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The Best Winter Treks in India: Five Snow Treks, Compared on Cost
Five Uttarakhand treks you can walk in winter, from the famous Kedarkantha to quieter Brahmatal and Dayara Bugyal. What each costs from the base, how high it goes, how you get there, which permits apply, and the one that shuts at the end of December.
Photo: Arijit95jitu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.
Short answer
Best first snow trek: Brahmatal (snow from late December, frozen lakes) or Kuari Pass (the widest view). Easiest: Dayara Bugyal. Most famous: Kedarkantha, the cheapest here at about ₹9,000 from the base, and the busiest. Early winter only: Har Ki Dun, closed from the end of December to mid-March. Costs run from ₹9,000 to ₹13,000 per person from the base, for 5 to 7 days.
Winter is when the Garhwal and Kumaon treks are at their quietest and their most beautiful: snow on the trail, clear skies, and peaks you cannot see through summer cloud. All five below start from a roadhead you can reach by bus or shared jeep from Dehradun or Kathgodam. None needs technical climbing. All of them need proper winter kit.
The cost for each trek is Trip Under's figure on its trek page. For four of them it is a budget operator's published fee from the base, permits included, plus 5% GST. Kedarkantha is our own estimate from Sankri. Getting to the base is on top. Uttarakhand forest fees are not officially published for these routes, so where we could not confirm one, we say so.
Infographic · cost from base
What each winter trek costs once you reach the base
Per person, from the trailhead town. Bus or jeep to the base not included.
The five winter treks, cheapest first
Photo: Kanthi Kiran, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
1. Kedarkantha
The winter trek everybody starts with, and the benchmark for the other four. It is a genuine summit at 3,810 m with no technical climbing, from Sankri. It is also the busiest trail on this list, so expect company. The forest camping permit is usually arranged by whoever you walk with.
Base: Sankri, via Dehradun.
Pick this if you want a real summit on your first snow trek and do not mind company.
Kedarkantha trek pageFull place page →
Photo: Sumodm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Kuari Pass
The pass Lord Curzon walked in the early 1900s, with Nanda Devi, Dunagiri, Kamet and Chaukhamba in a single line from the top. It is short and gentle enough for a first snow trek. Operators also ask for a medical check-up at Joshimath Government Hospital, about ₹300.
Base: Joshimath (2,040 m), about 289 km and 12 to 13 hours by road from Dehradun.
Pick this if you want the widest mountain view for the fewest days.
Kuari Pass trek pageFull place page →
Photo: Arijit95jitu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Brahmatal
Real snow, two frozen lakes (Bekaltal and Brahmatal) and a ridge view of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti, without the crowds of Kedarkantha. The days are short and the climb is steady, so it suits a first Himalayan winter trek. Nights drop to -5 to -15°C.
Base: Lohajung (2,331 m), about 200 km and 12 hours by road from Kathgodam.
Pick this if you want snow and frozen lakes without the Kedarkantha crowd.
Brahmatal trek pageFull place page →
Photo: Satdeep Gill, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Dayara Bugyal
One of the widest high meadows in Garhwal, with Bandarpoonch and the Gangotri peaks across the valley. Short, easy days from Raithal, a village of old five-storey wooden houses. Quieter than Kedarkantha in the same district. A 2018 Uttarakhand High Court order bars overnight camping on the meadows themselves, so camps sit in clearings below.
Base: Raithal (2,100 m), about 192 km and 8 hours by road from Dehradun via Uttarkashi.
Pick this if you are trekking with family or beginners.
Dayara Bugyal trek pageFull place page →
Photo: Omkar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Har Ki Dun
A long valley walk through old wooden villages like Osla and Seema, ending in a glacial bowl under Swargarohini. Gentler than its length suggests, with no steep pass. It is an early-winter trek only: the forest department closes it from the end of December to mid-March.
Base: Sankri (1,950 m), about 197 km and 9 to 10 hours by road from Dehradun.
Pick this if you can go in November or early December, and want villages as much as views.
Har Ki Dun trek pageFull place page →Compare all five
| Trek | From base | Difficulty | Days | Highest point | Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kedarkantha | ₹9,000 | Medium | 6 days | 3,810 m | Sankri |
| Kuari Pass | ₹10,000 | Moderate | 5 days | 3,815 m | Joshimath (2 |
| Brahmatal | ₹11,000 | Moderate | 6 days | 3,846 m | Lohajung (2 |
| Dayara Bugyal | ₹11,000 | Easy | 5 days | 3,750 m | Raithal (2 |
| Har Ki Dun | ₹13,000 | Moderate | 7 days | 3,566 m | Sankri (1 |
When the snow comes, and what shuts
Har Ki Dun is not a January trek. It lies inside Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and the Uttarakhand Forest Department closes it from the end of December to mid-March. If you want snow in January or February, pick one of the other four.
Permits: what we know and what we do not
All five are on Uttarakhand Forest Department land, and all need a forest permit or park entry. Registered operators arrange it and include it in their price. If you go on your own, the details differ by trek:
- Brahmatal: register and pay forest entry and camping charges at the forest post before you start. We could not confirm the current fee.
- Kuari Pass: sort out forest permits at Joshimath before the trailhead. Operators also ask for a medical check-up at Joshimath Government Hospital, about ₹300.
- Dayara Bugyal: the permit is checked on the way up. Sources disagree on how it is issued and what it costs, so check with the Uttarkashi forest office.
- Har Ki Dun: park entry permit at the Sankri forest check post. Carry a government photo ID and passport photos. Sources give different fees, so check at Sankri.
- Kedarkantha: a forest camping permit, usually arranged by whoever you walk with.
The forest department's site is forest.uk.gov.in.
Getting to the base
| Trek | Base | How | Fare we hold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brahmatal | Lohajung | Shared jeep from Kathgodam or Haldwani, most of a day | about ₹900 |
| Kuari Pass | Joshimath | Bus from Dehradun, 12 to 13 hours, then a car to Dhak or Tugasi | ₹500–700 bus; taxi ₹3,500+ |
| Dayara Bugyal | Raithal | Bus or jeep to Uttarkashi, then a local jeep | Bus not confirmed; shared Sumo ₹6,500 for the vehicle |
| Har Ki Dun | Sankri | Bus or shared jeep from Dehradun, 9 to 10 hours | Bus not confirmed; operator vehicle ₹2,200 return |
| Kedarkantha | Sankri | Train to Dehradun, then a ten-hour shared taxi | Check before you go |
Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun share a base, Sankri. Brahmatal and Kuari Pass are both in Chamoli but start from different towns.
Which one should you do?
What to carry
- Winter boots with grip, plus microspikes and gaiters once there is snow. Most operators rent sleeping bags and spikes; Kedarkantha kit is rentable in Sankri.
- A down jacket, thermals and gloves. Brahmatal nights fall to -5 to -15°C.
- Sunglasses for snow glare, and a headlamp. Winter days are short.
- Your own toilet paper and a bag to carry every wrapper back down.
- Photo ID and passport photos for the forest check posts.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best winter trek in India for beginners?
Dayara Bugyal is the only one of these five rated easy, with short days from Raithal. Brahmatal and Kuari Pass are rated moderate and both suit a first Himalayan winter trek.
Is Har Ki Dun open in winter?
Only in early winter. The Uttarakhand Forest Department closes Har Ki Dun from the end of December to mid-March. September to December is the best time.
When is there snow on the Brahmatal trek?
From late December to early March. October and November give the clearest views, without snow.
How much does a winter trek in Uttarakhand cost?
From about ₹9,000 (Kedarkantha) to ₹13,000 (Har Ki Dun) per person from the base, on Trip Under's figures. Getting to the base by bus or jeep is extra.
Do I need a permit for Kedarkantha or Brahmatal?
Yes. Both are on Uttarakhand Forest Department land and need a forest permit and camping charges. Operators include them. On your own, pay at the forest post before you start, and check the current fee.
Which is higher, Kedarkantha or Kuari Pass?
Kedarkantha, at 3,810 m. Kuari Pass is about 3,815 m. Brahmatal is the highest of the five at 3,846 m.
Sources and how we priced this
- Fees, days, campsite altitudes, access and closures: budget operator itineraries (Bikat Adventures) for Brahmatal, Kuari Pass, Dayara Bugyal and Har Ki Dun, checked 11 October 2026.
- Permit authority: Uttarakhand Forest Department. Fees for these routes were not officially published when we checked.
- Dayara Bugyal meadow camping: 2018 Uttarakhand High Court order, as reported by Down To Earth.
- Har Ki Dun park: Uttarakhand Tourism, Govind National Park.
- Cost from base, difficulty, height and season: Trip Under trek pages and cost model.
Keep reading
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Browse all treks →Costs come from Trip Under's place data and our cost model (see methodology). They are indicative ballparks for budget travel and move with season and demand. Check live bus, train and room prices before you book. Trip Under is reader-planned, not an agency, and takes no commission on any booking.