Char Dham Yatra by helicopter
Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath in five nights from Dehradun. 2026 package prices, the route, helipads, dates and rules.
- Package price
- ₹2 to ₹2.45 lakh pp
- Duration
- 5 nights, 6 days
- Starts from
- Sahastradhara, Dehradun
- Baggage
- 2 to 5 kg
How the Char Dham helicopter yatra works
Operators' 2026 packages cost about ₹2 lakh to ₹2.45 lakh per person for 5 nights and 6 days from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun, with stays, meals and transfers included. Prices assume about 75 kg per person and a 2 to 5 kg bag; some add 5% GST.
A helicopter turns the long road yatra into five nights. You fly between helipads near each shrine and stay close to the temples, with darshan arranged in the package.
Packages start and end at Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun. The helicopter lands at Kharsali for Yamunotri and at Harsil for Gangotri, then at Sersi or Phata, where you change to a shuttle for Kedarnath, and finally at Badrinath.
Seats are shared with other pilgrims unless you book the whole helicopter. A family of five or six can charter its own helicopter, and we quote that on request.
Short on time? Do Dham covers Kedarnath and Badrinath in a day, and Kedarnath alone can be done in a day from Dehradun.
Sources:Heritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter costIndian Holiday: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterTripToTemples: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterHindutone, 9 Oct 2026: Char Dham Yatra 2026 pilgrim numbers
Char Dham helicopter package prices compared
- Package
- 5N/6D, stay at Sersi
- Price per person
- ₹2,25,000
- Included
- Stays, transfers, darshan
- Limits
- 75 kg standard weight, 5 kg bag
- Package
- 5N/6D, stay at Kedarnath with VIP darshan
- Price per person
- ₹2,30,000 (₹2,45,000 in an August update)
- Included
- Stays, transfers, VIP darshan
- Limits
- 75 kg standard weight, 5 kg bag
- Package
- 5N/6D
- Price per person
- ₹2,19,999 plus 5% GST
- Included
- Stays, meals, transfers
- Limits
- 75 kg each, 450 kg per helicopter, one 5 kg bag, no suitcases
- Package
- 5N/6D
- Price per person
- ₹2,22,000 plus 5% GST
- Included
- Stays, all meals, palki at Yamunotri
- Limits
- 6 passengers or 450 kg, ₹2,500 per extra kg, one 2 to 5 kg bag
- Package
- Char Dham
- Price per person
- ₹2,00,000 per seat
- Included
- VIP darshans, abhishekam at Kedarnath and Badrinath
- Limits
- 5 kg bag; year not stated
Published by each seller in 2026 unless marked. Whole-helicopter charters for one family are quoted separately.
Sources:Heritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter costHeritage Aviation, Aug 2026: Gangotri by helicopterIndian Holiday: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterTripToTemples: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterJetSetGo: JetSetYatra helicopter packages
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Helipads and the last mile to each shrine
- Helipad
- Kharsali
- Last mile
- Walk or palki to the temple; some packages include the palki
- Notes
- No scheduled shuttle; the Yamunotri helipad was found unsuitable in trials
- Helipad
- Harsil or Jhala
- Last mile
- About 22 to 25 km by road to the temple
- Notes
- Road transfer included in packages
- Helipad
- Sersi or Phata
- Last mile
- Shuttle helicopter to Kedarnath helipad
- Notes
- Charters change to the shuttle under government rules
- Helipad
- Badrinath helipad
- Last mile
- About 1 km to the temple
- Notes
- Last stop before flying back to Dehradun
Sources:Indian Holiday: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterTripToTemples: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterHeritage Aviation, Aug 2026: Gangotri by helicopterETV Bharat, 5 Feb 2026: Char Dham Yatra preparations and flight cutsIndian Holiday: same-day Do Dham by helicoptereUttaranchal: Badrinath heli services
Char Dham 2026 opening and closing dates
| Shrine | Opened in 2026 | Closing |
|---|---|---|
| Yamunotri | 19 April, 12:35 PM | Customarily Bhai Dooj; expected 11 November |
| Gangotri | 19 April, 12:15 PM | Customarily Annakut; expected 10 November |
| Kedarnath | 22 April, 8 AM | Customarily Bhai Dooj; expected 11 November |
| Badrinath | 23 April, 6:15 AM | Date announced on Vijayadashami, 20 October; expected 13 November |
No closing date had been officially announced by 9 October 2026. Expected dates are a tour operator's estimate. Helicopters stop flying for the monsoon, roughly mid June to mid September.
Sources:News On AIR, 19 Apr 2026: Gangotri and Yamunotri openNews On AIR, 23 Apr 2026: Badrinath opensSunday Guardian, 15 Feb 2026: Kedarnath reopens on 22 AprilHindutone, 9 Oct 2026: Char Dham Yatra 2026 pilgrim numbersRepublic World, 29 Aug 2026: Kedarnath helicopters to resume 15 September
Weight, baggage and paperwork
- Prices assume a body weight of about 75 kg per person; extra weight is charged, for example ₹2,500 per kg at one seller.
- Bring one soft bag of 2 to 5 kg. Suitcases are not allowed.
- A helicopter carries about 450 kg of passengers, usually six people.
- Register for the Char Dham Yatra before you travel; the Kedarnath shuttle cannot be booked without the registration number.
- Children over two pay the full fare on most packages.
- Flights operate between sunrise and sunset and are weather dependent; packages include buffer time.
Sources:Indian Holiday: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterTripToTemples: Char Dham Yatra by helicopterPawan Hans: Do Dham charter package (PDF)IRCTC HeliYatra, the official Kedarnath and Hemkund shuttle booking portalETV Bharat, 5 Feb 2026: Char Dham Yatra preparations and flight cuts
Safety rules in force for 2026
After two crashes in 2025, DGCA and UCADA tightened helicopter operations across the Char Dham route. The first 2026 phase finished without an incident.
- Flights run from sunrise to sunset only, and no flight leaves in sudden bad weather.
- Shuttle frequency on the Kedarnath route was cut by 30%, with Guptkashi capped at 24 shuttles a day.
- Air traffic control at Sahastradhara and Sersi, 33 PTZ cameras, two command centres and a tracker on every helicopter.
- Five automatic weather stations with ceilometers, at Sitapur, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Jhala and Kharsali.
- Pilots need at least 750 hours of mountain flying, 100 of them in the past year, and at least 10 landings at Kedarnath.
- Passenger load is capped at 70% of maximum capacity, and charter flights in the valley are restricted.
Sources:ETV Bharat, 5 Feb 2026: Char Dham Yatra preparations and flight cutsETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli faresOpenGov Asia, 28 Jun 2026: first phase of 2026 Char Dham helicopter operationsNews On AIR, 15 Jun 2025: safety protocols after the Kedarnath crash
Helicopters used on Char Dham trips
Packages fly single-engine helicopters such as the Bell 407 and Airbus H125 (AS350 B3), carrying up to six passengers within the weight limit.
Operators on the Char Dham route
Licensed NSOP operators that sell Char Dham or Do Dham trips, or fly the Kedarnath shuttle, in 2026.
5N/6D Char Dham packages from Sahastradhara
Do Dham charters from Sahastradhara
Kedarnath shuttle from Guptkashi
Kedarnath shuttle from Phata
Kedarnath shuttle from Sersi
Kedarnath shuttle from Guptkashi
Sources:Heritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter costPawan Hans: Do Dham charter package (PDF)ETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli fares
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhat is the cost of Char Dham Yatra by helicopter in 2026?+
About ₹2 lakh to ₹2.45 lakh per person for a 5 night, 6 day package from Dehradun, including stays, meals and transfers. Some sellers add 5% GST.
How do I book a helicopter for the Char Dham Yatra?+
Book a package with an operator or through Altivo Jets, and register for the Char Dham Yatra with the Uttarakhand government. The only part sold on IRCTC is the Kedarnath shuttle seat, and packages include it.
How many days does the Char Dham Yatra take by helicopter?+
Five nights and six days from Dehradun, with every leg flown except the short road and shuttle transfers.
Which helipads are used?+
Sahastradhara in Dehradun, then Kharsali for Yamunotri, Harsil for Gangotri, Sersi or Phata for Kedarnath, and Badrinath.
Is there a weight limit?+
Yes. Prices assume about 75 kg per person and 450 kg per helicopter. Extra weight is charged, and one soft bag of 2 to 5 kg is allowed.
When does the Char Dham Yatra start in 2026?+
Gangotri and Yamunotri opened on 19 April 2026, Kedarnath on 22 April and Badrinath on 23 April. The shrines close in November.
Can my family book a private helicopter for Char Dham?+
Yes. A family or group of up to about six can charter a whole helicopter for the route. We quote it on request.
Do helicopters fly during the monsoon?+
No. Services pause from about mid June to mid September and resume after a DGCA inspection.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 13 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.Heritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter cost
- 2.Indian Holiday: Char Dham Yatra by helicopter
- 3.TripToTemples: Char Dham Yatra by helicopter
- 4.Hindutone, 9 Oct 2026: Char Dham Yatra 2026 pilgrim numbers
- 5.Heritage Aviation, Aug 2026: Gangotri by helicopter
- 6.JetSetGo: JetSetYatra helicopter packages
- 7.ETV Bharat, 5 Feb 2026: Char Dham Yatra preparations and flight cuts
- 8.Indian Holiday: same-day Do Dham by helicopter
- 9.eUttaranchal: Badrinath heli services
- 10.News On AIR, 19 Apr 2026: Gangotri and Yamunotri open
- 11.News On AIR, 23 Apr 2026: Badrinath opens
- 12.Sunday Guardian, 15 Feb 2026: Kedarnath reopens on 22 April
- 13.Republic World, 29 Aug 2026: Kedarnath helicopters to resume 15 September
- 14.Pawan Hans: Do Dham charter package (PDF)
- 15.IRCTC HeliYatra, the official Kedarnath and Hemkund shuttle booking portal
- 16.ETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli fares
- 17.OpenGov Asia, 28 Jun 2026: first phase of 2026 Char Dham helicopter operations
- 18.News On AIR, 15 Jun 2025: safety protocols after the Kedarnath crash
Plan your Char Dham Yatra by helicopter.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.