Triund Trek 2026: Distance, Route Map, Height and Itinerary

The whole trek in one screen. Each figure below is expanded in the sections that follow.

The short answer people search for first: the Triund trek is about 9 km one way from McLeod Ganj, or roughly 7 km if you drive up to the Gallu Devi Temple road head and start there. Below is the full distance table from every common start point, plus the road distances to the base if you are coming from Delhi or Chandigarh. Rival guides scatter these numbers through their prose. Here they are in one place.

Getting to the base is straightforward. The nearest airport is Gaggal, also called Kangra Airport, about 13 km from Dharamshala, with flights from Delhi. The nearest broad-gauge railhead is Pathankot, roughly 85 km away, from where taxis and buses run up to McLeod Ganj. Most Delhi travellers take the overnight Volvo to Dharamshala and start walking the next morning. From McLeod Ganj it is a short 3 km drive or shared cab up to Gallu Devi Temple, where the trail proper begins. For a planned trip with transfers and a guide sorted, compare the current Triund trek packages or read the wider Himachal travel guide.

The route map is simpler than it looks on paper. From the Gallu Devi road head there is one main, well-marked trail up to the ridge, with two cafes on the way to break the climb. Here is how it unfolds.

1. Drive from McLeod Ganj to Gallu Devi Temple, about 3 km up through Dharamkot. This is the road head, and the forest check post here is where you register and pay the small entry fee.
2. Walk the first gentle stretch through oak and rhododendron forest. It is shaded and mostly easy for the first couple of kilometres, a good warm-up.
3. Reach the Magic View Cafe near the halfway point. This is the classic tea-and-Maggi stop, roughly 3 km in, and the last reliable food and water before the steep part. Above it the trail opens out and the Dhauladhar comes into full view.
4. Climb the 22 curves, the set of tight switchbacks that make up the steepest section. Take it slow; this is where the 1,000 m of gain is felt. Snowline Cafe sits near the top of this stretch in season.
5. Top out on the Triund ridge at about 2,850 m. A wide grassy shoulder opens with the Kangra valley falling away on one side and the snow peaks of the Dhauladhar rising on the other. Most people spend an hour here, or stay the night at a registered camp.
6. Descend the same way to Gallu Devi, or take the alternative line down through Bhagsu Nag to see the Bhagsu waterfall on the way back.

Experienced trekkers use Triund as a launch pad for the harder stretch beyond, up past Laka Glacier and the Lahesh Cave toward the Indrahar Pass at about 4,342 m. That is a serious high-altitude route and needs a guide, gear and acclimatisation. For a first Triund trip, the ridge itself is the goal.

Triund sits at roughly 2,850 m (9,350 ft), with about 1,000 m of climb from the Gallu Devi road head. That height is what makes the views work: you are high enough to be level with the lower Dhauladhar snow, but not so high that altitude is a real worry for a fit walker. The grade is easy to moderate. The first 5 km are gradual and forgiving, then the 22 curves turn steep for the last stretch to the ridge.

Who can do it? Fit beginners, families with older children, and anyone who walks regularly will manage it with breaks. You do not need technical skill or prior trekking experience in the dry months. What you do need is steady legs for the switchbacks and enough water. In winter, from roughly January to March, snow and ice on the upper section make it harder and you should carry traction and, ideally, go with someone who knows the trail. It is not a dangerous trek in the usual season, but the monsoon makes the path slippery and is best avoided.

The best time to do the Triund trek is March to June, when the weather is mild and the rhododendrons are out, and again September to November after the monsoon, when the air is clear and crowds thin. If you specifically want snow, January to March puts white on the upper ridge, though the climb is tougher and colder. July and August bring the monsoon, when the trail is slippery and views are lost in cloud, so most guides advise against it. The ridge is cold and exposed after dark year round, so carry a warm layer even in summer.

On the question searchers ask most often in 2026, is the Triund trek open now: yes, the day trek is open through most of the year, with the monsoon the only stretch worth planning around. The overnight rules have changed, though, and it is worth knowing before you go. To protect the ridge, pitching your own tent on the open grassland at the top has been restricted. Overnight stays are now at the registered campsites run by licensed operators and at the Forest Department rest house, rather than wild camping wherever you like. A small forest entry fee, around Rs 50 per person, is collected at the Gallu Devi check post, and there is no separate permit needed for Indian trekkers on the standard day route. Confirm the current camping arrangement and fee with your operator when you book, since the forest office reviews these each season.

Can the Triund trek be done in one day? Yes. At about 9 km one way and four to five hours up, a reasonably fit walker can start early from McLeod Ganj, reach the ridge by midday, and be back down by evening. If that is your plan, leave by 7 am, carry lunch and water, and turn around by mid-afternoon so you are off the steep section before dark.

That said, the overnight version is the one most people remember. Reaching the ridge for sunset, watching the Dhauladhar turn gold, sleeping under a sky thick with stars and waking to sunrise over the peaks is the whole reason the trek has the following it does. If you have the time, keep two days for it and stay at one of the registered campsites. Book the camp in advance in peak season, because the licensed sites fill fast on weekends.

A few ground-truths save you trouble. Mobile network is patchy above Gallu Devi. You will get signal in McLeod Ganj and Dharamkot and the odd bar near the ridge on some networks, but plan to be largely offline once you start climbing, so download offline maps and tell someone your plan. Basic washrooms exist at the cafes and near the campsites at the top, but they are simple, so carry your own tissue and a small bag to pack out any litter.

For food and water, the Magic View Cafe roughly halfway up and Snowline Cafe near the top sell tea, Maggi, water and simple meals in season, but do not rely on them being open off-season or late in the day. Carry at least two litres of water per person and refill where you can. There is no ATM past McLeod Ganj, so draw cash in town for the fee, the cafes and the camp. Wear proper trekking shoes with grip, not sneakers, especially if there is any snow or damp on the switchbacks.

Day 1: McLeod Ganj to the Triund ridge

Start with an early breakfast in McLeod Ganj and drive the short 3 km to the Gallu Devi Temple road head. Register at the forest check post, then set off through the oak and rhododendron forest that shades the first couple of kilometres. Reach the Magic View Cafe around the halfway mark for tea and a rest, refill your water, then take on the 22 curves, the steep switchbacks that carry you up to the ridge. Aim to reach the top by mid to late afternoon so you can settle into your camp, watch the sun drop behind the Dhauladhar, and have dinner around the fire as the valley lights come on far below. The night sky here, well away from town glow, is the highlight for many trekkers.

Day 2: Sunrise, Laka Glacier viewpoint and the descent

Wake for sunrise over the snow peaks, which is worth the cold start. After breakfast, strong walkers can take the short onward climb toward the Laka Glacier viewpoint above Triund for a closer look at the Dhauladhar ice before turning back. Otherwise, begin the descent. Come down the way you climbed to Gallu Devi, or take the alternative route through Bhagsu Nag so you can finish at the Bhagsu waterfall, a good spot to cool off. You will be back in McLeod Ganj by early afternoon with time for a proper lunch. From here it is easy to add a night in McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala before heading on.

Triund is the rare Himalayan trek that a first-timer can finish in a day yet still feel they earned. Nine kilometres up from McLeod Ganj, a ridge at 2,850 m, the Dhauladhar close enough to touch and a night sky most city trekkers never see. Go in spring or after the monsoon, start early from Gallu Devi, and keep two days if you can spare them for the camp. When you would rather have the stay, the guide and the campsite arranged for you, browse our Triund trek packages or plan the wider trip with our Himachal tour packages.