Short treks you can do in a long weekend

Prashar Lake, Nag Tibba and Triund & McLeodganj lead a list of 17. Treks that fit into three or four days on the ground.

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 · MandiPrashar Lake2–3 days, easy, 2,730 m.A floating-island lake and pagoda temple on a high grassy bowl.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Small; one or two days is enough.
2. 2Uttarakhand · Pantwari, TehriNag Tibba3 days, easy, 3,022 m.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.
3. 3Himachal · Dharamshala, KangraTriund & McLeodganj3–4 days, easy, 2,850 m.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.
4. 4Uttarakhand · Sari, RudraprayagDeoria Tal3–4 days, easy to moderate, 2,438 m.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.
5. 5Himachal · KangraKareri Lake3–4 days, easy to moderate, 2,934 m.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.
6. 6Himachal · Parvati Valley, KulluKasol & Kheerganga3–4 days, easy to moderate, 2,960 m.Riverside cafes in Kasol and a hike to hot springs at Kheerganga.Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: Crowded and party-heavy in season; not the quiet Himalaya.
7. 7Meghalaya · Sohra, East Khasi HillsNongriat Double-Decker Root Bridge3 days, easy to moderate, 1,100 m.A steep stair-trek into a jungle valley to living bridges grown from rubber-tree roots, and the Rainbow Falls.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar · Why not: About 3,500 steps down and back up — harder than it sounds.
8. 8Himachal · Parvati Valley, KulluTosh & Kutla3–4 days, easy to moderate, 3,000 m.A steep village climb above Barshaini to Tosh, then a further walk to the Kutla meadows.Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: Heavily commercialised in season, and the road up to Tosh is rough.
9. 9Kashmir · Gulmarg, BaramullaAlpather Lake3–4 days, moderate, 4,100 m.A high alpine lake above Gulmarg, reached on foot or pony past Khilanmarg and the Apharwat ridge.Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep · Why not: Only accessible roughly June to September; snowbound the rest of the year.
10. 10Uttarakhand · Chopta, RudraprayagChopta, Tungnath & Chandrashila4–5 days, easy to moderate, 4,000 m.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.
11. 11Nepal · Kaski, GandakiGhandruk Loop4–5 days, easy to moderate, 1,940 m.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.
12. 12Nepal · Myagdi, GandakiGhorepani Poon Hill4–5 days, easy to moderate, 3,210 m.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.
13. 13Himachal · Manali, KulluBeas Kund4–5 days, moderate, 3,690 m.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.
14. 14Himachal · Manali, KulluBhrigu Lake4–5 days, moderate, 4,235 m.A steep, short climb to a high alpine lake above Manali.Best months: Jun, Sep, Oct · Why not: It gains height fast — a real altitude test, not a stroll.
15. 15Himachal · Naggar, KulluChandrakhani Pass4–5 days, moderate, 3,660 m.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.
16. 16Kashmir · GanderbalNaranag & Gangbal Lake4–5 days, moderate, 3,570 m.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.
17. 17Kashmir · Pahalgam, AnantnagTulian Lake4–5 days, moderate, 3,800 m.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.