What to Wear in Auli

January to March: snow

Dress in three layers. Start with a thermal top and leggings, add a fleece or light down jacket, and finish with a waterproof, windproof jacket and trousers. Cotton next to the skin stays wet and makes you colder. Add waterproof gloves, a warm hat, a neck warmer and dark glasses or goggles, as the glare off the snow can hurt your eyes within an hour. Waterproof boots with a deep grip matter most; the road and the paths between hotels freeze hard at night.

Renting gear

You do not need to buy ski clothing. Shops near the slopes and in Joshimath rent skis, boots, snow jackets and trousers by the day, and ski courses usually include skis and boots. Check the fit and the zips before you pay. Your own warm base layers and gloves are still worth bringing, as rented ones are rarely a good fit.

April to June: meadows

Days on the slopes can feel mild in the sun, but mornings, evenings and the walk to Gurson Bugyal are cold. Bring a warm jacket, a fleece, a cap and closed walking shoes. Light cottons and sandals are not enough here, even in June. Use sunscreen and sunglasses; the sun is strong at this height.

July to September: rain

Pack a proper rain jacket, quick-dry trousers and shoes with a firm grip for wet grass and mud. Keep a dry warm layer in a plastic bag. Leeches can appear on forest paths after rain, so long socks help.

October to December

October and November are dry, clear and cold, with frost at night. December can bring the first snow. Dress as for early winter, with a down jacket and warm gloves.

Local wool

Garhwali hill wool is sold in Joshimath: shawls, caps and hand-knitted socks. A woollen shawl packs small and helps on cold evenings. Check that it is real wool; acrylic is often sold as local work.

Visiting temples

For the Narsingh temple and the Jyotirmath monastery in Joshimath, cover your shoulders and knees and wear shoes you can slip off easily.