Escape the Ordinary: Alternatives to 5 Most Famous (& Crowded) Places for Trekking In Himalayas

Are you familiar with these lines from Robert Frost’s poem – ‘The Road Less Taken’?

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Everyone seems to be bogged down with only a handful of trekking in Himalayas not realising that Himalayas are the largest mountain ecosystem on the planet, so there is no dearth of options with fab and glitter!

Himalayas are a treasure trove of the most beautiful treks on Earth. Any trail you choose, you will stumble upon great adventures and enthralling views, but not all treks get equal attention of trek operators. Some of these treks require to carry special logistics which not every trekking organiser does. Or some of these trails are so challenging that it doesn’t appeal to the masses.

There are some trails people haven’t even heard of. That doesn’t mean these options for trekking in Himalayas don’t exist. Not only will you get lesser crowds on these treks, but a true feeling of being in the wild.

If, like me, you are also fed up of the same old list of popular treks, then here are your alternatives that are not just better than the famous ones but also give you the real feeling of trekking in the wild.

Thank me later for suggesting these offbeat alternatives for trekking in Himalayas:

1. Kedar Taal Trek ​in place of Roopkund

Well I cannot say more about the crowds of Roopkund trek. Everyone know the queues involved in the trek but why is it such a likeable option in the first place? It's got greenery, a high altitude lake, moderate grade, and almost a 360-degree view from the top. What if I tell you that there is a gem called Kedar Taal waiting in the hinterlands of Uttarkashi region that offers you a high altitude lake, grandest views of some of the most admirable peaks in the world, involves glaciers on the way, along with one of the densest Birch forests of the world! The icing on the cake is the spider wall that makes Kedar Taal a high adrenaline option.

Vital Stats:

Maximum altitude:​ 4,800m

Peaks visible: Mt. Thalay Sagar (6,904m), Mt. Meru (6,672m), and Mt. Bhrigupanth (6,772m)

Read more about Kedar Taal trek here.

2. Bali Pass Trek​ in place of Rupin Pass

While Rupin Pass is already a popular choice, Bali Pass is still a virgin trek with more exciting challenges and undulating beauty. The ever changing scenery and trails of the trek will blow your mind. There is a lot of snow in the monsoons that requires technical equipment to climb the pass. The descent of Bali Pass will give even the most experienced of trekkers a heart-in-your-mouth feeling. And you get views of Swargarohini and Bandarpunch by close quarters. The trails are rich in flora-fauna and mythological tales.

Vital Stats:

Maximum altitude:​ 4,949m

Peaks visible:​ Swargrohini 1 & 2, Banderpunch, Dhumdar Kandi, White Peak, and Kala Naag

Read more about Bali Pass trek here.

3. Pangarchulla Peak Trek​ along with Kuari Pass

Why I say ‘along with’ is because Pangarchulla Peak shares its trails with Kuari Pass. And if you are doing this in April and May, you might even need some technical equipment to climb the peak. If you have never climbed a peak before, make this one your maiden. Pangarchulla Peak offers a great lesser known opportunity for trekking in Himalayas.

Vital Stats:

Maximum altitude:​ 4,480m

Peaks Visible: ​Nanda Devi, Neelkanth, Chaukhamba Massif, Hathi Godha, Dronagiri, Trishul, Kamet, and Mana

Read more about Pangarchulla Peak trek here.

4. Deo Tibba Base Camp​ in place of Hampta Pass

Located in the same region of Himachal Pradesh, Deo Tibba base camp matches the standards of Hampta with a much higher adventure quotient. What is unique on this trek are the snowclad views of Mt. Deo Tibba, Indrasan Peak,and Inderkilla. Base camp of the Deo Tibba mountain peak is a mesmerising place because of the sheer possibilities it showcases. When you have a grand peak staring at you from such a close proximity, you know you are there! It's a stunning sight to say the least. And if you are worried of missing out on Chandratal Lake, there is a Mini Chandratal on Deo Tibba too.

Bali tour package for couple

Vital Stats:

Maximum Altitude:​ 4,480m

Peaks Visible:​ Mt. Deo Tibba, Indrasan Peak, and Inderkilla

Read more about Deo Tibba Base Camp trek here.

5. Panwali Kantha Trek​ in place of Kedarkantha

The neglected Panwali Kantha Trek gives you rarest views of complete range of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath mountain peaks which even Kedarkantha fails at. And there are not one, but SEVEN sprawling meadows on this trek all laden with snow. It is also popular for its spectacular sunsets and Blue Himalayan Goat which are a rare sight. Panwali Kantha sweeps away with victory any day.

Vital Stats:

Maximum altitude:​ 3,500 m

Peaks Visible: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath mountain peaks, Thalay Sagar, Meru, Kirti Stambh, Chaukhambha, and Nilkanth

Read more about Panwali Kantha trek here.

So what are you thinking about then? Time to be Robert Frost and go for these offbeat places for trekking in Himalayas!

If you've already been to a stunning trek, do share your experience on Tripoto and inspire 25 million other travellers to go on a trek.

In association with Bikat Adventures.

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