The Indian Himalayas provides immense opportunities for adventure enthusiasts from all around the world, with its innumerable landscapes and challenging treks. Indeed, summer is the best time to trek and explore the Himalayas.
Here are the top 5 summer treks in India.
1. Rupin Pass Trek
The Rupin Pass trek offers an amazing trekking experience for those who are looking for a moderate/strenous trek. The pass is at an altitude of over 15,000 ft above sea level in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The trek takes eight days starting from Uttarkashi and ends at the town of Sangla which lies in the Baspa Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
The path covers several remote places of the mountain region dotted with beautiful villages filled with warm, welcoming and hospitable people. Every few miles the scenery changes opening up into beautiful valleys with stunning waterfalls, glaciers and mountains all around. One can camp by the riverside and just fall in love with the night sky above or camp at the foot of the snow-capped mountains and thick forest which is what makes this trek a memorable one.
2. Pin Parvati Pass Trek
The Pin Parvati trek starts from Manali in Himachal Pradesh. You cross the thick forests of the Parvati Valley, which is located on the other side, namely the Spitti Valley. It is situated at an altitude of 17,000 ft above sea level. It is arguably one of the most challenging treks, with many chasms to cross and experiences heavy snowfall throughout the year.
One gets to witness nature in its entirety from dense alpine forests and vast grazing lands, from rare flower species to massive glaciers and from lush green meadows to velvety-white snow filled mountains. Every now and then the scenery changes, and this makes the trek so memorable. If you are lucky, you might spot the Himalayan brown bear while trekking along the western Himalayan region. The trekking becomes more challenging from the base camp at Pin Valley, as the place experiences incessant snowfall and downpour, making the area wet and slippery.
3. Stok Kangri Trek
Standing tall at an incredible height of 20,000 feet, is the Stok Kangri peak, which offers a most challenging and exciting trekking experience. From Leh this place is 24 kms away and hosts the tallest peak in the Himalayan Stok range. This is one of the most sought-after destinations for professional trekkers. What is challenging about this trek is its considerable height.
The air density decreases at such heights, which makes breathing pattern a bit difficult. Moreover constant and sudden weather changes, are what makes it an endurance test while trekking. However, if one wishes to trek in Ladakh, then the Stok Kangri trek must be on your list. The best season for trekking is between July and September in Ladakh. Being one of the toughest treks it requires you to get well acclimatized and hence it would take more than a week as some initial pre-trek measures need to be taken up before proceeding with this trek. The trek starts from and ends at Leh.
4. Roopkund Trek
The Roopkund Trek is one filled with natural beauty, plus the journey has its fair share of legendary stories. Roopkund is a lake that falls in the Garhwal mountains of Chamoli. At an altitude of around 15,900 ft above sea level, this lake is also known as Mystery Lake and Skeletal Lake. The name so given to this lake is because in 1942, a Forest Officer found more than a hundred human skeletons in this lake. Since then, several anthropologists and archaeologists from around the world have conducted several studies to find out how the skeletons became part of the lake. Eventually, it was discovered that the skeletons belonged to a group of pilgrims who died here due to a fierce hailstorm.
Apart from the mysterious lake, the trek also offers some of the most breathtaking views of the beautiful lake and the surrounding forest, green fields, and snow-capped mountains. This 7-day trek has a difficulty rating of moderate/difficult. It starts from and ends at Lohajung. The best season for the Roopkund trek is between May and June and again from September to October. Trekking at this altitude requires some experience and good physical health to sustain the unexpected climatic changes and the impact high altitude conditions has on the human body.
5. Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
For those looking for peace and quiet with some amount of leisurely adventure will surely like trekking in Kashmir. The Kashmir Great Lakes trek offers the much-needed unwinding experience and oneness with nature. The trek starts from Srinagar and ends at Narnag.
The best season for this beautiful trek is between June and August, as one finds the place filled with colourful flowers and lush green meadows. You can also enjoy the panoramic view of the mountain peaks and clear blue colour of the lake that is so refreshing. The entire trek allows you to witness many different lakes, and the soothing sound of the waterfalls and snow peaked mountains.
So go ahead and make your trek plans for the soon approaching summer!
