Arrive in Joshimath after the scenic drive from Rishikesh/Dehradun and settle into your guesthouse or hilltop hotel; take a brisk walk to the local market to stretch your legs and take in the crisp mountain air. Visit the Narsingh Temple and the nearby Shankaracharya Math for a gentle introduction to the town’s spiritual heritage while letting your body acclimatize to the altitude.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local eatery—try warming Uttarakhandi dishes like aloo ke gutke or dal with steamed rice—and then head up to the Auli/Madon view point for panoramic views of the Nanda Devi and other snow-capped peaks. Spend the next hour at the Joshimath cable car base or the ropeway observation area to preview tomorrow’s transfer to Auli and familiarize yourself with timings and ticket counters.
Return to your hotel for a light, early dinner and a short briefing with your trek/ski operator to go over the plan for transfer and ski orientation in Auli. End the night with a relaxed walk to the town’s quiet viewpoints to watch sunset glow on the Himalaya, sip hot chai or ginger tea, and get a good night’s rest to continue your Auli adventure tomorrow.
After an early breakfast in Joshimath, take the scenic Auli cable car (ropeway) up to Auli — the 20-minute ride offers sweeping views of conifer forests and the snowy ridgeline toward Nanda Devi. On arrival, check into your slope-side lodge, collect pre-booked ski gear at the Auli Ski School counter, and join a short warm-up and safety briefing on the training slope near Auli’s upper meadow.
Spend the afternoon with a beginner-friendly ski orientation led by certified instructors at the Auli Ski School; practice snow plough stops, simple turns and wearing crampons on the designated gentle slope near Gurso Bugyal while soaking in panoramic views of Trishul and Kamet. Take a mid-session break at the Auli Ski Hut or the Nanda Pavilion for hot soup and tea, then try a few guided runs with instructors to build confidence before tackling longer pistes.
Return to your lodge as daylight fades for a relaxed hot shower and a hearty dinner featuring local specialties like bhaang ki kheer and rajma chawal to refuel. Gather for a short gear-check and plan with your instructor for tomorrow’s full-day skiing and the ropeway ride down to Joshimath if needed, then stroll to the ridge viewpoint to watch the alpenglow on the Himalayan peaks before turning in early.
Wake up to clear mountain light and a hearty breakfast at your slope-side lodge, then meet your Auli Ski School instructor at the training slope for a warm-up and technique tune-up before tackling longer runs. Spend the morning linking turns on the gentle runs around Gurso Bugyal and the Auli main slope, enjoying uninterrupted views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Kamet as you build speed and confidence.
After a lakeside picnic or hot thali at the Nanda Pavilion, challenge yourself with guided intermediate runs toward the Auli bowl and explore the wide snowfields around Joshimath ridge under instructor supervision. Pause for mulled tea at the Auli Ski Hut, then take a scenic ropeway ride down to Joshimath late afternoon if you want a different perspective of the ridgeline and forests below.
Return to your Joshimath lodge or stay in Auli for a restorative hot shower and a celebratory dinner featuring local Kumaoni fare like bhatt ki dal and steamed rotis, sharing stories from the day’s best runs. Finish with a short walk to the ridge viewpoint to watch the peaks turn gold at sunset and a relaxed gear-debrief with your guide to plan any last-minute photos or tomorrow’s departure.