Adventure · Auli & Joshimath, Garhwal
Learn to ski on the Auli slopes
Auli's main slope, with a chairlift and ski lift, is where most Indians learn to ski. Take a day lesson with a certified instructor or join a GMVN course of 7 or 14 days, which includes gear, lessons, rooms and meals.
Photo: Vaibhav 369 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsAuli's skiing runs on a broad, open slope above the GMVN resort, with an artificial lake built to feed snow-making when natural snow is thin. A chairlift and a surface ski lift carry skiers up. The slope suits beginners and intermediates: wide, without trees on the main run, and with Nanda Devi straight ahead as you come down.
GMVN, the state tourism corporation, runs residential ski courses of 7 and 14 days in the season, usually covering equipment, instruction, accommodation and meals. Courses are popular with students and families, and batches fill early, so book as soon as dates are announced. Private instructors certified by the state also offer day lessons for those who want to try for an afternoon. Rental shops in Auli supply skis, boots and poles.
Snow is the variable. In good winters the season runs from late December to March; in poor years, there may be only a few weeks of skiable snow. Check current status before you travel, and keep your plan flexible. Dress in waterproof layers, wear sunglasses or goggles, use high-factor sunscreen and drink water: at 2,800 m the sun is strong and the air dry.
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Photo: Vaibhav78545 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Meadow walk to Gorson Bugyal
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Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Commons
Narsingh temple and Jyotirmath in Joshimath
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Trips through Auli & Joshimath
Do this on a trip
Each of these trips stops in Auli & Joshimath. Tell us and we keep a slot for this day.
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Comfort
Kedarnath, Tungnath and Badrinath by car
Private car with driver
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Saver
Valley of Flowers and Hemkund by bus
UTC and GMOU buses, shared jeeps and walking
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Signature
Kedarnath by helicopter, Badrinath and Ananda
Private car with driver and helicopter shuttle
Questions
Before you book
When is the ski season in Auli?
Usually from late December or January to early March, depending on snowfall. January and February are most reliable. In poor snow years the season can be very short, so check current status before you travel and keep a flexible date.
How much does skiing in Auli cost?
Indicative 2026 costs: ski hire ₹800–1,500 a day, a private instructor ₹1,500–2,500 a day, and a GMVN 7-day course with stay, food and gear about ₹15,000–25,000. Prices vary by season and category; confirm with GMVN when booking.
Is Auli good for beginner skiers?
Yes. Most visitors are beginners, and instructors start on the gentle lower slope before moving up. Expect to spend the first day learning to stop and turn. Children above about 8 usually do well with a dedicated instructor.