Char Dham is the four-shrine circuit of the Garhwal Himalaya, and it is the most demanding thing we drive in India. The roads are mountain roads, the shrines sit between 3,000 and 3,600 metres, and two of the four cannot be reached by any vehicle at all.
We want to be plain about that. Gangotri and Badrinath you can drive to. Yamunotri needs a six-kilometre walk, pony or palanquin. Kedarnath needs sixteen kilometres uphill on foot or pony, or a helicopter from Phata or Guptkashi. None of this is hidden in small print with us.
The shrines open around late April or early May and close around Diwali in late October or November. Registration on the Uttarakhand government portal is compulsory. We handle the driving, the route and the timings; you book your own accommodation, which along this circuit is simple guesthouses and dharamshalas rather than hotels.
Our other north India routes — Punjab, Himachal and the Uttarakhand hills — are on the India tours page, and what a car and driver actually costs is set out on private car and driver in India.
Char Dham Yatra by Road at a glance
Durée : 12 jours en voiture privée, avec le même chauffeur anglophone tout du long.
Price: the Char Dham Yatra by Road starts from $1,272 for the whole car, not per person.
Route: Day 1 of the Char Dham Yatra by Road: Delhi to Haridwar · Ganga aarti. Last day: Rishikesh to Delhi.
Flexible: every day of the Char Dham Yatra by Road itinerary can be changed, shortened or extended.
Char Dham Yatra by Road: trip highlights
All four dhams in one circuit, driven by a driver who works these roads every season
Yamunotri and Gangotri in the upper Yamuna and Bhagirathi valleys
Kedarnath below the Kedarnath peak, and Badrinath in the Alaknanda valley
Haridwar and Rishikesh at either end of the circuit
Char Dham Yatra by Road itinerary, day by day
JOUR01Jour 1
Delhi to Haridwar · Ganga aarti
The pilgrimage begins where the Ganges leaves the mountains.
Drive: Delhi to Haridwar is about 220 km, 5–5½ hours. Leave at 9 a.m.
Evening: The Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri at sunset. Arrive 45 minutes early.
Note: All Char Dham pilgrims must register online with the Uttarakhand government before travel; we do this for you with your passport details.
Overnight: Haridwar
JOUR02Jour 2
Haridwar to Barkot · into the Yamuna valley
Up through Dehradun and Mussoorie into the mountains.
Drive: Haridwar to Barkot is about 210 km, 7–8 hours, with a stop at Kempty Falls.
Evening: Quiet evening in Barkot (1,220 m); early night for tomorrow.
Overnight: Barkot
JOUR03Jour 3
Yamunotri temple (3,293 m) and back
The first dham, source of the Yamuna. A long, hard and unforgettable day.
Early morning: Leave at 5 a.m. Drive about 45 km (2 hours) to Janki Chatti.
Trek: 6 km uphill to the temple on foot (3–4 hours), on a pony or doli (palanquin), which can be hired at Janki Chatti at fixed rates.
At the temple: Bathe your hands in the Surya Kund hot spring, where pilgrims cook rice in cloth as prasad, and the darshan.
Evening: Back down to Janki Chatti and drive to Barkot.
Tip: Take a rain jacket, warm layer, snacks and water. The path is paved but steep.
Overnight: Barkot
JOUR04Jour 4
Barkot to Uttarkashi
Across to the Bhagirathi valley.
Drive: Barkot to Uttarkashi is about 100 km, 4 hours.
Evening: Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttarkashi and the riverside ghats.
Overnight: Uttarkashi
JOUR05Jour 5
Gangotri temple (3,100 m) and back
The second dham, at the source of the Ganges, reachable by road.
Drive: Uttarkashi to Gangotri is about 100 km, 3½–4 hours each way, past the apple orchards of Harsil.
At Gangotri: Darshan at the white Gangotri temple and a holy dip at the ghat (the water is glacier-cold).
Optional: Gaumukh, the glacier snout, is an 18 km trek each way with a separate permit; ask us to add days.
Overnight: Uttarkashi
JOUR06Jour 6
Uttarkashi to Guptkashi
A long transfer over the ridges into the Mandakini valley.
Drive: About 220 km, 8–9 hours via Tehri lake and Srinagar (Garhwal).
Evening: Ardhanarishvara and Vishwanath temples in Guptkashi.
Tip: If you booked a Kedarnath helicopter, your driver takes you to the helipad at Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi tomorrow.
Overnight: Guptkashi
JOUR07Jour 7
Kedarnath temple (3,583 m)
The third dham, the great Shiva temple in a bowl of snow peaks.
Early morning: Drive to Sonprayag (30 km, 1 hour), then a shared jeep to Gaurikund.
Trek: 16 km uphill from Gaurikund (6–8 hours on foot), or by pony or doli. Or a helicopter from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi, booked in advance through the official IRCTC heli portal.
Evening: The evening aarti at Kedarnath temple.
Tip: Nights at Kedarnath are freezing; take a down jacket, gloves and a hat. Accommodation is simple.
Overnight: Kedarnath
JOUR08Jour 8
Kedarnath darshan, back to Guptkashi
Morning darshan, then the descent.
Early morning: Darshan at Kedarnath, and the Bhairavnath temple above for the view.
Trek: 16 km down to Gaurikund (4–5 hours), then shared jeep to Sonprayag, where your driver waits.
Overnight: Guptkashi or Sonprayag
JOUR09Jour 9
Guptkashi to Badrinath (3,300 m)
Over the hills to the Alaknanda valley and Vishnu's temple.
Drive: About 200 km, 7–8 hours via Chopta (optional stop), Chamoli and Joshimath.
Evening: Evening aarti at Badrinath if you arrive in time.
Overnight: Badrinath
JOUR10Jour 10
Badrinath and Mana village, then Rudraprayag
The fourth and final dham.
Early morning: A dip in the Tapt Kund hot spring and darshan at the Badrinath temple.
Morning: Mana village (3 km), the last village before Tibet: Vyas Gufa cave, Bhim Pul rock bridge over the Saraswati.
Drive: Badrinath to Rudraprayag is about 160 km, 6–7 hours.
Overnight: Rudraprayag
JOUR11Jour 11
Rudraprayag to Rishikesh via Devprayag
Down the river past the sacred confluences.
Drive: About 140 km, 5–6 hours. Stop at Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to become the Ganges.
Evening: The Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh.
Overnight: Rishikesh
JOUR12Jour 12
Rishikesh to Delhi
Back to the capital.
Drive: Rishikesh to Delhi is about 240 km, 6 hours.
Drop: Your Delhi hotel or the airport (flights after about 8 p.m.).
Season: The four temples open around late April or May and close around Diwali (October or November). Dates are announced each year.
Nuit : Delhi, ou votre vol retour
What's included: Char Dham Yatra by Road
Ce qui est inclus
Véhicule privé climatisé pour tout l'itinéraire, rien que pour votre groupe Chauffeur professionnel anglophone chaque jour du circuit Tout le carburant Tous les péages et taxes d'État et inter-États Frais de stationnement à chaque arrêt Permis lorsque l'itinéraire l'exige Les repas et l'hébergement du chauffeur — jamais à votre charge sur la route Prise en charge et dépose à l'aéroport ou à l'hôtel dans la ville de départ et d'arrivée
Ce qui n'est pas inclus
Hôtels et hébergement de toute sorte Tous les repas et boissons des voyageurs Entrées des monuments, forts, palais et parcs nationaux Guides locaux agréés à l'intérieur des monuments Droits photo et vidéo lorsqu'ils sont demandés Visa indien et éventuels frais de frontière Vols internationaux et intérieurs Assurance voyage Pourboires pour le chauffeur, bienvenus mais jamais attendus Tout ce qui est personnel — blanchisserie, téléphone, achats, frais médicaux Nous organisons volontiers hôtels, guides, billets des monuments et vols pour vous, au prix coûtant. Nous ne prenons aucune commission dessus, c'est pourquoi ils ne sont pas inclus dans le prix.
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Jack van Iersel★★★★★
June 9, 2026
I travelled twice with Go India Nepal. In 2019 for 4 weeks with Babu, together with my 2 adult daughters, and in 2025 2 weeks with Suraj, together with my wife. Both trips were perfect !! Both are safe drivers, speak excellent English, and very respectful to their guests. Highly recommended.
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Michiel Meulendijk★★★★★
January 20, 2026
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Niels Lokman★★★★★
August 19, 2025
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giuseppe petroro★★★★★
July 17, 2025
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Hans de Vries★★★★★
April 22, 2025
We recently completed a remarkable Golden Triangle tour in India and want to share our wonderful experience with Babu's company, particularly with our driver, Pramod. From the moment he greeted us at the airport in the middle of the night, we felt a genuine sense of hospitality. Pramod is a fantastic driver who navigated the busy streets with ease, ensuring…
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March 2, 2025
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carla ciatto★★★★★
March 2, 2025
Abbiamo vissuto una bellissima esperienza di viaggio grazie alla guida impeccabile e sicura del nostro driver Niki, sempre gentile, concentrato e molto professionale. Un lungo viaggio tra l'India e il Nepal alla scoperta di luoghi raggiungibili solo in auto. Un grande grazie a Babu e Niki!!
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Philippe JUTEAU★★★★★
February 27, 2025
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Char Dham Yatra by Road: frequently asked questions
Les vraies questions que nos voyageurs posent avant de réserver, avec les réponses de la famille qui conduit sur ces routes.
No, and we will not pretend otherwise. Gangotri and Badrinath you can drive to. Yamunotri is a six-kilometre walk from Janki Chatti. Kedarnath is a sixteen-kilometre climb from Sonprayag. Both can be done by pony or palanquin, and Kedarnath also by helicopter.
Yes. Every pilgrim must register on the Uttarakhand government Char Dham portal and carry the registration. There is no charge. We will remind you and tell you what is needed, but the registration must be made in your own name by you.
They open on auspicious dates around late April or early May — Akshaya Tritiya for Yamunotri and Gangotri — and close around Diwali, late October or November. Exact dates are announced each year. Outside that window the shrines are under snow and the roads are shut.
Reasonably. Kedarnath is sixteen kilometres uphill at altitude and takes most people six to eight hours. Yamunotri is six kilometres but steep. If walking is not possible, ponies and palanquins are available at both, and the Kedarnath helicopter is an option that must be booked well in advance.
Kedarnath at 3,580 metres and Badrinath at 3,300 metres are high enough for it to matter. The itinerary gains height gradually, which helps. Drink water, do not rush the climbs, and tell your driver immediately if you feel unwell — descending is always the answer.
No. Accommodation on the Char Dham circuit is guesthouses, dharamshalas and simple hotels, and at Kedarnath it is basic huts booked through the state. Prices are low and availability changes daily in season, so it is better booked by you or by us at cost, close to the date.
A two-dham trip to Kedarnath and Badrinath fits in seven or eight days. All four in fewer than eleven means driving eight hours a day on mountain roads and walking at altitude on the same days. We do not recommend it and we would rather build you a shorter honest route.
Services run from Phata, Guptkashi and Sirsi in season and sell out months ahead. They are booked through the state portal, paid separately, and cancel readily for weather. We will drive you to the helipad and wait, but we cannot guarantee a flight.
Cold at the shrines even in June — night temperatures near freezing. May and June, then September and October, are the settled months. July and August are monsoon, with real landslide risk on these roads, and we will tell you frankly if we think your dates are unwise.
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Char Dham Yatra by Road — 12 Days from Delhi
12 jours · circuit privé · sans frais de réservation
