Book this trip in 3 steps
1Flights to Dehradun
Fly to Delhi, then a short flight (about 1 hour) to Dehradun Jolly Grant airport (DED). Our search finds the connection for you. Many pilgrims instead take the train or a car from Delhi to Haridwar.
2Hotels, night by night
Rooms near the temples are simple and fill up fast in May and June. At Kedarnath itself, stays are mostly GMVN huts and tents, booked separately. Hotel searches open Booking.com for 2 adults; add children there.
3Tickets, transfers and the rest
When is it cheapest to fly?
The lowest recent return fare per person, by month, on our flight partner for London Heathrow → Delhi. Tap a month to see live prices.
Guide prices from recent searches. They may no longer be available.
The road plan, day by day
- Day1Arrive
Land in Delhi and connect to Dehradun. Drive to Barkot (about 5–6 hours). If you land late, spend a night in Dehradun first and add a day.
- Day2Yamunotri
Drive to Janki Chatti and walk about 6 km to Yamunotri (ponies and palkis available). Back to Barkot for the night.
- Day3Barkot → Uttarkashi
A gentler day on the road. Evening aarti at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttarkashi.
- Day4Gangotri
Day trip to Gangotri (about 3–4 hours each way), the source of the Ganga. Back to Uttarkashi.
- Day5Uttarkashi → Guptkashi
The longest drive of the yatra (8–9 hours). Early night: Kedarnath starts before dawn.
- Day6Kedarnath
Walk about 16 km from Gaurikund, or take a pony, palki or a shuttle helicopter from Phata, Sirsi or Guptkashi. Stay near the temple.
- Day7Kedarnath → Guptkashi
Morning darshan, then down to Guptkashi.
- Day8Guptkashi → Badrinath
Drive via Joshimath (6–7 hours). Evening darshan at Badrinath.
- Day9Badrinath & Mana
Tapt Kund and darshan, then Mana, the last village before Tibet. Drive to Rudraprayag for the night.
- Day10Rishikesh
Drive down to Rishikesh. Evening Ganga aarti at Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan.
- Day11Fly home
Dehradun to Delhi, then home.
Short on time? The helicopter yatra
Helicopter packages from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun visit all four dhams in 5–6 days (Do Dham, Kedarnath and Badrinath, can be done in one long day). They sell out early: book 3–4 months ahead, and only with operators approved by the Uttarakhand government.
For Kedarnath alone, shuttle helicopters fly from Phata, Sirsi and Guptkashi. Book these only on the official IRCTC HeliYatra website; fake helicopter booking sites are common.
Before you go
- Register first. Every pilgrim must register with the Uttarakhand government before the yatra, on the official Tourist Care Uttarakhand website or app. Carry your registration with you.
- Opening dates change every year. The temples open around Akshaya Tritiya (late April or May) and close around Diwali and Bhai Dooj (October–November). In 2026 they opened between 19 and 24 April. Wait for the official dates before you book.
- Avoid July and August. Monsoon rain brings landslides and road closures.
- Altitude. Kedarnath is about 3,580 m above sea level. Older pilgrims and anyone with heart or breathing problems should see a doctor before booking, and take it slowly.
- Insurance. Make sure your travel insurance covers trekking at altitude and helicopter flights.
- Visas. British passport holders need an Indian e-Visa or an OCI card. Check the official Indian visa website.
Sources
Facts last checked on 2 November 2026. Opening days, schedules and entry rules change, so always check before you travel.