About This Trip
Ask any Uttarakhand trekking guide which route to recommend to a complete beginner, and the Deoriatal-Chopta-Tungnath-Chandrashila trek comes up more often than almost any other. Priced from ₹8,500 for 6 days out of Rishikesh, it strings together a mirror-still Himalayan lake, an alpine meadow nicknamed the “Mini Switzerland of India,” the highest Shiva temple in the world, and a summit with 360-degree Himalayan views — without demanding technical skill or serious altitude experience.
Four destinations, one trek
Deoriatal is the opening act: a lake near Sari village that, on a still morning, throws back a near-perfect reflection of the Chaukhamba massif. From there the trail climbs gradually to Chopta, a rolling meadow that has earned its “Mini Switzerland” nickname for good reason — open grassland framed by conifer forest and distant snow peaks. Chopta is also the springboard for Tungnath, one of the Panch Kedar temples and, at 3,680 m, the highest Shiva temple anywhere in the world. From Tungnath, a short further climb reaches Chandrashila — “Moon Rock” — where legend holds Lord Rama meditated after the events of the Ramayana, and where clear-day views take in Nanda Devi, Trishul and Chaukhamba in a single sweep.
Why it’s the trek to start with
This route is genuinely beginner-friendly, not just marketed that way. Daily distances are short (the longest day, Deoriatal to Chopta, is about 14 km on a well-defined trail), the elevation gain is gradual, and there’s no technical terrain anywhere on the route. The one exception is the final push from Tungnath to Chandrashila — steeper and more sustained than anything before it, though still well within reach of a reasonably fit first-timer. It’s also one of the few treks in the region that stays open through winter, when snow turns the meadows and summit into a different trek entirely.
Best time to visit
This is close to a year-round trek. Spring brings rhododendron blooms on the lower trail; summer (May-June) offers the clearest long-distance mountain views before the rains arrive; autumn delivers crisp air and golden light; and winter (December-February) adds snow to Chopta and the summit approach, at the cost of colder nights and the need for proper winter layers. The one period to avoid is the July-August monsoon, when trails turn slippery and visibility drops.
A note on altitude
At just under 3,700 m at its highest point, this trek sits well below the altitudes where serious mountain sickness becomes a real risk, but it’s still worth taking seriously — go at a steady pace on the Chandrashila climb, drink enough water, and tell your guide if you feel unusually breathless, headachy or nauseous.
What’s included
The package covers hotel/homestay and camping accommodation, transport from Rishikesh, vegetarian meals throughout, basic first aid, and the required permits for the route.
