Grading of Himalayan treks

Check this list for your choice of “difficult or hard  grade” treks in the Indian Himalayas.

Note:

• Ideally a person should consider attempting a hard trail having multiple prior high altitude experiences, preferably 4/5 times.
• S(he) must be having good physical fitness to sustain multiple days on high altitude.

We consider the following attributes to be qualified as a Difficult trek.”

• Trekking Duration: Should be between 8 to 15 days of walking.
• Trail Length: More than 80 Km and up to 150 Km.
• Trekking time per day: On an average 6/7 hours per day. There can be a be multiple days or back to back days of hiking for 10 hours or more.
• Physicality: Between 8/10 to 9.5/10 in a relative scale of 10.
• Altitude reaching : 4500 m  to 6000 m ~ 20000 ft. Will involve multiple camps over 4000 m/13000 ft.
• Altitude gain per day:  1000-1200 m /3500-4000 ft in any strenuous day.
• Trail type: Defined or undefined trail with possible surprises. May require you to adapt or manoeuvre on tricky sections, especially on high altitude.  The trail may contain walking on different type of terrains like boulders, scree, mud, snow, ice, moraine etc.

Check this list for your choice of “easy grade” treks in the Himalayas.

We consider the following attributes to classify a trek as ‘Easy trek.”

• Trekking Duration: Should not be more than 5 days of walking.
• Trail Length: Within 50 Km.
• Trekking time per day: On an average 5 hours per day. There can be a day of 3/4 hours walk and an odd day with 6/7 hours.
• Physicality: Up to 5.5/10 in relative scale.
• Maximum altitude: Within 13000 ft/4000 m.
• Altitude gain per day: Within 2000 ft/600 m per day. Rarely you may have to climb more.
• Trail type: Wide well defined trail. No tricks or manoeuvres required. It does NOT involve walking on different type of terrains like boulders, scree, mud, snow, ice, moraine etc.

As per fitness required for easy treks, you must be having an active daily routine. Meaning, you should be comfortable walking 3 Km in 30 minutes with a load of 5/6 rucksack.

For your first Himalayan trek, these are the most suitable option. You will get choice of treks in Darjeeling/Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir/Ladakh. Many of these treks are equally charming even if you have done prior treks in the Himalayas.

Most of these treks require you to camp, i.e. to stay in tents. Few treks are Tea House or Homestay style treks where you will stay in small lodge/homestay accommodations.

We recommend some of these as family friendly treks, where you can take your kids as well.

Choosing right season for the trek is equally important. There is a trek for every season, be it spring/summer, fall/autumn, winter or even in monsoon.

Below is the list of Easy grade treks in Himalayas. Do check the upcoming treks schedule for which are already scheduled.

Check this list for your choice of “moderate grade” treks in the Himalayas.

We consider the following attributes to classify a trek as ‘Moderate trek.”

• Trekking Duration: Should be between 5 to 8 days of walking.
• Trail Length: Within 80 Km.
• Trekking time per day: On an average 6/7 hours per day. There can be a day of 4/5 hours walk and an odd day with 8/10 hours.
• Physicality: Between 6/10 to 7.5/10 in relative scale.
• Maximum altitude: Within 16500 ft/5000 m.
• Altitude gain per day: Up to 3500 ft/1200 m per day on a strenuous day.
• Trail type: Defined trail with occasional surprises. May require you to adapt or manoeuvre on tricky sections.  The trail may contain walking on different type of terrains like boulders, scree, mud, snow, ice, moraine etc.

Himalayan expeditions (apart from a peak summit) which may require use of basic technical equipment or scrambling on trail.