Winter Treks in Himachal 2026–27: What's Actually Open Dec–Feb

24 January 2026: Manali Got 45.8 cm of Snow. Our Phones Didn't Stop Ringing.

On 24 January 2026, Manali woke up under 45.8 cm of fresh snow, according to IMD. By breakfast, our phones were buzzing. Every caller asked a version of the same question: "It's snowing! Which trek can we do this weekend?"

For most of the famous Himachal treks, the honest answer was "none". Hampta Pass, Sar Pass and Bhrigu Lake are summer high passes and lakes. In January they sit under metres of snow. Meanwhile, most "best winter treks" lists online are written about Uttarakhand, with a Himachal trek or two added at the end. Few of them say which Himachal trails are actually open.

We live and work in Manali. This guide is our honest status board for winter 2026–27. It shows what's open, what's open with limits, and what's closed. You'll also see the official closures, last winter's snow data, and the Uttarakhand options we'd send you to instead.

"In Himachal, winter trekking isn't about going higher. It's about choosing the trails that stay low enough to stay open."

Last Winter in Himachal, in Numbers

Snow in the Himachal Himalayas arrives in bursts, not as a steady season. Here's what the official record showed.

Two lessons from last winter. First, snow can be scarce for weeks, then arrive all at once. Second, December is busy in Kullu even without much snow, because the valley draws winter visitors anyway.

The Himachal Winter Status Board (Dec–Feb)

Use this as your starting point. ✅ means open with a guide. ⚠️ means open with real limits. ❌ means closed or unsafe for normal trekking.

Altitudes come from our itineraries and published sources. Conditions change after every snowfall, so treat this board as a plan, not a guarantee.

✅ The Winter Treks in Himachal We'd Actually Book

1. Buni Buni + Kheerganga — Snow, Forest Camp and a Hot Spring

Best for: your first snow trek in Himachal, with a reward at the top.

This 2N/3D trek starts at Barshaini in the Parvati Valley. You camp the first night at Bunbuni, a forest camp above Kalga village. On Day 2 you reach Kheerganga before 10 AM for a soak in the Parvati Kund hot spring. Night 2 is in a village stay below, because overnight camping at Kheerganga has been banned since July 2024 (The Tribune).

• Price: ₹4,000 + 5% GST, minimum 3 trekkers

• Snow: likely in January; last winter Kasol itself had snow on 28 January

• Full winter guide: [Kheerganga Trek in Winter](https://globaleventstravels.com/blog/kheerganga-trek-from-kasol-route-hot-springs-cost?utm_source=Winter Treks in Himachal 2026–27: What's Actually Open Dec–Feb)

• Book: [Buni Buni + Kheerganga trek page](https://globaleventstravels.com/treks/buni-buni-kheerganga-trek?utm_source=Winter Treks in Himachal 2026–27: What's Actually Open Dec–Feb)

2. Bunbuni Overnight — The Shortest Snow Camp in Himachal

Best for: a weekend with one night in a snowy forest.

Bunbuni is a 6–7 km climb each way from Barshaini through pine and deodar forest. You camp, watch the stars, and walk back the next morning. It stays well below the altitude where AMS becomes a concern. In deep snow, we confirm each batch individually.

• Price: ₹1,999 + 5% GST

• Winter status: ask on WhatsApp before you book trains

3. Patalsu Peak — A Real Snow Summit Above Solang

Best for: fit trekkers who've done at least one snow trek.

Patalsu Peak rises to about 4,220 m above Solang Valley, near Manali. It's short but steep, and in December–February deep snow makes the summit day long and demanding. Because it goes above 4,000 m, get a medical fitness check before booking. If it's your first time at this height, choose a longer trek with more acclimatization days.

• Price: on WhatsApp

• Compare: [Patalsu Peak Trek vs Kedarkantha](https://globaleventstravels.com/blog/patalsu-peak-trek-vs-kedarkantha?utm_source=Winter Treks in Himachal 2026–27: What's Actually Open Dec–Feb)

📞 Not sure which Himachal trek is open on your dates? WhatsApp +91 63833 13359 from anywhere in India. Our Manali team checks the trail that week and tells you straight.

⚠️ Open With Limits: Read Before You Go

Triund (Kangra)

Triund, above McLeodganj, is a short, popular trek that many people walk in winter. After heavy snow, the upper trail can become icy and hard to follow, so groups often turn back below the top. We don't run Triund, but it's a fair choice if you're already in Dharamshala and the weather is settled.

Prashar Lake (Mandi)

Prashar Lake can be beautiful under early-winter snow. However, the Mandi district administration has banned winter trekking to Prashar Lake, Kamrunag and Barot in past winters because of sudden snowfall and rescue risks (The Tribune). Check whether a current order is in force before you travel.

Jalori Pass and Serolsar Lake (Kullu)

These walks above Jibhi depend on the road over Jalori Pass. After heavy snowfall, that road is often blocked. Check road status locally in Jibhi or Banjar before planning a trek here in winter.

❌ Closed or Unsafe From December to February

• Hampta Pass, Sar Pass, Bhrigu Lake and Beas Kund: these are high summer routes. In winter, deep snow buries the trails, campsites and water sources. We run them from spring to autumn only.

• Churdhar: the Chopal administration has banned travel to Churdhar from 1 December until April, warning of strict legal action against violators (The Tribune).

• Anything beyond Rohtang: Rohtang Pass normally closes to vehicles from mid-November to May (The Tribune). The Manali–Leh route was shut from 20 November last year (News18).

Want a Big Snow Summit? Look Across to Uttarakhand

Here's the honest truth from a Himachal-based team. Himachal's big-name treks are high passes that close in winter. For a classic multi-day snow summit between December and February, Uttarakhand usually has better options. We run these too.

Choose Himachal if you want snow plus Manali or Kasol on the same trip. Choose Uttarakhand if the summit itself is the point.

Safety Rules for Any Himalayan Winter Trek in Himachal

• Log your plan: Himachal Pradesh runs an official Trekking Management System where you can tell authorities your route in advance.

• Check district orders: Kangra made registration compulsory on 10 high-altitude routes during monsoon 2026 (The Tribune). Districts can issue winter orders too, so check before you go.

• Altitude sickness (AMS): Patalsu goes above 3,500 m, where AMS risk rises. Headache, nausea or breathlessness at rest means you stop and tell your guide.

• Medical check above 4,000 m: Patalsu reaches about 4,220 m, so get a fitness check before booking it.

• Weather windows change: last winter's snow came in a few big storms. We reconfirm conditions before every batch.

• Never trek a closed route. Rescues in deep snow are slow and dangerous for rescuers as well as trekkers.

🚀 Let Our Manali Team Pick Your Winter Window

🔥 Last winter's biggest snow fell in a single week (24–28 January). Keep your dates flexible, tell us your window, and we'll book you onto the trail that's actually open.

Global Events Travels 📍 Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India 📞 +91 96000 36667 (Call or WhatsApp +91 63833 13359) 🕘 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, 7 days a week ❄️ Buni Buni + Kheerganga ₹4,000 · Bunbuni ₹1,999 · Patalsu on request · Dayara ₹6,500 · Kedarkantha ₹7,500 (all + 5% GST)

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