Trekking in the Himalayas during the monsoon season is often shrouded in doubts and confusion. Is it safe to go on monsoon treks? Will it rain continuously? Are June or July the best months to explore the monsoon treks in India? Trekkers are hesitant to embark on monsoon treks due to these doubts. Unknown to many, some great Himalayan treks come to life during the monsoon and are at their greenest when the monsoon starts in the region.
During this season, trails adorn the brightest green, floating clouds give you company, and the freshness of petrichor makes it a perfect experience. With gushing streams, waterfalls popping out all along the trail, and verdant valleys, nature offers you its best version, reverberating the entire scenery.
While many Himalayan treks in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are not accessible when the downpour starts, there are a few where you can head to enjoy the lush green valleys, flower-laden meadows, and snowcapped mountains this monsoon.
Trekking in the monsoon often comes with a set of risks. However, if you know which monsoon treks in India to explore, you will return with the most breathtaking experience of your lifetime.
Here are the top monsoon treks in India that every trekking enthusiast must explore:
- Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
- Tarsar Marsar Trek
- Doodhpathri – Toshmaidan Trek
- Parang La Trek
- Markha Valley Trek
- Pin Bhabha Pass Trek
- Hampta Pass Trek
1. Kashmir Great Lakes Trek – most picturesque monsoon trek in India
Difficulty level – Moderate
Duration – 7 days
Best time to visit – July and August
Maximum Altitude – 13,800 ft
Trek Distance – 75km
When you go on a trek in Kashmir, you experience why Kashmir is called ‘Heaven on Earth’. Every pass you cross, each meadow you walk on, you experience happiness and contentment. There is an epiphanic moment every day, and the views in front of you only get better and more beautiful. Experiencing Kashmir Great Lakes for seven days is nothing less than walking in paradise.
The Kashmir Great Lake is hands down one of the most beautiful treks in India. If there is one must-do trek for its sheer magical views during the monsoon, Kashmir Great Lakes in Kashmir tops the list. The valley turns lush green and the meadows are covered with vibrant wildflowers. It appears as straight out of a dream.
The meadows and valleys are covered with vibrant wildflowers and turquoise and emerald-green alpine lakes. If your idea of venturing outdoors includes enjoying the beauty of majestic mountains and postcard-perfect views, Kashmir Great Lakes has to be on your list this monsoon season.
2. Tarsar Marsar Trek – picture-perfect trail to explore during monsoons
Trek Duration – 7 days
Best Time to visit – June to August
Altitude – 13201ft.
Trek distance – 48 km
Tarsar Marsar Trek in Kashmir is arguably one of the most rewarding treks with dreamlike campsites, unforgettable beauty of the valleys, and captivating views. Add the monsoon magic to this and the trek turns into one of the best monsoon treks in India.
In this experience, you are allowed to camp just next to the glowing snow-fed glacial lakes (alpine lakes), a rare opportunity. Tarsar Marsar’s easy-to-moderate climb distinguishes it, offering views better than many other experiences.
The vastness of meadows, the beauty of valleys, the vibrancy of alpine lakes, and the impact of Tarsar Marsar astounds you for days if not life. No picture can do justice to the experience you’ll encounter. You have to witness it yourself to imbibe that beauty.
3. Doodhpathri – Toshmaidan Trek
Trek Duration – 7 days
Best Time to visit – June- August
Altitude – 13,200ft.
Trek distance – 47km
The trek is a truly unique and breathtaking experience to witness during monsoon season. Located in a region that was previously off-limits to trekkers, this trek offers a chance to see a side of Kashmir that few people have ever seen. The trail takes trekkers through beautiful forests, meadows, valleys, rivers, and lakes. You encounter nine majestic alpine lakes including the Bandhdsar and Pamsar lakes, and four stunning valleys on this newly found monsoon trek in India.
The campsites on this trek are some of the most picturesque and exotic, including those beside the Gurwansar Lake and in the forbidden meadows of Tosamaidan. The beauty of Tosamaidan is the highlight of the trek, with a golden sunrise casting a golden light over the snow-capped mountains and alpine meadows. Overall, the Doodhpathri Tosamaidan Lakes trek is an unforgettable journey that showcases the natural beauty and unique character of the Kashmir region during monsoon.
4. Parang La Trek – a thrilling trek to experience the beauty of two different regions
Trek Duration – 11 days
Best Time to visit – June to August
Altitude – 18,370ft.
Trek Distance – 128 km
One of the dramatic monsoon treks, Parang La Trek is challenging and strenuous, suitable for experienced trekkers. The trek offers you an opportunity to explore the ancient trade route between the Spiti in the Himachal and Ladakh regions. Spread over 11 days, the trek traverses through the highlands of the Himachal and Ladakh regions. An unexplored high-altitude trek, the experience gives you a glimpse of different communities and cultures. As you start your trek from Spiti, the place reverberates with its rich culture. As you cross over to the other side of the pass in Ladakh, there is an instant change in culture. The beauty of the high desert of Ladakh and Spiti regions is unparalleled.
As enticing as it sounds, it is suggested for highly experienced trekkers who have done a few high-altitude treks. As you traverse the highlands and the cold desert, the oxygen level is constantly low, and the trail is challenging. You will tread through the cold desert of Spiti and Ladakh region. The multiple river crossings and the icy cold water are taxing. Walking on the glacier, facing crevasses, and the cold and windy weather demands a certain level of prior experience.
5. Markha Valley Trek – Ladakh’s best kept secret
Trek Duration – 8 days
Best Time to visit – June to September
Altitude – 17,100ft.
Trek Distance – 78 km
Markha Valley is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh that passes through picturesque villages to reach the summit at Kongmaru La. The trek in the cold desert of Ladakh is known among adventure lovers for its majestic view of Mt KangYatse. This offbeat monsoon treks offer you solitary trail and less crowded campsites.
Markha Valley trek surprises you with the exquisite beauty of its unique landscapes after every climb. As Ladakh is located in a rain shadow area, the place receives extremely little rainfall, making it a perfect location to enjoy the monsoon.
The trek traverses through the Hemis National Park and offers plenty of wildlife sightings on the trail. You will find wild sheep and yaks grazing on the steep mountain slopes.
The experience of trekking in Ladakh is distinctive from the rest of the country. Landscape of the cold desert, its raw beauty, isolated villages on the way, and the contrasting sight of green paddy fields and dry rocky mountains is a sight to behold.
Markha Valley Trek is also known amongst the trekkers for rich bird sightings. If the cold desert, wildlife, and enriching culture intrigue you, Markha Valley must be on your monsoon trek’s list.
6. Pin Bhabha Pass Trek – an adventurous trail worth exploring during monsoons
Trek Duration – 9 days
Best time to visit – Monsoon
Altitude – 16,100 ft.
Trek Distance – 50 km
The Pin Bhaba Pass is an exceptional trek that offers stunning and varied landscapes, making it one of the most dramatic pass-crossing treks in the country. From the enchanting forests of Mulling, the grasslands of Karah, and the rare river delta of Phutsirang, each day offers a unique and breathtaking experience.
The Pin Bhaba Pass offers a spectacular view of the Pin valley in shades of pink below, set against the stark mountains of Spit, and the lush green Bhaba valley behind. Compared to the risky Pin Parvati Pass Trek, the Pin Bhaba stands out as a safer alternative and a more beautiful and diverse trek.
Pin Bhaba trek starts from the remote village of Kafnu. The trek spreads over nine days and takes you from the lush green Bhaba Valley to the cold and arid desert of Pin Valley.
7. Hampta Pass Trek
Trek Duration – 6 days
Best time to visit – July to October
Altitude – 14,065ft
Trek distance – 26 km
If there is one Pass Trek that everyone has heard of it has to be the famous Hampta Pass Trek. Thanks to its sheer beauty and breathtaking landscapes the trek is on every trekking enthusiast’s bucket list. Hampta Pass is arguably one of the most dramatic crossover treks in our country, and it is at its greenest during the monsoon season.
Popularly referred to as Himachal’s Valley of Flowers, Hampta Pass Trek is a thrilling experience, an amalgamation of stunning landscapes and rich and diverse culture. The trek spreads from the verdant valley of Kullu. On the other side of the pass, the landscape switches to contrasting dry and barren landscapes of Spiti. You start your trek and traverse through a lush green valley, flower-laden trails, enchanting forests, and snow-capped mountains. As you cross over to the other side, you discover a completely different but beautiful landscapes. The other side of the pass reveals the hidden beauty of Spiti Valley, an arid and rugged terrain.
The Hampta Pass trek is six days long and starts from Jobra. Jobra is around 16 km from the famous hill station, Manali. The best time to visit the Hampta Pass Trek is from July till October end.
Pass treks are one of the most thrilling experiences to witness the raw beauty of mountains. As the pass trek takes you from one mountain to another, the scenery turns dramatic and diversified. If you love and are longing for an adventure-filled getaway to the mountains, the cross-over trek is a must.
If you have any doubts regarding trekking during monsoons, comment below and let us help you out.
