Auli is a sweep of high meadows and oak and conifer forest above Joshimath, rising from roughly 2,500 to over 3,000 metres. In winter it is India’s best-known ski resort; in the months when the Valley of Flowers is open it is green, quiet and — when the monsoon cloud lifts — blessed with a grandstand view of Nanda Devi, Dunagiri, Hathi Parbat and a whole horizon of peaks.
It is not on the way to the trek, but it is close enough to add as a night before or after, and it is a comfortable place to acclimatise.
What to see and do at Auli
Watch the peaks at dawn
Mountain views in the rainy season come early or not at all. Be outside at sunrise, when Nanda Devi often shows for an hour before the clouds build.
Walk to Gorson Bugyal
A trail climbs through oak forest from the top of the ski slopes to the broad alpine meadow of Gorson — around three kilometres each way and a gentle taste of altitude before the bigger trek.
Ride the chairlift or cable car
A chairlift serves the slopes, and a cable car of about four kilometres — among the longest in Asia — was built to connect Joshimath and Auli. The cable car was suspended after the 2023 land subsidence; check whether it is running.
Come back for snow
Skiing normally runs from about January to March, snow permitting — a different trip entirely, but worth knowing about once you have seen the slopes.
How to get to Auli
- By road: around 13–16 km of hairpins from Joshimath, 30–45 minutes by taxi.
- By cable car: from Joshimath when operating — confirm locally.
Practical tips
- In July and August expect cloud for much of the day; treat any mountain view as a bonus.
- Nights are cool even in summer. Bring the same warm layer you will need at Ghangaria.
- Hotels at Auli are spread out along the road and the slopes; check how far yours is from the meadow.
Best treks & tours for Auli
These packages are the easiest way to see Auli with a guide, transport and lodging sorted:
Village stay & treks from US$244 Urgam Valley: An Offbeat Himalayan Tour with Yoga & Treks
Five slow days in the Urgam Valley, a terraced side valley a short drive below Joshimath. It is the opposite of the crowded pilgrim trail: village homes, gentle walks and yoga. A good add-on before or after the Valley of Flowers if you have a week or more in Chamoli. No reviews yet.
- A quiet side valley off the Badrinath road below Joshimath
- Village life, yoga and easy treks
- Home of the Kalpeshwar temple, one of the Panch Kedar
Guided trek from US$450 Rishikesh: 4-Day Himalayan Deoriatal Lake & Chandrashila Trek
A four-day trek from Rishikesh to Deoria Tal, the Rohini Bugyal meadows, Tungnath and the Chandrashila summit above Chopta. It runs outside the monsoon too, which makes it a fine alternative when the Valley of Flowers is closed. No reviews yet.
- Deoria Tal lake and its mountain reflections
- Tungnath temple and the Chandrashila summit
- Meals and tented accommodation
Guided trek from US$405 Uttarakhand: Dayara Bugyal Trek (Meadow Trek)
Dayara Bugyal is a vast high meadow in the Uttarkashi district — a different valley system from the Valley of Flowers but the same kind of open alpine country. Four days from Dehradun, with one five-star review so far.
- One of the broadest alpine meadows in Uttarakhand
- Wide views of the Garhwal snow peaks
- A gentle gradient suited to beginners
