This guide is about the Chopta Chandrashila Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: To choose a Chopta Chandrashila trek company, check the route (Sari to Baniyakund, not a loop), what the fee covers, the snow gear, how the 11 km summit day via Tungnath is run, the leader ratio and refunds. A Trekkaro batch includes Free Trekking Gear, with SpO2 checked twice a day at every campsite.
What does a Chopta Chandrashila batch have to handle?
The trek decides what a company has to bring, so start there. The Chopta Chandrashila trek is a 5-day Moderate trek in Rudraprayag district that tops out at Chandrashila, 3,962 m (13,000 ft). It starts at Sari village (2,012 m), about 185 km and 8 to 9 hours by road from Rishikesh, and it ends at the Baniyakund meadow (2,610 m). It does not come back to Sari. The three walking days add up to about 30 km.
| What the trek asks | Where it happens | What the batch needs |
|---|---|---|
| Snow on the higher sections, Rohini Bugyal and the summit from December to April, deepest on the climb from Baniyakund to Chandrashila in January | Days 3 and 4 | Waterproof shoes, gaiters and microspikes for every trekker, and ice axes with the team |
| About 16 km over rolling ground with steep descents, 7 to 8 hours | Day 3, Deoriatal to Baniyakund via Rohini Bugyal | Trekking poles, a steady pace and water for the whole day |
| A climb of about 1,000 m from Chopta (2,679 m) to Tungnath (3,680 m), then about 280 m more to Chandrashila on the steepest stretch | Day 4, 11 km in 8 to 9 hours | SpO2 and pulse checked at the Baniyakund camp before the climb, and caps and gloves kept on at the top |
| Winter nights of -10°C to -6°C | The camps at Deoriatal (about 200 m from the lake) and Baniyakund | -20°C sleeping bags and a jacket rated to -10°C |
| A one-way route | Starts at Sari, ends at Baniyakund | A clear plan for extra luggage before Day 1 |
The 16 km Day 3 and the steep top section on Day 4 are why the trek is graded Moderate. Our guide to Tungnath Chandrashila trek difficulty goes through both days in detail.
Which questions should you ask a Chopta Chandrashila trek company?
Ask every company the same questions and compare the answers in writing. These are Trekkaro's answers for this trek.
| What to check | Why it matters | With Trekkaro |
|---|---|---|
| Are trekking shoes, a jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes in the fee? | Without them you rent or buy a snow kit in Rishikesh before the long drive to Sari. | Yes, Free Trekking Gear with Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes. No rental fee; a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. Buying the kit costs about ₹13,395. |
| Is the first night in Sari included? | Without it you look for a room yourself at the end of an 8 to 9 hour drive. | Yes, a guesthouse or homestay night in Sari, triple or quad sharing. |
| How many times a day is SpO2 checked? | Without regular readings, a trekker who is not coping with the height can start the summit day anyway. | SpO2 and pulse twice a day at every campsite. |
| What emergency kit walks with the group? | Without oxygen and a stretcher on the trail, a sick trekker waits for help to come up from the road. | One portable oxygen cylinder, one stretcher and a first-aid kit go with the group, and the team talks on radios. |
| How many trekkers per trek leader or guide? | With too few leaders, nobody can stay back with a slow trekker on the 16 km day. | Up to 20 trekkers per batch, one trek leader or guide for every 8. |
| What does the fee cover? | Without a written list, permits or meals turn into extra charges on the trail. | ₹8,250 per person plus 5% GST (₹8,662.50 with GST). The next section lists what is in and out. |
| What are the cancellation terms? | Without them you cannot judge the risk of booking early. | 70% back at 30 or more days, 50% at 15 to 29 days, no cash refund from 14 days, or a 100% TrekCash voucher, a free reschedule or a transfer up to 8 days before. |
| Can you pay in EMI? | Without EMI the full fee is due when you book. | EMI starts at ₹425 a month. |
| Where do extra bags go? | On a one-way route, a bag left at the start village cannot be collected at the finish. | There is no luggage store on this trek. Leave extra bags with your Rishikesh hotel or family and carry one 50 to 60 L backpack. |
What does the Chopta Chandrashila fee include?
On Trekkaro's batch the fee covers the Sari night, 3-person tents at Deoriatal and Baniyakund with men and women in separate tents, -20°C sleeping bags and large mess tents with tables. Meals are simple, pure vegetarian food from Day 1 dinner to Day 4 dinner, with tea, coffee, soups and snacks. All trekking permits and forest camping fees, the trek leader, local guides and the Free Trekking Gear are included.
Transport is not in the fee, on either leg. The cab leaves Jumping Heights in Tapovan, Rishikesh, in the morning of Day 1, and on Day 5 the drive from Baniyakund back to Rishikesh is about 200 km and 8 to 9 hours. We help the group book shared cabs at ₹6,500 one way per 5 to 6 seat vehicle, paid directly to the driver and split among the trekkers in it, which is ₹1,083 each when six share. Meals on the drives, optional backpack offloading and a single tent are also extra. Our Chopta Chandrashila trek cost guide adds it all up, and live batch dates and fees are on the Tungnath Chandrashila trek page.
How is the summit day via Tungnath run?
Day 4 is where a company's planning shows, so ask how it is run. On a Trekkaro batch you drive a short way from Baniyakund to Chopta and walk up to Tungnath, a climb of about 3 to 3.5 km (the Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee gives 3 km). From Tungnath it is about 1 km more to Chandrashila. Groups reach the top between 9 and 10 AM, stay 30 to 45 minutes, walk back down to Chopta and drive to Baniyakund, where you sleep a second night.
Ropes are not needed on this trek. In snow the team clears the trail, cuts steps where needed and helps you across slippery sections, and the microspikes and gaiters in your kit give you grip. Trekkaro's trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid, have completed a basic mountaineering course and lead with local guides who know the route, the weather and the campsites. No doctor joins the trek. Keep your cap and gloves on at Chandrashila, even for photos, because the morning wind on the open top is dangerous. Our Baniyakund guide describes the camp you return to.
Who can join, and what do you need to sort out?
The minimum age is 8, and trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian. Trekkers over 60 need good fitness and cardiovascular health. Every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor (the form is in My Bookings). Travel insurance is mandatory and not included, and it must cover high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation.
Rudraprayag has the last reliable ATM before Sari, and Sari has the last stable mobile signal. Cards are not accepted on the trail, so carry cash in small notes. Online booking closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before the batch starts. Trekkaro runs this trek from October to June; see the trek page for live batch dates. Before you travel, check the Rudraprayag district forecast on the India Meteorological Department's Dehradun centre.
See Chopta Chandrashila Trek dates and book | Sari village guide | Is Chandrashila open in winter
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for when choosing a company for the Chopta Chandrashila trek?
Check that the fee covers the Sari night, permits and Free Trekking Gear, and ask how the 11 km summit day is run. Then compare SpO2 checks, the oxygen cylinder and stretcher, a 1:8 ratio, refunds and the plan for extra luggage.
Where does the Chopta Chandrashila trek start and end?
Trekkaro's trek starts at Sari village, about 185 km from Rishikesh, and ends at Baniyakund. It does not return to Sari, and the drive from Baniyakund back to Rishikesh is about 200 km.
Is transport from Rishikesh included in the Chopta Chandrashila fee?
No. Neither the drive to Sari nor the drive back from Baniyakund is in the fee. Trekkaro helps the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers.
Can I leave extra luggage at Sari?
No. The trek ends at Baniyakund, so a bag left at Sari cannot be collected. Leave extra bags with your Rishikesh hotel or family, and keep valuables with you.
How long is the summit day on the Chopta Chandrashila trek?
Day 4 is 11 km in 8 to 9 hours, from Chopta up to Tungnath and Chandrashila and back. Groups reach the top between 9 and 10 AM and stay 30 to 45 minutes.
