Himachal has a trek for almost every month, but not every trek works in every month. The same week that is perfect on the Triund ridge can be a washout in the Kangra valley, while Hampta Pass is still under snow. Roughly, spring and autumn are for the lower treks, the monsoon months are for the rain-shadow treks of Lahaul and Spiti, and winter is only for short, low walks.
Spring (March to June)
As the snow line goes back up, the lower and middle-altitude treks open. March and April can still bring snow on the Triund ridge and at Thatharana. It looks lovely, but the nights are cold. By May the rhododendrons are out in the Dhauladhar forests and the days are warm.
- Triund, Thatharana and Kheerganga through the spring, and Kareri Lake from April.
- Bhrigu Lake above Manali from May. There is snow around the lake into June.
- Rupin Pass from late May, once the snow gully below the pass is firm.
June is the busiest month in the hills. Schools in the plains are on holiday and Manali and McLeod Ganj fill up. Book early, and expect busy trails at weekends.
Monsoon (July and August)
The monsoon reaches Himachal around late June. The southern slopes get the heaviest rain, and Dharamshala is one of the wettest places in the state. Trails get slippery, streams rise and landslides block the roads. We don't run the Dhauladhar treks in these months.
The high country behind the Pir Panjal is different. It sits in a rain shadow, and this is the season for the crossover treks.
- Hampta Pass (June to September), from the green Kullu side into dry Lahaul.
- Pin Parvati Pass (July to September), a long expedition into the Pin valley of Spiti.
- Manimahesh Kailash (June to September), with the Manimahesh Yatra in late August or early September.
On these routes the trouble is usually the drive in, not the trek. Keep a buffer day for road closures.
Autumn (September to November)
This is our favourite season. Once the monsoon clears in mid-September the air is clean, the views are the sharpest of the year and the weather settles. Nights get colder through October, and by November the higher camps are below freezing.
- September: the last weeks for Hampta Pass, Pin Parvati and Manimahesh, and the Dhauladhar treks start again.
- September and October: Rupin Pass and Bhrigu Lake, before the first heavy snow.
- October and November: Triund, Thatharana, Kareri Lake and Kheerganga are at their best. Mornings are clear, and after Diwali the trails go quiet.
Winter (December to February)
Most high treks close. Kareri Lake usually freezes from around December and the passes are under deep snow. You can still do short treks above Dharamshala like Triund on clear days, with the right gear and a local guide, but the ridge can be icy and the weather changes fast. Talk to us before you plan a winter trek, and be ready to turn back.
How we would choose
- Start with your month, then look at the treks that suit it. Every trek page on this site lists its best months.
- Match the trek to your experience. For a first trek, stay below about 3,000 metres. Triund, Thatharana, Kareri Lake and Kheerganga are all good starts.
- Keep a spare day for weather and roads, especially in June, the monsoon and late autumn.
Send us your dates and we will tell you which trek fits.
