Right now at Chopta: 5°, clear skies
ModerateAMS lowYear-round (except Jul–Aug); famous in winter

Chopta – Chandrashila (via Deoriatal)

Uttarakhand · Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary · from Sari / Chopta

The mini-classic of Garhwal: a reflection lake, the world's highest Shiva temple at Tungnath, and a 4,000 m summit whose panorama runs from Nanda Devi to Chaukhamba.

Plan this trekOpen in the grader
Max altitude
4000 m
Distance
18 km
Days
4
Honest grade
Moderate
AMS risk
low · 8
3D replay

See it in 3D

A Google-Earth-style flyby that drops in from orbit and traces the real approach trail up to Chopta – Chandrashila (via Deoriatal)(where it’s mapped in OpenStreetMap), over real satellite terrain — so you can read the climb and the lie of the land before you go.

The map

Where you’ll sleep, on real terrain

The elevation profile traces the full climb and descent; tap a camp on the map and the SpO₂ gauge and safety numbers follow.

Elevation profile — the whole climb
Highest-risk night: Chopta (summit day) · sleeps 2,700 m
2,5003,0003,5004,0004,000 m0 km18 km
Hover the profile to read altitude & AMS zone at any point.
Below 2,500 m — AMS rare2,500–3,500 m — acclimatise3,500–5,500 m — AMS common
D2 2.5 km · 1.5–2 hD3 8 km · 3.5–5 hD4 7.5 km · 7–10 h

Reconstructed from real per-day distance, ascent and camp altitudes. The line between points is a straight approximation — not a surveyed terrain profile.

When to go

Best months

Prime window: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Curated season (Year-round (except Jul–Aug); famous in winter)— off-months reasoned from the region’s monsoon and winter.

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Prime windowShoulderOff-season
Trail path

Stage by stage

Start · Sari→End · Chopta~18 km walked · est 12–17 h total
Day 1Rishikesh → Sari
Day 2Sari → Deoriatal~2.5 kmest 1.5–2 hChaukhamba mirrored in the lake at dawn
Day 3Deoriatal → Chopta~8 kmest 3.5–5 hRhododendron forest ridge
Day 4Chopta → Chandrashila summit and back~7.5 kmest 7–10 hVia Tungnath temple; pre-dawn start for the sunrise

Distances are approximate operator-standard figures. Times are computed— Naismith’s rule (pace + climb + descent) slowed for altitude, for a fit trekker with breaks — not copied from brochures. Plan generously; groups move at the pace of their slowest member.

The route

Night by night, stop by stop

Each stop is where you sleep — the altitude that drives acclimatisation. Exact camps and per-day distances vary by operator; the safety flags are computed from this profile.

  1. 1
    Deoriatal2440 m · est SpO₂ 92%
  2. 2
    Chopta2700 m (+260 m) · est SpO₂ 91%
  3. 3
    Chopta (summit day)2700 m · est SpO₂ 91%
    Big summit pushClimbs ~1300 m to 4000 m in a single day. Summit day is when AMS/HAPE most often strikes — start pre-dawn, pace slowly, and turn around at the first symptoms.
    Sleeps lowerDescends to sleep 1300 m below the high point — good, it gets you off the summit overnight.
Why this grade

Sold as "Easy–Moderate"; our numbers put it at Moderate. Broadly consistent.

Max altitude
24
Acclimatisation load
2
Daily distance
4
Length & remoteness
8
7-day weather window

Overnight lows lapse-adjusted to the high camp (~2700 m).

Sun
5°
Mon
2°
Tue
4°
Wed
4°
Thu
4°
Fri
3°
Sat
3°
How to reach
Starting point
Sari / Chopta
Uttarakhand
By air
  • Dehradun (DED)~99 km
  • Pantnagar (Kumaon) (PGH)~170 km
By rail
  • Rishikesh~93 km
  • Kotdwar~105 km
By road

Drive to the roadhead Sari / Chopta. From Rishikesh (~93 km) shared taxis and state buses run the last leg to Sari / Chopta.

Distances are straight-line (as the crow flies), computed from the coordinates. Real road distance and driving time in the mountains are longer — confirm current road status and the last motorable point with your operator, especially in monsoon and winter.

Permits (Indian nationals)

Uttarakhand: forest & national-park permits per route — usually arranged at the range office or roadhead.

Forest / trek permit
State Forest Dept (range office at the roadhead)
National Park entry (where applicable)
Park authority (e.g. Nanda Devi / Valley of Flowers)
Full permit navigator →
⛑Emergency & evacuation
Nearest roadhead
See the trek roadhead
Nearest hospital
Nearest district / community health centre
Helipad
Charter only — arranged via operator/administration
Trek area (approx)
30.530, 79.130
If things go wrong

Descend to the roadhead; arrange onward transport to the nearest hospital. Carry evacuation insurance.

Approximate planning info — confirm with your operator. HAPE/HACE signs = descend immediately.

Known hazards
  • •Ice on the Tungnath–Chandrashila stretch Dec–Mar; microspikes essential
  • •The 1,300 m summit-day gain catches out first-timers
  • •Sudden weather on the exposed summit cone
  • •Temple-crowd bottlenecks on the paved section in season
Highlights

On the trail

Photo credits →
Before you go

Necessary preparations

▲

Fitness

  • Build to a comfortable 5 km jog/brisk-walk in ~40 minutes, 3–4× a week for 4–6 weeks.
  • Expect ~5 km of walking a day — train on stairs and inclines, not just flat ground.
  • Do a few hikes carrying your actual daypack weight so your legs and shoulders are used to it.
✚

Acclimatisation & health

  • Know the AMS golden rules: don't ascend with symptoms; if worse, descend; HAPE/HACE = descend now.
  • Stay hydrated (3–4 L/day), eat well even without appetite, and avoid alcohol at altitude.
  • Carry a personal first-aid kit; tell your operator about any medical conditions in advance.
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Gear & clothing

  • Layering system: moisture-wicking base, fleece/down mid, waterproof-breathable shell (jacket + pants).
  • Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support + 3–4 pairs of wool/synthetic socks.
  • 40–55 L backpack with rain cover; a 20 L daypack if porters carry the main load.
  • Deep-cold kit: insulated down jacket (−10 °C or better), thermal innerwear, balaclava, insulated gloves + liners.
  • Microspikes/crampons and gaiters for hard snow; trekking poles are essential on icy descents.
  • −15 to −20 °C sleeping bag (confirm what your operator provides).
  • Monsoon-proofing: full rain gear, dry-bags for electronics, quick-dry clothing, leech socks/salt.
  • UV protection: category-4 glacier sunglasses, SPF 50+, lip balm — UV is brutal at altitude and on snow.
  • Headlamp (+ spare batteries), 1 L insulated bottle, and a power bank (cold drains batteries fast).
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Documents & permits

  • Government photo ID (original + several photocopies) and passport photos for permits.
  • Forest/national-park entry & camping permit — often arranged at the roadhead or by your operator.
  • Travel + trek insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
  • Emergency-contact card: family contact, blood group, allergies, and your day-by-day itinerary.
Ask about this trek

Chopta – Chandrashila (via Deoriatal) copilot

Grounded strictly in this trek’s data — route, computed times, AMS grade, permits and field notes. It won’t invent water sources or clear you medically. Ask in English or Hindi.

Community

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