Frequently Asked Questions
Planning, permits, altitude, money. If your question is not here, ask us - a real person answers.
Planning your yatra
The temple portals open on Akshaya Tritiya, usually late April or early May, and close around Bhai Dooj in the first week of November. Exact dates are announced each year by the temple committees, normally in February or March.
May, June, September and October. July and August bring heavy monsoon rain and a genuine risk of landslides on the Kedarnath and Badrinath roads. The exception is the Valley of Flowers, which only blooms during the monsoon.
Six to eight weeks for May, June and September departures. Helicopter slots to Kedarnath and rooms near Sonprayag run out first. Short treks such as Chopta can usually be arranged with two weeks of notice.
Yes. Uttarakhand requires every traveller to hold a Char Dham registration and Yatra e-pass, and it is checked at barriers on each route. Send us a photo ID and we file it for you before you arrive.
Health and altitude
Climb slowly, drink far more water than feels necessary, and skip alcohol for the first few days. Our itineraries include acclimatisation nights for exactly this reason. Tell your guide immediately about headache, nausea or breathlessness - going down 500 m usually fixes it, and every group carries oxygen and an oximeter.
Regularly, yes. Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are largely road journeys. For Kedarnath we arrange a pony, palki or helicopter. We do ask anyone over 60, or with a heart or respiratory condition, to bring a doctor's clearance.
Warm layers including a down jacket, a waterproof shell, broken-in walking shoes, a torch, sunscreen, a reusable water bottle and personal medication. Even in June, nights above 3,000 m drop close to freezing. We send a full checklist once you book.
Booking and payment
Accommodation on twin sharing, breakfast and dinner, all transfers in a private vehicle, a guide throughout, permits and registration, and first-aid and oxygen support. Airfare, lunches, pony or palki charges and personal expenses are not included. Every itinerary page lists both sides in full.
We hold your seat while dates are confirmed, at no cost. To lock it in we take 25 percent by UPI or bank transfer, with the balance due seven days before departure. You will get a receipt for every payment.
Cancel more than 30 days out and the advance is refunded in full minus transfer charges. Between 30 and 15 days we retain 25 percent, and inside 15 days 50 percent. See the cancellation policy for the full terms, including weather cancellations.
If we cancel a departure for weather or a road closure, you can move to another date within the same season or take a refund of everything except non-recoverable costs already paid to hotels and helicopter operators. We will always show you what those were.