Trekking in India: Best Trails, Difficulty Levels, and Where to Start

When you think of trekking in India, a diverse range of mountain journeys from gentle hill walks to extreme high-altitude pilgrimages. Also known as mountain hiking in India, it’s not just about climbing—it’s about walking through ancient forests, crossing glacial rivers, and sleeping under stars in places few tourists ever see. Whether you’re looking for a half-day walk with tea house views or a 14-day pilgrimage that tests your limits, India has trails for every kind of walker.

Not all treks are created equal. The Kuari Pass, a beginner-friendly trail in Uttarakhand with panoramic Himalayan views and no technical climbing required is perfect if you’ve never carried a backpack higher than 5,000 feet. Meanwhile, the Kailash Mansarovar trek, a grueling, high-altitude pilgrimage in Tibet near the Indian border that demands months of preparation is one of the hardest hikes on Earth—thin air, freezing nights, and no roads make it a test of endurance, not just fitness. These two trails represent the full spectrum of what trekking in India can be.

What makes trekking here different from other countries? It’s not just the mountains—it’s the culture along the way. You’ll pass through villages where locals still carry firewood on their backs, stop at temples perched on ridgelines, and drink chai with porters who’ve walked these paths for decades. The trails aren’t just routes—they’re living corridors of tradition. And while you’ll find gear shops in Manali and Leh, the real preparation is mental: learning to move slow, respect the land, and accept that weather doesn’t care about your itinerary.

You don’t need to be an athlete to start trekking in India. Many of the best trails—like the ones around McLeod Ganj or the Valley of Flowers—are accessible if you can walk 5 miles on flat ground without stopping. What you do need is good shoes, a rain jacket, and the willingness to adjust your plans when the clouds roll in. The hardest part isn’t the altitude—it’s deciding where to begin.

Below, you’ll find real guides from people who’ve walked these paths: which mountains are safest for first-timers, why some treks are closed in monsoon season, how to avoid altitude sickness, and which trails deliver the most bang for your buck. No fluff. No hype. Just what works.