Nag Tibba is undoubtedly an ideal beginner trek in India, well suited for all age groups especially young kids who can be introduced to nature & hiking with this adventurous beginner trek in Uttarakhand. Nag Tibba trek is an easy to moderate gradient trail which is a mix of dry & rocky path and forest walk. The total distance from Pantwari to Nag Tibba summit is 9 km. So on Day 1 , one has to just cover 4-5 km to reach campsite and remaining distance on Day 2 which makes it pretty easy for young kids & first timers.

​A Great Weekend Trek – Weekend Destination

Nag Tibba has now earned its place as one of the best weekend treks near Delhi due to good road connectivity to Dehradun/Mussoorie & further to Pantwari. Yes, one can complete this amazing weekend trek near Dehradun-Mussoorie within 2 days. Dehradun is well connected via road, rail & air to Delhi. It is recommended that one can take an overnight Uttarakhand Transport Volvo to Dehradun & then take a taxi or shared jeep to Pantwari to start the trek on Day 1. Pantwari village has all the necessary infrastructure needed for Nag Tibba trek like mules, local guides, packed food from shops & basic camping equipment. All this has made Nag Tibba one of the best weekend treks in Uttarakhand.

All Season Trek – All Year Round

Nag Tibba is a trek which can be done in all seasons & all year round. The weather in this region is never too harsh to make the trek undoable. In winters, its a great snow trek as there is a lot of snow in the higher reaches of Nag Tibba mountain from December to March. During summer months May & June, the weather is quite pleasant & perfect for camping and star gazing. During the rainy season from July to Sept, there is a good amount of rainfall which makes the Nag Tibba region a lush green paradise for adventure lovers who like forest walks, photography etc. In fact the rainy season has an altogether different & unique essence for the Nag Tibba trail. Truly, Nag Tibba is a trek for all seasons.

Scenic Pantwari Village – Meet Real People

Nag Tibba trek starts from small village Pantwari situated in the Tehri – Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Pantwari is about 96 km from Dehradun, roughly a 3 hr drive in the hills via Mussoorie & Nainbagh. Pantwari village, at an altitude of 1,350m has an amazingly scenic landscape. It has great panoramic views of surrounding hills & huge agricultural fields below. If you are not on a tight schedule or time bound, you can spend a complete day exploring this scenic hamlet in the mountains. Village culture, customs, agriculture, food & cuisines – watching all this closely is a great life experience.

Great Village Lifestyle – Rich Cultural Heritage

The trail for the Nag Tibba trek actually starts from Banasari village, which is just twin village of Pantwari, located a little above it. As you start the trail from Banasari, you will see a big Gramsabha gate and two small temples in the village dedicated to Maa Durga & Nag Devta (the snake God). Besides village houses, you will see big animals shelters which the villagers have made to rear cattle like buffaloes, cows, mountain goats & mules. You will be amazed to see this rich village lifestyle which so well adapted to mother nature !

Adventurous Forest Trail – Flora & Fauna

Nag Tibba trek has an adventurous forest trail which comes after 3 km of dry & rocky path. The trail enters a forest of Oak, Devdar, Rhododendron which like walking into a scenery & a great detox for your lungs. After fresh snowfall, the forest appears to be covered in a white blanket. In March & April, you can see Rhododendron trees in full bloom. They carry a red coloured flower which is used to make a great tasting cold juice called “Buraans”. The forest walk becomes more adventurous & pristine once you cross the Nag Tibba base & Nag Devta temple. During the winter months this 2 km trail to the Nag Tibba summit is covered with good amount of snow.

Nag Devta Temple – Dedicated to Snake God

After crossing the first 2-3 km forest path, you will reach the Nag Tibba base, a huge clearing which is used for camping & also has a Forest Dept. hut. On the eastern edge of this clearing there is a beautiful temple dedicated to Nag Devta (snake God). Locals worship Nag Devta for the protection of their crop & cattle. The temple has a small “kund” water source which is always filled with clean underground water. It is local belief that one should first seek prayers at the Nag Devta temple & then head towards the Nag Tibba summit or “Jhandi” above.

Nag Tibba Summit – Panoramic Himalayan Views

Nag Tibba peak, at a height of 3,022m (9,915ft) offers great views of Himalayan peaks like Gangotri, Bandarpoonchh, Kedarnath, Swargarohini, Nanda Devi, Chuakhamba etc. You will be amazed to see this breathtaking panoramic Himalayan view which will compel you to spend more time on the Nag Tibba summit. It is recommended that hikers should reach the summit as early as possible in the morning to have a clear Himalayan view.

Nag Tibba trek has a challenging dry & rocky trail on a moderate gradient for the first 1.5 km on Day 1. This rocky trail starts right from the village Bandasari as you start the trek. It can be a bit strenuous especially if you are hiking on a bright sunny day or in summers. This part of the trail will make you sweat even in winters (especially the first 900 m initial ascent). It is highly recommended to keep yourself well hydrated & carry only a moderate size backpack on this kind of trail. One should also be extra careful while walking over this path which has rocks & little boulders. In fact, this rocky trail is the only difficult & challenging part of the Nag Tibba trail. Once you cross this rocky part of the trail, the path becomes almost flat & then eventually turns into a much easier forest trail.

Forest Trail

The trek has a beautiful forest trail which will give you a sense of nature walk & insight into Himalayan flora & fauna. After you cover the 2-3 km of dry & rocky path, the trail enters a forest after ascending through 2-3 big grass clearings. You will find yourself nature walking through dense forest of oak, devdar, rhododendron trees. This forest trail is great adventure especially if you are interested in Himalayan vegetation, wildlife or photography. The forest trail stretches all the way upto the Nag Tibba summit with some small grass clearings & a huge flat clearing near the Nag Devta temple (Nag Tibba base).

Nag Tibba – All Season trek

Nag Tibba is an all season trek & can be easily done in all weather conditions. Nag Tibba region is mostly moderate in terms of weather conditions in all seasons. This easy trek in Uttarakhand has a different charm in every season. In winters, you experience a snow trail in the higher reaches of the mountain while in summer season, the pleasant weather, cold breeze & clear skies will force you to camp out. During monsoons (rainy season), the Nag Tibba region appears to be covered in green carpet, perfect for photography.

Winter Trek

In winter, there are ocassional showers in lower reaches of the trail & in village Pantwari while it snows moderate to heavily beyond the Nag Tibba base. During winters, one can have a dual experience of forest trail as well as snow trail as there is a high chance of snow beyond the Nag Devta temple. In winters if its raining at village Pantwari, then sure its snowing on the higher reaches of the Nag Tibba mountain. For a winter trek to Nag Tibba, especially if one is camping out, one must have all the essential winter clothings like inner thermals, warm lowers, sweat shirts, jacket, woolen cap, gloves etc. For hiking up during day time on Day 1 though, you will still feel hot & sweaty, even in winters.

Summer Trek

Nag Tibba trek is best weekend getaway near Delhi if you want to escape summer heat of the metro and have a quick & easy Himalayan detour. You can spend a complete day in the scenic village Pantwari & explore the surroundings in the pleasant weather. On the higher reaches of the Nag Tibba mountain, even during the day time, there is always a cold breeze. It is a perfect time to camp out under the clear skies, great for star gazing. Nights are ofcourse a little cold due to the altitude of the mountain.

Rainy Season

Nag Tibba trek has a unique charm in the rainy season, as the whole region turns into a lush green valley. The Nag Tibba mountain normally receives a good amount of rainfall which turns the trail into a green path. One can spot many species of Himalayan ferns & rare birds especially during monsoons. The initial dry & rocky trail turns a bit slushy & slippery so one should be extra cautious. Once you cross this patch & enter the forest trail, it becomes a visual treat giving you a sense of magnificent scenery & natural detox. It is a must to carry a rain jacket & a rain cover for your backpack in this season. The trek to Nag Tibba in the rainy season is a great opportunity for photography lovers to capture this mountain when its lush green & full of life.

Season’s first snowfall at Nag Tibba

Nag Tibba mountain received this season’s first snowfall on the night of 16th Nov and early morning on 17th Nov. According to our local team based at village Pantwari, it started with a light drizzle in the evening. In winters, when it rains in the lower reaches then it definitely snows on the upper side of the Nag Tibba mountain – this is the rule of thumb that the locals use to ascertain weather. However, the news of the first snowfall was conveyed to us by one of our team members in the village who went to Nag Tibba trek with a small group of hikers. Nag Tibba winter trek is one of the best snow treks in India that you can do on a weekend. According to weather forecast, more snowfall is expected on Nag Tibba in the coming days. So get ready for Nag Tibba Snow Trek . .

24th Nov 2022

Trekkers enjoy season’s first snow trek to Nag Tibba

The snowfall early this week has compelled many trekkers from Delhi NCR and surrounding region to arrive for the season’s first snow trek to Nag Tibba. Big & small trek batches of many trek operators as well as individual trekkers started from village Pantwari for the Nag Tibba snow trek today. Everyone was excited to see the first snow patches on the Nag Tibba trail. According to some local forest guides, the first snow patches started from the forest trail near the Kathian base campsite as expected. Trekkers were seen enjoying on the snow patches by throwing snow at each other. Many young trekkers & beginners were thrilled to see the snow trail for the first time. It will be great if everyone realises the importance of the pristine mountains and the responsibility to keep them junk free. More snowfall to come in the following days . .

26th Dec 2022

Snow Trek to Nag Tibba on Christmas Weekend

Nag Tibba became a hotspot for weekend trekkers on this Christmas weekend 23rd-24th Dec. The long weekend due to Christmas holiday on Monday made the adventure seekers from Delhi & adjoining areas to rush for the Nag Tibba snow trek. Trekking groups of all the major trek operators along with a number of solo or independent trekkers culminated at the starting point, village Pantwari on 23rd Dec morning. According to the local guides & trek operators, there were more than 200 trekkers on the Nag Tibba trail on Christmas weekend. All the major campsites en route Nag Tibba like Buranstikhol, Kathian & Nag Tibba base were occupied by several camps of different trek operators. As per the feedback from the local guides, trekkers had a great time camping overnight and on the snow trail beyond Nag Tibba base.

28th Jan 2023

Nag Tibba Snow Trek on Republic Day Weekend

More than 700 trekkers from different trek operators converged on the weekend snow trekking destination of Nag Tibba on long weekend starting on Republic Day 26th Jan to 28th Jan 2023. Nag Tibba mountain received heavy snowfall on night of 23rd Jan, so there was atleast 1-2 feet of snow beyond the Nag Tibba base much to the delight of trekkers who had come in the hope of an adventurous snow trek. In fact, the snow beyond the Nag Devta temple was so dense that many trekking groups went only upto the temple area & came back. But many trekkers from professional trekking companies like TrailHikers, went all the way upto the Nag Tibba peak inspite of the heavy snow on the slopes under the guidance of our special forest guides who made sure that all our trekkers had a safe & adventurous snow trek to the Nag Tibba summit (3,022m).

Mussoorie is fast becoming an ultimate adventure destination due to its pristine hill side, pleasant weather and geographical location. Day hikes near Mussoorie are the best way to explore the secluded and naturally preserved mountains around Mussoorie. Whether you are a beginner to trekking or an experienced hiker, Mussoorie has a perfect day hike for you. Benog hill, Bhadraj forest and Chhaskhet nature trail are the best short treks near Mussoorie.

TrailHikers organises group as well as custom day hikes near Mussoorie which include meals, forest permits and professional trek guide.

Who can do day hikes near Mussoorie ?

Day hikes near Mussoorie are ideal for people of all age groups. Most of the short treks near Mussoorie are perfect for beginners, kids & senior citizens. Minimum age for these treks is 5 years.

Benog Hill Trek

Benog Hill is located around 11.5 km west of Mussoorie. Also known as Benog Tibba locally, its 2,250 m from sea level which makes it one of the highest mountains around Mussoorie. Benog Tibba trek starts from Clouds End, which is 7 km or 15 minutes drive from Mussoorie. As you reach Clouds End, a well labelled forest sign board on the right side of the road marks the beginning of this amazing forest trail. Clouds End to Benog hill peak is 4.5 km trek one side and a 9 km trek overall which makes it perfect for adventurers looking for short treks near Mussoorie.

For the first 1.5 km, you will descend up to the base of the Benog Hill peak. This part of the trail which takes around 15-20 mins for an average hiker, makes you realize the beauty of unspoilt forests around you. As you keep descending, you will reach an umbrella shaped tin shed and a sign board put up by the forest department. The sign board shows 3 km up hill trek to Benog Hill peak. This umbrella shed place is called Andheri. From Andheri, there is also one trail going down towards the Mussoorie Wildlife Sanctuary and forest office.

Take the trail going up and trek 3 km up hill through the forested hill which will bring you to the Benog Hill, which also has Jwala Devi temple on top. Benog Tibba provides a 360 degree views which include higher Himalayan peaks to the north, river Yamuna to the west, Mussoorie city to the east and the beautiful Doon valley to the south. An amazing forest walk, secluded trail and panoramic views from the mountain top make Benog Hill one of the best day hikes near Mussoorie.

Itinerary

• Report at Clouds Ends at 9:30 am
• Our trek leader / guide will meet you there
• A short trek & safety briefing
• Trekkers are given snacks, juices & packed lunches for the trail
• Day trekking from 9:45 am to 3:00 pm
• Back to Clouds End by 3:00 pm – END OF TREK
• Drive back to hotel

Bhadraj Forest Trek

Bhadraj trek is one of the most popular short treks near Mussoorie. Bhadraj Hill (2,200 m) is located about 15 km west of Mussoorie. One can start the Bhadraj trek from Clouds End but the actual trek starts from village Dudhli, which is 3 km down hill. You can choose to drive till Dudhli village which is roughly 10 km from Gandhi Chowk in Mussoorie. From Dudhli village, a cemented trail goes all the way up to the beginning of the Bhadraj forest. Until recently, this was a natural forest path, but due to the huge foot fall of devotees at the Bhadraj temple during the 3-day annual fair in mid August, it was converted into cemented trail a few years ago.

Though the cemented patch takes away the charm of natural trail but still the Bhadraj forest trail ahead is worth doing. As you start climbing higher from Dudhli, you will notice a contrasting feature on this mountain which is quite surprising. The northern slopes of the Bhadraj mountain are thickly forested while the southern slopes are almost bare grasslands. After trekking up around 1 km from Dudhli, there comes a huge grassy clearing with a small pond ( if its rainy season) which a serves as a great resting place for trekkers. On a clear day, you can also catch a glimpse of higher Himalayan peaks from here. From here, a steep climb of 750 metre will bring you to the much needed forest trail which is almost a flat forest walk up to the Bhadraj hill.

Walk on this amazing forest trail through the dense Bhadraj forest and cherish your moment in nature. After a 2 km forest walk, you will reach a huge clearing which also has a cemented shed. This place is used to set up shops during the 3-day annual fair at Bhadraj Hill in mid August. A zig zag climb of 250 m further will take you to the Bhadraj temple. Bhadraj peak is just 50 m climb to the right. Bhadraj hill gives magnificent 360 degree views of Doon valley to the south, Yamuna to the west, Mussoorie to the east & the higher Himalayan peaks to the north. No wonder, Bhadraj trek is one of the most adventurous day hikes near Mussoorie.

Itinerary

• Report at Clouds Ends at 9:30 am
• Our trek leader / guide will meet you there
• A short trek & safety briefing
• Trekkers are given snacks, juices & packed lunches for the trail
• Day trekking from 9:45 am to 3:00 pm
• Back to Clouds End by 3:00 pm – END OF TREK
• Drive back to hotel

Chhaskhet Trek

Chhaskhet is a beautiful mountain village located about 12 km from Mussoorie. The trail to Chhaskhet village (1,800 m) starts from Clouds End which is 7 km from Mussoorie. You can drive up to Clouds End and park your vehicle near the Clouds End Forest resort. As you start on the cemented trail near the resort, it takes a turn towards west and descends steeply for about 500 m after which there is a diversion point. From here, the trail to the right goes to village Dudhli and the trail to the left goes to village Chhaskhet. Take the left path which descends gradually through the scenic pine forest.

As you march further on this trail, you will realize the beauty of this unspoilt hill side near Mussooorie. If one is looking for short treks near Mussoorie, one should start with the Chhaskhet Nature trail. Chhaskhet trail has several small & beautiful grassy clearings amidst pine trees which will compel you to stop, take a little breather or take a photo for sure. For most part of this trail, you will see the Bhadraj mountain in the background to the west.

After hiking 1.5 km, there comes a point where this cemented trail narrows down & bifurcates into two paths. The left one goes to village Bhulyat and the right one to village Chhaskhet. If you look carefully towards the forest on the west, you will also notice a small trail through the forest which joins this place to village Dudhli. Anyways, take a right turn and trek through the amazing tree line of oak, deodar & pine trees for 3 km to reach your destination – Village Chhaskhet. If lucky, you might spot the mountain goat ‘Ghural’ or the barking deer ‘Kakar’ in the nearby forest. Chhaskhet nature trail is one the most highly recommended day hikes near Mussoorie during rainy and winter season.

Itinerary

• Report at Clouds Ends at 9:30 am
• Our trek leader / guide will meet you there
• A short trek & safety briefing
• Trekkers are given snacks, juices & packed lunches for the trail
• Day trekking from 9:45 am to 3:00 pm
• Back to Clouds End by 3:00 pm – END OF TREK
• Drive back to hotel