India guide
India is an explosion of colour. The Golden Triangle glistens with culture, Rajasthan has pink and blue cities, and Kerala has lush green Ghat Mountains...
Best time to visit the Indian Himalayas
Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to visit in summer; winter is the only time to see snow leopard. it's divine here at this time.
If you don’t want to trek through snow and ice, then come when the snow starts to melt, from March onwards, as late as early Oct in some places. After that, it depends on your elevation. Some roads in Ladakh don’t open until mid-June, so visits peak Jul-Aug as do the religious festivals. The lower areas such as around Kaziranga experience monsoon in May-Oct, and the national park is closed. The warmest time to visit hill stations such as Dharamsala is Mar-Jun, when temps can reach 35°C. Visitors to the Assam region can combine their visit with the Hornbill Festival, early Dec, where 16 Naga tribes gather for cultural celebrations.
Indian Himalayas Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
7
21
20
FEB
10
24
15
MAR
15
30
18
APR
21
36
23
MAY
25
39
20
JUN
28
39
60
JUL
26
35
220
AUG
27
33
250
SEP
25
34
130
OCT
19
33
28
NOV
13
27
22
DEC
8
22
25
Our India himalayas Vacations
Ladakh & Kashmir vacation, India
Timeless monasteries, stunning mountain scenery and Srinagar
From
£2349
14 days
ex flights
Amritsar to Leh Himalayan vacation in India
A high altitude journey across the Indian Himalaya
From
US $2275
16 days
ex flights
India tour, mountains, temples & hillstations
Explore India's cultural diversity
From
US $1935 to US $2095
15 days
ex flights
North India & the Himalayas vacation, tailor made
North India: Inspiring Mountains, Culture and Communities
From
£1399 to £1799
14 days
ex flights
Darjeeling & Sikkim tailor made vacation, India
Buddhist traditions and stunning Himalayan scenery
From
£1137
12 days
ex flights
North India vacation, cultural immersion and the himalayas
Wonderful North Indian Himalayan culture with Mountain Views
From
£1549 to £1875
15 days
ex flights
India hill stations biking vacation
Quiet country roads and frequent superb views of the Himalaya
From
US $2295 to US $2545
16 days
ex flights
North India vacation, mountains and hidden villages
Inspirational Trekking with Indian Culture and Communities
From
£1545 to £1895
14 days
ex flights
Snow Leopard tracking in the Himalayas
Join expert guides and track snow leopards in the Himalayas
From
£2395 to £2675
17 days
ex flights
North East India tour, Nagaland & the Hornbill Festival
The unique festivals of the tribes of remote Northeast India
From
£2350
15 days
ex flights
Indian Himalayas trekking vacation
A unique walking journey into the majestic Indian Himalayas
From
£1651 to £1734
17 days
ex flights
Manali to Leh biking vacation in the Himalayas, Ladakh
An epic journey in traditional Himalayan landscapes
From
US $2945
17 days
ex flights
Buddhist Pilgrimage trek to Pemako, India
Trek the Buddhist Pilgrimage trail in the Eastern Himalayas.
From
£2750
26 days
ex flights
Tribal tour of the Eastern Himalayas, India
Animist Tribal Tour of the Eastern Himalayas
From
£1800
11 days
ex flights
Himalaya and Golden Temple tour, India
A spiritual discovery through India's most scenic landscapes
From
£2450 to £2950
16 days
ex flights
Trekking vacation in Ladakh, The Markha Valley trek
Classic trek in 'Little Tibet' through stunning mountain and meadows
From
US $2325 to US $2445
14 days
ex flights
Manali Leh cycling tour in India
An exhilarating ride through the snow capped Himalayas
From
US $2250
16 days
ex flights
India bird watching vacation in the Himalayas
Specialised bird watching in the Himalayas
From
£1000 to £1300
14 days
ex flights
Indian Himalaya tailor made tour
Journey through the mountainous regions of Northern India
From
£4490
14 days
ex flights
Bhaba and Pin Valley trekking vacation in India
Trekking vacation in the Himalayas to Bhaba and Pin Valley
From
£1925 to £2215
15 days
ex flights
Tattooed Headhunting tribes Aoling festival in Nagaland, India
Aoling Festival of the Tattooed Heandunting Naga Tribe
From
£2250
10 days
ex flights
Himalayan cultural tour, India
Visit Kashmir's stunning landscapes and rich culture
From
£2590
13 days
ex flights
North East India cycling and hiking tour, Eastern Himalayas
Multi activity tour of the Eastern Himalayas
From
£2250
12 days
ex flights
Spiti Valley tour in India
Cultural immersion, adventure and rural experience
From
US $850 to US $1150
9 days
ex flights
Birdwatching in India
Visit India's top birding and wildlife destinations.
From
Rupee 227500
15 days
ex flights
Singalila Ridge trekking vacation in India
Classic trek along the Singalila Ridge
From
US $2405 to US $2475
15 days
ex flights
Indian Himalayas village homestay vacation
Himalyan farm stays and meeting village people
From
£1300 to £1450
14 days
ex flights
Ladakh trekking vacation, Stok Kangri peak
Classical Trek with a chance to climb summit at 6150m
From
£1440
16 days
ex flights
Northeast India tour, Tawang and its monasteries
A spiritual journey to India's largest Buddhist monastery
From
£1800
10 days
ex flights
Things to do in the indian himalayas
Things to do in the Indian Himalayas...
Things not to do in the Indian Himalayas...
Our top India himalayas Vacation
Amritsar to Leh Himalayan vacation in India
A high altitude journey across the Indian Himalaya
From
US $2275
16 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about India himalayas or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Indian Himalayas travel advice
Itinerary tips
Itinerary tips
Puran Bhardwaj, Director of our locally run Indian Himalayas supplier, Expedition Leaders. Puran is also author of the wonderful book The Himalayan Bond, between Man and the Environment:
“The easiest way to see the Himalayas is by train from Delhi, the Shatabadi Express and the Himalayan Queen to Shimla (2,180m) the capital of the British Raj and Himachal Pradesh. You should not miss the British Raj heritage walk in Shimla, with a chance to explore the historical monuments of India as well as little streets and vegetable markets. Also make sure you get away into small hill villages with hot springs and farming villages to discover real India, experience village life and enjoy high mountains. Sarahan village in the Himalayas is a fascinating spot overlooking the high mountain over 5,000m.”
Hiking advice
Hiking advice
“Further into the high Himalayas, hike around Yagpa village and Kafnu which give you the opportunity to really experience the highland culture and the Himalayas. Bhaba valley is the most beautiful valley in the Himalayas with moderate hiking. You can just explore Bhaba valley and Kinnaur or try little more adventure over Bhaba pass 4,900m to Pin Valley in Spiti, which is beautiful and unspoiled. Simple walking can take everyone over these passes and high Himalayas.”
Taking your time
Taking your time
“Allow enough time, so that you can just enjoy, hike, camp and experience the mountains. If you are going to Pin Valley and Spiti, do not miss Mudh village and by road Dhanker and Lalung Monastery, spend some time in Kaza, Kibber and Key Monastery before you head over Kunzum pass and Rohtang pass to Manali and Kullu valley. One must chill out and just sit back and go with the flow. The more time and relaxed pace you take, the more you observe and enjoy. Some people expect same fast pace as the West and they find it difficult to fit in, so go with the flow.”
When to go
When to go
“The best time for foothills of the Himalayas is March to November. Every season is different. June and September is my favourite time for the Himalayas, because it is hot, has clear sky and beautifully green. June to September is best for trekking in Bhaba valley and Pin-valley, but be aware that end of July and August can be wet due to monsoons in the green part of the Himalayas. Spiti and Ladakh are fine as it does not rain much in the desert. In October and November you can still explore some part of the Himalayas by road including Kalpa, Sangla and Chitkul.”
Ladakh tips
Ladakh tips
Valerie Parkinson, leader guide from our Indian Himalayan supplier Exodus Travels:
“Don’t expect 5 star luxury – there are good hotels and simple guest houses but be prepared out of Leh for basic accommodation, but no bars or pubs. Most of Ladakh is above 3,500m so if you do not like high altitude it is not the place for you. Do go if you enjoy the peace and quiet of being offline for a few weeks. There is usually (but not always) WiFi in the hotels in Leh but outside of Leh and trekking there is no mobile signal or WiFi – a real treat of being cut off from technology."
Tips from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Indian Himalayas travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation.
My most memorable part? Actually being able to watch snow leopards in the wild
- Liz Cooke
“Listen to your leader and drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness. Don't do too much when you first get to Leh in order to acclimatise properly. Enjoy the views!!!... The cultural elements were great too and a brilliant way to acclimatise safely... Leh is a lovely town to start in and you feel you learn about the culture, particularly Buddhism. Don't expect lots of snow peaked mountains, as these are not the Himalayas, but gorgeous none the less!” – Ellie Hawksley, trekking in Ladakh’s Markha Valley
“Fantastic experience especially by the fact the vacation was just tailored for me: it was just me on the trek with a guide, a helper, a horseman & 3 horses... If you like trekking, this is a fantastic peaceful environment for it.” – Emmanuelle Clement on our North India vacation
“Good level of general fitness needed. Don't visit India if all you want to do is change it.” – Olivia Neely in the Punjab
“Fantastic experience especially by the fact the vacation was just tailored for me: it was just me on the trek with a guide, a helper, a horseman & 3 horses... If you like trekking, this is a fantastic peaceful environment for it.” – Emmanuelle Clement on our North India vacation
“Good level of general fitness needed. Don't visit India if all you want to do is change it.” – Olivia Neely in the Punjab
Don't do too much when you first get to Leh in order to acclimatise properly. Enjoy the views!
- Ellie Hawksley
“Be aware that the hike to Chamba from Khajjiar involves a final climb partway up the mountain to get to the accommodation.” – Jackie Driver in the Punjab
“Make sure you have good telescope, binoculars and camera lenses. Even if you don't see snow leopards, they are needed for the birdlife. Suggest getting a solar powered charger for electrical equipment - they don't weigh much and work really well. Have a care if you suffer from vertigo - you will be climbing up the side of mountains and walking along narrow trails in order to get good vantage points! My most memorable part? Actually being able to watch snow leopards in the wild - the main aim of the trip. We spent nearly 50 hours watching interaction between several different cats including hunting and mating.” – Liz Cooke tracking snow leopard in the Himalayas
“Make sure you have good telescope, binoculars and camera lenses. Even if you don't see snow leopards, they are needed for the birdlife. Suggest getting a solar powered charger for electrical equipment - they don't weigh much and work really well. Have a care if you suffer from vertigo - you will be climbing up the side of mountains and walking along narrow trails in order to get good vantage points! My most memorable part? Actually being able to watch snow leopards in the wild - the main aim of the trip. We spent nearly 50 hours watching interaction between several different cats including hunting and mating.” – Liz Cooke tracking snow leopard in the Himalayas
More about India himalayas
Trekking in Ladakh, the rhinos of Assam, the British Raj heritage town of Shimla... The Indian Himalayas are, unquestionably, a great range...
More relevant guides
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Sharada Prasad CS] [Temp chart intro: Abhijit Kar Gupta]
[Things to do box: Ashish Gupta]
[Itinerary tips: Frapestaartje]
[Hiking advice: Sandeep Kaul]
[Taking your time: John Hill]
[When to go: Dburka]
[Ladakh tips: Alosh Bennett]
[Tips intro: lensnmatter]
[Img box1: Jorn Eriksson]
[Img box2: John Clouston]
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