Auli Budget Tour Guide

Are you a snow lover? If yes, then this blog is for you. Auli is a winter wonderland and a famous tourist place for skiing and snow lovers. Auli is situated in the Himalayas of Uttrakhand and offers stunning views of Nanda Devi Peak, Maanparwat Peak and Kamparwat Peak. Auli is situated at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level and this small city is famous in the world for panoramic views and skiing championships.

In this blog post will begin with How to Reach Auli in Budgeted cost, budget friendly stay, activities, places to visit and the best season to visit Auli.

A Budget Friendly Travel to Auli

There are many ways to reach Auli, we will explore every option, but the focus is on budget friendly travel to Auli.

• By Air: The Nearest Airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. The distance from Dehradun to Auli is only 278 kms which can be covered only by Road.  
• By Train: The Nearest Railway Station is Hardiwar Railway Station and the distance from Haridwar to Auli is 288 kms. that shall be covered by road.
• By Road: Doesn’t matter in which city you live, the center point to reach Auli or Joshimath is Hardiwar which you can cover by bus, rented taxi or your personal vehicle. The distance from Haridwar to Joshimath is only 275kms.
• Budget Friendly Option: If you want a budgeted way, then plan your travel by Bus. The tickets are available Online and charges are only Rs. 750/- per person from Haridwar to Joshimath. You can book the ticket directly from the Travel and Tour Office Haridwar. The cheapest way is to get the bus directly from Bus Stand and the timings are from 5:00 am to 9:00 am. But to avoid any chaos, I would advise to book Online. If you depart early from Haridwar then positively you will reach Joshimath by evening.

Basecamp at Joshimath

We will reach Joshimath in the evening and moving ahead late in the evening is not a good choice in the mountains. Joshimath will be the basecamp for us where you can get resorts and hotels in budget-friendly options in between Rs. 700/- to Rs. 800/- per night. The accommodation cost is low in Joshimath as compared to Auli. If you are planning a trip in peak season, then would advise you to book a hotel online. The food options are limited in Joshimath, but surely you get authentic uttrakhandi food options.

Joshimath to Auli – Ropeway or Road

There are two ways to reach Auli, via Road and Ropeway, and will explain both the options.
Tip: Ropeway is budgeted and safe option.

• Ropeway: The scenic and budget friendly option is Ropeway, and to enjoy the ride, a ticket counter is available at Joshimath. The 25 minutes round trip cost is Rs. 1000/- which is valid for only 3 days. The track distance by ropeway is 4kms, and the cabin capacity is 25 passengers. You can either travel and enjoy a day in Auli and return to basecamp – Joshimath or else you can stay at Auli for 3 days. The Ropeway facility starts at 9:15 am and ends at 4:20 pm. The lunch time of the ropeway service is from 1:00 pm to 1:25 pm.
  Tip: Be cautious with the timings, especially the departure time.
  In ropeway there are a total of 10 points and the famous one is Point No. 8 for adventurous activities and food options. If you want to get lost in snow and peace with limited people, then Point No. 10 is a good option. The only issue is the food option which is limited as compared to Point No. 8.
• Road: If you have your own vehicle or planning to go by taxi, the journey time is 1hour for 10kms. You can hire a taxi from the Joshimath Taxi Stand which will drop you at GMVN Resort. There is no road ahead of the resort, so no taxi, bike or car ply from this point.
  Tip: If you are planning a road trip in winter, be careful with the road blockages due to heavy snowfall.

Stay/Hotel at Auli

I had mentioned staying at Joshimath which are budget friendly, but if you are planning to stay at Auli then resort price starts from Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 2500/- per night. The only way to reach the top is a Chair Lift Car, costing Rs. 500/- per passenger. The charges may vary depending upon the season.  The attractive huts are made at the top point from where you can see the Artificial Lake, and Nanda Devi Mountain Peak. To book a room online, visit the website of GMVN – gmvnonline.com/ or Auli Nanda Devi Eco Tourist Resort.
Tip: For adventure activities in winter (December to February) hire rental Snowshoes at Rs. 50/-.

Activities in Auli

There are so many activities that you can enjoy in Auli, especially in winter, except Trekking which is possible only in summer.

• Skiing: The most popular adventure activity in Auli is Skiing. Auli is only city in India which organize Skiing World Championship. The skiing cost of the day is between Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 3000/- per person. If you want to enjoy yourself for an hour, then the charges are Rs.500/- per person. If you don’t know Skiing, then opt for a Certification Course and the duration of course will be 15 to 20 days.
• Snowboarding: The other adventurous activity which is similar is skiing is snowboarding. The full day snowboarding cost ranges from Rs.1000/- to Rs.3000/- per person. If you want it for an hour, it usually costs Rs.500/- per person.
• Snow Tube Ride: This is the funniest and easiest ride where you won’t need practice. You just need to sit on a flat tube, and they push you in snow elope. The charges for one ride are Rs.100/- per ride.
• Snow Bike: Have you ever tried driving a car in snow? If not, then must try Snow Bike Ride. The cost may vary depending on the timing.
• Trekking to Gurso Bugyal: This trek is for nature lovers, and you can enjoy it only in summers. I would advise you to take a guide who will guide you along the roadmap, temple situated in the middle of jungle and the valley.

Places to Visit in Auli

• Artificial Lake: A manmade lake built near the resort, which froze in winter season especially in December and January. In summer, the lake is the perfect spot for tourists to relax in the middle of nature.
• Nanda Devi Peak View: The majestic Nanda Devi is one of the highest peaks, the mountains are snow-capped in winters and during the rest of the season, greenery covers the valley.
• Vishnu Prayag: A sacred place for Hindus where the holy rivers Alkhananda and Dhauli Ganga meets. Vishnu Prayag is a holy pilgrimage site for hindus, and the atmosphere looks serene when the two rivers meet beneath the high range of mountains.
• Badrinath: Badrinath is one of the most important pilgrimages for Hindu and among the four Char Dham, Badrinath is one. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is surrounded by river, mountains, pine trees. The distance from Auli & Joshimath is 52kms and 41kms. respectively. I would advise to book hotel in Joshimath and explore both Auli and Badrinath in budgeted manner.
• Mana Village: The last Indian Village connected to Indo-Tibetan Border is only 4kms away from Badrinath. The entrance of the village is guarded by the Army Personnels. At this village you can take a serene view of Sarawati River which is eloped from rest of the country. Don’t forget to drink tea from the last tea stall.
• Valley of Flowers: To explore Valley of Flowers, August is the best season, so plan accordingly. Valley of Flowers is UNESCO World Heritage Site and for breathtaking view, you need to trek. The trekking feels worthy when you reach the destination and look at a diverse range of flowers and species.
• Hemkund Sahib: A sacred Sikh Pilgrimage situated at high altitude and to seek blessings, devotees do a challenging trek. The Gurdwara is based at the peak of the Himalayas and offers stunning panoramic views.

Best Time to Visit

Uttrakhand Auli is famous among the tourists and winter wonderland attracts lots of tourists. If you are a snow-lover, December to March is the best time to visit Auli. You can visit Auli in summer as well, as the weather is pleasant for trekking and exploring other places.

Final Thoughts

In this blog post I have explained a budgeted 4-day trip to Auli, Uttrakhand known as winter wonderland. In the blog I had shared some tips which make your trip budget friendly. Explore the beautiful place, Auli and share your experiences, if I missed something, do ping me. I appreciate your valuable thoughts.

Pack your bag and explore an unexplored place with Hema……