Auli travel guide
Ski town
Auli is a premier Himalayan ski destination in Uttarakhand, renowned for snow-covered slopes, cable cars, alpine meadows, and panoramic views of Nanda Devi and surrounding peaks, attracting winter sports enthusiasts, trekkers, and nature lovers seeking adventure, scenic beauty, and high-altitude experiences throughout the year.
Best time to visit Auli
Jan–Mar for snow and skiing; Apr–May and Oct for clear views and meadow walks. Jul–Aug is monsoon, with landslides on the road up from Rishikesh.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | good | -6–5 °C | 35 mm | medium | Snow likely; nights well below freezing; skiing season under way |
| February | good | -5–6 °C | 40 mm | high | Deep snow likely; busy with snow visitors |
| March | good | -2–10 °C | 35 mm | medium | Snow thins towards month end; cold nights |
| April | best | 2–15 °C | 30 mm | medium | Clear days, cold nights; patches of snow on the meadow |
| May | best | 6–18 °C | 50 mm | high | Mild days and clear views; school-holiday crowds |
| June | good | 9–20 °C | 110 mm | high | Green meadows; showers build up and the monsoon sets in late |
| July | avoid | 11–18 °C | 260 mm | low | Heavy rain; landslides can block the Rishikesh–Joshimath highway |
| August | avoid | 11–18 °C | 230 mm | low | Rain most days; cloud hides the peaks; slides on the highway |
| September | mixed | 9–17 °C | 130 mm | low | Rain easing but landslide risk remains; views improve late |
| October | best | 4–14 °C | 25 mm | medium | Crisp, clear views of Nanda Devi; cold nights |
| November | good | 0–11 °C | 5 mm | low | Cold and dry; nights close to freezing |
| December | good | -4–8 °C | 10 mm | high | Cold; snow likely on upper slopes; busy at New Year |
How many days to spend in Auli
Two days cover Auli Lake, Gurson Bugyal and the viewpoints; a third adds the Tapovan hot springs and Joshimath.
How to reach Auli
- By air: Dehradun/Jolly Grant (DED) — 340 km by road. Nearest airport; the road runs via Rishikesh
- By train: Rishikesh (RKSH) — 260 km by road. Nearest hill-gate station; Haridwar (HW) has more trains
- By road: From Haridwar — 290 km. Road runs via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Joshimath
Getting around
Auli lies above Joshimath; taxis run up from Joshimath. A ropeway also links the two, so check it is running. Sights on the slopes are reached on foot.
Things to do in Auli
- Kedarnath — Temple (5 h · Free entry)
- Badrinath — Temple (3 h · Free entry)
- Ski Resort Auli — Skiing (5 h · Paid entry)
- Gangotri — Temple (3 h · Free entry)
- Ropeway To Auli — Ropeway (1.5 h · ~₹1,000 (two-way))
- Nanda devi view point — View (30 min · Free entry)
- Gurson Bugyal — Meadow (4 h)
- Shri Tungnath Temple, Panch Kedar — Temple (5.5 h · Free entry)
- Chopta — Meadow
- Gaurikund — Temple
- Joshimath — Town
- Deoria Taal — Lake (5 h)
- Kasar Devi Temple Almora — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary — Wildlife (4 h · ₹150)
- The Himalayan Cottage — Views
- Auli Laga Joshimath — Town
- Kuari Pass Trek — Trek (8 h)
- Vishnuprayag — Prayag
- Chandrashila — Summit (7 h · Rs 150)
- Vasudhara Falls — Falls (4.5 h · Free entry)
- Harsil — Valley
- Rudradhari Waterfall — Falls (2 h)
- Gori Kund Hot Spring Venue Tapovan — Village (1 h · Free entry)
- Shri Kalpeshwar Temple, Panch Kedar — Temple (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Madhyamaheshwar Temple Trek — Temple
- Kalpeshwar Waterfall — Temple (3 h · Free entry)
- Sonprayag — Prayag
- Auli — Pass (4 h · Paid entry)
- Anasakti Ashram — Ashram (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Urgam — Valley
- Rohini Bugyal — Meadow (6 h)
- Kausani Tea Estate — Tea (1 h)
- Auli lake — Lake (1 h · Free entry)
- Hanuman Chatti — Temple
- Golf Course Ranikhet — Golf (1.5 h)
- Haidakhan Babaji Temple — Temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Sari Village — Village (2 h · Free entry)
- Phata — Helipad
- Baniyakund — Village
- Kausani — Market
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Auli?
Jan–Mar for snow and skiing; Apr–May and Oct for clear views and meadow walks. Jul–Aug is monsoon, with landslides on the road up from Rishikesh.
How many days are enough for Auli?
2–3 days. Two days cover Auli Lake, Gurson Bugyal and the viewpoints; a third adds the Tapovan hot springs and Joshimath.
How do I reach Auli?
By air: Dehradun/Jolly Grant (DED) — 340 km by road. Nearest airport; the road runs via Rishikesh. By train: Rishikesh (RKSH) — 260 km by road. Nearest hill-gate station; Haridwar (HW) has more trains. By road: From Haridwar — 290 km. Road runs via Rishikesh, Rudraprayag and Joshimath.
What are the top things to do in Auli?
Kedarnath, Badrinath, Ski Resort Auli, Gangotri, Ropeway To Auli, Nanda devi view point.
Plan your Auli trip
Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.
Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store
Guide checked on 2026-10-06.