14 Offbeat Treks In India And Absolutely Everything You Need To Know About Them

Here's our comprehensive list of 26 awe-inspiring offbeat treks in India and a detailed guide to each one of them that will help you zero in on your next adventure trek. May you see the unseen and frequent the unfrequented.

1. The Phuktal Monastery Trek, Ladakh, J&K

@kanglapass - flickr / Via adventuren.com

A trek to this remote Himalayan jewel named, 'The Phuktal Monastery' tops our list of offbeat treks in India. It is the most isolated Buddhist monastery sequestered in Lungnak valley, which is the most remote valley of Zanskar, Ladakh. It looks as if a huge honeycomb structure has been built on the opening of a large cave on a cliff above the Tsarap river.

2. The Kugti Pass Trek, Himachal Pradesh

365hops.com / Via adventuren.com

The beauty about this trek is that it is virtually unexplored. Kugti Pass is located near the scenic hamlet of Kugti in Himachal Pradesh. This trek climbs up to 16,600 feet, which makes it a challenging high altitude trek. Not many trekkers are acquainted with the Kugti Pass trek though it exhibits all the glory of any great Himalayan trek

3. The Parashar Lake Trek, Himachal Pradesh

mstravelbee.com / Via adventuren.com

A trek to this offbeat lake holding a great sense of aesthetic pleasure is a must. It is a hidden jewel in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is in its best form in the winters when the lake with its deep blue waters is frozen and encircled by snow capped peaks. Adjacent to the lake lies a three storied pagoda structured temple which is dedicated to Sage Parashar.

4. Tarsar Marsar Lake Trek , J&K

konnectholidays.com / Via adventuren.com

A distinguishing aspect about the beauty of this trek is that it takes you to not one but two beautiful lakes in Kashmir, surrounded by the towering Kolahoi mountains, named the Tarsar and the Marsar lake. These lakes are similar in nature and hence known as twin lakes.

5. The Dodital Trek, Uttarakhand

euttranchal.com / Via adventuren.com

This trekking destination in Uttarakhand is a bonus for all the angling enthusiasts out there. It involves camping along the pristine Dodital lake, which is regarded as an Angler’s paradise as the crystal clear waters of the lake are full of glorious fish like the famous and rare Himalayan golden trout. You can actually see the famed trout swimming in the clear waters of Dodital in large numbers.

6. Chandra Taal Trek, Himachal Pradesh

National Geographic / Via adventuren.com

A place that goes by the name that literally means ‘The Moon Lake’ has to be a place of spellbinding beauty and also one of the offbeat treks in India laid out by us. It is situated in the Spiti part of the Lahaul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.

7. Roopkund Trek, Uttarakhand

wikipedia / Via adventuren.com

The Roopkund trek is one of the offbeat treks in India specifically the Indian Himalayas. It is famed for its extravagant landscapes and riveting stories surrounding the place. Roopkund is a high-altitude glacial lake and the folklore surrounding this lake is spine-chilling and attracts the interests of many adventure enthusiasts. It is called the ‘skeleton lake’ because there were human skeletons found lying at the edge of the lake which are visible even today when the snow melts.

8. Valley Of Flowers, Uttarakhand

wikipedia / Via adventuren.com

Though famed as an ultimate picturesque site, the Valley of Flowers is on our list of offbeat treks in India. Who wouldn’t be driven to trek to a valley that is perfectly manicured with beautiful and colourful profusions of exotic flowers all over. The valley of flowers located in the Bhyundar Valley Of Chamoli district offers just that.

9. Chadar Trek , Zanskar, Ladakh

nileshukey.com / Via adventuren.com

The Chadar Trek, a winter trail in the Zanskar region of Ladakh is the most off-beat and thrilling of all trails. In winters, the Zanskar river gets frozen and the other road to Zanskar valley is closed, making this frozen river the only way to get to the valley. It is called the ‘Chadar Trek’ because it involves nearly a week’s walking on this extensive blanket of ice.

10. Kheer Ganga Trek, Himachal Pradesh

avnishdhoundiyal.com / Via adventuren.com

The beauty of this trek is at its zenith majorly because it is virtually unexplored and untouched and that is the prime reason behind having this trek on our list of offbeat treks in India. Kheer Ganga is a hidden gem cloistered in the Parvati valley Of Himachal Pradesh. It is a small village nestled in the slopes of a mountain. Spiritually, it is also regarded as a sacred meadow where Lord Shiva is believed to have meditated for 3.000 years.

Get to know all the details and a list of other trekking destinations in India in our List. Check out this list of Offbeat treks in India