Already in Rishikesh for yoga, rafting or a stay by the river? Kedarnath and Badrinath are less than a day's drive upstream, and our car can collect you from the ashram gate.
Rishikesh sits where the Ganga breaks out of the Shivalik hills, and it is the true last town of the plains before the pilgrim road. Many travellers come for a week of yoga or meditation and then realise that Kedarnath and Badrinath are only one long day further up the same river system. Others choose Rishikesh simply because it is calmer than Haridwar, with riverside cafés and ashrams where elders can rest before the journey.
Because Rishikesh is about 25 km north of Haridwar, the route is identical to our Haridwar Do Dham and so are the prices. The difference is in the details: we pick you up from the lanes around Tapovan, Laxman Jhula or Ram Jhula, where large vehicles cannot always enter, and we can drop you back at your ashram rather than a railway station.
Start & endYour Rishikesh hotel or ashram
Duration5 nights / 6 days
Rishikesh–GuptkashiAbout 175 km, 6–7 hours
Rishikesh Do Dham package cost
Estimated 2027 prices, per person, twin or triple sharing, for four travellers in one car. Final quotes depend on dates, hotel category and group size.
Category
Hotels
Price per person
Budget
Clean standard rooms, basic stay at Kedarnath
₹13,500
Deluxe
Better-rated hotels, valley-view rooms where possible
Helicopter charter price is per person and an estimate. Shuttle tickets for Kedarnath are booked by you on IRCTC HeliYatra and are not part of any package price.
Rishikesh itinerary, day by day
Day 1
Rishikesh to Guptkashi
About 175 km6–7 hoursNight: Guptkashi
The car meets you at the nearest motorable point to your stay, usually by 7 am. Within an hour you are above the rafting beaches of Shivpuri and heading for Devprayag, the first and holiest of the Panch Prayag. The road follows the Alaknanda to Rudraprayag and then the Mandakini to Guptkashi, where you check in for two nights.
Day 2
Gaurikund to Kedarnath
30 km + 16 km trekFull dayNight: Kedarnath
Drive to Sonprayag, show your registration, and ride the shared jeep to Gaurikund. If you have been practising yoga in Rishikesh, the steady 16 km climb will feel manageable; take it at your own pace with plenty of water. Pony, palki and pithoo are available, and IRCTC shuttle passengers fly from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi. Stay overnight close to the shrine.
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Day 3
Morning darshan, down to Guptkashi
16 km + 30 kmFull dayNight: Guptkashi
The early queue rewards you with darshan of the Jyotirlinga and sunrise on the peaks. Many guests sit for a quiet meditation near the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi before beginning the descent. Return to Sonprayag and drive back to the Guptkashi hotel.
Day 4
Guptkashi to Badrinath
200 km8–9 hoursNight: Badrinath
Cross via Ukhimath and the forested slopes near Chopta, one of the prettiest stretches of the trip. Descend to Chamoli, pass Joshimath and climb through a narrow gorge to Badrinath. If you arrive early, bathe in the Tapt Kund and attend the evening aarti.
Day 5
Badrinath darshan and Mana
About 195 km7–8 hoursNight: Srinagar Garhwal
Take darshan of Badri Narayan in the morning, then drive to Mana, the last village before the Tibet border. Walk to Vyas Gufa, Ganesh Gufa and Bhim Pul over the Saraswati. After lunch, descend to Srinagar Garhwal on the Alaknanda.
Day 6
Back to Rishikesh
About 105 km4–5 hoursNight: Tour ends
A short final drive brings you back to Rishikesh by lunchtime. We drop you at your ashram, hotel or the Yog Nagari railway station. You may still catch the evening Ganga aarti at Parmarth Niketan or Triveni Ghat.
Walking, riding or flying to Kedarnath
Badrinath is a drive-up shrine, so the only real decision on this trip is how you reach Kedarnath. Fit walkers usually trek both ways and enjoy the waterfalls and meadows along the Mandakini. Families with elders often book a pony for the climb and walk down, which is easier on the lungs and still kind to the knees. Pony and palki rates are fixed by the local administration and change each season; in recent years a pony has cost roughly ₹3,000–4,000 one way.
The fastest option is the shuttle helicopter from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi, sold only on the IRCTC HeliYatra portal after you register. The Phata round trip was ₹6,500 per person in 2026. We cannot sell these seats, but we shape the itinerary around the date you manage to book. Read about Phata to Kedarnath flights and the Kedarnath trekking tour if you want to know more about each approach.
Package inclusions
Included
5 nights in hotels on twin or triple sharing
Breakfast and dinner daily (all meals on Luxury)
Private car or SUV with hill driver
Fuel, tolls, parking, permits and driver allowance
Pick-up and drop in Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun airport
Registration guidance and phone support
Not included
Travel to Rishikesh
Helicopter, pony, palki or pithoo
Sonprayag–Gaurikund jeep
Special puja and VIP darshan
Lunch on Budget and Deluxe
Extra nights due to landslides
Insurance and personal expenses
Advice for travellers already in Rishikesh
Book the yatra before you arrive
Many foreign and Indian travellers decide on the spot, but hotels at Kedarnath fill weeks ahead in May and June. Message us early, even if your Rishikesh dates are flexible. The registration is free and quick, and foreign nationals can register too.
What to pack from your Rishikesh bag
Light cotton clothes will not be enough. Kedarnath sits at 3,583 m and Badrinath at 3,133 m, so you need a fleece, a down or padded jacket, a rain shell and closed shoes. Our packing list covers the rest.
Visit Tungnath, the highest Shiva temple, on the way between the two dhams with one extra night.
Booking from Rishikesh
WhatsApp +91-99111 77951 with your Rishikesh address, dates and group size.
Pick a category from the quote; we confirm hotel names for your dates.
Send the advance to secure the Kedarnath and Badrinath rooms.
Register online for the yatra and share the QR codes.
Be ready at the gate; the driver calls you the evening before.
Do Dham from Rishikesh: FAQ
Can you pick us up inside Tapovan or Laxman Jhula?
Narrow lanes near the bridges are closed to larger vehicles, so the driver meets you at the nearest road point and helps carry luggage. We confirm the spot the evening before.
Is the price from Rishikesh different from Haridwar?
No. Both towns share the same 2027 estimates, starting from ₹13,500 per person for four travellers on budget hotels.
How long is the drive from Rishikesh to Kedarnath?
About 175 km to Guptkashi (six to seven hours), then 30 km to Sonprayag and the 16 km trek from Gaurikund. Most people break the journey at Guptkashi.
Can foreigners join the Do Dham Yatra from Rishikesh?
Yes. Foreign nationals can visit both temples and must register like Indian pilgrims. Carry your passport for checks.
Is it possible to fly from near Rishikesh?
Yes. Jolly Grant airport and the Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun are close by. Our helicopter Char Dham from Rishikesh and the Do Dham charter both start from there.
Will I find yoga-friendly food on the way?
Hotels serve simple vegetarian meals: dal, rice, roti and seasonal vegetables. Both shrine towns are vegetarian, and you can request less oily food.
