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Best Himalayan Treks in August

As the name suggests, the Valley of Flowers Trek is known for its wide plethora of flora and fauna. Particularly, it is noted for the endangered species of animals that thrive here. For nature-lovers, the Valley of Flowers Trek is a must-go destination. Therefore, this must make its way into your list of Himalayan treks in August. This is an easy trek and perfectly suits the beginners. You will not be requiring any advanced trekking skills to indulge in this trek. Besides, you can give a visual treat to your eyes on this trek with glaciers and snow-covered peaks presenting you with the inherent beauty of the Himalayas.

Location: You need to travel from Haridwar to Govindghat by car. This is where the trek begins from, with the trail leading to Ghangaria. From there, it heads to the Valley of Flowers, located at a distance of a few kilometres.

Altitude: 12,000 feet.

Duration: 6 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate

Five lakes, each with its own captivating beauty will rob your conscience when you set your foot on the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. If you are planning to explore one of the Himalayan treks in August, this one should definitely make its way into your list.

The trek has left travellers breathless over the years, with pine forests, hamlets and rivers presenting them with the charm. Besides, the trek gives you a chance to come across the most scenic lakes in the region.

Location: The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek starts from Sonamarg and takes the travellers to the Vishansar Lake and the Nichnai Lake. From this point, it moves towards Vishansar Berry or Nichnai Pass, before it heads towards Gadsar Pass and Vishansar Lake. This is the highest point on this trek. Then the trail descends to the Satsar and Gadsar Lakes and proceeds to the Gangabal Twin Lakes.

Altitude: 13,800 feet.

Duration: 8 days

Difficulty Level: Moderate

The Beas Kund Trek is located in Manali. Beas Kund is a lake, sitting in a high altitude between the ranges of the Himachal. This is one of the most expedited Himalayan Treks. Besides, the essence of adventure, the divine ambience on this trek is what attracts such a huge number of travellers. If you are willing to scale a high-altitude trek with the moderate difficulty level, this is one of the best treks to start with.

Location: The Beas Kund Trek starts at Solang Nallah, a place famous for paragliding and skiing. It surprises the trekkers with its majestic peaks and mesmerizing meadows. You will enjoy scaling the peaks, that are a part of the trail.

Altitude: 16,240 feet.

Duration: 4 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate

A large number of trekkers have dubbed the Hampta Pass Trek to be one of the best treks to experience in the summers. The variety and contrast in topography are what you should look out for here. From the cold deserts of Lahaul to the green meadows of Jwara, the trek brings you a different world altogether. Amateurs and novices will find this trek perfect for themselves. It is a 26-Km trail and you can complete it within a span of five days.

Location: It starts off from Manali and extends to Chikka and then takes the travellers to Balu ka Gera. At Shea Goru, the next camping site is situated.

Altitude: 14,100 feet.

Duration: 5 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate

Well, if you are ready to get a first-hand experience of the romanticness of Kashmir, the Tarsar Marsar Trek will fulfil your expectations. The twin lakes in the region, along with velvet grasslands, azure waters and their stillness and glacial lakes bring you enough stuff to quench the thirst for beauty. Besides, this trek does not pose a great physical challenge, so it can be considered by trekkers with not much in the name of prior experience.

Location: Starting from Srinagar, you need to come down to Pahalgam and then to Aru. The trekkers can visit Mansar and then Homwas on the trek.

Altitude: 13,400 feet.

Duration: 7 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate

The trekkers will stumble upon the mesmerizing Rohtang Pass while they take on the Bhrigu Lake Trek. This lake has an intricate connection with the Hindu mythology, but it is the charm of nature that draws tourists from far and wide to this trek. The visitors can enjoy the stunning views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges on this trek.

Location: It lies in Leh and Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir. Travellers can directly land up at the airport at Kullu and take a car to the starting point of the trek.

Altitude: 11,100 feet.

Duration: 4 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Rugged landscapes and steep slopes feature this trek, meant for highly experienced trekkers. Well, if you have spent your years mastering your skills, the Pin Parvati Trek is going to be a real test. The region experiences uncertain rain and snowfall, however, it ceases during August to a substantial extent. People willing to go for difficult Himalayan treks in August must give it a try.

Location: Starting from the Barshaini Village in Himachal Pradesh, the trek passes through the Rudranath camp. It heads on to the Parvati Valley and after the trekkers cross Kheerganga, they move on to areas like Thakur Kuan, Tunda Bhuj, and Mantalai.

Altitude: 17,500 feet.

Duration: 11 days

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Being the highest point in the Stok Range in Ladakh, the Stok Kangri trek is located at an altitude of 20,100 feet. The trek attracts both novice and pros, however, the difficulty level is moderately difficult. It is nearly a 40-Km. trail and the trekkers take nearly 8 to 9 days to complete this one. Well, you would require a good physical endurance when you go for this trek. Besides, the harsh weather can be an issue and it is necessary to be prepared to combat all these challenges.

Location: The Stok Kangri trek starts at Leh and takes the trekkers to the Stok village. It covers areas like Manorama and Chiang Mai. The visitors can witness the enchanting beauty of the Karakoram, Zanskar and Indus Valley from the highest point.

Altitude: 20,100 feet.

Duration: 8-9 days

Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult

Gangotri Tapovan Trek presents the travellers with a perfect blend of adventure and divine beauty. You can trek the way right to the source of the river Ganga. You need to start from Gangotri and enjoy the visual treat, as you watch the river making its way out of the rocks. The Ganga emerges out of ice chunks, measuring 24 km by 8 km.

Location: You can easily get across to Gangotri from Uttarkashi, a 3-hour route by car. The first phase of the trek from Gangotri to Chirbasa is quite easy. The difficulty level escalates to moderate, as you proceed further. Standing at the base of Gaumukh, one can see the Shivling peak right above, standing vertically.

Altitude:  14,600 feet.

Duration: 5-6 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate

For adventurers looking forward to having a glimpse of the Tibetan culture at the Himalayan treks in August, Markha Valley Trek is one of the best recommendations. This is one of the easiest treks in Ladakh. Besides, you always have the option to scale Stok Kangri from this trek. This is popular among amateurs as they can reach the top without much difficulty. However, it is necessary to acclimatize before you start the trek.

Location: While you are on this trek, you will cross three passes, Kongmaru La (5274 m), Stok La (4848 m) and the Gandla (4878 m). Following this, the trail takes you to the Markha River valley.

Altitude: 16,800 feet.

Duration: 5 days

Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate

Amidst ravines, meadows and snow-fields, you will come across the bliss nature bestows travellers with. Considering the weather and environment, it might be necessary to set aside several days to get adapted to the Parang La Trek. Besides, you can include additional days in your trail to explore Ladakh and Spiti.

Location: The trek commences from Kibber and the trekkers climb the Parang la range. Then it descends down to Rupshu in Ladakh, where you can enjoy the beautiful views of the pasture lands. You will also come across the Tsomoriri Lake, one of the gems in the Himalayas.

Altitude: 18,100 feet.

Duration: 11 days

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Nested in the Dhauladhar range, Indrahar Pass trek is meant for experienced trekkers. You require experience in trekking to indulge in this high-altitude adventure. The trek takes you through lakes, gorges and streams. What you would love the most is the greenery of the deodar forests. It is a marvellous beauty to watch.

Location: The trail commences at McLeodGanj in Kangra and heads towards Triund. It crosses the Lahesh Caves and the Ilaqa Pass, further continuing to Pathankot through Chamba and Kuarsi.

Altitude: 14,245 feet.

Duration: 9 days

Difficulty Level: Difficult

People willing to explore the deep wilderness and steep inclines must go for the Kinner Kailash Circuit Trek. This is one of the toughest peaks to scale. Besides, the coexistence of Hindu and Buddhist cultures forms a distinctive feature of the trek. However, it is necessary to seek permits from the authorities, considering the sensitivity of the border area.

Location: Located in the remotest area of Himachal Pradesh, the trail lies near the Tibet border. The Sutlej River, that rises from the Kailash Parvat in Tibet, flows through this valley. This further increases the scenic beauty of the place.

Altitude: 17,200 feet.

Duration: 11 days

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Panpatia Col trek poses a probability for trekkers to lose their way during the trek. Clad with snow, the route presents the visitors with the pure views of white landscapes. If you are fond of adventure, you can try out this mysterious route. Getting a guide is highly recommended. The route connects Badrinath and Kedarnath and you need to cross the Panpatia Glacier.

Location: The Panpatia Col trek covers a number of places, including Kunaling, Balakun and Nilkantha. You can also have an experience at Ransi.

Altitude: 17,255 feet.

Duration: 14 days

Difficulty Level: Difficult

Although this trek is moderately hard, experienced trekkers can make it within 3 to 4 days. However, if you want to reach Badrinath from Delhi, it will take you another 2-3 day. For people who love moderately high treks, this is the right choice to flex their muscles.

Location: It is situated in Garhwal in Uttarakhand. The nearest airports are located at Dehradun (domestic) and New Delhi (international). The Neel Kantha Base Camp Trek is located close to the Alaknanda River Valley.

Altitude: 11,398 feet.

Duration: 7 days