Best places for a first trip to the Himalaya

Mussoorie, Shillong and Darjeeling lead a list of 20. If you have never been to the mountains, start here: easy to reach, forgiving, and still the real thing.

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. 1Uttarakhand · DehradunMussoorie2,290 m, easy, 2–3 days.The 'Queen of Hills' above Dehradun — Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Camel's Back Road and the Mall.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Heavy weekend traffic and crowds; Landour next door is far calmer.
2. 2Meghalaya · East Khasi HillsShillong1,965 m, easy, 2–3 days.A hill capital of pine ridges, cafes, live music and colonial-era lanes.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Traffic jams in town; the best of Meghalaya is outside it.
3. 3Darjeeling hills · Darjeeling, West BengalDarjeeling2,590 m, easy, 3–4 days.Tea estates, the UNESCO toy train and sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec · Why not: Crowded and traffic-heavy in May–June and around Durga Puja.
4. 4Sikkim · East SikkimGangtok2,100 m, easy, 3–4 days.Sikkim's tidy hill capital — MG Marg, Rumtek monastery and Kanchenjunga on clear mornings.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec · Why not: A busy town, not a mountain retreat — use it as a base.
5. 5Kashmir · BaramullaGulmarg3,980 m, easy, 3–4 days.India's ski resort — deep powder, the Gondola to Apharwat, and meadows in summer.Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jun · Why not: Expensive in peak winter and very crowded around New Year.
6. 6Himachal · KulluManali & Solang3,978 m, easy, 3–5 days.The classic honeymoon and family hill station, with winter snow at Solang and Atal Tunnel.Best months: Dec, Jan, Feb, May, Jun, Oct · Why not: Traffic jams and crowds in peak season; it can feel like a city in the hills.
7. 7Uttarakhand · 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.
8. 8Uttarakhand · Nainital, KumaonNainital2,615 m, easy, 3–4 days.The classic Kumaon lake town — Naini Lake, the Mall Road, Snow View and Naina Peak.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Very crowded in summer and on long weekends; parking is a nightmare.
9. 9Himachal · ShimlaShimla2,454 m, easy, 3–4 days.The former summer capital of British India — the Mall, Ridge, Jakhoo temple and the toy train.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Why not: Very crowded in summer; traffic on the Cart Road is slow all day.
10. 10Himachal · Dharamshala, KangraTriund & McLeodganj2,850 m, easy, 3–4 days.A short ridge hike above McLeodganj with the Dhauladhar wall right in front of you.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Triund is crowded on weekends and camping rules change; check current permissions.
11. 11Uttarakhand · Joshimath, ChamoliAuli3,050 m, easy, 4–5 days.Snow slopes with a view of Nanda Devi, and India's best-known ski meadow outside Gulmarg.Best months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov · Why not: Snowfall is unreliable some winters; check reports before booking a ski trip.
12. 12Uttarakhand · 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.
13. 13Himachal · 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.
14. 14Uttarakhand · Chopta, RudraprayagChopta, Tungnath & Chandrashila4,000 m, easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A short climb to the highest Shiva temple in the world and a 360° Himalayan summit.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Tungnath temple is closed in winter (roughly Nov–Apr), and the meadow is busy on long weekends.
15. 15Nepal · Kaski, GandakiGhandruk Loop1,940 m, easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A short, low-altitude teahouse loop through Gurung villages below the Annapurna South face.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb · Why not: Popular with domestic Nepali groups on weekends; can be busy.
16. 16Nepal · Myagdi, GandakiGhorepani Poon Hill3,210 m, easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A short teahouse trek to a famous sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec · Why not: The sunrise viewpoint is crowded in peak season.
17. 17Uttarakhand · 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.
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. 19Nepal · Kathmandu Valley, BagmatiBhaktapur & Patan1,400 m, easy, 2–3 days.The two best-preserved Newari cities in the valley — Durbar Squares, courtyards and metalwork alleys.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Entry fees for non-Nepalis are steep, and both squares are earthquake-restoring in places.
20. 20Uttarakhand · DehradunChakrata2,300 m, easy, 2–3 days.A secluded cantonment above the Yamuna with Tiger Falls, deodar forest and Chilmiri Neck.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov · Why not: Military area restrictions on some roads, and very limited stays.