Best places to camp in the mountains

Barot Valley, Kanatal & Dhanaulti and Bangus Valley lead a list of 20. Meadows, lakesides and forest clearings where a night in a tent is the highlight.

Ranked from our own destination data on season, difficulty, altitude, cost and who each place suits. Not paid for, and not the same as “most popular”.

1. 1Himachal · MandiBarot Valley2,200 m, easy, 2–3 days.A hidden Uhl-river valley of trout hatcheries, deodar forest and the Rajgundha trek.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Basic facilities and a slow 3-hour drive from Mandi or Jogindernagar.
2. 2Uttarakhand · Tehri GarhwalKanatal & Dhanaulti2,590 m, easy, 2–3 days.Forest and meadow country on the Mussoorie–Chamba road, with camping and ziplining.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Nothing grand — it is a forest-and-camp destination, not a peak destination.
3. 3Kashmir · KupwaraBangus Valley3,300 m, easy to moderate, 3–4 days.A vast twin meadow — Bodh Bangus and Lokut Bangus — ringed by fir forest near the LoC in Kupwara.Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep · Why not: Remote, near the LoC, and requires a long rough drive plus local coordination.
4. 4Uttarakhand · Barsu, UttarkashiDayara Bugyal3,639 m, easy to moderate, 5–6 days.Rolling alpine meadows at 3,600 m with a gentle gradient — the friendliest high-altitude trek in Garhwal.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Not a summit trek — you go for the meadow, not for a peak.
5. 5Uttarakhand · Sari, RudraprayagDeoria Tal2,438 m, easy to moderate, 3–4 days.A short climb to a forest lake that mirrors Chaukhamba on a still morning.Best months: Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, May, Jun · Why not: Very small; combine it with Chopta or Tungnath or it's over in a day.
6. 6Himachal · KangraKareri Lake2,934 m, easy to moderate, 3–4 days.A shallow freshwater lake at 2,934 m below the Minkiani Pass, through cedar and rhododendron forest.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: The last 3 km from the village to the lake is a steep, relentless climb.
7. 7Himachal · Manali, KulluBeas Kund3,690 m, moderate, 4–5 days.A short trek from Solang Nala to the glacial source of the Beas, under Indrasan and Deo Tibba.Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: Sold as a beginner trek, but it gains 1,600 m in two days.
8. 8Himachal · Naggar, KulluChandrakhani Pass3,660 m, moderate, 4–5 days.A crossover trek from Naggar over a 3,660 m pass into the Malana side of Parvati Valley.Best months: May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: The descent into Malana is steep and the village has strict local rules.
9. 9Meghalaya · West Jaintia HillsDawki & Shnongpdeng200 m, easy, 2–3 days.The glass-clear Umngot river on the Bangladesh border — boating, riverside camping and kayaking.Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Water is only clear roughly November–April; Dawki itself is crowded.
10. 10Uttarakhand · Pantwari, TehriNag Tibba3,022 m, easy, 3 days.A two-day weekend trek a few hours from Dehradun, with a camp under the stars.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Modest views compared to the high Himalaya, and the trail can be littered on busy weekends.
11. 11Kashmir · GanderbalNaranag & Gangbal Lake3,570 m, moderate, 4–5 days.An old temple village at the trailhead for the Harmukh trek, ending at the twin lakes of Gangbal and Nundkol.Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep · Why not: Steep forest climb on day one and rough camping above the treeline.
12. 12Kashmir · Aru, PahalgamTarsar Marsar4,000 m, moderate, 7 days.Twin alpine lakes ringed by snow peaks, quieter than Great Lakes.Best months: Jul, Aug · Why not: Short season; weather turns fast on the pass.
13. 13Kashmir · Pahalgam, AnantnagTulian Lake3,800 m, moderate, 4–5 days.A small glacial lake at 3,800 m above Aru, usually done as an overnight camp from Pahalgam.Best months: Jul, Aug, Sep · Why not: The trail is faint and unmarked in places; only viable June to September.
14. 14Uttarakhand · Lohajung, ChamoliBrahmatal3,734 m, easy to moderate, 6–7 days.A winter trek with frozen lakes and close views of Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.Best months: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar · Why not: Longer journey to the trailhead — about 10–11 hours by road from Kathgodam or Rishikesh.
15. 15Himachal · Manali, KulluDeo Tibba Base Camp4,480 m, difficult, 6–7 days.A high meadow trek to the base of Deo Tibba (6,001 m) beside the blue Chandratal lake.Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep · Why not: Long days over moraine; the lake is above 4,400 m.
16. 16Sikkim · Khangchendzonga National ParkGoechala4,600 m, difficult, 10–11 days.The classic trek to a viewpoint at the foot of Kanchenjunga, through rhododendron forest and Dzongri.Best months: Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Long and hard, with cold high camps and frequent cloud.
17. 17Kashmir · Sonamarg, GanderbalKashmir Great Lakes4,200 m, difficult, 8–9 days.Seven days over high passes between turquoise alpine lakes — often called India's most beautiful trek.Best months: Jul, Aug · Why not: Long days, three passes around 4,000 m, and a short July–September window.
18. 18Uttarakhand · Sankri, UttarkashiKedarkantha3,810 m, easy to moderate, 6 days.The classic first winter trek: pine forest, snow camps and a summit sunrise over the Garhwal range.Best months: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar · Why not: It is the most crowded winter trek in India — camps are packed on weekends and around New Year.
19. 19Kashmir · Aru, AnantnagKolahoi Glacier4,300 m, difficult, 6–7 days.A hard trek from Aru up the Lidder valley to the largest glacier in Kashmir, under Kolahoi peak (5,425 m).Best months: Jul, Aug · Why not: Rough, unmarked in places, and only viable in a narrow July–September window.
20. 20Ladakh · Changthang, LehPangong Tso5,360 m, easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A 130 km long high-altitude lake that changes colour through the day, reached over Chang La.Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep · Why not: Nights at 4,250 m are cold and hard on sleep. It is busy with day-trippers in peak season.