India Uttarakhand is the perfect way to experience the contrasting culture and landscapes of Northern India. Explore the vibrant city of Jaipur bursting at the seams with busy markets before heading to Agra where you can visit the beautifully iconic Taj Mahal. Contribute to positive community development in rural areas outside of Rajasthan, or up in the hillside tribal villages. Challenge yourself on your trek to the high peaks, past lakes and even glaciers. If you’re looking for a blend of Bollywood with majestic mountains, Uttarakhand is the destination for you!

TerrainUttarakhand is predominantly mountains with high altitude pine forests and areas of exposed rock.

LanguageIndia’s official language is Hindi, but you may hear some English too. There are over a thousand dialects across the country!

ClimateVery cold winter from below 0ºC up to 15ºC. March-June is much more pleasant at about 30ºC. Meanwhile, July-September is hot and humid, with heavy rain.

Time zone GMT +5/5:30

AccommodationTypical accommodation includes hostels and tents.

The best time to go: All year round, the main season runs September-January

Uttarakhand

“Reaching the top of the mountain was absolutely spectacular, the views were breathtaking, but chilling in the temple at the top was my favourite part. Hours felt like minutes, it was silent and that’s all you wanted to hear.”Dylan, Challenger

CHINA

Ganges

INDIA

AgraJaipur

New Delhi NEPAL

Nainital

Hardiwar

Rishikesh

Jim Corbett N.P.

Mussoorie

Pindari Glacier

Kuari Pass

ExploreThere are several short day treks out of Nainital that will help you acclimatise to the culture and climate here before you start your main trek. You could walk to Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa or head to Snow View where you’ll get an amazing chance to look out over the lake and surrounding hills.

Consider either the Roopkund trek or Rantham Pass. These treks vary from 5 to 14 days in length and all offer stunning views of the Indian Himalayas. Altitudes of 5000m plus can be reached in this mountainous region, and during your trek you’ll pass fascinating, sacred sites as you ascend towards the ‘home of the gods’.

Challenge yourself

Our In-Country Agent for India Uttarakhand is Siddarth. Having worked with us as since 2008 he’s as dedicated as they come. Sid grew up in Uttarakhand’s wilderness and his knowledge of the area is unrivalled.

On this expedition, teams will live and work with local communities in the Uttarakhand highlands or Rajasthan carrying out maintenance work in school buildings. There may also be opportunities to get involved in community awareness programmes relating to health, education and environmental issues.

Contribute Chill outNorth India offers endless opportunities for rest and relaxation. Visit the famous Taj Mahal in Agra – one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and explore the buzzing markets in Jaipur. These are perfect for picking up bargain souvenirs, and truly experiencing the traditions and culture of the area.

We first visited Buggad, a small hillside community, in 2015. There are numerous projects our teams are involved with in the village, including helping to create a more sustainable water supply, creating small brick incinerators to manage waste and interacting with the children in the local primary school either teaching or playing sports.