Do Dham Bike Tour — Kedarnath & Badrinath
The two most powerful of the four dhams, without taking a fortnight off work.
Nine hundred kilometres from Rishikesh through the Mandakini and Alaknanda valleys, the sixteen-kilometre climb to Kedarnath, a night at 3,583 m under the temple, and the ride to Mana — the last village before Tibet.
Two Dhams, One Week
Chardham is twelve days. That's a fortnight of leave, and for most working riders it's the reason the trip never happens.
Do Dham is seven. Kedarnath and Badrinath — Shiva and Vishnu, the two dhams that carry the most weight for most pilgrims, and the two most spectacular rides of the four. You keep the heart of the yatra and lose only the westward leg to Yamunotri and Gangotri.
It's also the better ride, day for day. The Chardham circuit spends its middle days on long transfers between valleys. Do Dham cuts those out — you go up the Mandakini to Kedarnath, across through Chopta, and up the Alaknanda to Badrinath. Almost every riding day is a good one.
If you have twelve days, do Chardham. If you have seven, this is not a compromise. It's a different trip with its own shape, and most of our riders who've done both prefer this one.
Day by Day
Day 1 — Rishikesh → Guptkashi
≈180 km · 7 hrs · 1,319 m
Up the Ganga through Devprayag, where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, then Srinagar and Rudraprayag before turning into the Mandakini valley. Briefing and bike check at Guptkashi.
Day 2 — Guptkashi → Sonprayag → Kedarnath
≈30 km riding · 16 km trek · 3,583 m
An early start. Bikes stay at Sonprayag; a shuttle takes you to Gaurikund. From there, sixteen kilometres on foot climbing about 1,600 m. Ponies, palkis and helicopters from Phata or Sersi are all available. Evening aarti and a night at 3,583 m.
Day 3 — Kedarnath → Gaurikund → Chopta
≈16 km trek · 90 km riding · 2,680 m
Morning darshan, then down. Collect the bikes at Sonprayag and ride through Ukhimath to Chopta. If the group has legs left, the 3.5 km walk to Tungnath starts from here.
Day 4 — Chopta → Joshimath
≈170 km · 6–7 hrs · 1,875 m
Down to Rudraprayag and up the Alaknanda through Karnaprayag, Nandprayag and Chamoli. Four confluences in a day, each worth stopping for.
Day 5 — Joshimath → Badrinath → Mana
≈50 km · 3,133 m
A short, extraordinary ride up to the fourth dham. The Neelkanth peak stands directly behind the temple. Afternoon at Mana — the last Indian village before Tibet — for Vyas Gufa, Bheem Pul and the Saraswati emerging from the rock.
Day 6 — Badrinath → Rudraprayag
≈160 km · 6 hrs
Back down the Alaknanda. The easy day, and the one where everyone finally relaxes.
Day 7 — Rudraprayag → Rishikesh
≈140 km · 5 hrs
Home via Devprayag. Stop at the sangam — you've now been to the source of one of those two rivers and you're watching them become the Ganga you'll be back beside by evening.
Chardham Registration Applies Here Too
Kedarnath and Badrinath are two of the four Chardham shrines, so the same mandatory registration applies. Nobody enters either temple without a QR-coded e-pass, checked at route checkpoints as well as at the shrines.
It's free, and we handle it. We need from you: Indian riders — Aadhaar card · International riders — passport · a passport-sized photograph · an active mobile number for OTP verification · an emergency contact.
Registration runs through the Uttarakhand government portal at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in and opens in early March each season. Daily slots at each shrine are capped and peak-season dates fill fast, so book early and send your documents the moment you do.
We'll send your e-pass to print. Bring several copies — network above Guptkashi is unreliable and a dead phone is not a permit.
About That Sixteen Kilometres
The trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is the hardest part of this tour and there's no way around it — no road goes there, for anyone.
The numbers: 16 km, climbing roughly 1,600 m to 3,583 m. Six to eight hours up for a reasonably fit person. Three to four hours down.
If you'd rather not walk: pony or horse from Gaurikund, palki or pithoo carried by porters, or helicopter from Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi (must be booked in advance). Nobody on this tour is judged for taking a pony.
If you do plan to walk it, train. Three months out, start walking. Build to 10 km with a daypack and find hills.
When to Ride
The temples open in late April and close in early November after Diwali and Bhai Dooj.
May to June: everything open, long days, busiest. Book early for Kedarnath slots.
September to October: clear post-monsoon air, thin crowds, cold nights, and the best mountain views of the year.
July to August: we don't run it. The Mandakini and Alaknanda valleys are landslide country in monsoon.
Fitness
Riding: seven days, up to 180 km daily on mountain road. Not technical, but sustained.
Walking: 32 km round trip to Kedarnath, up and down 1,600 m, in two days. Train for it, or plan for a pony or a helicopter and tell us when you book.
Altitude: maximum 3,583 m. Most riders feel it as breathlessness on the climb rather than as sickness.
Not sure? Message us. If the honest answer is that you should do Chopta first, we'll say so.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included — Royal Enfield for the trip, with fuel · all accommodation including the night at Kedarnath · all meals from Day 1 dinner · Chardham registration and e-passes · backup vehicle with driver · mechanic and spares · tour leader · first aid and oxygen · Sonprayag–Gaurikund shuttle
Not included — travel to and from Rishikesh · pony, palki or helicopter at Kedarnath · personal riding gear (helmet free) · travel and medical insurance covering motorcycling · donations and poojas · personal expenses · costs from landslides, closures or weather
Departures & Pricing
Departures: 19 September & 10 October 2026 · 15 May & 5 June 2027
Private departures for four or more riders on your own dates.
Price: TODO: tour price — TBD
Enquire on WhatsAppFAQs
How many days do you need for Kedarnath and Badrinath by bike?
Seven from Rishikesh, done comfortably. It can be squeezed into five, but that means no rest after the Kedarnath trek and no slack if a road closes.
Do I need registration for Kedarnath and Badrinath?
Yes. Both are Chardham shrines, so the mandatory Uttarakhand registration applies and you need a QR-coded e-pass at checkpoints and temples. It's free and we handle it.
Can foreigners do the Do Dham tour?
Yes. No Inner Line Permit is needed and registration accepts a passport. You'll need a motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit to ride.
How long is the Kedarnath trek?
16 km each way from Gaurikund, gaining about 1,600 m. Six to eight hours up for most people. Ponies, palkis and helicopters are available.
Can I take my bike to Kedarnath?
No. Private vehicles stop at Sonprayag and a shuttle runs to Gaurikund, where the trek begins. Bikes are parked securely at Sonprayag.
Is there a helicopter to Kedarnath?
Yes, from Phata, Sersi and Guptkashi, about ten minutes each way. It must be booked in advance and sells out in peak season — tell us when you book.
What's the difference between Do Dham and Chardham?
Do Dham is Kedarnath and Badrinath in seven days. Chardham adds Yamunotri and Gangotri and takes twelve. Do Dham keeps the two most significant shrines and the best riding.
Where do we stay at Kedarnath?
Guesthouse accommodation near the temple at 3,583 m. Basic, cold, and the reason most riders do this trip.
When is the best time?
May–June or September–October. September–October has clearer views and fewer people. We don't run it in the July–August monsoon.
How cold does it get at Kedarnath?
Close to freezing at night, even in June. Bring a genuine warm layer, not an optimistic one.
What about Mana village?
Included on Day 5. Three kilometres beyond Badrinath, the last Indian village before the Tibet border — Vyas Gufa, Bheem Pul, and the Saraswati coming out of the rock.
Anubhav Travel · Near Ram Jhula Bridge, Swarg Ashram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249304