If you want a weekend escape in Uttarakhand with majestic Himalayan views and thrilling adventures, Chopta Chandrashila Trek is the right choice.
The Chopta Chandrashila Trek is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand and is known as the Mini Switzerland of Uttarakhand. It offers you a thrilling view of lush green meadows and the wide range of Himalayan Peaks. In addition, the trek has a short duration and easy accessibility, making it perfect for beginners and weekend escape.
To help you venture on this trek, I will share a complete guide on the Chopta Chandrashila trek in this blog. This guide provides all the details, including major attractions, different itineraries, and common FAQs.
Chopta Chandrashila Trek: Your Gateway to Himalayan Bliss
Chopta Chandrashila Trek is a rare weekend trek with a blend of two small treks: Deoria Tak Trek and Chopta Tunganth Trek.
You trek to the picturesque Deoria Tal on the first day and climb to the Chandrsahila top, known for the best summit views, on the second day.
Deoria Tal
Located at an altitude of 7998.6 ft in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, Deoria Tal is an alluring destination for adventurers. A luxuriant green forest surrounds it with a panoramic view of the majestic Himalayan peaks, including Chaukhamba, Neelkantha, Banderpunch, Kedar range, and the Kalanag.
Moreover, Deoria Tal offers a stunning reflection of Chaukhamba Peak on a clear morning. You are awestruck by this view. It’s rare to find such a view on a trek. You can reach Deoria Tal after trekking for 3 km from Sari Village.
Chopta-Mini Switzerland
Chopta is a destination with so much to witness and relish. It is nestled at an altitude of 8790 ft, surrounded by dense oak and pine forests, and is a part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, it is a base for trekking to Tungnath and Chandrashila.
The moment you enter Chopta, it feels like a paradise with lush green pastureland, tiny hamlets, and majestic views of the Himalayas.
Chopta is easily accessible by road except during winter, as the roads are blocked due to heavy snow. You can find numerous camps and homestays at a decent price if you plan to stay there.
Chandrashila- Moon Rock
It is the summit of the Chandranath Parvat, where the famous Tungnath temple of Panch Kedar is located. The majestic Chandrashila summit serves as a vantage point that offers a heavenly panorama of the Great Himalayas.
Moreover, the trek takes you through picturesque meadows, deodar forests, and the holy shrine of Tungnath temple.
Chopta Chandrashila Trekking Itinerary
By now, you must have had an idea of the beauty of the Chopta Chandrashila Trek. So now let’s explore the itinerary, which helps you do the trek in a phased manner. But before jumping into the itinerary, I would like to clarify that this itinerary is ideal for weekends, mainly for people from Delhi and nearby states.
- Day 0: Delhi to Rishikesh
- Day 1: Rishikesh To Sari Village To Deoria Tal
- Day 2: Deoria Tal To Chopta Chandrashila To Campsite
- Day 3: Chopta To Rishikesh To Delhi
Day 0: Delhi to Rishikesh
- Drive from Delhi To Rishikesh
- Departure time – 11:00 pm
- Total Distance – 250 Km
- Time Taken – 5 Hours
Start your journey around 11 pm from Delhi, usually on Friday night, so that you utilise the weekend days effectively.
After driving for 5 hours, you reach Rishikesh, and then from Rishikesh, continue your journey towards Sari Village.
Day 1: Rishikesh To Sari Village To Deoria Tal
- Drive from Rishikesh To Sari And Trek To Deoria Tal
- Distance: 190 km
- Drive Time: 5-6 hrs
- Trek Distance: 3 Km (approx)
- Trek Time: 2 hrs
- Accommodation: Tents
- Altitude: 6554 ft to 7999ft
After passing Rishikesh, your day one starts. It’s usually Saturday morning, and you start rolling through hilly roads. The road to Sari village passes through the famous Devprayag, where Alaknanda and Bhagirathi meet to form the mighty Ganga River.
At Devprayag, you can halt for some time to witness the magical confluence of holy rivers. And then continue your thrilling drive towards Sari Village. On the way, you can again halt at some restaurant to have breakfast.
You reach Sari village around 1 pm. At Sari, get refreshed at some hotel and eat your lunch.
Meanwhile, hire a guide if you haven’t booked the trek with any tour operator. Discuss the trek itinerary with a guide while rejuvenating yourself with the surrounding views of Sari village and fresh mountain air. In addition, make sure you take a forest permit, which costs around INR 100- INR 200 per trekker. You can ask your guide to help you get the permit.
Post lunch, start the trek around 3 pm from Sari Village to Deoria Tal. It’s an easy hike that you can do in just 2 hours.
The trail towards Deorital passes through the beautiful oak forest and offers a scenic view of Sari village below. You can see the same view in the below picture.
Your trek ends around 5 pm, reaching Deorial Tal Campsite (7999 ft).
On reaching Deorital, spot a good location and pitch your tent or book a camp with locals. There are plenty of options there for Swiss tents and homestay. But if you are trekking in peak season, I advise you to book camps in advance.
Once you get settled, enjoy hot tea with delicious snacks and visit the beautiful Deoria Tal. From the Deoria tal, witness the mesmerising sunset with the mighty Himalayas in the backdrop. After exploration, return to the campsite and enjoy dinner with a bonfire and light music.
Day 2: Deoria Tal To Chopta Chandrashila To Campsite
- Trek from Deoria Tal to Sari And Chopta To Chandrashila
- Trek Distance: 13 (approx)
- Time Taken: 8-9 hrs
- Accommodation: Tents
- Altitude: 7,999 ft to 13,100ft
Your day two starts early, around 5 am, with hot tea and a delicious breakfast.
Once done with breakfast, start descending towards the Sari Village. While descending, it is a short trek of just an hour.
On reaching Sari village, board the transport (which you must book in advance) and leave for Chandrashila Chopta. From Sari, it is an hour’s drive with scenic views. You reach Chopta around 9 am. At Chopta, buy some snacks and try to get a packed lunch. You can ask your guide to arrange these things for you.
But make sure to proceed on the trek with lunch. It is so because you return to Chopta only by evening after trekking for the whole day. Moreover, once you leave Chopta, you won’t find any shops on the trail.
Once ready with a packed lunch, start the Chopta Tungnnath trek at 10 am.
Initially, the trail is steep with lots of bends; hence, you must put more effort into climbing. But as you continue trekking, your body adapts to the environment, making it easier for you to hike. Moreover, the trail is well laid out and wide enough to walk.
While continuing on the trail, you have a picturesque view of lush green alpine meadows and snow-capped Himalayan peaks. You also come across beautiful Himalayan birds, rare species of flora and fauna and sometimes flocks of sheep grazing on those beautiful meadows.
But during winters, you find most of this trek under snow, which increases the thrill twice.
After a thrilling hike for 3 hours, you reach the holy shrine of Tungnath temple at 12,500 ft. It’s the world’s highest Shiva temple and the third temple of Panch Kedar. Spend some peaceful time at the temple and then again start the hike towards the Chandrashila Peak.
From Tungnath temple, the ascend is steeper and takes around 1 hour to reach the Chandrashila top at 13,100ft. When you reach the top, a 360-degree view of the mighty Himalayan peaks of Trishul, Chaukhamba and Kedar stuns you.
Witness the beautiful evening sun with the scenic view of Chopta Valley below from Chandrshila Peak. In addition, absorb the views of the mesmerising surroundings and click pictures with your group.
After spending beautiful moments at Chandrashila Peak, start to trek towards Chopta. Ensure you begin descending on time to finish the trek around 5-6 pm before dark.
On reaching Chopta, check in to your camps for an overnight stay and enjoy the rest of the night celebrating with your mates. At Chopta, there is neither electricity nor mobile signals. So expect low facilities, especially during winter.
Day 3: Chopta To Rishikesh To Delhi
After breakfast at 7 am, drive back to Delhi via Rishikesh to reach Delhi between 6 pm and 10 Pm.
Apart from this Chopta Chandrashila trek itinerary, there is another itinerary that many operators also follow. You can check this itinerary, too. If you find it suitable, go ahead and try it.
- Day 0: Drive from Delhi to Rishikesh
- Day 1: Drive From Rishikesh To Chopta And Spend the Rest Of The Day At Chopta
- Day 2 : Trek to Tungnath Chandrashila and Return To Chopta
- Day 3: Drive To Sari Village, Trek To Deoria Tal And Departure For Delhi
Whichever itinerary you choose, remember to book all the camps at Sari and Chopta in advance to save some money and avoid last-minute hustle.
Chopta Chandrashila Trek Best Time To Visit
Except for monsoon, you can do Chopta Chandrashila Trek throughout the year.
Winter (December to February)
Ideal for snow enthusiasts, winter transforms the Chopta Tungnath trek into a magical wonderland. With the landscape blanketed in pristine snow, this season provides a unique, albeit more challenging, trekking experience.
Spring (April to June)
Spring unveils a vibrant tapestry of rhododendron blooms and lush greenery on the trail. The weather is mild, making it a popular time for trekking. Furthermore, the clear skies and pleasant temperatures ensure you can relish the breathtaking scenery.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn offers another fantastic window for trekking. With clear skies, moderate temperatures, and stunning vistas, it’s a superb time for those seeking a more serene adventure.
What is Chopta Chandrashila Trek Difficulty Level?
As per the numerous trek organisers, Chopta Chandrshila Trek is mainly considered an easy-grade trek, perfect for beginners. Anyone can do this trek with proper guidance. But I still suggest you prepare yourself physically and mentally to complete this trek successfully. It is because I have come across numerous trekkers who initially thought it was an easy trek and weren’t able to complete the trek.
Therefore, keep yourself physically fit by regularly doing exercises like jogging, squatting, stretching and yoga.
What is Chopta Chandrashila Trek Price?
The Chopta Chandrashila Trek package price depends on many factors, including number of days, trek organisers, departure place, season time, mode of transport and number of persons. For example, the Chopta Chandrashila trek from Delhi for three days is usually priced between Rs.6500 and Rs.8500. In contrast, the Chopta Chandrashila trek from Rishikesh costs less than Delhi.
So, before booking, consider all the factors and then calculate the ideal price. Usually, a company organising the trek from Delhi while providing a suitable mode of transport like Innova car charges higher. Such organisers also provide better guides and camp facilities at Deoria Tal and Chopta. To confirm this, read online reviews, check videos and try to connect with other people on social media for better feedback.
Explore the Heart of Uttarakhand- Chopta Chnadrashila Trek
In the lap of the Himalayas lies the Chopta Chandrashila Trek, a journey that weaves serenity, adventure, and spiritual marvels. Whether you seek a winter wonderland or the vibrant blooms of spring, this trail delivers an unforgettable experience.
With its easy accessibility and mesmerising landscapes, it beckons adventurers of all levels. This Himalayan expedition offers much more than just a trek; it presents you with an opportunity to connect with nature’s grandeur.
So, embark on this unforgettable journey, where each step leads you closer to the soul-stirring beauty of Chopta and Chandrashila.
If you have any questions regarding Chopta Chandrashila Trek, please comment below.
