Day 1
Arrive Haridwar · Ganga Aarti
Welcome at Delhi/Dehradun, transfer to Haridwar. Sunset Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri. Overnight at a heritage ashram-style hotel by the river.
Destinations · India
Seasonal · May–Oct (snow-window)
Chardham Yatra — the four sacred abodes of the Himalayas.
Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand 12 nights Max 8 guestsFrom ₹2,45,000 / person
Four shrines, four rivers, four faces of the same Himalayan idea — that the gods live closer to the sky than we do.
The Chardham circuit is one of Hinduism's oldest pilgrimages. We do it the way it deserves to be done — slowly, with rest days, with helicopter shuttles at Kedarnath and Yamunotri for guests for whom the 14 km uphill trek would be cruel, and with private priest-led darshan windows at each shrine so the actual moment of standing before the deity is unrushed.
Yamunotri (source of the Yamuna) and Gangotri (source of the Ganga) anchor the journey's first half — high-altitude valleys where the rivers are still small enough to leap across. The second half climbs to Kedarnath (the highest Jyotirlinga, at 3,583 m) and concludes at Badrinath, the seat of Vishnu, set against the Neelkanth peak.
Throughout: 4-star comfort base camps in Rishikesh, Uttarkashi and Guptkashi (heritage Garhwali architecture, central heating), oxygen support on the helicopter shuttles, a doctor on call, and a Garhwali Brahmin-priest companion who knows the texts these shrines came from.
Heli shuttles included
Kedarnath and Yamunotri trek replaced by certified helicopter — gentle on senior travellers.
Priest-led darshan
Private windows at all four shrines. No queue, no rush, no hawkers.
Carbon-neutral
110 % Gold-Standard offset including the heli legs; reusable steel water-bottle issued on arrival.
Share this journey
Day by day
Twelve days, four shrines, one journey above the cloud-line.
Day 2
Transfer to Uttarkashi
Drive through the Yamuna and Bhagirathi valleys (8 hours). Overnight at a Garhwali heritage lodge in Uttarkashi.
Day 3
Yamunotri · helicopter darshan
Helicopter shuttle from Kharsali to Yamunotri (5 mins each way). Priest-led darshan + Surya Kund hot-spring snan. Overnight back at Uttarkashi.
Day 4
Gangotri darshan
Drive to Gangotri (4 hours). Walk to the temple, priest-led darshan and Bhagirathi snan. Overnight at a Gangotri-side lodge.
Day 5
Return Uttarkashi · transfer Guptkashi
Long drive day (10 hours) across the Garhwal ridges. Settle into a riverside heritage stay at Guptkashi.
Day 6
Rest day · acclimatisation walks
Slow morning. Gentle acclimatisation walks around Guptkashi. Optional Triyuginarayan day-trip (the spot of Shiva-Parvati's wedding).
Day 7
Kedarnath · helicopter darshan
5:30 am helicopter from Phata to Kedarnath (8 mins each way). Priest-led VIP darshan at the Jyotirlinga. Overnight at a high-altitude Kedarnath lodge (or return to Guptkashi).
Day 8
Return Guptkashi · transfer Joshimath
Helicopter back. Drive to Joshimath (6 hours, scenic). Overnight at a heritage Garhwali hotel.
Day 9
Badrinath darshan
Drive to Badrinath (2 hours, breathtaking pass). Priest-led darshan at the Badrinarayan temple. Visit Mana village (India's last village before Tibet) and the Vyas Cave. Overnight at Badrinath.
Day 10
Auli ropeway · Joshimath
Morning ropeway from Joshimath to Auli for the panoramic Himalayan view (Nanda Devi, Kamet, Hathi Parvat). Return to Joshimath.
Day 11
Transfer Rishikesh
Long drive south (10 hours, but downhill). Overnight at a Ganga-side heritage retreat in Rishikesh — Parmarth Niketan or similar.
Day 12
Rishikesh slow morning · Farewell
Sunrise yoga session by the Ganga. Visit Beatles Ashram and Triveni Ghat. Onward transfer to Delhi/Dehradun airport in the afternoon.
Common questions
Before you book Chardham Yatra · The Four Sacred Abodes.
Are the shrines open year-round?
No — the four shrines are snow-closed roughly November to April. Open window is May to October. Pre-monsoon (May–June) is the most pleasant; September–October is the quietest.
What about the helicopter shuttles — are they safe?
Yes. We use only DGCA-certified helicopter operators with new airframes and seasoned mountain pilots. The Kedarnath leg is 8 minutes each way; Yamunotri is 5 minutes. Both replace what would otherwise be a strenuous 14–16 km uphill trek.
I'm 65+. Is this trip suitable for me?
Absolutely — we designed this package specifically for senior pilgrims. Helicopter shuttles at the two highest shrines, rest days for acclimatisation, doctor on call, oxygen support at altitude, and a wheelchair-friendly base camp. We just need a high-altitude pre-clearance from your GP.
What's the best month to go?
Mid-May to mid-June: clear weather, post-snow-melt rivers at full flow, all four shrines freshly opened. Avoid July–August (monsoon, landslide risk on the Garhwal roads). September–October is also lovely and much quieter.
Reserve a place
Begin a quiet conversation about Chardham Yatra · The Four Sacred Abodes.
Tell us your preferred dates (May–Oct only), party size, and the ages of senior pilgrims so we can pre-book the right helicopter category and altitude support.
Ready to reserve? Pay a deposit securely
Secure checkout — Razorpay (INR) or PayPal (USD). Our concierge confirms your reservation within 24 hours.
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