Chardham Yatra 12 Days: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath by Road

Our Chardham Yatra 12 days package is the complete Char Dham pilgrimage by road, at an easy pace. Begin with the Ganga Aarti in Haridwar, then visit the four holy shrines of the Garhwal Himalayas in the traditional order: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, where you spend a night beside the temple, and Badrinath. End with the evening Aarti in Rishikesh. It is a private yatra with your own car and an experienced hill driver, from Delhi or Dehradun.

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted Uttarakhand tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private pilgrimage tours for families, senior citizens and groups.

Yatra at a Glance

Here are the key facts of the Chardham Yatra 12 days package.

Duration: 12 days and 11 nights
Route: Haridwar (1 night), Barkot (2), Uttarkashi (2), Guptkashi (2), Kedarnath (1), Badrinath (1), Rudraprayag (1), Rishikesh (1)
Starts: Delhi or Dehradun. Ends: Dehradun or Delhi
Tour type: private yatra with car and driver
Walks: about 6 km each way at Yamunotri and about 16 km each way at Kedarnath, with ponies and palkis available
Best time: May, June, September and October

Why Choose This Yatra

All four Dhams by road: no helicopter needed.
A night at Kedarnath: see the evening Aarti and the morning darshan at the temple.
Two nights at each base: Barkot, Uttarkashi and Guptkashi, so no day is rushed.
Ganga Aarti twice: at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar and Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh.
Private and flexible: the Chardham Yatra 12 days route is one of our most popular Chardham Yatra packages.

Chardham Yatra 12 Days Itinerary

This is the day-by-day plan of the Chardham Yatra 12 days package.

Day 1: Delhi or Dehradun to Haridwar

We meet you in Delhi (about 220 km, five to six hours) or at Dehradun airport (about 40 km, one hour) and drive to Haridwar. In the evening, join the Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, as hundreds of oil lamps float on the river.

Shamrock travel tip: make sure your online yatra registration is done before Day 1, and keep it with your photo ID; it is checked on the way to every Dham. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Overnight: Haridwar

Day 2: Haridwar to Barkot via Mussoorie

Drive about 210 km, seven to eight hours, up through Mussoorie, with a stop at Kempty Falls, and on to Barkot in the Yamuna valley.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Barkot

Day 3: Yamunotri Dham

Drive about 45 km to Janki Chatti, then walk about 6 km, or ride a pony or palki, to Yamunotri. Bathe in the hot spring of Jamunabai Kund, cook rice in Surya Kund as an offering, pray at Divya Shila and visit the temple of Goddess Yamuna. Return to Barkot.

Shamrock travel tip: start the walk early to beat the crowds and the afternoon rain, and carry a rain jacket and some cash for the pony or palki. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Barkot

Day 4: Barkot to Uttarkashi

Drive about 100 km, four hours, to Uttarkashi on the Bhagirathi river. Visit the Vishwanath temple and the Shakti temple with its old trident.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Uttarkashi

Day 5: Gangotri Dham

Drive about 100 km, three to four hours, past the hot springs of Gangnani and the Harsil valley to Gangotri. Visit the white temple of Goddess Ganga by the river, then return to Uttarkashi.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Uttarkashi

Day 6: Uttarkashi to Guptkashi

A long drive of about 220 km, eight to nine hours, along the Mandakini valley to Guptkashi. In the evening, visit the Ardh Narishwar temple.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Guptkashi

Day 7: Kedarnath Dham

Today is the high point of the Chardham Yatra 12 days yatra. Drive to Sonprayag and take the local shuttle to Gaurikund. Walk about 16 km, or ride a pony or palki, up to Kedarnath at about 3,583 metres, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Join the evening Aarti at the temple.

Shamrock travel tip: Kedarnath is high and cold, so walk slowly, drink water, and carry warm clothes and any medicines. Read our Shamrock India Travel Tips on health at high altitude.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Kedarnath

Day 8: Kedarnath to Guptkashi

Join the early morning darshan, then walk or ride back down to Gaurikund and drive to Guptkashi to rest.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Guptkashi

Day 9: Guptkashi to Badrinath

Drive about 200 km, seven to eight hours, via Joshimath to Badrinath on the Alaknanda river. Join the evening Aarti at the temple of Lord Vishnu.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Badrinath

Day 10: Badrinath and Mana to Rudraprayag

Bathe in the hot spring of Tapt Kund and have darshan at Badrinath. Visit Mana, the last village before the border, with Vyas Gufa and Bhim Pul, and the Mata Murti temple. Then drive about 160 km to Rudraprayag, where the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers meet.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Rudraprayag

Day 11: Rudraprayag to Rishikesh

Drive about 140 km, four to five hours, past Devprayag, where the Ganga begins. In Rishikesh, see the river bridges and Triveni Ghat, and join the evening Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: Rishikesh

Day 12: Rishikesh to Dehradun or Delhi

After breakfast, we take you to Dehradun airport (about 45 minutes) or Delhi (about 240 km, six hours). Your Chardham Yatra 12 days pilgrimage ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Your Chardham Yatra 12 days package includes:

Eleven nights in hotels near each Dham, on a twin or double sharing basis
Vegetarian breakfast and dinner every day
A private car with an experienced hill driver for the whole yatra
All taxes, tolls, parking and driver costs
Help with your yatra registration

What Is Not Included

Flights and trains
Lunch
Ponies, palkis, the Sonprayag shuttle, special puja and VIP darshan
Helicopter tickets, if you choose them
Personal expenses and travel insurance

Best Time for This Yatra

The temples open from about late April or May to October or November. May and June are pleasant but busy. July and August bring monsoon rain and landslides. September and October bring clear skies and fewer crowds, and are our favourite months for the Chardham Yatra 12 days route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chardham Yatra 12 days package good for senior citizens?

Yes. The pace is easy, with two nights at each base, and ponies, palkis or a helicopter can be arranged for Kedarnath.

How hard are the walks?

Yamunotri is about 6 km each way on a moderate path. Kedarnath is about 16 km each way and harder, because of the height.

Can I fly to Kedarnath instead?

Yes. Our 11-day Chardham Yatra with Kedarnath helicopter saves the long walk.

Do I need to register?

Yes. Every pilgrim must register online with Uttarakhand Tourism. We help you with it.

Can I change the plan?

Yes. We can add rest days, a helicopter or a few days in Mussoorie or Nainital.

How much does the Chardham Yatra 12 days package cost?

The price depends on your hotels, the number of travellers and your dates. Tell us your plans and we will send a clear quotation.

More Chardham Yatra Packages

11-Day Chardham Yatra with Kedarnath Helicopter: all four Dhams, with a helicopter to Kedarnath.
8-Day Do Dham Yatra Kedarnath Badrinath: Kedarnath and Badrinath only.
7-Day Do Dham Yatra Yamunotri Gangotri: the two western Dhams.
5-Day Ek Dham Yatra Badrinath: Badrinath only.

See all our Chardham Yatra packages, our Uttarakhand tour packages and our spiritual tours of India. We are one of the best tour operators for North India, and we also plan the best North India tours. Ready to book your Chardham Yatra 12 days pilgrimage? Request your free quote

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