Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start with a flight from Mumbai to Dehradun; allow roughly 3 hours in the air if you find a suitable direct flight, or longer if you need a connection. Add time to reach your Mumbai airport, check in, collect bags and meet your pre-arranged driver at Dehradun Airport. From there, the road journey toward Guptkashi or Sonprayag commonly takes around 8–10 hours without sightseeing, and can take longer with traffic, weather or roadworks. This is a demanding travel day, so arrange the vehicle in advance and don’t count on reaching Kedarnath itself today.
Ask your driver before departure whether a brief stop in Rishikesh fits the actual arrival time and road plan; otherwise, continue directly rather than turning the day into a rushed sightseeing run. Devprayag, where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers meet, is another worthwhile riverside viewpoint, but stop only if you still have daylight and the road is in good condition. These are conditional breaks, not guaranteed visits—the priority is reaching your overnight stop safely.
Have a simple dinner at a local roadside dhaba near your overnight stop; budget about ₹200–₹500 per person, and expect fewer options if you arrive late. Check your next morning’s trek arrangements and current road or weather advisories with your accommodation. One important reality check: a three-day plan from Mumbai is too tight for the long transfers, the Kedarnath visit and the return. Add nights for the journey, or substantially reduce the scope; don’t rely on reaching the shrine and returning to Mumbai within this schedule.
This is a demanding day, and the three-day plan needs a reality check: to start the trek very early, you need to reach Gaurikund the night before and sleep nearby. Travelling from Mumbai to Dehradun on Day 1 and then continuing to the trailhead is not a reliable way to make that start. The trek to Kedarnath is roughly 16–18 km uphill and often takes 6–10 hours; this plan assumes you’re walking one way and staying overnight near the temple. A helicopter is an alternative only if you have an advance booking and it operates in the day’s weather—don’t count on getting a same-day slot.
Leave Gaurikund at first light, carrying water, warm layers, rain protection and only what you need; weather and trail conditions can change quickly. There are rest stops and basic food along the route, but pace yourself and take breaks rather than trying to keep up with faster trekkers. On reaching Kedarnath Temple, attend darshan only if the temple is open for the season and within its current schedule. Registration or booking requirements can change, and queues may take several hours, so check official guidance before travelling and leave enough time for the line.
After darshan, visit Shankaracharya Samadhi beside the temple, then pause to acclimatize and rest. If you feel well, there’s daylight to spare and conditions are safe, walk uphill to Bhairavnath Temple for views over the valley; skip it if you’re tired, short of breath or the weather turns. Finish with a freshly prepared vegetarian meal at a local food stall near the temple area—allow roughly ₹200–₹500 per person, with menus and opening hours varying by season. Keep the evening quiet and warm: after this long climb, an overnight stay near Kedarnath is essential. You cannot sensibly trek back to Gaurikund and continue to Mumbai on Day 3; add at least one more night and allow a separate return-travel day.
Leave Kedarnath at first light for the downhill trek to Gaurikund; allow 5–8 hours, depending on pace, weather and trail conditions. Start only after checking the day’s route and weather advice locally, and keep water, snacks and a warm waterproof layer handy. Have your onward vehicle arranged in advance from Gaurikund or Sonprayag—road access and pickup arrangements can change with conditions, and you won’t want to negotiate them after a long descent.
If the Gaurikund hot springs are open and accessible, take a brief rest there, but check locally before counting on a soak. Then continue by road toward Rudraprayag for a meal and a proper break; a simple restaurant meal is usually around ₹200–₹500 per person. Mountain-road times vary, so confirm the day’s driving plan with your driver rather than relying on a tight schedule.
Don’t attempt Sonprayag/Guptkashi → Dehradun → Mumbai all in one day after the trek: the road journey alone is lengthy, and you still need airport transfer, check-in and flight time. The safer plan is to overnight en route—ideally near Rudraprayag or Guptkashi—continue to Dehradun the following day, and fly to Mumbai only after confirming a suitable flight and allowing ample transfer and airport time. This itinerary needs at least one extra night; a pre-booked helicopter may shorten the trek only if it is operating and a booking is confirmed.
No packing list attached yet.