Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Allow 5–7 hours door to door from Delhi to Dehradun, plus time for a meal and stretch breaks. The usual route is via the Delhi–Meerut Expressway and NH 334; traffic leaving Delhi and around Meerut can make the journey longer, so set off early and check live road conditions before you go. Confirm your hotel’s check-in time and parking in advance, and keep the car handy for getting around town.
If you reach with daylight to spare, head to the Forest Research Institute in Kaulagarh. Its grand colonial-era main building and broad lawns are worth a look even if you only have about an hour. Visitor access and museum hours can vary, so check the latest timings and entry arrangements before setting out; allow a little extra time for entry formalities. From central Dehradun, expect roughly 20–30 minutes by taxi, depending on traffic.
Continue to Ghanta Ghar for a short, lively stroll through central Dehradun—30 minutes is plenty to take in the bustle and nearby shops. It can be busy, so use a taxi or app cab rather than trying to park right by the clock tower. Finish at Kalsang on Rajpur Road for Tibetan and Thai dishes; budget around ₹400–700 per person. If the drive runs late, keep the walk brief and go straight to dinner rather than rushing the campus visit.
Leave early for Mussoorie so traffic doesn’t eat into your sightseeing time; allow around 1.5–2.5 hours for the transfer. Before setting off, confirm your hotel’s parking and vehicle-access arrangements, as roads around the centre can be congested and parking is limited. After checking in and dropping your bags, head to Gun Hill. Set aside 1–1.5 hours for the walk or ropeway and the viewpoint; the ropeway’s operating hours and availability can vary, so check locally before counting on it.
Walk along Mall Road to Cambridge Book Depot, a relaxed stop for browsing—allow 30–45 minutes, and check the shop’s hours on the day. Then settle in at Kalsang Friends Corner for Tibetan-style momos and noodles; budget roughly ₹300–600 per person. Keep the rest of the evening unhurried: Mall Road is best enjoyed on foot, and an early dinner can help you avoid the busiest stretch of the evening crowd.
Leave Mussoorie at first light in your pre-booked car; the route runs via Dhanaulti, Devprayag and Srinagar, Garhwal. Allow roughly 8–10 hours including breaks, though roadworks, weather and slow mountain traffic can stretch the day. At Devprayag Sangam, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, take a respectful 30–45-minute riverside pause; wear shoes with good grip and keep children close near the water.
Continue to Srinagar, Garhwal for a relaxed 45–60-minute lunch at a busy highway-side restaurant in town; look for a clean, well-used place serving freshly cooked North Indian or Garhwali food, and budget ₹200–400 per person. Then continue toward Chopta. Keep the stop efficient: with the Sangam and lunch breaks, reaching your accommodation before dark may be difficult if there are delays, so check road conditions before departure and keep your driver updated on your arrival plan.
After checking in, have a simple early dinner at a roadside dhaba near your Chopta accommodation—options are limited and kitchens may close early. Budget around ₹200–400 per person; carry water and any snacks the family may want, and ask your host what is open before setting out.
There’s a planning clash today: theTungnath Temple trek, Chopta meadow walk, Chopta dhaba are all in Chopta, while today’s stay is in Auli. The trek alone takes about 4–6 hours round trip from Chopta, and the drive onward to Auli takes another 5–7 hours**. Doing both safely in one day isn’t realistic, especially with a family of three.
To keep the selected activities in order, spend the morning trekking from Chopta only if the trail is open and weather and conditions are suitable; start at first light, carry water and warm layers, and turn back if conditions deteriorate. Then take the easy Chopta meadow walk only if you have energy and the weather allows, followed by a simple meal at a nearby local dhaba (roughly ₹200–400 per person). Keep the evening restful at your Chopta stay and check the next day’s road and weather conditions with your driver.
For a workable plan, add a night in Chopta and make the drive to Auli the following morning; arrange a pre-booked car and allow 5–7 hours via Ukhimath and Joshimath, leaving early to avoid reaching the mountain roads after dark. If the Auli stay must remain today, skip the Chopta activities and travel onward instead—there isn’t enough daylight for the trek and transfer together.
Today’s plan has a mismatch: the listed Chopta-to-Auli drive, Joshimath market, and Auli viewpoint belong to the previous day, while this is Day 5, with an overnight stay in Lansdowne. Don’t try to fit those activities in today. Instead, leave Auli at first light in your pre-booked car for the long drive to Lansdowne, allowing 9–11 hours via Joshimath, Rudraprayag, Srinagar and Pauri. Mountain-road delays are common; build in meal and comfort stops, and confirm your Lansdowne lodging’s vehicle access and arrival arrangements before setting off.
After check-in, keep the evening easy: eat at your accommodation or ask the hosts for a nearby option, since choices can be limited and arrival may be late. If there’s still daylight, take a short stroll close to your stay rather than setting out for a distant viewpoint. For a less rushed trip, add a night before this transfer; otherwise, treat today as a travel day.
Pacing note: This six-day route is exceptionally drive-heavy: Chopta–Auli and especially Auli–Lansdowne leave little time for sightseeing. An extra night between Auli and Lansdowne would make the trip more comfortable; otherwise, treat Days 3, 5 and 6 primarily as transfer days.
Leave Auli at first light in your pre-booked car for the long drive to Lansdowne, via Joshimath, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Garhwal, and Pauri. Allow 9–11 hours, including breaks; mountain roads are winding, and weather or roadworks can add delays. Keep water and snacks handy, and ask your driver to stop regularly rather than trying to make up time. This is mainly a transfer day, so don’t count on much sightseeing on arrival.
Aim for a well-reviewed restaurant in Srinagar, Garhwal for a relaxed 45–60-minute lunch break. Budget around ₹200–400 per person; your driver or hotel can suggest a suitable stop based on what’s open and convenient along the route.
If you reach Lansdowne before dark, stretch your legs with a short, easy walk through the Lansdowne market—allow about 30 minutes, and keep it flexible if the drive runs late. For dinner, choose your hotel restaurant or a nearby local eatery; budget roughly ₹250–500 per person. Given the day’s distance, settle in early rather than planning a further outing.
This route is exceptionally drive-heavy, particularly the Auli–Lansdowne leg. An extra night between the two would make the trip more comfortable; if you keep the six-day plan, treat today as a transfer day and confirm your Lansdowne arrival arrangements with your accommodation before setting out.
No packing list attached yet.