Winter Treks in Shimla

Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, is a popular destination for winter treks. Each of these winter trek tours in Shimla offer a range of trails that cater to both beginners and experienced trekkers.

The Mural Danda Trek is one of the best winter treks in the Pabbar Valley of Himachal Himalayas, taking you across snow carpet meadows and varied winter landscapes. The Churdhar Trek is another exciting trail that takes you to the highest peak in the outer Himalayan range at an altitude of 3655 meters.

Kufri Trek tops the list of beginner-level winter treks in Shimla that offers an exciting adventure with family. The Hatu Peak Trek in Narkanda is a moderate trek that takes you through steep curves, muddy paths, and hairpin bends.

Chail Trek is a scenic and quiet little village near Shimla, offering some of the best vantage points in all of Himachal. The Karol Tibba Trek is another popular trek that offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Kiala Forest is one of the best least-explored winter trek tours in Shimla that is situated in the Kotkhai valley on the outskirts of Shimla. The trek takes you through dense forest where you can witness diverse flora and fauna. The Shali Tibba Trek is an easy trek that provides a magnificent vantage point for a panoramic 360-degree view of Himachal Pradesh.

Best Winter Treks in Shimla

1) Mural Danda Trek:

This is one of the lesser known winter treks in Shimla that takes you through dense forests, meadows, and rugged terrain in the Pabbar valley. The trek takes you to a maximum altitude of 13,999 feet from where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges. The highlight of this trek is the caves that you will find en route.

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

Duration: 4 Days

Maximum Altitude: 14,000 ft

2) Churdhar Trek:

This easy to moderately challenging trek starts from Phalhi and ascends to the Churdhar Peak. The trail traverses through several dense pine forests, Gujjar pasture lands, and streams. Once you reach the top, you will be rewarded with mesmerizing views of Badrinath, Kedarnath, The Gangetic basin and Sutlej River. You can plan this trek in the early winter month of November as it remains closed from December to February due to heavy snow.

Difficulty Level: Easy To Moderate

Duration: 4 Days

Maximum Altitude: 12,000 ft

3) Kufri Trek:

Winters turn Kufri into a snowland with temperatures dipping to -5°C to -10°C. You can traverse through dense forests, meadows, and quaint villages amidst thick blankets of snow and enjoy winter treks in Shimla. Kufri is a major hub for winter sports and activities in Shimla. Once you reach Kufri, indulge in various snow sports like skiing, donkey rides, Tobogganing, and go-karting.

4) Hatu Peak Trek:

During winters, Hatu Peak and its surroundings are completely blanketed in snow. The Hatu Peak trek to the peak starts from Narkanda and unwinds through pine forests, meadows, and rugged terrain. Once you reach the summit of Hatu Peak, marvel at the surreal beauty of snow-covered peaks of Kinnaur and other mountains of the Spiti region. Both beginners and experienced trekkers can embark on these moderately difficult winter treks in Shimla.

Difficulty Level: Easy To Moderate

Duration: 2 Days

Maximum Altitude: 11,152 ft

5) Chail Trek:

Snow in Chail starts late December and continues till March. You can enjoy adventurous winter treks in Shimla under extreme cold conditions in Chail. The most popular trek trails in Chail are Chail to Gaura and Chail to Jhajja. Chail has several sightseeing attractions like Lover’s Hill and Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir and activities like skiing and paragliding for you to have fun and enjoy.

6) Narkanda Trek:

Located at an elevation of around 2700 meters, the entire town of Narkanda gets coated with a thick sheet of snow in winters. From Narkanda, you can hike through snow-covered trails amidst towering coniferous trees and proceed towards Hatu peaks. This is one of the best winter treks in Shimla to enjoy a surreal winter trekking adventure without crowds.

7) Karol Tibba Trek:

Karol Tibba Trek is another least-explored winter trek in Shimla that takes you on a captivating journey through the snow-covered alpine forests and meadows. En route to the peak, you can explore the ancient caves and reach the summit of Karol Tibba at 9186 feet. From there, you can enjoy witnessing Kinnaur peaks and the surrounding valleys being blanketed in snow as far as your eyes can see.

Difficulty Level: Very Difficult

Duration: Around 7 Hours

Maximum Altitude: 20,000 ft

8) Kiala Forest Trek:

Located within the Kotkhai valley in Shimla, the Kiala Forests has thick and coniferous forests and native Himalayan wildlife. Snow is a rarity in Kiala forests and hence this is one of the easy Shimla winter treks. During your trek through the dense forests, marvel at the incredible landscapes and various species of birds, leopards, and deer.

9) Shali Tibba Trek:

Shali Tibba (9,423 feet) is one of the highest peaks in Shimla During the winter months, Shali Tibba and its surroundings transform into a winter wonderland. You can enjoy this Shimla winter trek from Khatnol village through dense forests, meadows, and rugged terrain and reach the peak. Once atop, soak in the breathtaking views of the snow-clad Himalayan ranges like Churdhar, Kinnaur Kailash, and the Pir Panjal.

Difficulty Level: Easy To Moderate

10) Sipur Trek:

Seepur is an untouched place that is located just 12 kms from Shimla. You can enjoy the Seepur trek in winter by descending down from the quaint village of Charabara. The bubbling fresh water streams of Seepur look mesmerizingly beautiful and a trek to this hidden gem near Shimla is truly one of the best Shimla winter treks.