Walking in India travel tips
Visa information
The visa application process to enter India for a holiday is pretty simple and inexpensive now. UK citizens are among one of 113 nationalities able to apply for the 'e-Visa'. Apply and pay online for holidays of 60 days max, make sure your passport has six months’ validity from the date of your arrival in India, that it has at least two blank pages for stamping upon entry, and apply a minimum of four days before you travel. For more information, see Indian Visa online website.
Where to go
Jennifer Cox, from our India walking holidays supplier, Exodus, shares her top tips for trekking in India:
Where to go
“My personal favourites for hiking in India are Ladakh, Sikkim, and the little-known Kumaon region. In Kumaon, we run our Nanda Devi Trek. It’s very isolated and each time our groups pass through, they seem to end up in the local newspaper as it’s so rare to get groups of foreigners walking there. For someone thinking of going walking in India for the first time, our Singalila Ridge trip is a relatively gentle trek, with great mountain views and some sightseeing. Our hiking holiday in Ladakh is a lovely mix of walking and villages, with time to discover the ancient monasteries in Leh as you acclimatise.”
Our India walking Holidays
Singalila Ridge trekking holiday in India
Classic trek along the Singalila Ridge
From
£3349 to £3799
16 days
inc UK flights
Binsar to Jageshwar walking holiday, India
Thrilling, tailor-made walking trips in the Indian Himalayas
From
£1100 to £1400
12 days
ex flights
Western Ghats walking tour in India
Rain Forest trek through bio-diverse Western Ghats, India
From
US $630
5 days
ex flights
Darjeeling & Sikkim trekking holiday
Trek in Sikkim & Darjeeling
From
£1600 to £2000
12 days
ex flights
Walking and cycling holiday in Kerala, India
Walking and cycling through rain forests and grasslands.
From
£890
8 days
ex flights
Sikkim circular trekking & culture holiday, India
A rewarding circular trek, not the standard up & back route
From
£1700 to £1800
17 days
ex flights
Cultural tips
Cultural tips
“It’s important to be respectful of the local culture and customs. Dress conservatively – loose trekking trousers are preferable or a long skirt for women. Shorts are not really appropriate for women. For men, if wearing shorts they should be below the knee. Tight leggings are not appropriate for men or women. Please also cover your shoulders and avoid tight or revealing tops. Talk to local people and say hello as you pass through villages – we encourage you to interact and have exchanges with the locals.”
Ladakh walking tips
Ladakh walking tips
Valerie Parkinson, tour leader from our specialists, Exodus says:
“Don’t expect five star luxury in Ladakh – there are good hotels and simple guest houses but be prepared for basic accommodation outside of Leh, but no bars or pubs. If you love trees and forests don’t go to Ladakh. It is a wonderful mountainous desert with a wonderful landscape of multi coloured barren mountains – blues, purples, greens and browns – the mountains shine in the high altitude light but there are not many trees.”
Packing tips
Jonny Bealby from our supplier, Wild Frontiers
Packing tips
“In terms of what to pack think trekking and adventure, so plenty of layers, with lightweight and slightly heavier fleeces, some good walking boots and probably walking poles. You’ll probably need a head torch and the like as you are almost bound to do some camping. And I really advise carrying a LifeStraw self-filtering water bottle. So many tourists go to Ladakh and work their way through literally hundreds of plastic bottles. If you have one of these brilliant devices you can cut that out completely.”
Altitude tips
Altitude tips
“First and foremost, beware of the altitude in Ladakh, for example, particularly if flying in from Delhi. The difference in altitude is over 3,000m which is pretty intense and needs to be managed. As such take the first couple of days very easy: walk around Leh, sit on rooftops enjoying the amazing views, drink plenty of local tea and don’t do too much – at most visit the Indus Valley monasteries but not much more. And avoid lots of heavy red meat, it’s much harder to digest at altitude.”
Himalayas walking tips
Himalayas walking tips
Puran Bhardwaj, Director of our locally run Indian Himalayas walking holidays supplier, Expedition Leaders. Puran is also author of the wonderful book The Himalayan Bond, between Man and the Environment:
“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.”
Our top India walking Holiday
Singalila Ridge trekking holiday in India
Classic trek along the Singalila Ridge
From
£3349 to £3799
16 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2023: 6 Oct, 20 Oct
2024: 29 Mar, 4 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct
2023: 6 Oct, 20 Oct
2024: 29 Mar, 4 Oct, 18 Oct, 25 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about India walking or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Health & safety while walking in India
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Tips from our travellers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. 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 India walking holiday tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
Beautiful walks through tea plantations, forests and grasslands with knowledgeable, courteous and attentive guides.![]()
– Linda Blanchard, walking in Kerala
“Kanha Tiger Reserve was also good experience. We stayed at Sherger, a really welcoming, luxury tented camp with excellent food… I wouldn't miss a stay at Bhoramdeo. There are a lot of interesting things to do in that area and you could easily spend 4 or 5 days there. If you want a trip away from the usual tourist sites, or a rest from being in tourist areas on a longer trip, I would definitely choose this.” - Patti Wallace, walking in Chhattisgarh, Central India
“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!!! Don't expect lots of snow peaked mountains, as these are not the Himalayas, but gorgeous none the less! A great way to trek in the mountains without a load of other tourists!” – Ellie Hawksley, in the Markha Valley
“We weren't fit enough to do the trek up the mountain and cycling up hill was hard for us, but our guide adapted to our needs and transport always available to rest our feet. We are both over 65!” – Liz Huelin, walking in Kerala
“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!!! Don't expect lots of snow peaked mountains, as these are not the Himalayas, but gorgeous none the less! A great way to trek in the mountains without a load of other tourists!” – Ellie Hawksley, in the Markha Valley
“We weren't fit enough to do the trek up the mountain and cycling up hill was hard for us, but our guide adapted to our needs and transport always available to rest our feet. We are both over 65!” – Liz Huelin, walking in Kerala
I wouldn't miss a stay at Bhoramdeo. There are a lot of interesting things to do in that area and you could easily spend 4 or 5 days there![]()
Patti Wallace, walking in Chhattisgarh, Central India
“Beautiful walks through tea plantations, forests and grasslands with knowledgeable, courteous and attentive guides. I had a problem with breathlessness and was escorted every step of the hills. We learnt so much about the wildlife, landscape, agriculture and the local people…India's cash free policy is a nightmare and in rural areas ATMs are rare in urban areas queues can be 15 deep. I used Barclays whose policies left me penniless for two days so take a card from a provider who will register your trip before you depart.” – Linda Blanchard, walking in Kerala
“Pack lightly! I brought a huge suitcase and then wore the same three things all holiday!” – Collette Lyons, walking in Kerala
“I think it would have been useful to have had either a local sim card in our phones or one with internet. We just had our simple UK phones which were expensive to use and we did need to check up with our tour operator every now and then about what time and when we were doing things. If you have the choice May is probably not the best month to go it is a bit too hot to get the best of this trip but this was the only time we could go and still had a wonderful time... We had 2 lovely guides who were great company and very knowledgeable. We shall remember this holiday for a long time and would love to go back.” – Fiona Walden, walking in Binsar, Himalayas
“Check the weather carefully as can be much wetter than the historic averages suggest. Rain never spoilt our days but does mean wildlife is harder to see.” – Des Jarrett, walking in Kerala
“Pack lightly! I brought a huge suitcase and then wore the same three things all holiday!” – Collette Lyons, walking in Kerala
“I think it would have been useful to have had either a local sim card in our phones or one with internet. We just had our simple UK phones which were expensive to use and we did need to check up with our tour operator every now and then about what time and when we were doing things. If you have the choice May is probably not the best month to go it is a bit too hot to get the best of this trip but this was the only time we could go and still had a wonderful time... We had 2 lovely guides who were great company and very knowledgeable. We shall remember this holiday for a long time and would love to go back.” – Fiona Walden, walking in Binsar, Himalayas
“Check the weather carefully as can be much wetter than the historic averages suggest. Rain never spoilt our days but does mean wildlife is harder to see.” – Des Jarrett, walking in Kerala
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Read more about all the activities you can enjoy on a walking holiday in India. From mountain top temples to camping, fabulous food to photography...
Our top walking holidays in India cover a gorgeous gamut. From the Western Ghats to the stunning mountains of Sikkim or an ancient trail in Ladakh...
The challenging Markha Valley trek in Ladakh takes you through some of northern India’s most spectacular and remote Himalayan scenery, into tiny mud-brick villages dotted with so many monasteries this region has earned the name ‘Little Tibet’.
You’ll know some of India’s responsible tourism issues already, but please take time to read on as there is always something new to learn or be reminded of...
