This guide is about the Aancha Top Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The best time for the Aancha Top trek is April to June or September to November for a snow-free trail, and December to March for snow. Winter days on the trek run from -2°C to 10°C and nights at the higher camps from -15°C to -5°C. Trekkaro runs this 3,818 m summit trek from September to June.
This guide covers the months and weather on the Aancha Top trek, the 6-day summit trek from Ranachatti in Uttarkashi district. Every temperature below comes from the trek page.
Which months does Trekkaro run the Aancha Top trek?
Trekkaro runs Aancha Top from September to June. There are no batches in July and August, the monsoon months. Snow lies on the trail from December to March. From April to November the trail is snow-free, though an early snowfall in late October or November is possible.
The trek page gives temperatures for three seasons, not for single months. The table below therefore repeats each season’s range for every month in it, and shows a dash where the page gives nothing.
What is the Aancha Top temperature month by month?
| Month | Batches | Day (season range) | Night at the higher camps | Snow on the trail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Yes | -2°C to 10°C | -15°C to -5°C | Snow season; deepest on the climb from Dinnala to Aancha Top |
| February | Yes | -2°C to 10°C | -15°C to -5°C | Snow on the meadows and the summit ridge |
| March | Yes | 12°C to 21°C | 5°C to 8°C | Last month of the snow season; snow on the upper trail and the summit ridge |
| April | Yes | 12°C to 21°C | 5°C to 8°C | Snow-free |
| May | Yes | 12°C to 21°C | 5°C to 8°C | Snow-free |
| June | Yes | 12°C to 21°C | 5°C to 8°C | Snow-free |
| July | No (monsoon) | – | – | – |
| August | No (monsoon) | – | – | – |
| September | Yes | Pleasant | Near 0°C | Snow-free |
| October | Yes | Pleasant | Near 0°C | Snow-free; an early snowfall is possible late in the month |
| November | Yes | Pleasant | Near 0°C | Snow-free; an early snowfall is possible |
| December | Yes | -2°C to 10°C | -15°C to -5°C | Start of the snow season; snow on the meadows and the summit ridge |
For autumn the page calls the days pleasant and gives no number. The first camp, Bamsingh, is a forest clearing at 2,804 m, and the itinerary says its nights are cool in summer and freezing in winter.
What does the trail look like in each season?
On summit morning the trail crosses the upper meadows and patches of rhododendron, then passes three small glacial lakes, which the trek page describes as still and clear on calm mornings. The page does not describe the lakes month by month, only the ground around them.
Winter, December to March
The Dinnala meadow and the summit ridge can lie under deep snow, and the camps are very cold at night. The ridge is climbed in microspikes and gaiters, one careful step at a time, and every step takes longer than in the other seasons.
Spring and summer, March to June
In March the last of the winter snow still lies on the upper trail while the rhododendrons start to bloom lower down, and in April the trail is snow-free. By May and June the Dinnala meadow is green and open, the days are warm and the nights are mild for the altitude.
Autumn, September to November
After the monsoon the skies clear, the meadows turn gold and the summit view is at its sharpest. From the top you see Bandarpoonch and Kala Nag close by, Swargarohini beyond them, and the Gangotri group, Srikanth and Jaonli on the far skyline. Nights at the higher camps drop to near freezing.
In every season the sun sets over Bandarpoonch from the Dinnala campsite on the evening before the summit. The Bandarpunch peak guide explains what that mountain is and when it stands out most clearly.
December, January or February: which winter month should you pick?
Snow lasts into March, but these three are the coldest months, with the same range on the trek page: days of -2°C to 10°C and nights of -15°C to -5°C at the higher camps. What changes is the crowd and the depth of the snow.
| Month | What Trekkaro’s trek leaders see | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| December | The start of the snow season; the trail is at its busiest from 20 to 31 December, the Christmas and New Year holiday weeks | Trekkers who can only travel in the holiday weeks |
| January | The snow is deepest on the climb from Dinnala to Aancha Top | Trekkers with an earlier Himalayan trek who want the most snow |
| February | The month the team rates highest, because the snow is at its best for walking and the trail is quieter | Anyone free to choose any winter month |
The page says this newer trail stays uncrowded even in peak season, so December is busy only by its own standard. For a winter snow summit Trekkaro recommends one earlier Himalayan trek, though it is not compulsory.
Which month is best for a first Himalayan trek?
For a first Himalayan summit, Trekkaro recommends a batch between April and June or between September and November, when the trail is snow-free and the trek suits beginners. If you have an earlier Himalayan trek behind you and want snow underfoot, pick a batch between December and March.
Snow makes every day harder and colder, and the Aancha Top difficulty and fitness guide explains what each trekking day asks of you and how to train for it. What the trek, the shared cab from Dehradun and the optional add-ons cost is set out in the Aancha Top trek cost guide.
How do you check the weather before you go?
Weather on the ridge changes from week to week, so check the forecast and warnings for Uttarkashi district before you travel. The India Meteorological Department’s Dehradun Meteorological Centre publishes a district weather forecast, district-wise warnings and a district-level nowcast; look for Uttarkashi, the district Aancha Top is in. Do this before you leave the road: Airtel and Jio work at Ranachatti, but there is little or no network on the trail after Day 1.
What should you add to your pack in each season?
The full list is in the winter trek packing list; here is only what changes with the season.
For a snow batch
Wear five warm layers: thermals, two fleece or woollen layers and the padded jacket. Carry two sets of thermal inners, a balaclava or buff for the cold summit day, a waterproof pair of gloves for snow and UV sunglasses against snow blindness. Make one of your two 1-litre bottles an insulated bottle so the water does not freeze, and fill it with hot water from the mess tent at camp. The -10°C jacket, microspikes and gaiters come with Free Trekking Gear, and you sleep in a -20°C sleeping bag on a mat.
For spring, summer and autumn
From April to June and from September to November, three to four layers are enough, with one or two fleece or woollen layers. Add a rain jacket or poncho for passing showers in spring and autumn. The open Dinnala meadow and the summit get strong sun, so pack SPF 50+ sunscreen and an SPF lip balm in any month. Whatever the season, fill at least two litres before summit day, because there is no water on the route.
See Aancha Top trek dates and book | Aancha Top trek cost | Aancha Top difficulty and fitness
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time for the Aancha Top trek?
The best time is April to June or September to November, when the trail is snow-free and the trek suits beginners. December to March is the season for a snow summit. Trekkaro does not run the trek in July and August, the monsoon months.
Is the Aancha Top trek open in December?
Yes, Trekkaro runs Aancha Top in December, the start of the snow season. Days are -2°C to 10°C and nights at the higher camps fall to -15°C to -5°C. The trail is at its busiest from 20 to 31 December, the Christmas and New Year weeks.
How cold and snowy is Aancha Top in January?
January has the same winter range as December and February: days of -2°C to 10°C and nights of -15°C to -5°C at the higher camps. It is the month when the snow is deepest on the climb from Dinnala to the top. Microspikes and gaiters, which come with Free Trekking Gear, are worn on the ridge.
Is there snow on Aancha Top in March?
Yes. Snow lies on the trail from December to March, so March is the last month of the snow season; from April the trail is snow-free. March is also when the rhododendrons start to bloom lower down.
What is the Aancha Top temperature in autumn?
From September to November the trek page describes the days as pleasant, and nights at the higher camps drop to near 0°C. The skies are clear after the monsoon, the meadows are golden and the summit view is at its sharpest. An early snowfall is possible in late October or November.
