Your First Himalayan Trek: How to Choose, Train and Prepare
Which trek to pick for your first time, a simple 6-week training plan, what a trek day actually looks like, and how to book without surprises.
28 September 2026 · 6 min read
Your first trek decides whether you'll ever do a second. Pick one that's a little harder than comfortable — not one that breaks you on day two.
Pick the right first trek
- One weekend: Nag Tibba from Dehradun, Triund from McLeodganj, or Kheerganga in the Parvati valley
- A long weekend: Kareri Lake near Dharamshala, or Beas Kund above Manali
- Five to six days: Kedarkantha or Dayara Bugyal in Uttarakhand — steady climbs, big views, and a real summit or meadow at the top
- In Maharashtra: Harishchandragad or Kalsubai — short, steep and done in a weekend
Browse by difficulty on our treks page — every trek there lists its grade, maximum altitude and distance on foot.
A simple 6-week plan
- Weeks 1–2: walk or jog 3–4 km, four days a week; take the stairs everywhere
- Weeks 3–4: build to 5 km in under 35 minutes; add squats and lunges twice a week
- Weeks 5–6: one long walk of 8–10 km with a loaded backpack each weekend; practise climbing stairs with 5–7 kg on your back
If you can walk 10 km with a light pack without being wrecked the next day, you're ready for most easy–moderate treks.
What a trek day looks like
Wake-up tea around 6 am, breakfast, and on the trail by 8. You walk 4–7 hours with short breaks and a packed or hot lunch, reach camp by mid-afternoon, and have tea and snacks. Dinner is early — around 7 — and most people are asleep by 9. Summit days start in the dark, around 3–5 am.
Booking without surprises
- Check exactly what's included: transport from which city, permits, meals from which day, tents and sleeping bags
- Ask about the group size and the leader's first-aid training
- Ask what happens if weather closes the trail — is there a buffer day?
- Budget for travel to the start point (from Delhi, Deshraah adds it for ₹1,999 both ways) and for offloading if you don't want to carry your bag