Skip to content
Experience My India

Char Dham Yatra — 11 days

Private tour

Tour packageChar Dham Yatra

This eleven-day itinerary covers all four Char Dham shrines — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — starting and ending near Haridwar and Rishikesh. It is a physically demanding pilgrimage at high altitude with genuine trekking sections to Yamunotri and Kedarnath, and dates depend on the shrines' opening dates, set annually and confirmed closer to the season.

Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 1 Sept 2026

Government-approved operatorApproved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Duration11 days / 10 nights
  • RouteHaridwar or Rishikesh → Badrinath to Rishikesh
  • IncludedTransfers and meals
  • Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm ISTA named specialist, the same person from first reply to departure.
  • No payment to start planningYou receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

Itinerary

  1. Arrive Haridwar or Rishikesh

    Day 1

    • Met on arrival; evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri or a riverside ghat.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Haridwar/Rishikesh

  2. Drive to Barkot

    Day 2

    • Long drive towards Yamunotri's base, about 6–7 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Barkot

  3. Yamunotri

    Day 3

    • Drive to Janki Chatti, then the trek (or pony/palanquin) to Yamunotri temple and back.
    • Return to Barkot or Uttarkashi.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Uttarkashi

  4. Drive to Gangotri and back

    Day 4

    • Day trip to Gangotri, source of the Ganges, about 3 hours each way.
    • Return to Uttarkashi.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Uttarkashi

  5. Uttarkashi to Guptkashi

    Day 5

    • Long drive towards Kedarnath's base, about 7–8 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Guptkashi/Sitapur

  6. Trek to Kedarnath

    Day 6

    • Drive to Gaurikund, then the trek (or pony/helicopter, subject to availability) to Kedarnath, about 16–18km.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Kedarnath

  7. Kedarnath darshan, trek down

    Day 7

    • Morning darshan at the Kedarnath temple.
    • Trek back down to Gaurikund and drive to Guptkashi.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Guptkashi

  8. Guptkashi to Badrinath

    Day 8

    • Long drive over to the Badrinath valley, about 7–8 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Badrinath

  9. Badrinath darshan

    Day 9

    • Morning at the Badrinath temple; the Mana village, the last village before the Tibet border, if time allows.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Badrinath

  10. Badrinath to Rishikesh

    Day 10

    • Long return drive, about 9–10 hours.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Rishikesh

  11. Departure

    Day 11

    • Transfer to Dehradun (Jolly Grant) airport for your onward flight.

    Meals: Breakfast · Stay: Departure day

Vibrant riverside buildings in Haridwar, India, with scenic mountain backdropDay 1 · Arrive Haridwar or Rishikesh
Vibrant riverside buildings in Haridwar, India, with scenic mountain backdrop

For reference only. The final plan is confirmed in your written quote.

Highlights

  • Pilgrims and fit travellers prepared for genuine trekking at altitude and long mountain drives.
  • Not suitable for anyone with mobility limitations without arranging pony, palanquin or helicopter transfer in advance.
  • The yatra season typically runs roughly April/May to October/November, opening and closing on dates fixed annually by the temple authorities — confirm exact dates for your year before booking.
  • The Char Dham Yatra visits four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand, traditionally in this order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Full description

Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath

The Char Dham Yatra visits four Himalayan shrines in Uttarakhand, traditionally in this order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The shrines sit at altitude and are only accessible for part of the year — opening and closing dates are set annually by the temple authorities and are not fixed calendar dates, so travel dates for this itinerary are confirmed closer to your season rather than fixed in advance. (confirmed on enquiry)

Yamunotri and Kedarnath both require a walk — Yamunotri around 5–6km each way, Kedarnath around 16–18km each way (also reachable by helicopter, subject to availability and weather) — so this is a physically demanding pilgrimage, not a sightseeing drive.

Where you stay

  • Haridwar/Rishikesh

    1 night · Day 1

  • Barkot

    1 night · Day 2

  • Uttarkashi

    2 nights · Days 3–4

  • Guptkashi/Sitapur

    1 night · Day 5

  • Kedarnath

    1 night · Day 6

  • Guptkashi

    1 night · Day 7

  • Badrinath

    2 nights · Days 8–9

  • Rishikesh

    1 night · Day 10

  • Departure day

    1 night · Day 11

Includes

  • Private car and driver throughout
  • Registration/biometric formalities where required en route
  • Hotel and guesthouse stays as confirmed at enquiry
  • Daily breakfast

Not included

  • Pony, palanquin or helicopter charges at Yamunotri and Kedarnath
  • Flights in and out
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Travel insurance, strongly recommended given the altitude and trekking

Price

Experience My India quotes this trip in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.

Important information

Char Dham Yatra — 11 days

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

  • Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.

Who it suits

  • Pilgrims and fit travellers prepared for genuine trekking at altitude and long mountain drives. Not suitable for anyone with mobility limitations without arranging pony, palanquin or helicopter transfer in advance. The yatra season typically runs roughly April/May to October/November, opening and closing on dates fixed annually by the temple authorities — confirm exact dates for your year before booking. (confirmed on enquiry)

How booking works

  1. Send an enquiry

    Dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel. Two fields to start.

  2. We check availability

    Hotels, guides and permits for your dates, with honest alternatives if something is full.

  3. Price and hotels named

    Every hotel and inclusion is named before you pay anything.

  4. Written quote in INR

    One document, no hidden lines, valid for the dates it quotes.

  5. You approve

    Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.

  6. A named specialist runs it

    The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.

Your trip designer

Gurudutt Kaushal

Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur

Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.

About GuruduttMeet our founderHow we vet

Trust and protection

  • Ministry of Tourism approved

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Registered business

    GSTIN 09BZFPM8067A1Z9

  • 4.3 / 5 on Tripadvisor

    Independent guest reviews

  • No payment to start

    A written quote first; charged in INR only after you approve.

Why book with Experience My India

  • Government-approved operator

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • 500+ vetted local guides

    35+ destination specialists plan every trip by hand.

  • Human help, every day

    Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST · +91 73022 65809

  • No payment until you approve

    You receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

How we vet every guide, stay and routeIndia e-Visa: who needs one and how to applyHave a specialist design this trip

Frequently asked questions

What are the exact opening dates for the Char Dham shrines this year?

They are set annually by the temple authorities and vary year to year, based on the Hindu calendar for some shrines. We confirm the current year's exact dates with you before finalising your itinerary. (confirmed on enquiry)

Can I do Kedarnath by helicopter instead of trekking?

Yes, subject to seat availability and weather, which grounds services frequently in poor conditions. We can enquire on availability but cannot guarantee a helicopter slot.

Is eleven days enough for all four shrines?

It is a reasonably paced eleven days including the long drives between valleys. Some pilgrims compress this to eight or nine days; we do not recommend it given the altitude and trekking involved.

Do I need any fitness preparation?

Some. The Kedarnath trek in particular is a genuine 16–18km uphill walk at altitude. Anyone with heart, lung or joint conditions should speak to a doctor first, and pony or palanquin options exist for those who cannot walk it.

Request a quote

Planning your Char Dham dates? Get a written quote and we'll confirm this year's shrine opening dates with you.

Ask on WhatsApp
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
  • No payment to start planning

Customer reviews

No reviews for this experience yet — we publish guest reviews after each trip.

Read our reviews

Browse tour packages by destination

See all
Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

19 tour packages

Rajasthan

Rajasthan

18 tour packages

Across India

Across India

9 tour packages

Agra

Agra

9 tour packages

Jaipur

Jaipur

6 tour packages

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand

6 tour packages

Varanasi

Varanasi

5 tour packages

Delhi

Delhi

4 tour packages

Ladakh

Ladakh

4 tour packages

Goa

Goa

3 tour packages

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh

3 tour packages

Karnataka

Karnataka

3 tour packages

Kashmir

Kashmir

3 tour packages

Kerala

Kerala

3 tour packages

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

3 tour packages

Amritsar

Amritsar

2 tour packages

Leh

Leh

2 tour packages

Maharashtra

Maharashtra

2 tour packages

Mathura & Vrindavan

Mathura & Vrindavan

2 tour packages

Punjab

Punjab

2 tour packages

Ranthambore

Ranthambore

2 tour packages

SikarPhoto: Indrapal Jangid · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Sikar

2 tour packages

Ajanta & Ellora Caves

Ajanta & Ellora Caves

1 tour package

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

1 tour package

Ayodhya

Ayodhya

1 tour package

Bihar

Bihar

1 tour package

Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya

1 tour package

Chettinad

Chettinad

1 tour package

Hampi

Hampi

1 tour package

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer

1 tour package

Jodhpur

Jodhpur

1 tour package

Khajuraho

Khajuraho

1 tour package

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

1 tour package

Manali

Manali

1 tour package

Mumbai

Mumbai

1 tour package

Mysore

Mysore

1 tour package

North Goa

North Goa

1 tour package

Odisha

Odisha

1 tour package

Puri

Puri

1 tour package

Rishikesh

Rishikesh

1 tour package

Spiti Valley

Spiti Valley

1 tour package

Srinagar

Srinagar

1 tour package

Tirupati

Tirupati

1 tour package

Udaipur

Udaipur

1 tour package

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

Tailor-made for you

Price on request

Free cancellation