Himachal Snow Trek

A Himachal snow trek is not an "adventure sport." It is a 4 to 6 day guided winter walk through pine and oak forest, over frozen streams, to a snowbound ridge somewhere above 11,000 feet. You sleep in tents on snow, eat hot dal and rice every night, and wake up to peaks you have only seen on calendars. Zero climbing gear, zero technical skills, and if you can walk up a flight of stairs without stopping, you can probably do this.

The hard part is not the altitude or the cold. It is picking the right trek for your fitness and your dates. Kedarkantha, Kuari Pass, Chopta Chandrashila and Brahmatal all look similar on Instagram. They are not the same trek. This page is for first-time Himalayan trekkers from Mumbai who want someone else to figure out the details. Here is how we plan it.

What a real Himachal snow trek looks like

Four treks make the Adventourist winter shortlist. We pick based on your dates, fitness and how much snow you want.

Kedarkantha (6 days, 12,500 feet, moderate). The classic first winter trek. Base from Sankri village, 10 hours drive from Dehradun. Day 1 Sankri to Juda-Ka-Talab (snow lake), Day 2 to Kedarkantha base (10,400 feet), Day 3 pre-dawn summit climb watching the sunrise hit the Swargarohini range, Day 4 back to Sankri. Snow from mid-December through March. Best beginner winter trek in India.

Kuari Pass (7 days, 12,750 feet, moderate). Longer, prettier, less crowded than Kedarkantha. Base from Joshimath. Day 2 to 5 is forest to meadow to high camp with Nanda Devi, Dronagiri and Kamet visible all three days. Snow from late December through early April.

Chopta Chandrashila (4 days, 13,000 feet, easy to moderate). The short option. Base from Chopta (10 hours drive from Haridwar). Only one night above 10,000 feet. Great if you have only a long weekend but still want snow and summit. Snow from January through March.

Brahmatal (6 days, 12,250 feet, moderate). The ridge walk. Base from Lohajung. Camps on a frozen lake above the tree line. Lots of exposure to the Mt Trishul and Nanda Ghunti view. Snow from late December through March.

For a first trek we recommend Kedarkantha or Chopta Chandrashila. For a second trek, Kuari Pass or Brahmatal.

What it costs for two

A typical Adventourist Himachal winter trek for two, 6 nights, from Mumbai:

Comfortable tier. ₹18,000 to ₹28,000 per person. Return flights Mumbai to Dehradun or Haridwar, Sumo transfer to trek base and back, qualified lead and assistant trekker (certified by Indian Mountaineering Foundation), all permits, high-quality rental tents and sleeping bags (zero-degree-rated), all meals on trek, basic hotel the night before and after the trek.

Premium tier. ₹28,000 to ₹35,000 per person. Private 4-person tent instead of shared, premium down sleeping bag rental, snow boots and gaiters included (saves you buying), porters to carry personal daypacks on trek days, better hotel in Dehradun or Haridwar the night before, hot water bottles in sleeping bags on sub-zero nights.

Three things swing this 15 to 25 percent:

Trek choice. Kuari Pass costs about ₹4,000 more per person than Kedarkantha because of the extra trek day and longer drive. Group size. Private batch for 4 people or more cuts per-person costs 10 to 15 percent vs joining an open batch. Flight timing. Flights from Mumbai to Dehradun double in late December and early January. Shift by one week to save.

When to go

December 20 to February 15. The reliable snow window. Deep fresh snow on all four treks, sub-zero nights, clear mountain views. Peak demand around Christmas, New Year and the first weekend of January.

February 15 to March 15. Our favourite window. Snow is still thick on the summit sections. Daytime temperatures are warmer (3 to 8 degrees Celsius vs minus 5 in January). Fewer people on the trail. Hotel and transport costs 15 to 20 percent lower than December.

March 15 to April 10. The tail end. Snow only above 10,500 feet on most treks. Kuari Pass and Brahmatal still work. Kedarkantha summit still has snow but the lower camps are grass. Good for photographers who want the snow-and-green contrast.

November and early December. Too early. No snow on most of the trek route, just cold wind.

The week most Mumbai groups pick and shouldn't: last week of December. Flights to Dehradun are 2 to 2.5 times normal price, every batch is sold out, and the trails are crowded. Shift by two weeks to mid-January and the trek gets better and cheaper.

What we handle, what you handle

What we handle: trek permit and forest department fees, IMF-certified trek leader and assistant (ratio 1:6 trekkers), all tents, sleeping bags, dining tent, cooking gear, meals from the first trek-base dinner through the last breakfast after summit, private Sumo transfer to and from the trek base, a buffer-night hotel in Dehradun or Haridwar in case your flight is delayed, insurance-ready documentation for your travel insurance, emergency evacuation protocol with a satellite phone on treks above 11,000 feet. Pinky in our ops team confirms your permits, driver and trek lead's name and phone number on WhatsApp 48 hours before you fly on +91 99304 00549.

What you handle: valid photo ID, flights to Dehradun or Haridwar (we quote them or you book your own), personal trekking shoes broken in over 50+ km before the trek (most important thing), a warm down jacket, thermal base layers, one pair of woollen gloves, a basic first aid kit, personal medication.

FAQ (3 questions)

I have never trekked. Can I do Kedarkantha? Yes, if you prep. Three months of basic cardio (30 minutes of brisk walking or stair climbing, 4 days a week) is enough. Kedarkantha gains about 2,100 feet on summit day over 4 to 5 hours of walking in snow. If you cannot do 5 km on flat ground without stopping, start there. If you can, start on inclines. On the trek itself, we go slow and the group pace is set by the slowest walker.

What about rental gear versus bringing my own? Bring: trekking shoes (waterproof, ankle-support, broken in), thermal base layers, down jacket, woollen cap, sunglasses with full UV cover. Rent through us: sleeping bag (saves you ₹6,000 to ₹9,000 on buying one you will use once), gaiters, trekking poles, waterproof pants, snow boots on premium tier. Full rental list and sizing goes out with the pre-trek pack Pinky sends.

What if I get altitude sickness? Our treks top out at 12,500 to 13,000 feet which is below the altitude-sickness danger zone for most people. We acclimatise with one night around 9,000 feet before going higher. Symptoms (mild headache, lower appetite) are normal above 11,000 feet. The trek lead carries diamox and an oxygen cylinder. If you develop serious symptoms, protocol is immediate descent, no exceptions, and we have the vehicles ready.

Tell us your dates, your group size and any must-haves. A Mumbai planner will call you back the same day.

Written by the Adventourist team in Vile Parle West, Mumbai. Minal Joshi (+91 99304 00694) runs planning; Pinky Prajapati (+91 99304 00549) runs operations. Last updated November 2026.