your phone and power bank inside your jacket at night so they stay warm.
• Ask for a recent trail report with snow depth from the last week before you book.

Why plan these treks with Himalayan Holidays

Himalayan Holidays lists winter treks in Uttarakhand on its website with an itinerary and inclusions for each trek. If you are planning this seriously, ask every operator, including us, the same questions:

• Who leads the batch, and what training do they have?
• How are permits handled?
• What happens to your money if snow cancels or changes the trek?
• How large is the group?
• What is the fallback itinerary?
• What is the emergency evacuation plan, and how do you stay in contact on the trail?
• What is the guide to trekker ratio?

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best winter treks in Uttarakhand for beginners?

Nag Tibba, Dayara Bugyal and Chopta Tungnath Chandrashila are the easiest. Kedarkantha suits beginners who can walk five to six hours a day and handle an early summit start.

Which month is best for snow treks in Uttarakhand?

January and February usually bring the deepest snow, though snowfall varies each year. December has lighter snow at lower camps, and March brings melting and slush.

Can I do Kedarkantha in January?

Yes. Operators run Kedarkantha batches from December to March. Heavy snowfall can change the itinerary, so keep a spare day.

Is Pindari Glacier a winter trek?

No. Most operators run Pindari from April to June and from September to November. Winter snow and road closures make the route risky. Confirm dates with your operator.

Is Tungnath temple open in winter?

No. The temple usually closes around early November and the deity moves to Makkumath. The trek itself is still done in snow. Check current dates before you go.

How cold does it get on winter treks in Uttarakhand?

Camps can fall below freezing. Operator pages list lows near minus 10 degrees Celsius for Kedarkantha.

Do I need trekking experience?

Not for the easy treks, but you need basic fitness. Start training about a month ahead, and expect long days on summit and pass days.

Do I need a permit?

Usually yes. Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun need forest entry permits, and Dayara Bugyal needs registration and an entry fee. Ask your operator which permits apply and who arranges them. Carry a government photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN or Voter ID.

How much do winter treks cost?

Group prices vary widely by route, days and inclusions. The cost table above gives indicative ranges, and each package page has current rates.

What should I pack for a winter trek?

Thermal layers, an insulated jacket, a waterproof shell, grip boots with microspikes, gloves, a headlamp and a sub-zero sleeping bag. The planning guide has the full list.

Can children or older people do these treks?

Operators describe Dayara Bugyal as workable for families, but age and fitness rules differ by operator. Ask before booking, and see a doctor about any health condition.

What happens if snow cancels or changes my trek?

Guides can shorten or reroute a trek for safety. Ask the operator for its cancellation, reschedule and refund terms in writing before you pay.

Can I trek alone in winter?

A snow-covered trail is hard to follow, shelters are limited and help is far away. A guided batch is the safer way to do winter treks in Uttarakhand.

Where do winter treks start from?

Many group batches start from Dehradun for Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Dayara Bugyal and Nag Tibba, and from Rishikesh for Chopta and Kuari Pass. Start points vary by operator, so confirm yours.

How do I book a winter trek with Himalayan Holidays?

Open the package page of your chosen trek, send an enquiry with your dates and group size, and the team will confirm batch availability, price and permits.

Before you send an enquiry

Before you enquire about any of these winter treks in Uttarakhand, have four things ready: your dates, your group size, the longest walk you have done recently, and your budget. Open the package page of your trek and send them with your enquiry, and we will confirm the current batch, price and permit status.