Auli Gorson Bugyal Trek
Chamoli, Uttarakhand
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3,519 mhighest point- Max altitude
- 3,519 m
- Days
- 3 days
- Distance
- 6 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
A short day hike of about 6 km on a clear trail: a steep first stretch beside the Auli ski-lift line, about an hour of oak and conifer forest, then open meadow to the top. In winter, snow lingers in the shaded forest and makes the path slippery.
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Rishikesh → Auli (drive via Joshimath)
372 m → 2,900 m
Day 2 · highest point
Auli → Auli (via Gorson Bugyal top)
2,900 m → 3,519 m → 2,900 m
Day 3
Auli → Rishikesh (drive)
2,900 m → 372 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Auli
at 2,900 mLoading forecast…
High point · Gorson Bugyal top (Gorsoun top)
at 3,519 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Auli (nearest town: Joshimath (Jyotirmath))
- Nearest railway
- Rishikesh (Yog Nagari Rishikesh); Haridwar for more trains
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant, Dehradun
- By road
- Rishikesh to Joshimath (about 245 km, about 8 hours via Devprayag, Rudraprayag and Karnaprayag); Joshimath to Auli (about 16 km by road; check locally whether the Joshimath-Auli ropeway is running)
- Drive
- About 11 h from Dehradun
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹4,000–9,000
With an operator
₹2,500–11,000
Per person. Guided prices published October 2026: Treks and Trails India (treksandtrails.org, not linked to this site) ₹2,499 for a 2-day Gorson Bugyal trek and camping package ex-Auli; Himalayan Hikers ₹10,000 + 5% GST + ₹160 insurance for 4 days ex-Dehradun. Self-guided is an estimate ex-Rishikesh: bus or shared jeep to Joshimath and on to Auli, two nights in a guesthouse, and a local guide for the day hike. Operators include forest entry charges; the official fee could not be confirmed.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 30
Nights near 3,519 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Mobile signal in Auli; coverage on the meadow is not confirmed, so do not rely on it.
- Last ATM
- Auli (an operator says there are ATMs in Auli); Joshimath has more banks
- Nearest hospital
- Joshimath for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- Carry all water from Auli. There is a small pond on the meadow, but it is not a drinking source.
Highlights
- Close views of Nanda Devi, Kamet, Mana Parvat, Dunagiri, Hathi-Ghodi and Nar Parvat from an open high meadow
- Oak and conifer forest between the Auli ski slopes and the meadow, with a small temple where the forest opens out
- One of the easiest Himalayan day hikes, suitable for families and first-time trekkers
- Snow-covered meadow in winter and wildflowers in spring and summer
Risks
- Snow lingers in the shaded forest well after it melts on the open slopes; the path is icy in winter and muddy in the thaw.
- July-August monsoon rain blocks the Rishikesh-Joshimath road with landslides, and TourMyIndia calls it 'not a good time' for this trek.
- Overnight camping on Uttarakhand bugyals was banned by the High Court from August 2018; Indiahikes reports the Supreme Court set that order aside on 20 July 2026. Check the current local rules before planning a night on the meadow.
- Auli is at about 2,900 m; people driving up from the plains in one day can feel the altitude, so walk slowly on the climb.
Know before you go
Questions
How long is the Gorson Bugyal trek from Auli?
Operators quote about 6 km for the walk. Uttarakhand Tourism puts Gorson Bugyal around 3 km from Auli and about 1.5 km from the last ski-lift tower. One trip report took about 4 hours from the road end above Auli: two hours up, an hour on top and an hour down.
Is the Gorson Bugyal trek suitable for beginners and families?
Yes. Uttarakhand Tourism rates it easy to moderate and says families can do it, and operators describe it as one of the easiest Himalayan treks. The first stretch beside the ski-lift line is steep, and winter snow in the forest makes it slower.
When is the best time for Gorson Bugyal?
Uttarakhand Tourism suggests May-June and August-September; TourMyIndia suggests April to mid-June and October to December. Winter (December-February) brings snow on the meadow. Avoid the July-August monsoon, when landslides often block the road to Joshimath.
Can I camp at Gorson Bugyal?
From August 2018 a Uttarakhand High Court order banned overnight stays on the state's bugyals, so the usual plan has been a day hike from Auli and back. Indiahikes reports the Supreme Court set that order aside on 20 July 2026. Ask the forest office in Joshimath what is allowed now before planning to camp.
Does the trek connect to Kuari Pass?
Yes. Uttarakhand Tourism notes the Gorson meadow links to the Kuari Pass trail, and the Kuari Pass trek usually ends by walking down from Tali through Gorson Bugyal to Auli.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: ChamoliUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Joshimath for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Auli (an operator says there are ATMs in Auli); Joshimath has more banks
- Phone network
- Mobile signal in Auli; coverage on the meadow is not confirmed, so do not rely on it.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Auli Gorson Bugyal
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Auli to Gorson Bugyal Trek — Uttarakhand Tourism (official)
- Auli Gorson Bugyal Trek — TourMyIndia
- Gorson Bugyal Trek and Camping — Treks and Trails India
- Gorson Bugyal Trek - A Beautiful bugyal near Auli — Himalayan Hikers
- Auli — Wikivoyage
- Auli to Gorson Bugyal – Auli Gorson Winter Trek — Vargis Khan (trip report)
- Roopkund Trek Reopens After 8 Years: What The Supreme Court Ruling Means — Indiahikes
Photos: Vaibhav78545, CC BY-SA 4.0
