Easy Treks Near Bangalore for Beginners and Groups
Easy treks near Bangalore for beginners, friends and first dates: Anthargange, Makalidurga, Savandurga, Skandagiri and Nandi Hills, with booking rules and safety tips.
Zovii Team · · 6 min read · Updated
At a glance
- Area
- Day trips
- Best time
- Sunrise, October to February
- Budget
- About ₹250–500 per person, plus travel
- Booking
- Online for most forest treks
- Distance
- About 50–70 km from the city
As of November 2026. Check before you go.
In this article
The easiest treks near Bangalore for beginners are Anthargange near Kolar, Makalidurga and Savandurga, all roughly 50–70 km from the city, plus Skandagiri for a sunrise climb and Nandi Hills if you'd rather drive to the top. Most take two to four hours up and down. Many forest treks around Bengaluru now need an online booking through the Karnataka forest department's Aranya Vihaara portal, so plan a few days ahead.
A short trek is also one of the best plans with new friends: there's always something to talk about, nobody has to sit across a table, and a group makes it safer. Below are the treks, how booking works, and how to plan one with people you've just met.
Before you go: booking, timings and safety
- Book online. Karnataka moved many forest treks to online booking through Aranya Vihaara (aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in, in English and Kannada). For Skandagiri there are no walk-ins or on-the-spot permits. Slots are limited and weekend ones go fast. Check the portal for each trek; rules and which treks are open change by season.
- Timings vary. Some treks run only in the daytime (Makalidurga's district page lists 6 am to 5 pm and no night treks), while Skandagiri is done before sunrise in guided batches. Check the slot you book.
- Go in a group and stay with it. Tell someone at home where you're going.
- Carry water, wear proper shoes, and bring your trash back. Plastic is not allowed on many trails.
- Avoid the monsoon if you're a beginner: rocks get slippery. October to February is the most pleasant.
Anthargange, near Kolar
- Why it works: A rocky hill full of boulders and small caves, about 65–70 km from the city. The trail is around 5 km and usually rated easy to moderate, with cave crawls that make it fun for a group.
- Best time: Early morning, or a night camp with a trekking group.
- Good for: First-timers and groups of friends.
- Tip: Go with a group or guide if you want to explore the caves; some are narrow and dark.
Makalidurga, near Doddaballapur
- Why it works: A hill fort with a big lake view and a railway line at the base, about 60 km north of the city. Guides rate it easy to moderate, about two to four hours up and down depending on the route.
- Best time: Morning. The district page lists hours of 6 am to 5 pm and says night treks aren't allowed.
- Booking: Online through the forest department. Recent reports say weekend slots are often full, so book early.
Savandurga, off Magadi Road
- Why it works: One of the largest monolith hills in India, about 50–60 km west of the city. The climb is steep in places and short (roughly 4–5 km), with big views from the top.
- Best time: Early morning, before the rock heats up.
- Good for: People with some fitness. Many rate it moderate rather than easy.
- Booking: Listed as a regulated trek; check Aranya Vihaara before you go.
Skandagiri, near Chikkaballapur
- Why it works: The classic sunrise trek: you climb in the dark in a guided batch and watch the sun come up over the clouds, about 60–70 km from the city.
- Best time: Book a weekday if you can; weekends sell out.
- Budget: About ₹250–300 per person for the permit, plus travel.
- Booking: Online only, no walk-ins. The forest department groups trekkers into batches with local guides.
Nandi Hills: the easy option
- Why it works: Not really a trek, because you can drive or ride to the top, about 60 km north. Perfect for a first group plan or a second date: leave before dawn, watch the sunrise, have breakfast on the way back.
- Best time: Sunrise on a weekday. The Karnataka Tourism page lists entry from 6 am, and weekends are packed.
- Budget: A small entry fee, parking, and a new toll at the Sultanpet base gate (2026). Check current rates before you leave.
- Want a real climb? There are trails from the base, but check with a trekking group first.
Treks near Bangalore without booking or a permit
Searching for "treks near Bangalore without booking" or "without permit" usually means you want to go this weekend. The regulated forest treks (Skandagiri, Makalidurga and others on Aranya Vihaara) all need a booking, so your realistic options are:
- Turahalli Forest, inside the city on the south-west edge: short walks and rocky viewpoints, free. Listings disagree on hours, so go early and in a group.
- Nandi Hills, where you pay entry at the gate rather than booking a trek.
- Organised group treks, where the organiser handles permits for you. Check that they actually have the permit before you pay.
Don't try to sneak onto a regulated trail without a booking: forest staff turn people back, and you'll have no guide if something goes wrong.
Planning a trek with new friends (or a date)
A trek is a great second or third plan with someone you've met once. For a first meeting, pick something shorter and more public, like a walk in Cubbon Park (our area-by-area Bengaluru guide has ideas).
- Go as a group, especially with people you've just met. Three to six people is ideal.
- Travel on your own or with friends you already know, so you're never stuck without a ride home.
- Share the plan (trek, slot, who's going) with someone who isn't coming.
On Zovii, go live with Trek for "This weekend" and people in Bengaluru who want the same plan see you first. Pick Friends / New People in Looking For if you're here to make friends; read more in how to make friends in Bangalore.
FAQ
Which is the easiest trek near Bangalore?
Anthargange and Makalidurga are the ones most often rated easy for beginners, and Nandi Hills is easier still because you can drive to the top. Savandurga is short but steep, so many rate it moderate.
Is there any trek near Bangalore without a permit?
Yes, but only a few. Turahalli Forest on the city's south-west edge is free with no booking, and at Nandi Hills you pay entry at the gate rather than booking a trek. Regulated forest treks like Skandagiri and Makalidurga need an online booking on Aranya Vihaara, or a group organiser who holds the permit.
Do treks near Bangalore need booking?
Many do. Karnataka's forest department runs bookings for regulated treks like Skandagiri and Makalidurga online through the Aranya Vihaara portal, and there are no walk-ins for Skandagiri. Check the portal for each trek before you go.
Which trek near Bangalore is best for sunrise?
Skandagiri is the classic sunrise trek, done before dawn in guided batches. Nandi Hills is the easiest sunrise, since you can drive up; the gate opens around 6 am.
What is the best time for treks near Bangalore?
October to February, when it's cool and dry. Start early in the morning to avoid the heat, and avoid steep rock like Savandurga in heavy rain.
Is a trek a good first date?
Better as a second or third plan. For a first meeting, pick a short, public plan like a café or a park walk, and save the trek for when you know each other a little, ideally with friends along.
Zovii Team
We build Zovii in Jaipur: the dating and friends app, open across India, where you say what you are looking for and when you are free. We write about dating, making friends, safety and the cities we know.