There is no single trekking season in the Himalayas. There are five, and each one closes some trails while opening others. Every trek we run states its own window; the lists below are generated from those windows, so they stay accurate as our range changes.
Winter — December to February
The snow season. Trails through Garhwal hold deep snow, lakes freeze over, and the forests are quiet. Winter treks are cold but not technical: the routes we run at this time are graded Easy to Moderate, and equipment such as spikes and gaiters is provided where the terrain calls for it. Expect short daylight and long evenings in camp.
Treks running through the winter months.
Spring — March and April
Snow lingers high while the forests below come back to life. This is the crossover season: you can still reach snow on the upper sections of several routes, but the oak and rhododendron woods lower down are in leaf and flower.
Treks running in spring.
Summer — May and June
The high passes open. Routes that spend days above the tree line become viable, and the meadows are at their broadest and greenest. This is the window for the bigger crossings in our range.
Treks running in early summer.
Monsoon — July to September
Most Himalayan trails are best avoided in the monsoon. The exceptions are worth the rain: the flowering valleys reach their peak precisely when everything else shuts, and the rain shadow beyond the main range stays comparatively dry.
Treks that run through the monsoon.
Autumn — October and November
For many trekkers, the best of the year. The monsoon has washed the air clear, so distant peaks are visible in a way they rarely are in summer, and the temperature is comfortable for walking. Trails are firm and the meadows have turned gold.
Treks running in autumn.
Booking around the weather
- Seasons shift year to year — an early or late snowfall moves the window by weeks.
- Some of our itineraries hold a buffer day in reserve for bad weather and roadblocks.
- Where a side trip depends on conditions, our itineraries say so rather than promising it.
- If a trek matters more than a specific date, ask us which departures have the most reliable weather.