Uttarakhand

The land of the gods — high Himalayan passes, sacred peaks, and the trail to Adi Kailash.

Best time: May to June, September to October

Altitude: Up to 5,945 m (Adi Kailash base)

Uttarakhand is home to some of the most spiritually significant and visually staggering terrain in the Indian Himalayas. From the high-altitude trans-Himalayan belt near the Tibet border to dense oak and rhododendron forests lower down, it's a state of dramatic contrasts. The Adi Kailash and Om Parvat region in particular draws riders and pilgrims alike for its resemblance to Mount Kailash and its remote, thinly-populated valleys.