About This Trip
Auli is best known as India’s premier ski destination, but the Auli-Gorson Bugyal trek shows a quieter side of it — a gentle climb through oak and deodar forest to one of Garhwal’s most accessible alpine meadows, with the Nanda Devi massif filling the skyline. It’s offered as both a 6-day circuit from Haridwar (from ₹15,000) taking in Rishikesh and the Panch Prayags en route, and a standalone 3-day Auli-only version (from ₹8,000) for travellers short on time.
The route
The full trip starts in Haridwar, threads through Rishikesh, and drives up to Joshimath past the sacred river confluences of Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag — each one worth the stop in its own right. From Joshimath, the approach to Auli is itself an experience: the Auli Ropeway, India’s longest and highest cable car, covers nearly 4 km with the Himalayas opening up beneath you, including views of Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Neelkanth, Hathi Parbat and Kamet.
From Auli, the trek proper is short and unhurried — around 6 km uphill through forest to Gorson Bugyal, a broad, rolling meadow used as much by skiers as by trekkers in winter. It’s an easy grade throughout, which is why this is one of the more family-friendly high-altitude outings in the region; children and first-time trekkers manage it comfortably.
Difficulty and who it suits
This is graded easy to moderate, and in practice sits at the easy end for anyone with basic fitness — short trekking distance, gradual elevation gain, and no technical terrain. It’s a good choice if you want genuine Himalayan meadow scenery without committing to a multi-day expedition trek.
Best time to visit
The trek works across most of the year. April to June brings clear skies and blooming rhododendron on the lower trail; October to February turns Auli into a snow destination, culminating in skiing season from January to March. The monsoon months (July-September) are the one stretch best avoided, for the same landslide and visibility reasons that affect most Garhwal routes.
What to expect day to day
Nights are spent in Rishikesh, Joshimath and Auli rather than high-altitude tents, which makes this a comparatively comfortable introduction to the mountains — proper beds most nights, with the trekking itself confined to a single day. Joshimath also gives you time to visit the Narsingh Temple, Bhavishya Badri Temple and Shri Kalpeshwar Mahadev, adding a pilgrimage dimension alongside the trekking.
Good to know
Even at Gorson Bugyal’s modest altitude, mountain weather can turn quickly — carry a warm layer regardless of season, and confirm with our team which package (3-day or 6-day) and route variant you’re booking before travel, since regional road and ropeway conditions can occasionally alter the plan.
