This guide is about the Chopta Chandrashila Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: Our Deoriatal–Chandrashila trek, which includes Tungnath, is graded Moderate. From Chopta (2,679 m) the trail gains about 1,000 m to Tungnath temple (3,680 m) on a long, steady path, then about 280 m more in roughly 1 km to Chandrashila summit (3,962 m), the steep part. Beginners with good fitness can do it.
This article is for first-timers, families and older trekkers asking one question: is the Tungnath trek difficult, and can I manage Chandrashila above it? We answer it section by section for the climb from Chopta, then for our 5-day trek as a whole, with the fitness level the trek page asks for. Height gains are our own subtraction of the altitudes on the trek page.
How difficult is the Tungnath trek, section by section?
The climb has two very different parts: a long one and a short, steep one. On our trek both sit on Day 4, which is about 11 km in all and takes 8–9 hours. You leave Baniyakund camp early for a short drive to Chopta and start walking there.
| Section | Height change | What the trek page says about it | What it asks of you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chopta to Tungnath temple | 2,679 m to 3,680 m (about +1,000 m) | "Long and steady rather than steep" | A pace you can hold for hours |
| Tungnath to Chandrashila (about 1 km) | 3,680 m to 3,962 m (about +280 m) | "The gradient is steep and the altitude makes itself felt" | Leg strength (trek page) |
| Chandrashila back to Chopta | About −1,280 m | Take the steep upper section slowly | Care on the steep upper part |
Tungnath on its own is a test of steady stamina. The steep ground is the final kilometre to Chandrashila, and it comes at the highest altitude of the trip, at the end of a long climb.
Why is the Chopta Chandrashila trek graded Moderate?
The trek page grades the full 5-day Deoriatal–Chandrashila trek Moderate, and its FAQ gives two reasons: the 16 km Day 3 and the steep summit climb. The trek covers about 30 km on foot, with 2–9 hours of walking a day. Day 2 from Sari (2,012 m) to Deoriatal (2,390 m) is 3 km in 2–3 hours, and the page says its gradient never turns hard. Day 3 from Deoriatal to Baniyakund (2,610 m) via Rohini Bugyal is about 16 km in 7–8 hours, with gentle ascents that turn into rolling terrain and steep descents that tire the knees. Day 4 is the summit day above.
The drives on Day 1 (185 km from Rishikesh to Sari) and Day 5 (200 km from Baniyakund to Rishikesh) take 8–9 hours each, so plan for long days on the road as well as on the trail.
Is the Tungnath trek difficult for children and older trekkers?
The trek page says beginners with good fitness can do it; its minimum is walking 4–5 km a day with a small backpack. For children and older trekkers, these are its rules.
- The minimum age is 8, and trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian.
- Each trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor, according to the trek page's FAQ. Trekkers over 60 need good fitness, and the page also recommends an ECG or TMT report for them.
- If long descents trouble your knees, keep in mind Day 3 and the walk down from Chandrashila, which the trek page tells you to take slowly in the steep upper section.
- With a medical condition, the trek page asks you to consult your doctor and carry your regular medicines and any altitude medicine your doctor advises.
Is Tungnath harder in winter?
Snow leaves the day distances as they are but changes the ground on the steep final kilometre. The page says snow can reach the higher sections from December, covers the meadows, the forest and the summit trail from January to March, and patches can stay on the summit into April. In snow, plant your poles and walk in the line your guide sets.
| Season | Snow on the summit trail (trek page) | Temperatures on the trek page |
|---|---|---|
| October–November | The page dates the snow from December onwards | Day 10°C to 15°C; night around 0°C |
| December–February | Snow on the higher sections from December; summit trail under snow from January | Day 8°C to 14°C; night -10°C to -6°C |
| March–April | Snow season runs to March; patches on the summit into April | Day 13°C to 17°C; night around 0°C |
Batches run from October to June; see the trek page for live batch dates. Microspikes and gaiters come with our Free Trekking Gear on this trek, together with Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket and trekking poles. There is no rental fee: you pay a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge (+ GST).
How high is Tungnath, and does the altitude make it harder?
The Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee places Tungnath on the Chandranath parbat in Rudraprayag district, at 3,680 m, as one of the Panch Kedar. Chandrashila above it is 3,962 m (13,000 ft). Our camps are much lower, between 2,012 m and 2,610 m.
The Uttarakhand Health Department's high-altitude advisory covers heights above 3,000 m, which you pass on the way to Tungnath. It advises no more than 800–1,000 m of elevation gain a day and a 5–10 minute rest for each hour of walking. The walk from Chopta to the summit gains about 1,280 m (the trek page's FAQ figure), more than the advisory's daily range; you then walk back down and sleep at Baniyakund (2,610 m). If you get chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or vomiting, the advisory says to descend and not go higher. Each of our camps carries a first-aid kit, medical support and oxygen cylinders.
How much preparation does the trek need?
The trek page recommends 6–8 weeks of preparation, sets walking 4–5 km a day with a small backpack as the minimum, and says stamina and leg strength help on steep or snowy sections. It names no exercises. The two days to train for are Day 3 (about 16 km, 7–8 hours, with steep descents) and Day 4 (about 11 km, 8–9 hours, with the steep climb to 3,962 m), and they come back to back.
Practical notes for the climb
Rudraprayag has the last reliable ATM before Sari, and cards are not accepted on the trail. Sari is the last place with a stable mobile signal; beyond it the network is patchy to non-existent. Drinking water is boiled or treated with chlorine tablets, and the trek page asks you to check with your trek leader before refilling elsewhere. Carry an original government photo ID and a photocopy (passport, Aadhaar card, driving licence or voter ID), which are checked at forest check posts. Travel insurance is mandatory and not included; it must cover high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation.
What the Chopta Chandrashila trek costs
The fee is ₹8,250 + 5% GST, which is ₹8,662.50 per person, Sari to Baniyakund, and the trek page shows EMI from ₹425 a month. All meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 4 dinner are included, with tents shared by 3 (men and women in separate tents) and -20°C sleeping bags. Transport is not included in the trek fee: we help the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. From Rishikesh that is about ₹6,500 one way per 5–6 seat vehicle; pickup is at Jumping Heights, Tapovan (Rishikesh) at 07:00 AM, and the return cab leaves Baniyakund at 06:30 AM and reaches Tapovan by about 05:00 PM.
Backpack offloading costs ₹1,000 + 5% GST, up to 9 kg, booked at least 15 days ahead. Batches carry at most 20 trekkers, with one trek leader or guide for every 8, and booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts. If you cancel 30 or more days before departure you get a 70% refund; at 15–29 days, 50%; at 8–14 days, no cash refund; and at 7 days or less or for a no-show, nothing. At any point up to 8 days before departure you can take a 100% TrekCash voucher (valid 1 year), a free reschedule (once per booking) or a transfer to another trekker instead of the cash refund.
See Chopta Chandrashila dates and book | Tungnath trek distance and route | Chandrashila distance and height | Chandrashila best time
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tungnath trek steep?
Not until the last kilometre. The trek page calls Chopta to Tungnath long and steady rather than steep, while Tungnath to Chandrashila is about 1 km of steep ground gaining about 280 m.
Which is harder, Tungnath or Chandrashila?
Chandrashila. The final kilometre from Tungnath to Chandrashila is steep and sits at the highest point of the trek, while the climb from Chopta to Tungnath is long and steady.
Is the Tungnath Chandrashila trek harder in winter?
The itinerary and day distances stay the same, but snow covers the summit trail from January to March, so the steep last section is walked on snow. Microspikes and gaiters are part of the Free Trekking Gear on this trek.
How many weeks should I train for the Chandrashila trek?
The trek page recommends 6–8 weeks of preparation. Day 3 (about 16 km) and Day 4 (about 11 km, 8–9 hours) are the two long days to build up to.
Can a 60-year-old do the Tungnath Chandrashila trek?
Yes, with good fitness and a doctor's medical certificate, which each trekker brings. The trek page also recommends an ECG or TMT report for trekkers over 60.
