Best Glamping in Uttarakhand
A Region-by-Region Guide for Serious Travellers
Uttarakhand is a big state. This guide splits it into its main glamping zones, shows what each one offers, and helps you match a region to the way you travel.
Uttarakhand's Primary Glamping Zones
Uttarakhand is big. The state covers over 53,000 square kilometres. Its land runs from the flat Terai on the Uttar Pradesh border to high Himalayan zones above 5,000 metres. Asking for the best glamping in Uttarakhand without first picking a region is like asking for the best restaurant in a whole country. So this guide splits the state into its main glamping zones. It shows what each area offers. It helps you match the right region to your style and your plans. It also covers what sets true premium glamping apart from plain tents that use the word without earning it.
Zone 1: Why choose the Garhwal Highlands (Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Tehri)?
Height: 1,800 to 2,400 metres
Distance from Delhi: 280 to 360 kilometres
Best for: Weekend trips, couples, families, work groups
This is the easiest glamping zone to reach from Delhi NCR, Chandigarh and Punjab. The Mussoorie ridge, and above all the area near George Everest Peak, has it all. The roads are good. The glamping is well set up. The setting is lovely, and you need no special outdoor skills to enjoy it.
Everest Base Camp Mussoorie is in this zone, at 2,160 metres on Hathipaon Road. It offers luxury tents and cottages, 14 in all, with trails close by and a bonfire every evening. A guided forest walk from 7 to 9 AM comes with every stay. This is what well-run glamping looks like in the Garhwal Highlands.
Zone 2: What do the Kumaon Highlands (Nainital, Jim Corbett edge, Mukteshwar) offer?
Height: 1,200 to 2,300 metres
Distance from Delhi: 280 to 340 kilometres
Best for: Stays near wildlife, apple orchards, quieter retreats
Kumaon feels different from Garhwal. Its forests hold oak, pine and rhododendron. The Jim Corbett buffer zone adds wildlife that you will not find in the Mussoorie belt. Mukteshwar sits at well over 2,000 metres, with views toward Nanda Devi on clear days. There are fewer glamping sites here than in Garhwal. Those that exist tend to be small and boutique.
Zone 3: Is Rishikesh and the Shivalik foothills the right zone for you?
Height: 300 to 700 metres
Distance from Delhi: 240 to 260 kilometres
Best for: Adventure stays, river camps, yoga retreats
The Rishikesh corridor has the glamping closest to Delhi in Uttarakhand. Many camps run by operators line the Ganga banks and the Shivalik foothills. The land here is low next to the other zones, so summers are much hotter. People come for the action, not the mountain views. Think white-water rafting, bungee jumping and zip-lining.
Zone 4: Who should head to the Higher Himalayan Zone (Chopta, Auli, Valley of Flowers buffer)?
Height: 2,500 to 4,000 metres
Distance from Delhi: 400 to 500 kilometres
Best for: Seasoned trekkers, people chasing serious height, spiritual travel
This zone is for travellers with time, good prep and a clear goal. Glamping here is basic, and winter is harsh. Summer and early autumn are the only practical windows. In the monsoon months, landslides can close the long roads up. Check advisories and keep spare days in hand.
What separates premium glamping from a tent with a price tag?
This matters more in Uttarakhand than almost anywhere else in India. The state has many operators who sell basic camping as glamping.
True premium glamping includes:
- A proper bed frame with a good mattress, not a cot or an air bed
- Steady power, not just solar phone charging
- A full washroom with hot water, attached or within 30 metres
- Meals cooked and served on site from a set menu
- At least one guided outdoor activity: a trek, a bonfire, or a nature walk with someone who knows the forest
Basic camping sold as glamping usually means:
- A canvas tent on a flat platform with sleeping bags
- Shared toilets some way off
- Packet meals or a nearby dhaba
- No planned activities
How do you choose the right zone for your trip?
Use these tests:
- Shortest drive: the Rishikesh zone or the Garhwal Highlands (Mussoorie belt)
- Best mountain views: the Garhwal or Kumaon Highlands. Both are strong, with different terrain.
- Best for wildlife: the Kumaon zone, on the Jim Corbett edge
- Best for adventure sports: the Rishikesh corridor
- Best for first-time glampers: the Garhwal Highlands (Mussoorie belt), for reliable comfort and easy access
The Garhwal Highlands, and the Mussoorie to Dhanaulti stretch in particular, win on what matters to most weekend travellers. That means drive time from Delhi, quality of stay and natural setting. See what a well-run glamping resort in this zone looks like on EBC Mussoorie's accommodation page.
For a closer look at the George Everest Peak area, browse the tents and cottages at EBC Mussoorie. From the east-facing Zenith veranda to The Camper in the forest, the rooms page shows each one in detail.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before booking glamping in Uttarakhand.
For easy access and good comfort, the Garhwal Highlands (Mussoorie belt) lead. For wildlife, the Kumaon zone near Jim Corbett is strong.
Most resorts in the Garhwal and Kumaon zones open all year. EBC Mussoorie stays open through the monsoon, with every tent and cottage weather-proofed. Sites in the high Himalayan zone are usually seasonal, from May to October.
March to June and September to November give the most reliable weather in most zones. The monsoon, July to September, is quiet, green and misty, and suits slow stays.
Some are, often with rules. EBC Mussoorie welcomes pets if you tell us in advance. Elsewhere, confirm the policy before you book.
Ask about the bed, how far the washroom is, the power supply and which meals are included. An honest property will answer in detail.
Yes. Dehradun and Kathgodam both have good rail links. You can reach resorts in Garhwal and Kumaon by hired cab from either station. EBC Mussoorie is 35 km from Dehradun station and can arrange a transfer.