Haridwar, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Joshimath, Auli & Gopeshwar, 10 Days

Things to carry

• Warm layers — the shrines sit above 3,000 m and are cold even in summer
• Rain protection; the Garhwal monsoon is heavy from late June
• Sturdy shoes for the Kedarnath and Tungnath walks
• Something to cover your head and shoulders for the temples and gurdwaras

Important notes

A 10-day private itinerary. Longer versions add stops rather than padding existing days.,The Char Dham shrines — Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — open around April and close around November, and the mountain roads are monsoon-prone in July and August. Routes including them are only sold in season.,Kedarnath is a 16 km walk each way from Gaurikund. Pony, palanquin and helicopter are available at extra cost.,Routes that cross into Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab or Himachal include those states' places in the same itinerary; the drive is stated rather than implied.