Auli in May 2026: Complete Travel Guide — Weather, Trekking & What to Expect
We write this from the resort deck at 7 in the morning, a cup of Pahadi chai warming both hands, watching the sun creep over the Nanda Devi massif and turn it a shade of amber that no photograph fully captures. It is the second week of May, the Gorson meadow has gone from winter-brown to a green so vivid it almost looks fake, and the rhododendron trees along the trail are doing that thing they do every year — putting on a show in crimson and pink that makes the whole hillside look like it is celebrating something.
If you have only ever heard of Auli in the context of snow and skiing, this guide is for you. We are Aditi and Rishabh, your hosts at The Auli Meadows, and we live here year-round. May is, without question, our favourite month on the mountain. This is everything you need to know before booking your trip.
Gorson Bugyal meadow from the trail — what greets you on the other side of the oak forest in May.
Auli Weather in May — What to Actually Expect, Hour by Hour
Weather apps will give you a number. We will give you what it actually feels like to be here. May mornings in Auli open fresh and still — around 5°C at first light, the air carrying the faint smell of pine resin and cold rock. By 9 in the morning the sun is properly up, the temperature has climbed into double digits, and the trail to Gorson is ideal: not too warm to tire you out, not cold enough to need a heavy layer. Afternoons peak somewhere between 14°C and 16°C — warm enough to sit on the deck in a t-shirt if you are out of the wind. Then the evening comes in quickly. By 5 PM you will want your fleece back. By 8 PM, you are by the bonfire.
| Time of Day | Temp | How It Feels | What to Wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning 5:30–8 AM | 5–7°C | Crisp, clear — best Nanda Devi light | Fleece + windcheater |
| Morning 8 AM–12 PM | 8–13°C | Comfortable — ideal for trekking | T-shirt + light jacket |
| Afternoon 12–4 PM | 13–16°C | Warm and sunny — short sleeves fine | T-shirt |
| Evening 4–7 PM | 9–12°C | Cool and breezy — golden light | Fleece + windcheater |
| Night 7 PM–5 AM | 4–7°C | Cold — bonfire territory | Warm layer + sweater |
Important — High Altitude UV: At 2,500 metres, UV radiation is significantly stronger than at sea level. A 12°C afternoon on the Gorson trail still burns. SPF 50+ sunscreen and a good pair of UV-400 sunglasses are not optional. We remind every single guest of this when they check in.
Mornings in May — the window between 5:30 AM and 9:30 AM is when Nanda Devi shows up at her sharpest.
Things to Do in Auli in May
People often ask us: "But what do you do in Auli when there is no skiing?" After a few years of hosting guests through every month of the year, our honest answer is — more than most people expect, and in some ways, more than you can do in winter.
The Gorson Bugyal Trek — Auli's Crown Jewel
If you do only one thing in Auli in May, let it be Gorson. Gorson Bugyal is a high-altitude alpine meadow at 3,056 metres, 3 km from the resort, and in May it is at its absolute best. The trail climbs through dense oak and deodar forest — the trees draped in pale green lichen — and then opens without warning into a vast rolling grassland with 360-degree views of Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Kamet, and the Hathi-Ghori peaks. In May, the edges of the meadow are fringed with bright red burans — the rhododendron trees that Uttarakhand is named after in local poetry. The combination of crimson blooms, green grass, and white snow peaks is something that does not quite exist anywhere else.
Start before 8 AM. By 10 o'clock, clouds build up from the valley below and can drift across the peaks. The window for unobstructed Nanda Devi views is roughly 6:30 to 9:30 in the morning. We know this because we have walked this trail hundreds of times.
Rhododendron Photography — A May-Only Experience
Burans is the Garhwali name for rhododendron, and it is the state flower of Uttarakhand for a reason. The oak and rhododendron forests between our resort and Gorson Bugyal in May carry the peak of the bloom season — deep crimson flowers against dark green canopy, with snow-tipped Himalayan peaks rising behind them. For photographers, this is a genuinely rare combination that you cannot replicate in any other season. Golden hour from our deck, with the flower-covered hillside catching the last light of the evening, is something guests photograph and never quite believe themselves.
Auli Artificial Lake — The Hidden Turquoise Gem
Most visitors walk right past this. The Auli Artificial Lake — built by GMVN as a snow reservoir for the ski slopes — sits at around 2,500 metres and in May transforms into something genuinely beautiful. The snowmelt fills it to capacity, giving it a striking turquoise-green colour set against the surrounding oak forest and open mountain sky. In winter it is a functional reservoir. In May it is a quiet spot that barely anyone visits, with a clear reflection of the ridgeline on a calm morning and almost no other people around.
It is a short 10-minute walk from the top of the ski slope area — easily combined with the Gorson Bugyal trek as a half-day loop. If you have a camera, the lake shot at 7 AM before any wind disturbs the surface is one of the best frames you will get in Auli. We point every photography guest here without fail.
Nanda Devi at Dawn — No Trek Required
Set your alarm for 5:15 AM. Step onto your tent deck. That is the entire instruction. Every clear morning in May, Nanda Devi appears above the tree line and the summit turns orange before anything else in the sky does. Our guests consistently describe this as the single most unforgettable moment of their trip — and they have done the Gorson trek, ridden the ropeway, eaten the thali. Still, it is the 5:30 AM Nanda Devi moment that they talk about when they get home. In May, the probability of a clear morning is high — no monsoon clouds, no ski-season snowstorms.
Auli + Badrinath — The May Combination Nobody Talks About
Badrinath Dham — one of the Char Dham temples and among the most sacred shrines in Hinduism — opens in the first week of May. It is 95 km from Joshimath. Less than three hours by road. Auli is 13 km from Joshimath. If you are visiting for the Char Dham Yatra this May, stopping here for two nights before or after Badrinath is a natural fit — the route works perfectly: Delhi → Rishikesh → Joshimath → Auli (2 nights) → Badrinath → return. We handle breakfast, can pack you a lunch for the Badrinath drive, and will arrange the taxi.
Astrophotography & Stargazing — May Nights Are Something Else
At 2,500 metres with minimal light pollution, the Milky Way is visible on clear May nights. May pre-dates the monsoon, so cloud cover is low compared to any other warm month. If you shoot astrophotography, the combination of cold clear air, the silhouette of Nanda Devi against a full-star sky, and temperatures that keep your sensor cool — it is a setup that photographers plan trips around. We lay a bonfire near the deck each evening. Guests who came for the trekking end up staying out until midnight looking up.
Himalayan Birdwatching — May is Peak Season
The forests between our resort and Gorson Bugyal in May are genuinely loud with birdsong. The Himalayan Monal — Uttarakhand's state bird, an iridescent pheasant that looks like something a child designed after eating too much candy — is commonly spotted on the morning Gorson trail in May. You also get Koklass Pheasant, various species of laughingthrush, and good raptor activity. May is ideal because the deciduous trees have fresh leaves (visibility into the canopy), birds are in breeding season (active and vocal), and the forest is not yet monsoon-dense. Ask us for the morning walk route — it starts 20 metres from the resort door.
Why Visit in May Instead of Winter?
We get this question a lot. Most people discover Auli through skiing content — the slope videos, the powder shots, the January Instagram posts. We are not going to pretend January is not special. It is. But here is what most people do not know until they actually come in May.
| Factor | January — Peak Winter | May — Shoulder Season |
|---|---|---|
| Crowds | Very high — ski rush | Low — genuinely peaceful |
| Room availability | Books out 2 months ahead | Walk-in possible, easy booking |
| Pricing | Peak rates (30–50% more) | Off-season rates |
| Ropeway wait | 45–120 minute queues | 5–15 minutes maximum |
| Roads | Snow risk, occasional closures | Fully open and safe |
| Peak views | Often obscured by snowstorm | Crystal clear in morning |
| Activities | Skiing only | Trekking, photography, birding, stargazing |
| Temperature feel | −4°C to 7°C — severe cold | 10°C–16°C — comfortable |
| Rhododendrons | Not blooming | Full peak bloom |
| Night sky | Often overcast / snowfall | Clear — Milky Way visible |
What to Pack for Auli in May
Do not let the photographs fool you. Yes, May afternoons are warm and the sun is out. But at 2,500 metres, one cloud can drop the temperature by 5°C, and the wind that comes off the high ridges in the evening is sharp. Here is the complete honest list:
| Item | Qty | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Light fleece / sweatshirt | 2 | For mornings, evenings, and bonfire nights |
| Windcheater / shell jacket | 1 | Essential — mountain wind hits anytime |
| T-shirts (full or half sleeve) | 3–4 | For warm afternoon hours and trekking |
| Trekking pants | 2 | Gorson trail can be muddy in May |
| Warm layer / light down jacket | 1 | For nights and early mornings |
| Trekking shoes (ankle support) | 1 pair | Good grip essential on Gorson trail |
| Sandals / slippers | 1 pair | Resort only — not for trekking |
| Sunscreen SPF 50+ | 1 bottle | MUST HAVE — UV is intense at altitude |
| Sunglasses (UV400) | 1 pair | Snow glare + strong mountain sun |
| Lip balm with SPF | 1 | Lips crack fast in dry mountain air |
| Basic first-aid / paracetamol | Small kit | Altitude can cause mild headaches |
| 20,000 mAh power bank | 1 | Batteries drain 30% faster in cold |
| Insulated water bottle | 1 | Drink 3+ litres a day at altitude |
| Woolen socks | 3 pairs | Cold underfoot on morning treks |
| Light gloves | 1 pair | Early morning Gorson starts are cold |
| Camera + small tripod | Optional | Milky Way shots need 30-second exposures |
Our Garhwali thali — local, seasonal, always made from scratch.
Inside our Swiss tents — warm enough for May nights at 2,500m.
How to Reach Auli in May 2026
May is one of the easiest months to get here. No snow on the roads, no monsoon surprises. Every route from Delhi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh is clear and trouble-free.
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By Road
Delhi → Auli (577 km · 12–14 hours) Via Haridwar → Rishikesh → Devprayag → Chamoli → Joshimath → Auli. Leave Delhi by 5 AM to arrive by 7–8 PM. Roads are smooth in May with no snow. We recommend stopping for lunch in Rudraprayag — roughly the halfway point.
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By Train
Train + Taxi (12–14 hours total) Shatabdi Express Delhi → Haridwar (~5 hrs, departs 6:45 AM). Then taxi Haridwar → Joshimath (270 km, ~7 hrs). Total travel time is roughly the same as driving but more comfortable for the first leg.
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By Air
Fly into Dehradun (Jolly Grant) then drive Daily flights from Delhi. Airport is 270 km from Joshimath (~5.5 hrs taxi). Taxi fare: ₹3,500–₹4,500 shared, ₹7,000–₹9,000 private. Flight + taxi is faster than driving from Delhi, especially if you are coming from outside north India.
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Joshi → Auli
Joshimath to Auli — By Road (GMVN ropeway currently closed) Road: 13 km · 30 minutes by shared jeep or private taxi from Joshimath bus stand. Shared jeeps cost roughly ₹100–₹150 per person. Private taxi: ₹600–₹800. Please note the GMVN ropeway from Joshimath to Auli is currently non-operational — road is the only option and it works perfectly fine.
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Resort
From The Auli Meadows We arrange pickup from the Joshimath bus stand or the Auli road end. WhatsApp us at +91 79839 02829 with your arrival time and we will sort the rest.
Limited Tents. Unlimited Mountain.
May at The Auli Meadows means Gorson at your doorstep, Nanda Devi at your window, and zero queues at the ropeway. We are a small resort by design — a few tents, a few cottages, one long dining table, and the entire Himalayan range for a view.
Frequently Asked Questions — Auli in May
More questions? Read our complete Auli travel guide and FAQs, or just send us a WhatsApp — we reply quickly and we know the mountain well. If you came this far down the page, you are probably the kind of person who will love being here in May. See you on the Gorson trail.
