Camping & Wild Stays
Adventure
Campsites, riverside tents and the high-altitude places where a tent is the only option.
18 places
Auli
Gorson Bugyal
A high meadow three kilometres above the ski slopes, and the standard acclimatisation walk from Auli. Under snow January to March; grass and a long view of Nanda Devi the rest of the year.
Auli
Kwani Bugyal
A higher, emptier meadow beyond Gorson, twelve kilometres out and a full day there and back. Nothing on the way, so carry water and food.
Chopta (Tungnath)
Deoriatal Lake
A small lake that holds a reflection of Chaukhamba on a still morning, about two and a half kilometres up from Sari village. Camping on the far bank is permitted and is why most people come.
Patnitop
Sanasar Lake
A beautiful, offbeat satellite meadow cup enclosing a small natural lake 20 km away, popular for paragliding and wilderness camping.
Pangong Tso
Spangmik Village
The primary rural settlement on the lake banks hosting most of the luxury tented camps and local homestays.
Dawki & Mawlynnong
Umngot River (Dawki)
The famously transparent river where boats appear to float on air; popular for boat rides and riverside camping.
Bir Billing
Billing Take-off Point
Billing is the launch meadow for Bir's paragliding: a grassy shoulder at roughly 2,400 m, about 14 km and a slow 45-minute jeep climb north of Bir village. Pilots lay out their wings here and step off into the Kangra Valley, with the landing ground at Chowgan on Bir's southern edge, close to 1,000 m below. A standard tandem flight lasts around 15 to 30 minutes depending on conditions; experienced cross-country pilots use the same ridge for flights of several hours. The flying season runs from mid-September through October, when thermals are most reliable, with some flying into November and a second window in spring. The site effectively closes through the monsoon. Bir-Billing hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2015 — the first time the event was held in India — and is widely described as the country's paragliding capital. You do not have to fly to come up. Billing is a rewarding half-day trip on its own for the view across the Dhauladhar range, and it is a popular spot for camping and stargazing.
Great Himalayan National Park
Gushaini Village
The primary riverside hamlet serving as the direct gateway base camp for all tracking routes entering the national park boundaries.
Kevadia (Ekta Nagar)
Zarwani Waterfall
Inside the Shoolpaneshwar sanctuary a short drive from Kevadia, and it only runs properly during and just after the monsoon. There is an eco-campsite at the bottom and a short walk in.
Tosh
Kutla Trail
A short, scenic uphill trek from Tosh to the meadow hamlet of Kutla, popular for camping.
Dzukou Valley
Dzukou Campsite
The overnight camping ground and rest house at the heart of the valley, prized for stargazing.
Meghalaya
Dawki & Mawlynnong
Dawki and Mawlynnong sit in the southern hills of Meghalaya near the Bangladesh border, famous for the crystal-clear Umngot River and for Mawlynnong's title as 'Asia's cleanest village'. Together they form one of the Northeast's most photogenic and increasingly popular offbeat circuits. The Umngot River at Dawki is so transparent that boats appear to float on air, drawing travellers for boat rides and camping. Nearby Mawlynnong brings out a model of community cleanliness, living root bridges and a sky-walk viewpoint over the plains of Bangladesh — a uniquely sustainable destination.
Nagaland
Dzukou Valley
Dzukou Valley, straddling the Nagaland-Manipur border, is a high-altitude trekking paradise famous for its rolling green meadows and the rare seasonal Dzukou lily. A favourite among young trekkers and campers, it is the best overnight trek in the Northeast. Reached via steep forest trails from Viswema or Zakhama near Kohima, the valley opens into a surreal landscape of undulating grasslands cut by a winding stream. Camping under the stars, the monsoon bloom of wildflowers, and the sense of remote wilderness make it a rising bucket-list trek for adventure-minded travellers.
Andhra Pradesh
Gandikota
Gandikota, the 'Grand Canyon of India', is a dramatic gorge where the Pennar River cuts through red sandstone cliffs beside a historic fort. Camping on the canyon rim, exploring the old fort and temples, and the sunrise over the gorge have made it a rising offbeat adventure spot.
Karnataka
Gokarna
Gokarna is a unique coastal beach town in the Uttara Kannada district of northern Karnataka. Traditionally functioning as a vital, ancient temple pilgrimage city centered around the historic Mahabaleshwar Temple, it has evolved over recent decades into a bohemian backpacker hub. The distinct geography is characterized by rugged green rocky hills of the Western Ghats that crash directly down into the sandy shores of the Arabian Sea. The town features a unique layout split by topology: the historic old city core houses ancient brick temples and traditional Sanskrit learning centers, while a short hike across the rugged green cliffs reveals a series of five isolated, crescent-shaped sandy bays - Kudle, Om, Half Moon, Paradise, and Gokarna Beach. These beaches are populated by rustic bamboo yoga shacks, independent seafood cafes, and quiet beach camping grounds.
Himachal Pradesh
Kasol
Kasol is a small riverside village in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh that has become the unofficial backpacking capital of North India. Set along the gushing Parvati River and ringed by pine-clad slopes, it draws a young, international crowd with its laid-back cafe culture, Israeli food, trekking trailheads and famously relaxed mountain vibe. Kasol functions as the base camp for the wider Parvati Valley circuit, with treks fanning out to Kheerganga, Tosh, Malana and Chalal. The main market is packed with cafes serving shakshuka and falafel, music hostels, gear-rental shops and bonfire-lit guesthouses.
Karnataka
Kodachadri
Kodachadri is a misty Western Ghats peak in Karnataka, draped in shola forests and grasslands and crowned by the ancient Sarvajna Peetha linked to Adi Shankaracharya. A favourite among young trekkers and campers, it is one of the best peak walks in South India, and you can camp at the top for sunrise. Reached via forest trails or rugged jeep tracks from Kollur, the peak rewards trekkers with cloud-sea views, the Hidlumane Falls en route, and a remote, unspoiled wilderness feel. Its mix of adventure, spirituality and raw nature makes it a rising offbeat draw.
Jammu & Kashmir
Pahalgam
Pahalgam is a valley settlement at 2,130 metres in the Anantnag district of Kashmir. Positioned at the scenic junction of the fast-flowing Lidder River and the Sheshnag stream, it stands surrounded by steep hills carpeted with dense, old-growth pine and cedar forests. It suits anglers, walkers and people who camp. The commercial heart of the valley transitions smoothly into alpine glades like Baisaran, popularly nicknamed 'Mini Switzerland' due to its vast undulating pine-ringed meadows. Pahalgam serves as a paramount transit launchpad for the annual holy pilgrimage of the Amarnath Yatra, with the traditional tracking route commencing directly from Chandanwari village upstream.
