Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost
What the Char Dham helicopter yatra costs and why: charter hours, helipad fees, ground transfers, hotels and darshan, and how the per person price changes with group size and days. The complete plan with helipads, hotels, prices by group size, inclusions and exclusions is below.
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Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost Overview
What the Char Dham helicopter yatra costs and why: charter hours, helipad fees, ground transfers, hotels and darshan, and how the per person price changes with group size and days.
The charter leaves Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun at dawn and lands at Kharsali for Yamunotri, Harsil for Gangotri, the Kedarnath helipad 500 m from the temple and the Badrinath helipad. Ground transfers, priority darshan help, hotels or premium tents, all meals and registration are inside the price. It is the plan for pilgrims with days rather than weeks, for elderly parents and for NRIs on a short visit.
Helicopter yatra depends on weather, so the rules for delays and the backup are set out below with the helipad details, then the day-by-day plan, hotels, prices by group size, inclusions and exclusions.
₹2,20,000 per person, twin sharing, 5 to 6 pilgrims per charter from Dehradun
Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost Breakdown
| Cost head | What it covers | Share of price |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter charter | About 4.5 to 5 hours of flying over the tour, helipad and landing fees, crew | 70% |
| Hotels and camps | 5 nights near the dhams including the Kedarnath premium tent | 12% |
| Ground | Jeeps and cars at Kharsali, Harsil and Badrinath, Dehradun transfers | 6% |
| Meals and darshan | All meals, priority darshan help, prasad | 5% |
| Registration, permits, insurance, support | Yatra registration, aviation permits, coordinator | 7% |
Price by Group Size
| Group | Per person |
|---|---|
| 5 to 6 pilgrims, full charter | ₹2,20,000 |
| 3 to 4 pilgrims | ₹2,50,000 |
| 1 to 2 pilgrims, seat in a shared departure | ₹2,70,000, subject to availability |
Charter Rules
- Capacity. 5 to 6 pilgrims per helicopter with a combined weight of about 450 kg and 5 kg of hand baggage each; main luggage stays at Dehradun.
- Weather. Flights are held until clear. A lost day extends the plan at ₹25,000 per person per day, or an unused leg is refunded at the charter rate.
- Altitude. From 650 m to 3,583 m within a day or two; rest, water and no heavy meals; oxygen on board.
- Season. May to June and September to October; charters do not run in July and August.
- Booking. 25% advance; charters for May and October are booked by February.
Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost Itinerary: Day by Day
The order of sightseeing can change with weather, road conditions, temple timings and darshan queues.
Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Route | Distance and time | Night stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival at Dehradun | Transfer 30 minutes | Dehradun |
| Day 2 | Dehradun (Sahastradhara) → Kharsali for Yamunotri | About 45 minutes of flying | Kharsali or Barkot |
| Day 3 | Kharsali → Harsil for Gangotri | About 25 minutes of flying | Harsil |
| Day 4 | Harsil → Kedarnath | About 35 minutes of flying | Kedarnath premium tent, or Guptkashi |
| Day 5 | Kedarnath → Badrinath | About 25 minutes of flying | Badrinath |
| Day 6 | Badrinath → Dehradun | About 55 minutes of flying | Tour ends |
Holy Places Covered
Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost Price Details
Starting prices per person on twin sharing. Final price depends on dates, hotel category, vehicle and group size.
| Tour name | Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
| Route | Dehradun → Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath → Dehradun by helicopter |
| Start point | Sahastradhara helipad, Dehradun; pick-up at Jolly Grant airport or Dehradun hotels |
| Tour price | From ₹2,20,000 per person (standard charter, 5 to 6 pilgrims per charter) |
Price by Hotel Category
| Category | Stay and meals | Price from (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard charter | Charter helicopter, hotels or premium tents, all meals, transfers, priority darshan | ₹2,20,000 |
| Deluxe charter | Standard plus Dehradun resort nights before and after and airport transfers | ₹2,34,000 |
| Shared seat | One or two seats in a shared departure, subject to availability | ₹2,70,000 |
Price by Group Size and Vehicle
Standard charter category. The charter cost is shared, so a full helicopter is cheapest per seat.
| Group size | Vehicle | From Dehradun (per person) | With Delhi flight transfer (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 6 pilgrims (full charter) | Charter helicopter | ₹2,20,000 | ₹2,29,000 |
| 3 to 4 pilgrims | Shared charter | ₹2,50,000 | ₹2,59,000 |
| 1 to 2 pilgrims | Seat in a shared departure | ₹2,70,000 | ₹2,79,000 |
Add-ons and Optional Charges
| Add-on | Charged | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Dehradun flight | Per person | At actual fare, about ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 each way |
| Dehradun hotel night before or after | Per room | ₹4,500 deluxe |
| Extra day due to weather | Per person | ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 |
| Special puja at a dham | Per group | ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 |
| Single room supplement | Per person | ₹9,000 |
| Child 2 to 12 years | Per child | Full charter seat; 25% off hotel and meals |
Prices are for the 2027 season and are starting prices. Peak dates in May, June and the October holidays may cost more. Helicopter fares are set by the government portal and change every season. GST is extra where applicable.
Hotels Used on the Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost
Hotel names are confirmed on your booking voucher. Rooms at the dhams are simple, so most comfort is at the halts below the temples.
| Halt | Nights | Standard | Deluxe | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dehradun | 1 night | Hotel near the railway station | Deluxe city hotel | Resort on the Mussoorie road |
| Kharsali or Barkot | 1 night | GMVN or hotel at Kharsali | Resort at Barkot | Best resort at Barkot |
| Harsil | 1 night | Guest house in Harsil | Camp or hotel in the apple orchards | Harsil valley resort |
| Kedarnath premium tent, or Guptkashi | 1 night | Premium tent near the temple | Premium tent with attached bath | Premium tent, or heated resort room at Guptkashi by helicopter return |
| Badrinath | 1 night | Hotel or dharamshala near the temple | Hotel with heated rooms near Tapt Kund | Best available hotel near the temple |
All hotels have attached bathrooms, hot water in the morning and evening, and pure vegetarian food. Heated rooms are available at the colder halts on the deluxe and premium plans.
See also Char Dham hotel booking and Kedarnath hotel booking.
Package Inclusions and Exclusions
Package Inclusions
- Charter helicopter from Sahastradhara, Dehradun covering Dehradun → Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath → Dehradun
- Ground transfers from each helipad to the temple and back
- 5 nights in hotels or premium tents as per the plan
- All meals from breakfast on day 1 to lunch on the last day
- Priority darshan help at every temple and prasad
- Yatra registration for every pilgrim and aviation permit fees
- Pick-up and drop at Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun station or your Dehradun hotel
- Oxygen and first-aid on board; a coordinator travels with the group
- All taxes except GST
Package Exclusions
- Flights or trains to Dehradun, booked at actual fare
- Dehradun hotel nights unless the deluxe category is chosen
- Pony or palki for the Yamunotri trek where applicable, at district rate
- Special pujas and donations
- Personal expenses
- Extra day if weather grounds the helicopter, at the rate above
- GST at the applicable rate
Ground Transfers and Helipad Access
How you reach the helipad and the temple from it.
| Transfer | Distance and time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jolly Grant airport → Sahastradhara helipad | 30 km, 45 minutes | Included in the package |
| Dehradun hotels → Sahastradhara | 5 to 12 km | Included |
| Kharsali helipad → Janki Chatti | 1 km jeep, then 6 km trek | Jeep included; pony or palki at district rate |
| Harsil helipad → Gangotri | 25 km by car | Included |
| Kedarnath helipad → temple | 500 m walk | Wheelchair help available |
| Badrinath helipad → temple | 2 km by car | Included |
Helipad transfers are inside the package. Pilgrims arriving by air use Jolly Grant airport, 30 to 45 minutes from Sahastradhara and the Dehradun hotels; pilgrims by train use Dehradun or Haridwar station. See also Char Dham taxi booking and tempo traveller booking.
Trek, Pony, Palki and Helicopter Options
Rates are set by the district administration and the government helicopter portal each season and are paid locally unless pre-booked.
| Dham | Route | Distance | Options and approximate rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | Janki Chatti to Yamunotri | 6 km each way | Pony ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 one way; palki ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 one way; pithu ₹1,200 to ₹1,800 |
| Gangotri | By road to the temple | No trek | Short walk from the parking; wheelchair help can be arranged |
| Kedarnath | Gaurikund to Kedarnath | 16 to 18 km each way | Pony ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 one way; palki ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 one way; pithu ₹2,500 to ₹3,500; helicopter about ₹2,700 to ₹3,900 one way at the portal fare |
| Badrinath | By road to the temple | No trek | Short walk from the parking; wheelchair help at the temple |
The Kedarnath helicopter flies from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi helipads and the ride takes under 10 minutes. Tickets are sold only on the official IRCTC Heli Yatra portal, need the yatra registration number and a photo ID, and open in phases before the season. Weight above 80 kg is charged extra and weather can cancel flights. Read our Kedarnath helicopter booking guide for the current fare and timings.
Registration and Documents Checklist
- Yatra registration. Compulsory for every pilgrim on the Uttarakhand Tourism portal. We complete it for you and send the slip on WhatsApp. Carry a printout.
- Photo ID. Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence for every traveller, original and one copy.
- Medical fitness. A doctor's certificate is advised for pilgrims above 50 and anyone with heart, blood pressure or breathing conditions. Health screening is done at the check posts.
- Helicopter tickets. Carry the IRCTC e-ticket and the same photo ID used for booking.
- Hotel vouchers. We send a single voucher with all hotel names, driver name and vehicle number before departure.
- Emergency contacts. Our coordinator's number, the Uttarakhand tourist helpline 1364 and the police helpline 112.
Travel Tips and What to Pack
- Start early every day. Hill roads have gates that close at dusk, and treks and flights should begin by 6 am.
- Go slow on altitude. Yamunotri is at 3,293 m, Gangotri is at 3,100 m, Kedarnath is at 3,583 m, Badrinath is at 3,300 m. Drink water, avoid alcohol and tell the driver or coordinator if you feel breathless or dizzy.
- Pack for cold and rain. Thermals, a down or fleece jacket, raincoat, warm cap, gloves, shoes with grip, sunscreen and a torch.
- Medicines. Your regular medicines for the full trip plus a basic kit: pain relief, ORS, antacid, motion sickness tablets and band-aids.
- Cash and network. ATMs and mobile network are unreliable near the dhams. Carry cash for pony, prasad and jeeps. BSNL and Jio work best.
- Keep buffer days. Landslides, rain and fog can cost a day. Do not book a flight or train on the evening you return.
- Respect temple rules. Photography is not allowed inside the temples. Dress modestly and follow the queue system.
This is a likely schedule. The coordinator may adjust it for weather, road conditions, temple timings or local rules. Extra stay caused by landslides, bad weather, road closures or flight cancellations is payable by the guest.
How to Reach the Yatra Base and Best Time to Visit
| Mode | Gateway | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (DED) | About 35 km from Rishikesh and 40 km from Haridwar; flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad |
| Train | Haridwar Junction (HW) | Direct trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai and many cities |
| Train | Rishikesh, Yog Nagari Rishikesh or Dehradun | Vande Bharat and Shatabdi from Delhi to Dehradun in about 4.5 hours |
| Road | Delhi to Haridwar | About 220 km, 5 to 6 hours by car or Volvo bus from Kashmere Gate ISBT |
| Helicopter | Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi to Kedarnath | Tickets sold only through the IRCTC Heli Yatra portal |
Month by Month
| Month | Weather | Crowd and advice |
|---|---|---|
| Late April to May | Cold nights at the dhams, pleasant days; snow still possible | Opening days are the busiest; book 2 to 3 months ahead |
| June | Warm days, cool nights; pre-monsoon showers | School holidays, very busy |
| July to August | Monsoon; heavy rain, landslides, road closures and grounded helicopters | Low crowd and low prices; keep extra days and insurance |
| September to October | Clear skies, cold nights, best mountain views | Best months; moderate crowd |
| November | Very cold; temples close after Diwali | Only until the closing dates |
FAQs for Char Dham Helicopter Yatra Cost
How many days is the char dham helicopter yatra cost?
6 Days / 5 Nights from Dehradun: Dehradun → Yamunotri → Gangotri → Kedarnath → Badrinath → Dehradun by helicopter.
What is the char dham helicopter yatra cost price?
From ₹2,20,000 per person for a full charter of 5 to 6 pilgrims, including the helicopter, ground transfers, hotels and the Kedarnath premium tent, all meals, priority darshan help and registration. Smaller groups pay more per seat; flights to Dehradun are extra.
Where does it start?
Sahastradhara helipad, Dehradun, with pick-up from Dehradun hotels, Jolly Grant airport and the railway station. A Delhi to Dehradun flight can be added.
What if the weather is bad?
Flights are held until it clears. A lost day extends the plan at ₹25,000 per person per day, or an unused leg is refunded at the charter rate. Charters do not run in the monsoon.
Is there a weight limit?
About 450 kg combined per helicopter and 5 kg hand baggage per person; weights are declared at booking.
Is registration compulsory?
Yes. Every pilgrim must register on the Uttarakhand Tourism portal and carry the slip with a photo ID. We complete the registration for you once you share names, ages and ID numbers.
What is the best time?
May to June and September to October. July and August are monsoon months with landslide risk. The temples close after Diwali and reopen in late April or May.
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