Auli’s ski season generally runs from around January through March, with January usually bringing the best fresh snow. The nearest airport is Dehradun’s Jolly Grant (DED), followed by a long mountain drive of roughly eight to ten hours to Joshimath and on to Auli. The Joshimath-Auli ropeway has stayed closed since the 2023 land subsidence crisis, so confirm its status before planning around it.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Auli, in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, offers some of the most scenic skiing in the Himalayas, with the Nanda Devi range as a backdrop. The route to get there, though, needs planning around a long road journey and a ropeway that has been out of service for a while.
When is the best time to ski in Auli?
Snow typically begins to settle in from around late December, with January and early February usually bringing the heaviest and most reliable snowfall. Most visitors aiming specifically for skiing target the January to March window, with January and February generally considered the best months for powder. As with any Himalayan destination, exact snow timing shifts with the year’s weather, so check conditions closer to your travel dates rather than locking into a fixed week.
How do you fly in, and what does the road to Auli involve?
Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport (DED) is the nearest airport to Auli, but it is still a long way out: the road distance to Joshimath, the town just below Auli, runs to roughly 270 to 290 km depending on the exact route, and typically takes somewhere between eight and ten hours by car in normal conditions. Winter weather, landslides, or roadwork can extend that further, so this is not a same-day add-on to a short trip.
From Joshimath, it is a shorter additional drive up to Auli itself. Given the length of the Dehradun leg, most travellers either break the journey overnight somewhere en route, such as Rudraprayag or Karnaprayag, or build a full day into their itinerary purely for the drive.
Is the Auli ropeway running?
The Joshimath to Auli ropeway, run by the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), was shut down in January 2023 after land subsidence damaged Joshimath, and it has remained closed since, with no confirmed date for resumption as of this writing. Do not plan your trip assuming the ropeway will be available: check GMVN’s current status directly before you travel, since this is exactly the kind of detail that can change without much advance notice once repairs or a new project do get approved.
What else should skiers and visitors know before heading to Auli?
Because the ropeway is out of service, reaching the ski slopes currently depends on the road and on local arrangements in Joshimath and Auli for the final stretch, so it is worth asking your hotel or a local operator about current access before you arrive. Ski and snowboard rental, along with basic lessons, are available in Auli through local operators, and layered cold-weather clothing is essential given the altitude.
A small aviation note for the journey: Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport sits in the Doon valley at a relatively modest altitude compared with many Himalayan airstrips, so it is generally one of the more weather-reliable airports in the region, even though the onward road into the mountains is the real wildcard.
Common Questions
Can I reach Auli without flying, by train instead?
There is no railway into the mountains near Auli. The nearest major railheads are well outside the hill region, so most travellers either fly to Dehradun or arrive by long-distance road or bus from Delhi or other north Indian cities.
Is the drive from Dehradun to Auli safe in winter?
The route is a mountain road that can be affected by snow, landslides, or fog, particularly in peak winter. Check road advisories before departure and prefer travelling in daylight hours.
Do I need to book ski lessons in advance?
It is sensible to enquire ahead, especially in peak season weeks, since local instructors and rental gear can get booked up when snow conditions are at their best.
Is Auli crowded during peak ski season?
Auli draws fewer visitors than Himachal’s ski spots, but peak-season weekends and holiday periods still see higher footfall, so advance hotel booking is advisable.
What is the alternative to the Auli ropeway for sightseeing?
With the ropeway closed, road access is currently the way up. Some local jeep or shared-taxi services operate on the Joshimath-Auli stretch; check current options locally.
Is Auli only for skiing, or worth visiting outside winter too?
Auli is also visited outside the snow season for its meadows and mountain views, though the ropeway closure affects that access too, so the road journey applies year round.
Can I combine an Auli trip with Badrinath or Valley of Flowers?
Joshimath sits on the route towards Badrinath, so some travellers combine the two. Valley of Flowers is a monsoon and summer destination, not a winter one, so it will not be open during the ski season.
Is it worth hiring a local driver or operator for the Dehradun to Auli leg?
Given the long drive, the closed ropeway, and roads that can shift with weather, many visitors prefer a local Uttarakhand operator or a driver who tracks current road status. This makes it easier to get real-time updates on conditions between Dehradun and Joshimath before you set out, rather than finding out about a closure partway through the drive.
Heading to Auli this winter? Search Dehradun flights on HappyFares and set a price alert so you are ready to book once your dates firm up.
Snow conditions, road access, and ropeway status change through the season; confirm current details with GMVN and local operators before you travel.
