Nirmala Sitharaman says India can offer world-class hiking and trekking: 5 best places for these activities

When Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently made the point at the Union Budget 2026 that India has the potential to provide world-class trekking experiences, it resonated with all of us who love to travel and trek. From snowbound Himalayan passes to ancient forest paths, India already hosts some of the most dramatic and culturally rich trails in the world. As adventure tourism gains momentum globally, India’s iconic trails offer experiences that rival the Alps, Andes or Rockies, often at a fraction of the cost and with far greater cultural depth. Here’s a look at India’s most iconic hiking and trekking trails, spread across different regions, terrains and difficulty levels.

Union Budget 2026

The Chadar Trek is considered to be one of the most unusual winter trekking adventures in the world. This trek takes place in the remote Zanskar region of Ladakh. The trekking route follows the ice-covered surface of the Zanskar River, known locally as Chadar, meaning "blanket." Unlike other mountain treks, this route forms only during the winter months when the temperature drops to as low as -25 to -30 degrees Celsius, turning the river into ice strong enough to walk on. Nights are spent in caves or tents lined up along the riverbanks under a sky full of stars in one of the coldest inhabited parts of India. Few treks in the world combine such raw extremity, cultural history and natural drama, making Chadar not just a trek, but a rite of passage for serious adventurers.

Uttarakhand’s trails offer some of India’s most accessible yet deeply rewarding trekking experiences, and Kedarkantha and Har Ki Dun stand out for very different reasons. Har Ki Dun, also known as the “Valley of Gods,” is a traditional Himalayan valley trek that follows an ancient trade route used by local people for centuries. The trek passes through dense pine and deodar forests, meadows along the river banks, and villages with wooden houses and terraced fields that speak of a bygone era. What sets Har Ki Dun apart globally is its gentle gradient, comparable to famous European alpine walks.
Kedarkantha, by contrast, is famed for its winter summit climb. Often considered one of India’s best beginner-friendly snow treks, it offers panoramic views of major Himalayan peaks from its summit.

The Markha Valley Trek showcases Ladakh in its most cinematic form. It is often characterized as a high-altitude desert trek, taking place in harsh, open landscapes shaped by the forces of wind, water, and time. Unlike the greener parts of the Himalayas, the Markha Valley provides an enormous, barren landscape dotted with splashes of colour: green patches of land along riverbanks, white monasteries clinging to cliff faces, and prayer flags waving against a blue sky.

Over several days, the trekker moves through high mountain passes to reach a series of crystal-clear alpine lakes, each nestled in its own basin of meadows and snow-capped mountains. Starting with the emerald-coloured Vishansar and Kishansar lakes, the trek ends with the vast blue expanse of the Gangbal Lake at the foot of Mount Harmukh. The trekker will walk through rolling meadows of grass and wildflowers that seem to stretch on forever. Snowfields remain even in the summer months.

Concealed in the hills on the border of Nagaland and Manipur, the Dzükou Valley Trek offers an experience of being in another world altogether. The Dzükou Valley is famous for its meadows, slopes, and wildflowers, especially the Dzükou lily, a rare species that blooms during the monsoon season. Unlike treks in the Himalayas, what makes Dzükou special is its soft and gentle terrain and the feeling of being in a remote area. The trekking route passes through bamboo groves and meadows, which gradually open up into a gigantic valley that stretches as far as the eye can see. The unexplored nature of Dzükou makes it unique.