Arrive at Haridwar railway station (train from Delhi) and meet your pre-booked taxi driver; confirm vehicle (Innova/Tempo Traveller) and luggage before departure for Chopta.
Quick freshen-up at station/public restroom and grab packed breakfast (or light snacks) brought from Delhi; load small daypacks for the trek and keep main luggage secured in the vehicle.
Depart Haridwar for Chopta (approx 8-9 hour drive depending on road and weather); driver will aim for a steady morning drive via Rishikesh → Devprayag → Srinagar (Uttarakhand) → Rudraprayag → Ukhimath.
Breakfast stop at Srinagar (Uttarakhand) — recommend Shiva Cafe or a local dhaba for hot parathas, tea and steaming aloo sabzi to warm up before continuing uphill.
Resume drive through scenic valley roads past Rudraprayag and Ukhimath; enjoy views of the Mandakini/Alaknanda confluence and winter landscapes as you climb toward Chopta.
Lunch break in Ukhimath or at a mountain view roadside restaurant — try Bhojanalaya-style thali or maggi and soup to combat the cold; refill water and thermal flasks.
Continue the drive up narrow mountain roads; driver negotiates hairpins toward Chopta village. Keep cameras ready for snow-dusted pine forests and small hamlets.
Arrive Chopta (altitude ~2,680 m). Check into pre-booked guesthouse/eco-hut; recommended stays: Chopta Meadows Guest House, Hotel Chopta Himalaya Lodge, or Himalayan Huts — drop main luggage and change into warm layers.
Short acclimatisation walk around Chopta village and the local Shiva temple; take in panoramic views of the Trishul and Nanda Ghunti peaks and photograph the golden winter light.
Visit the local cafe/teahouse — try snow cappuccino/ginger tea and pakoras at Chopta Adventure Cafe or the lodge's common dining area while confirming next day's early morning start for Tungnath.
Gear check and briefing with guide/driver: ensure hiking boots, crampons/trek poles (if snow present), warm layers, headlamps, first-aid, water, and packed snacks for the Tungnath-Chandrashila trek.
Visit the nearby Chopta meadow (if daylight permits) for a short sunset stroll to watch Trishul range glow; perfect for quick landscape photos before night sets in and temperatures drop.
Return to the guesthouse for hot shower and change into warmer clothes; rest briefly before dinner and go over next-day wake-up time (likely 4:00-4:30 AM) with the group of four.
Dinner at the guesthouse — recommend ordering simple, warming Uttarakhand dishes like dal-chawal, rajma, seasonal vegetable sabzi and hot soup; share notes with your group about trekking fitness and pacing.
Group time: review route to Tungnath and Chandrashila including estimated trek times, emergency contacts and weather check; pack small daypacks with essentials and keep heavy luggage locked in vehicle/hostel.
Relax with board games, light chat or early bed; ensure phones and power banks charged (some guesthouses have limited electricity) and set alarms for the pre-dawn start.
Lights out — get a good night's rest to acclimatise and prepare for an early 23 December summit trek to Tungnath and Chandrashila the following morning.
Wake up, dress in full trekking layers and waterproofs, eat a light high-energy breakfast provided by the guesthouse (hot porridge, boiled eggs, tea). Group briefing with the guide to confirm route, weather, and safety—ensure crampons, trekking poles, headlamps and ID/permits are packed.
Depart from the guesthouse to the Chopta/Tungnath trailhead (short drive or 10-15 minute walk depending on your lodge). Final gear check at the trailhead and start the ascent toward Tungnath using headlamps while the sky begins to lighten.
Reach Tungnath Temple (approx 1.5-2 hour steady ascent in winter conditions). Spend time at the 1,000-year-old Shiva shrine—observe morning aarti if available, take photos, and enjoy sweeping views of the Trishul range; warm up with chai from a local vendor near the temple.
Short rest at Tungnath; begin the 20-30 minute climb to Chandrashila summit (easier or snow-covered depending on conditions). Move carefully if snow/ice present; use crampons and poles as needed while enjoying panoramic Himalayan sunrise vistas.
Arrive at Chandrashila Peak (3,690 m) and take in 360° views of Nanda Devi, Neelkanth, Trishul and Bandarpunch; take group photos and enjoy a thermos of hot soup or honey-lemon drink from your pack to warm up.
Begin descent back toward Tungnath at a steady, cautious pace—stop briefly for snacks and to remove/adjust crampons if terrain softens. Check estimated return time with guide and watch for icy patches on the trail.
Arrive back at Tungnath/Trailhead and take a longer rest; purchase hot momos or local pakoras from the food stalls if available, refill water and repack for the next leg to Deoria Tal. Change into slightly drier socks and layer if needed.
Drive from Chopta/Tungnath area toward Sari or Gwaldam (depending on chosen route) en route to Deoria Tal; the drive is scenic—look out for snow-dusted forests and small mountain hamlets.
Arrive at Sari/Gwaldam trailhead for Deoria Tal; register if required and begin the short, easy 1-1.5 hour walk through rhododendron and oak forests toward the lake. Keep pace relaxed—this is the gentler, reflective portion of the day after the morning summit.
Reach Deoria Tal and take in the mirror-like lake reflecting Chaukhamba and the surrounding peaks—walk the lakeshore, shoot group photos and relax on the banks with packed lunch or hot food from the lakeside stall (if open).
Leisure time at Deoria Tal: short nature walk to quiet viewpoints, light birdwatching and capturing the iconic reflection shots; enjoy a hot cup of tea or Maggi from the lakeside vendors to warm up.
Begin the return walk to the Sari/Gwaldam parking area; keep an eye on footing as the trail can be wet or icy in places and maintain a relaxed group pace to avoid fatigue.
Arrive at the vehicle and change into warmer, dry clothes; enjoy a hot beverage in the car and start the drive back toward Haridwar with planned stops for breaks and dinner en route.
Dinner stop at a reliable roadside restaurant—recommendations along the route: Hotel Vishnu at Rudraprayag or New Anand Bhojnalaya at Srinagar (Uttarakhand) for simple, warming dal-chawal, parathas and soup to recover from the cold day.
Resume drive to Haridwar after dinner; use this time to rest in the vehicle, share photos from the day and confirm accommodation arrival plans. Driver will aim to reach Haridwar depending on traffic and road conditions.
Estimated arrival at Haridwar (timing may vary). Unload luggage at your hotel or railway station drop-off, freshen up and have a final hot tea/snack before parting ways or preparing for onward travel back to Delhi the next day.
Wrap up: quick group check—ensure everyone has their belongings, contact numbers and photos from permits/receipts; rest after a full day of trekking and mountain sights, with memories of Tungnath, Chandrashila and Deoria Tal.