Longest Walking Trail in India: Routes, Tips, and Hidden Gems

When you think of the longest walking trail in India, a continuous, marked path designed for multi-day hiking across diverse landscapes. Also known as long-distance trekking route, it’s not just about distance—it’s about endurance, culture, and the quiet transformation that happens when you walk for days through places few cars ever reach. The answer isn’t one single trail, but a chain of paths stitched together by geography, history, and local tradition. The most recognized contender stretches over 1,200 kilometers from Gangotri in Uttarakhand to Kedarnath, then continues through the Himalayan foothills into Himachal Pradesh, connecting sacred shrines, alpine meadows, and remote villages. This isn’t a tourist path—it’s a pilgrim’s journey that also happens to be the longest continuous walkable route in the country.

But the longest walking trail in India doesn’t stop in the north. Down south, the Kerala Backwater trails, a network of footpaths running parallel to canals and lagoons between Alappuzha and Kollam. Also known as coastal village walks, these routes let you step into daily life—fishermen mending nets, women harvesting coconuts, children walking to school past spice plantations. Then there’s the Konkan Coast trail, a 600-kilometer stretch from Mumbai to Goa along the Western Ghats, with ocean views, monsoon forests, and forgotten forts. Also known as colonial-era coastal path, it’s where British officers once walked, and now, solo travelers and local guides lead small groups. These aren’t just paths—they’re living corridors of culture, ecology, and history.

What makes a walking trail in India truly stand out isn’t just its length. It’s how it connects you—to the rhythm of sunrise over the Himalayas, to the smell of cardamom in a village kitchen, to the silence between temple bells in a hilltop monastery. You don’t need fancy gear. You need good shoes, a water bottle, and the willingness to walk when the road ends. Some trails require permits. Others are open to anyone who shows up with respect. The Himalayan routes demand fitness. The coastal ones demand patience. Both demand presence.

Below, you’ll find real stories from people who’ve walked these paths—their mistakes, their surprises, the moments that changed them. Whether you’re planning a week-long trek or just a single day’s walk through a forgotten village, these posts give you the practical details: where to start, what to pack, when to go, and how to avoid the crowds. No fluff. Just what works.