Note: rates cross check kar lena

Namaste India Trip (NIT) plans Kedarnath itineraries for families, solo travellers and senior citizens. We handle the hill roads from pickup to drop and help every guest with the mandatory Yatra registration.

Kedarnath tour packages cost ₹18,500 to ₹85,000 per person in 2026, depending on travel mode and duration:

• Budget road Yatra from Haridwar: ₹18,500 per person (3N/4D, group)

• Private road Yatra from Delhi: ₹24,500 per person (5N/6D)

• Do Dham (Kedarnath + Badrinath): from ₹29,500 per person (7N/8D)

• Helicopter same-day Yatra from Dehradun: ₹85,000 per person, subject to weather

• IRCTC helicopter shuttle only (round trip, GST included): Sersi ₹6,390 | Phata ₹10,164 | Guptkashi ₹12,762

Char Dham Yatra registration is free and compulsory. Register at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in before you leave home, and keep the QR-coded registration letter with you.

Kedarnath Yatra 2026: Quick Facts

Sources: Uttarakhand Tourism registration portal, Rudraprayag district administration, BKTC, IRCTC HeliYatra. Last checked: 24 September 2026.

Kedarnath Tour Package Price 2026: All Options

Every road package below includes an AC vehicle, a trained hill driver, driver allowance, tolls, parking, fuel, GST, hotels and help with Sugam Darshan booking. IRCTC shuttle fares and the BKTC Sugam Darshan fee are paid separately.

* Approximate reference prices are marked with *. Final price can vary by travel date, hotel category, group size and availability.

The gap between the ₹18,500 group package and the ₹22,500 private package is ₹4,000 per person. On a 4-day trip that is about ₹1,000 a day, and it buys a private vehicle, your own timing and stops whenever someone needs one.

Group or Private Kedarnath Package: How to Choose

From our experience, solo pilgrims under 45 with flexible schedules do well on group packages. If anyone in your group is above 60, go private. The extra ₹1,000 a day is small next to what it saves an older parent in waiting and fixed stops.

Sample Itinerary: Kedarnath Yatra Package from Haridwar (3N/4D)

The Kedarnath Yatra package from Delhi follows the same plan, with the Delhi to Haridwar drive added at each end.

Kedarnath Helicopter Package: Prices and How it Works

If you cannot manage the 16 to 18 km trek, the helicopter cuts the walk down to about 500 m from the Kedarnath helipad to the temple. It also takes you from around 1,300 m to Kedarnath's altitude in minutes. Anyone with a heart, lung or blood pressure condition should check with their doctor before choosing this over a slower road journey.

There are two ways to fly. The IRCTC shuttle is a short round trip from a base helipad at Sersi, Phata or Guptkashi. Our Dehradun charter package covers the whole trip in one day, weather permitting, and is booked directly with NIT.

Shuttle fares above are the 2026 fares reported for the IRCTC HeliYatra portal and include GST. A convenience fee is added at checkout.

Book the shuttle only on the official IRCTC HeliYatra portal; the Uttarakhand registration portal links pilgrims straight to it. Bookings open in phases. In 2026 the first phase opened on 15 April for journeys from 22 April, and the post-monsoon phase opened on 7 September for journeys from 15 September. Keep your Yatra registration number ready, because you need it to book.

Helicopter Safety and Weather

After the fatal crash near Gaurikund on 15 June 2025, UCADA added an air traffic control system, laser ceilometers to measure cloud cover, remote PTZ cameras and control rooms at Sahastradhara and Sersi. Flights still stop when visibility drops. Keep a spare day in any helicopter plan.

Fraud warning: agents on WhatsApp, Instagram and travel apps "sell" Kedarnath helicopter shuttle tickets every season, and many of these tickets are fake. Book on heliYatra.irctc.co.in and nowhere else. Report fraud at cybercrime.gov.in or on the national cybercrime helpline, 1930.

Kedarnath Yatra Registration

Registration has been compulsory since 2014, and every registered pilgrim gets a QR-coded registration letter. It is free.

1. Register at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, on the Tourist Care Uttarakhand app, or by sending "Yatra" on WhatsApp to +91 8394833833.

2. Select your dates and Kedarnath as the destination.

3. Enter pilgrim details and ID. Aadhaar is used for verification in 2026; the portal also accepts a passport, voter ID or driving licence.

4. Download the QR-coded registration letter and carry a printed copy along with the digital one.

You can also register on the way at official registration centres, including 30 counters in Rishikesh and 20 in Haridwar this year. In peak season the queues there are long, so register online 2 to 3 days before you leave. NIT does this for all guests at no charge.

How to Book your Kedarnath Tour Package

1. Complete the free Char Dham registration and note your Yatra registration number.

2. Contact NIT on +91-9711616316 or through namasteindiatrip.com with your travel dates, group size and city of departure.

3. Choose road (group or private) or helicopter. NIT sends a detailed itinerary and price within 24 hours.

4. Pay 40% advance to confirm. The balance is due 30 days before the travel date.

5. Seven days before departure you get hotel vouchers, vehicle details, the driver's contact and the day-by-day schedule.

6. For the IRCTC shuttle, NIT walks you through the booking when the phase opens. The Dehradun charter is booked directly with NIT.

7. On travel day the NIT driver picks you up. Sonprayag timing, the Gaurikund start and Darshan are coordinated from there.

Book May and June dates at least 60 days ahead. For September and October, 30 days is usually enough because the post-monsoon crowds are smaller. Read our cancellation and refund terms before paying.

When to Go on a Kedarnath Tour

15 September to 31 October: Our Recommended Window

This is when we send first-time pilgrims. The monsoon has passed, queues are shorter than in May and June, and helicopter slots are easier to get. Nights drop below freezing, so pack heavy woollens.

Route update (last checked 24 September 2026): rockfall near Chirbasa briefly blocked the Gaurikund to Kedarnath route after the monsoon. It reopened after clearance and the administration is monitoring it.

May to 15 June: Peak Season

The trekking weather is good and snow is still visible on the peaks. It is also the most crowded part of the season. Book about 60 days ahead, allow at least 90 minutes for the Sonprayag queue and get there early.

July to August: We Advise Against It

Helicopter shuttles are usually suspended in these months. Landslides regularly close the road to Sonprayag (NH-107), and the stone path turns slippery.

November and Winter

The temple closes on Bhai Dooj. Through winter, Lord Kedarnath is worshipped at Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, and the next year's opening date is announced on Mahashivratri.

Sonprayag to Kedarnath: Trek Distance and Route

Sonprayag is where the real journey begins. It is also where badly planned itineraries fall apart.

• Private vehicles stop at Sonprayag. Shared government jeeps (around ₹50 per person) cover the 5 km to Gaurikund, where the road ends and the trek begins.

• In peak May and June, Sonprayag parking fills by 6:30 to 7 AM. Our drivers leave base hotels between 3:30 and 4 AM in that period.

• Gaurikund sits at about 1,982 m. Many pilgrims bathe in the Gauri Kund hot spring before setting off, and the warm water loosens tired legs.

• Trek milestones (approx. distance from Gaurikund): Jungle Chatti 4 km (the steepest stretch), Bheembali 6 km, Rambara bridge 9 km, Linchauli 13 km, Kedarnath 16 to 18 km.

• Many pilgrims take 6 to 8 hours to climb and 4 to 5 hours to come down. Plan at least 2 days: one up, one for Darshan and the descent.

• Ponies, palkis and pitthus are available at Gaurikund. The district administration fixes the rates each season, so hire only at official prepaid counters and keep the receipt.

• A Sonprayag to Kedarnath ropeway has been approved and is being built. It is not open to pilgrims yet.

How a Trek Day Runs on Our Road Packages

4:00 AM. Your NIT driver is outside the hotel. Guptkashi is still asleep and the road to Sonprayag is empty, about an hour's drive at this time.

5:15 AM. Sonprayag. There is still parking, and you get a shared jeep to Gaurikund without a long wait. Pilgrims who turn up at 8 AM can wait well over an hour for the same jeep.

6:00 AM. The trek begins at Gaurikund. The first 4 km to Jungle Chatti is steep, so go slowly. At Bheembali there are tea stalls; sit for ten minutes and eat something.

Late morning. Kedarnath. If you have a Sugam Darshan slip you join that line, and if not, expect the general queue to take hours on busy days.

Departure time from the base hotel decides how the rest of the day goes. Leave by 4 AM.

Kedarnath Temple Timings and Sugam Darshan

The official registration portal has not yet published 2026 Darshan, Aarti or Bhog timings. Check badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in closer to your date; BKTC also takes online puja bookings there. Inside the temple, Darshan runs in time slots and phones and cameras are not allowed.

In May 2026 BKTC introduced a ₹1,100 slip for Sugam Darshan, the paid VIP Darshan line, issued by the temple committee itself. Older pilgrims who cannot stand in a long queue benefit most. NIT helps you arrange the slip; the ₹1,100 is paid separately.

What is Included and What is Not

Commercial vehicles on the Yatra route need a Green Card and Trip Card from the Uttarakhand Transport Department. NIT vehicles carry both.

If Weather or a Landslide Delays Your Yatra

Extra nights caused by road closures or grounded helicopters are not in the package price. Keep a buffer day. Tell us your return train or flight when you book and we will build that day into the itinerary before it.

Common Mistakes Pilgrims Make on a Kedarnath Trip

• Putting off registration. Roadside registration centres get long queues in peak season, and it takes about 5 minutes to do online before you leave.

• Leaving the base hotel after 7 AM in May or June. You can lose two hours at Sonprayag before the trek even starts.

• Buying helicopter tickets from WhatsApp agents. Pilgrims lose money to fake IRCTC tickets every season.

• Relying on the phone alone. Mobile network is patchy between Sonprayag and Kedarnath, so carry a printed registration letter and an ID copy.

• Trekking in sandals or sneakers. The rocky path causes ankle injuries, mostly on the way down. Wear trekking shoes or grip-soled boots.

• Rushing at altitude. The pilgrims who push hard above Linchauli are the ones who most often get headaches and nausea and cannot finish Darshan. Walk slower than feels necessary.

• Booking the return train for the day after the trek. One landslide and the plan is gone. Keep a buffer day.

Pro Tips for Your Kedarnath Yatra

• For a helicopter Yatra, base yourself in Guptkashi (1,319 m). It has more hotels and medical facilities than Sersi or Phata. The fare is about ₹6,000 more than from Sersi, and for families with older parents we think it is worth paying.

• On a road Yatra, reach Gaurikund by 6 to 6:30 AM. That leaves 5 to 6 hours of trekking before the afternoon cloud builds up and the crowd peaks at the temple.

• Our favourite dates are 15 September to 10 October: post-monsoon weather, far fewer pilgrims than in May, and IRCTC slots you can actually get.

• Withdraw ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per person in Guptkashi. UPI fails wherever the network drops, and ATMs higher up often run dry in peak season.

• If your dates match the temple's opening or closing, you may see the Panchmukhi Doli, Lord Kedarnath's palanquin, on its way between Ukhimath and Kedarnath.

• Add Tungnath and Chopta. Tungnath (about 3,680 m) is the highest of the Panch Kedar temples, and our combined 5N/6D package starts at ₹19,500.

Health Advisory for Kedarnath

Uttarakhand's 2026 Char Dham health advisory asks for extra care from pilgrims aged 55 and above, from people with heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure or diabetes, and from pregnant women. If you are in any of these groups, get a check-up before the Yatra and follow your doctor's advice. Carry your prescriptions.

• AMS (acute mountain sickness): headache, nausea, dizziness. Rest, drink water, and go down if it gets worse.

• HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema): fluid in the lungs, with a persistent cough, chest tightness or breathlessness at rest. It is a medical emergency, so descend immediately.

• HACE (high altitude cerebral edema): severe headache, confusion, loss of balance. Evacuate at once.

• The advisory recommends a 5 to 10 minute break for every hour of trekking and at least 2 litres of fluid a day.

• Medical relief posts and screening centres run along the route. For a medical emergency, call 108.

• NIT vehicles carry portable oxygen and first aid on all mountain routes.

Kedarnath Yatra Rules 2026

• Registration: compulsory for every pilgrim. The QR registration letter is checked on the route, including at Sonprayag.

• ID: carry the document you registered with.

• Commercial vehicles need a Green Card and Trip Card from the Uttarakhand Transport Department.

• Helicopter shuttle: book on heliYatra.irctc.co.in.

• Trek start: the authorities set a daily cut-off at Gaurikund, and it changes through the season. We start our groups before 7 AM.

• Inside the temple: time-slot Darshan, and no mobile phones or cameras.

• No single-use plastic on the Yatra route. Bring a reusable bottle.

Places to Visit

Most pilgrims come only for the main temple. These places nearby are worth the extra time:

• Kedarnath Temple: the Jyotirlinga is a naturally formed conical rock. Statues of the five Pandavas, Draupadi, Lord Krishna, Nandi and Virabhadra stand inside. Try to make the early morning Aarti.

• Shankaracharya Samadhi: Adi Shankaracharya's memorial, behind the main temple.

• Bhairavnath Temple: an open-air shrine to Kedarnath's guardian deity on the ridge above the temple. The climb is short and the view of the valley is wide.

• Gaurikund: the start of the trek, with a hot spring sacred to Goddess Parvati.

• Triyuginarayan Temple: near Sonprayag, believed to be where Shiva and Parvati married. The fire burning in front of the temple is said to date from that wedding.

• Chorabari Tal (Gandhi Sarovar) and Vasuki Tal: glacial lakes above Kedarnath, for fit trekkers with a spare day and a local guide.

• Tungnath and Chopta: the highest Panch Kedar temple, about 5 km on foot from Chopta. Ask about our Kedarnath + Tungnath package.

How to Reach Kedarnath by Air, Train and Road

No road reaches Kedarnath Temple. You drive to Sonprayag, take a shared jeep to Gaurikund, then walk, ride or fly the rest.

Road Distances on the Kedarnath Route

Why choose Namaste India Trip

Landslides, pre-dawn breakdowns and fog at the helipad are normal on this route. Here is what we have in place:

• Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and registered with UTDB and UDYAM.

• 15+ years and 1,000+ Kedarnath Yatras. Our itineraries allow for early starts, road closures and weather.

• 24/7 support, with coordinators on the ground at Sonprayag and Guptkashi.

• In-house licensed hill drivers, capped at 8 hours of driving a day. Portable oxygen and first aid in every vehicle.

• The Sugam Darshan slip arranged in advance if you want it.

• GST invoices with the full price up front. No toll or tip demands from drivers, and no surprise charges on arrival.

• Wheelchair assistance and itineraries planned around medical conditions, on request.

Book your Kedarnath Tour Package

The temple stays open until Bhai Dooj, tentatively 11 November 2026. Hotels near the base helipads fill early in peak season, so book once your dates are fixed.

Start with your free registration at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in. Then call +91-9711616316 or +91-9704545558, or WhatsApp us, and we will send an itinerary and price within 24 hours.