Top ten Best Places for Trekking and Camping

Hampta Pass Trek, Himachal Pradesh: Starting from village Hampta in the Kullu Valley and finishing at Chatru in the Lahaul & Spiti Valley, the popular Hampta Pass Trek is of around 35 km. The duration is of around 4 to 5 days, with the highest altitude being 4400 m. If this is going to be your first high-altitude trek, it is an ideal option for you. The scenery is breathtaking and the experiences are unforgettable. You walk past snow-covered valleys, dense deodar forests, floral meadows, crystal clear water streams, Himalayan avifauna and finally end it by walking through barren lands of Lahaul-Spiti. The trek also includes of night camp stay at Chandra Tal. Difficulty: Easy. Best Time: June to mid-November.

Beas Kund Trek, Himachal Pradesh: One of the most challenging trekking places in India, Himachal Pradesh offers a wonderful short trek named as Beas Kund Trek. It is a popular long weekend trail in Manali. Walk along the banks of River Beas, as you enjoy wonderful views of the Pir Pinjal ranges, and Dhundi & Bakarthach meadows. Climb upwards to arrive at the originating point of the River, a glacial lake. It is also called Beas Kund, which as per legends was the bathing site of Sage Vyas, the author of Mahabharata. No prior trekking experiences is needed for this trek. Difficulty: Moderate. Best Time: Mid- May to Mid-October.

Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh: Markha Valley is one of the largest valleys in the Ladakh region and Markha Valley trek is one of the most sought after hiking trails in the region. With the Leh as the starting point, this strenuous hike will take you through the Chilling, Skiu, Sara, Hankar, and Nimaling. During the 10 days of trekking, you will traverse through the tiny hamlets and you will be astonished to get a glance of the preserved monasteries, ruined forts, and temple. With the maximum altitude of 5,200 m above the mean sea level, one has to cover the 65 km and get an opportunity to cross two cardinal passes namely Ganda La and Kongmaru La. You will get a glance at the infinite Karakoram and Ladakh ranges. The stunning sights of K2 Mountain, Stok Kangri, and Kang Yatse peaks are fulfilling and the motivation of this trek. On a clear day, one can get a glimpse of the distant Tibet region. Difficulty: moderate to difficult. Best Time: July to Mid-September.

Sandakphu Trek, West Bengal: Sakdakphu is the highest point in West Bengal and is known as ‘Trekker’s Wonderland’. Savor wonderful views of peaks like Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu, from an altitude of around 11,500 feet. The trek is of around 45 km, which one can cover in a span of 8 to 9 days. One of the highlights of this trek is colorful flora including ferns, orchids, and magnolias. Another attraction is the Kalapokhri or the Black Pond, considered holy by Buddhists. Walk past the popular Valley of Poison, called Bikhey Bhanjyang. It is called so as a poisonous flower- Aconite grows here. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Best Time: April to May and October to February.

Chokramudi Trek, Munnar: With a duration of 5 to 7 hours, Chokramudi trek in Munnar has tea estates, hills, high-altitude forests, and rivers along with mist-clad ambiance, offering a stunning sight. This is a wonderful trek for beginners who have shortage of time but wish to experience the best of scenery of this hill town. The starting point of the trek is near the Chokramudi Mountain. The views of the highest peak of the Western Ghats, Anamudi are matchless. Another attraction of this trek is the Idukki Dam, one of the highest arch dams in Asia. The highest point in this trek is 2100 m. Difficulty: Easy Best Time: All year.

Dzongri Trek, Sikkim: Best trekking in India can be done in Sikkim by embarking on a 5-day Dzongri trek, ranging from easy to moderate difficulty levels. The starting and ending point of this trek is Yuksom, as one covers a distance of 21 km, with maximum altitude being 15,000 feet. If you have limited time in your hands and wish to admire the best Himalayan views including Dzongri La peak, and Mt. Kanchendzonga, it has to be this trek. This walking expedition takes you through Saachen, Bakkhim, Tshokha, Kachenjunga National Park, a number of hanging bridges, and gushing waterfalls along with white and red rhododendron flowers. This high-altitude trek also needs a day for acclimatization. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Best Time: April to June and October to December.

Valley of Flowers Trek, Uttarakhand: Valley of Flowers trek in Uttarakhand takes you to the UNESCO world heritage site and also the Sikh pilgrimage site of Hemkund Sahib. The trek distance of 55 km and the highest altitude is of 3658 m. During the monsoon season, this pristine valley gets covered with various kinds of thousands of colorful high-altitude Himalayan flowers, making it look like a heaven. Starting from Govindghat, it is ideal for trekkers of all age groups. Admire the finest creations of Mother Nature and feel the spiritual bliss. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Best Time: July to Mid- September.

Rupin Pass Trek, Garhwal, Uttarakhand: One of the best places for trekking in India, Garhwal region has the challenging Rupin Pass Trek, which is of around 7 days with the maximum altitude of around 15250 feet. This trek of approximately 52 km starts from Dhaula in Uttarakhand and ends at Sangla, Himachal Pradesh. Loved by expert trekkers, this trek is full of challenges and breathtaking scenery. Only for people above 14 years of age, it involves walking on various kinds of terrains- rugged, meadows or snow, encountering waterfalls and a hanging village. Savor stunning views of Kinner Kailash Peak. Difficulty Level: Difficult. Best Time: May to June and September to October.

Rajmachi Trek: With the destination that is one of the most popular forts of the Lonavala region, this trek promises the adventure seekers a thrill that comprises of both adventure and views which are a thing to behold throughout life.One of the best experiences of the Western Ghats, this trek is developing as quite a famous tourist spot too. The distinguished view of the Kondana caves along the trek is one of the distinguishing features of the trek. Altitude: 826 meters. Duration: one day. Best season: June and September.

Araku Valley Trek: One of the best hikes in India, this trek is an expanse of green which brings the traveler closer to nature with the passing of each turn. Located on the Eastern Ghats, this trek is spread across an area of 36kms. Bora Caves and Katiki Waterfalls are among the major highlights of this trek, which takes the hiker to the highest peak in Andhra Pradesh. Altitude: 910 meters. Duration: one day. Best season: October- February.