Auli is in Chamoli district in the Himalayan mountains of Uttarakhand,  Auli, is located at an elevation of 2,800 metres (9,200 ft) above sea level. Between June to October, the valley has one of highest number of flower species found anywhere in the world, with 520 species of high altitude plants, 498 of which are flowering plants with significant populations of endangered species.

Auli is a hiking and ski destination and after the creation of the state of Uttarakhand, formerly part of Uttar Pradesh, Auli was marketed as a tourist destination. It is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, with a panoramic view of the peaks of the Himalayas. The slopes are intended for both professional skiers and novices. Uttarakhand Tourism Department conduct winter sports competitions at Auli to encourage skiing in India. It has a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) cable car, a chairlift and a ski lift, along with a maintained trek route. There is a training facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police. A small Hindu temple connected with the Hindu epic the Ramayana is also present.