Char Dham Trek: Temples, Glaciers & Valleys

🚗 Travelling Distance: 224 km
🕒 Travelling Time: 5 hours
🗻 Altitude: 372 m (1,220 ft) at Rishikesh
📈 Altitude Gain: +156 m (+512 ft)

Transfer to Delhi railway station for a scenic train ride to Haridwar. Visit the sacred bathing ghats, including the famous Har-Ki-Pauri and Brahma Kund, where pilgrims gather for ritual dips in the holy Ganga. Continue by road to Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, and check into your hotel for an overnight stay.

🚗 Travelling Distance: 222 km
🕒 Travelling Time: 6 hours
🗻 Altitude: 2,400 m (7,874 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +2,028 m (+6,654 ft)

Early morning drive through the Shivalik Hills, passing Mussoorie, a charming colonial hill station founded in 1827 by British officer Captain Young. Continue through scenic valleys and winding mountain roads before reaching Hanuman Chatti, a quiet base village surrounded by the Garhwal Himalayas. Overnight stay in Hanuman Chatti.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 7 km
🗻 Altitude: 2,576 m (8,451 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +176 m (+577 ft)

Trek through a scenic trail to Janki Bai Chatti, with stunning views of Himalayan peaks including Bandar Punch (6,135 m / 20,128 ft) and Kala Naag (6,387 m / 20,964 ft). In the afternoon, visit Kharsali Village to explore the ancient Someshwar Mahadev Temple and experience authentic rural life in Garhwal. Overnight stay at a tourist bungalow.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 5 km descent to Yamunotri + 12 km return trek
🗻 Altitude: 3,185 m (10,449 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +609 m (+1,998 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –2,027 m

Descend to Yamunotri through trails rich with Himalayan flora and fauna, visiting the revered Yamunotri Temple, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. After lunch, trek back to Hanuman Chatti along scenic river valleys and mountain paths. Overnight stay in a tourist bungalow.

🚗 Travelling Distance: 108 km
🗻 Altitude: 1,158 m (3,799 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –2,027 m (–6,650 ft)

Drive through winding mountain roads to the temple town of Uttarkashi, a spiritual hub on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. After checking into a simple hotel, visit local temples and the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in the evening. Overnight stay in Uttarkashi.

🚗 Travelling Distance: 108 km
🗻 Altitude: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +1,890 m (+6,201 ft)

Drive upstream along the Bhagirathi River through winding roads shaded by conifer trees and dotted with picturesque Himalayan villages. On arrival in Gangotri, check into a tourist bungalow. In the evening, visit the sacred Gangotri Temple, dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Overnight stay in Gangotri.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 14 km
🗻 Altitude: 3,792 m (12,440 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +744 m (+2,441 ft)

Follow the Bhagirathi River upstream, trekking through Chir Bassa, a lush pine forest, before continuing to Bhujbassa, known for its birch trees. Enjoy panoramic views of snow-clad Himalayan peaks rising over 6,000 m. Overnight stay at a tourist bungalow or in camp.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 4 km to Gaumukh + 4 km to Tapovan
🕒 Trekking Time: 5 hours
🗻 Altitude: 4,465 m (14,649 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +673 m (+2,209 ft)

Trek to Gaumukh, the sacred source of the Ganges, where pilgrims collect holy water and take ritual dips in the Bhagirathi River. Continue with a steep ascent across the Gaumukh Glacier to reach Tapovan, a high-altitude meadow surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks. Overnight stay in Tapovan.

🕒 Trekking Time: 6 hours
🗻 Altitude: 4,400 m (14,435 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –65 m (–213 ft)

Spend the day exploring Tapovan, a stunning high-altitude meadow at the base of Shivling Peak. Enjoy the serenity of the Himalayas, trek towards the Meru Glacier at 5,000 m, and visit a nearby glacial lake. Keep an eye out for Himalayan wildlife such as mountain goats. Overnight stay in Tapovan.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 12 km
🕒 Trekking Time: 5 hours
🗻 Altitude: 3,600 m (11,811 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –800 m (–2,625 ft)

Trek down from the vast alpine meadows of Tapovan, following the Bhagirathi River through rugged mountain terrain. Arrive at Chirbassa, known for its dense pine forests and dramatic Himalayan views. Camp overnight under the stars.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 9 km to Gangotri
🕒 Trekking Time: 4–6 hours
🚗 Driving Distance: 100 km to Uttarkashi
🗻 Altitude: 1,158 m (3,799 ft) at Uttarkashi
📉 Altitude Loss: –2,442 m (–8,010 ft)

Trek from Chirbassa back to Gangotri along the scenic Bhagirathi River valley. After lunch, drive to Uttarkashi, stopping at Gangnani for a rejuvenating dip in its natural hot springs. Overnight stay in a tourist bungalow.

🚗 Travelling Distance: 226 km
🕒 Travelling Time: 9 hours
🗻 Altitude: 1,981 m (6,499 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +823 m (+2,701 ft)

Drive to Gaurikund via Rudraprayag and Guptkashi, the place where Lord Shiva is believed to have hidden from the Pandavas of the Mahabharata. Arrive in Gaurikund, where legend says Goddess Parvati meditated for centuries to win Lord Shiva’s hand. Overnight stay in Gaurikund.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 14 km
🗻 Altitude: 3,584 m (11,758 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +1,603 m (+5,259 ft)

Trek gradually through the scenic Mandakini Valley to the “Royal Abode of Lord Shiva” — Kedarnath. The temple stands majestically at the base of the 6,950 m (22,801 ft) Kedarnath Peak. In the evening, visit the temple to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of Hindu devotion. Overnight stay at a tourist bungalow.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 14 km to Gaurikund
🚗 Driving Distance: 74 km to Chopta
🗻 Altitude: 2,500 m (8,202 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –1,084 m (–3,556 ft)

Trek down from Kedarnath to Gaurikund along the Mandakini Valley. From there, drive through scenic mountain roads to Chopta, a serene destination known for its Himalayan meadows and lush green forests. Overnight stay in camp.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 7 km
🗻 Altitude: 3,700 m (12,139 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +1,200 m (+3,937 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –1,200 m (–3,937 ft)

Trek to the Chandra Shilla Summit for a breathtaking 360° view of the Garhwal Valley and the Himalayan ranges. Along the way, visit Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple in the world, believed to be where the arms of Lord Shiva appeared. The trail is adorned with vast, flower-carpeted meadows. Return to Chopta for an overnight stay in camp.

🚗 Travelling Distance: 147 km to Joshimath + onward to Badrinath
🗻 Altitude: 3,096 m (10,157 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +596 m (+1,956 ft)

Drive to Joshimath, the winter seat of the Rawal Sahib of the Badrinath shrine. After lunch, continue to Badrinath via Vishnuprayag, where the Dhauli Ganga from Niti Valley meets the Alaknanda River. On arrival, visit the sacred Badrinath Temple and attend the evening Aarti. Overnight stay in a tourist bungalow.

🚗 Driving Distance: 26 km to Govindghat
🥾 Trekking Distance: 14 km to Ganghria
🗻 Altitude: 3,110 m (10,203 ft)
📈 Altitude Gain: +14 m (+46 ft)

Drive from Badrinath to Govindghat, then trek along the Laxman Ganga River to reach Ganghria. The trail is alive with scenic beauty and the presence of hundreds of Sikh pilgrims making their way to Hemkund Sahib. Overnight stay in Ganghria.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 12 km round trip
🗻 Altitude: 4,329 m (14,203 ft) at Hemkund
📈 Altitude Gain: +1,219 m (+3,999 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –1,219 m (–3,999 ft)

Trek uphill from Ganghria to the sacred glacial lake of Hemkund, set amid seven towering peaks. Visit the revered Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara, an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs, and enjoy panoramic mountain views. Return to Ganghria for an overnight stay.

🥾 Trekking Distance: 5 km to Valley of Flowers + return to Govindghat
🚗 Driving Distance: 18 km to Joshimath
🗻 Altitude: 3,658 m (12,001 ft) at Valley of Flowers
📈 Altitude Gain: +548 m (+1,798 ft)
📉 Altitude Loss: –671 m (–2,201 ft)

Enjoy a pleasant trek to the breathtaking Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with vibrant alpine blooms. Return to Govindghat and drive to Joshimath. If time allows, make a short detour to Auli for views of the sacred Nanda Devi peak. Overnight stay in a hotel.

🚗 Travelling Distance: 251 km
🕒 Travelling Time: 9–10 hours
🗻 Altitude: 372 m (1,220 ft) at Rishikesh
📉 Altitude Loss: –2,724 m (–8,937 ft)

Descend from the high-altitude landscapes of Joshimath to the spiritual hub of Rishikesh. Travel along scenic mountain roads and river valleys, passing through charming hill towns. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the evening by the sacred Ganga. Overnight stay in Rishikesh.

🚗 Driving Distance: 20 km to Haridwar Railway Station
🚆 Train Distance: 224 km to Delhi
🗻 Altitude: 216 m (709 ft) at Delhi
📉 Altitude Loss: –156 m (–511 ft)

Drive from Rishikesh to Haridwar Railway Station, then board the train to Delhi. Upon arrival, meet our representative and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

🗻 Altitude: 216 m (709 ft)

Spend the day at leisure in Delhi, exploring local sights or relaxing before your journey home. Later, transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your onward flight.