Everything we know about planning a trip to Uttarakhand — in one place, organised by what you're actually trying to figure out.
Uttarakhand splits into two main regions: Garhwal in the west and north (Dehradun, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Chopta, Kedarkantha, Auli, Har Ki Dun, Valley of Flowers) and Kumaon in the east (Nainital, Almora, Ranikhet, Mukteshwar). Most Dehradun-based trips, including ours, focus on Garhwal simply because of proximity; Kumaon destinations involve a longer cross-region drive.
Chopta, Auli, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Chakrata, Dhanaulti and the Kedarkantha / Har Ki Dun / Valley of Flowers trekking belt.
Starting with Nainital — more Kumaon guides are being added progressively.
Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Valley of Flowers, Chopta, Nag Tibba.
Short escapes from Dehradun.
Family, couple, adventure and custom trips.
Build your own itinerary.
March–June brings blooms and pleasant weather (peak season); July–September is monsoon, avoided for high treks but exactly when the Valley of Flowers blooms; October–November gives the clearest Himalayan views; December–February is snow-trekking and Auli's ski season. Read the full season-by-season guide.
Dehradun (airport: Jolly Grant, and a rail head) is the most common gateway for Garhwal destinations; Kathgodam is the rail gateway for Kumaon. Delhi is the usual starting point for most travellers, connecting onward by road, rail or a short flight. See our route-specific guide: Delhi to Chopta.
Costs depend heavily on trip length, group size and season. Weekend trips are generally the most affordable; multi-day treks cost more due to guiding, permits and camping logistics. Read our full trip cost breakdown.
Mussoorie, Nainital, Rishikesh and Dhanaulti are our most recommended family destinations — easier access, a range of accommodation, and no technical trekking required.
Chopta, Auli and Dhanaulti are popular quieter choices for couples; we can also build a private, non-group itinerary on request via our custom trip form.
Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Valley of Flowers, Chopta and Nag Tibba span beginner to moderately challenging difficulty — compare them on our treks page.
Rishikesh (Ganga Aarti, ashrams) and the Tungnath temple above Chopta — the highest Shiva temple in the world — are the two spiritual-travel anchors in our current destination guides.
Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Chakrata and Nag Tibba are realistic 2–3 day trips from Dehradun without excessive travel time. See all trips.
Our fixed-departure trips run from Dehradun by road. If you need help planning transport from Delhi or elsewhere, WhatsApp us and we'll advise on the best connection for your dates.
Packing needs vary a lot by destination and season — each of our destination guides and trek guides includes a specific packing list rather than one generic list for the whole state.
Mountain roads take longer than maps suggest — always budget extra time. Mobile network is patchy at higher altitudes (Chopta, Kedarkantha, Valley of Flowers) — inform family in advance. Carry cash; card acceptance is inconsistent in smaller hill towns.
Desh Darshini