I have done the Chopta-Tungnath trek four times. I recommended it to probably thirty people over the last two years. Not because it is easy - 3.5 km on a steep stone path with 580m of altitude gain is not casual - but because it is the closest thing to a real high-altitude trek that someone can do from Dehradun on a 3-day weekend without hiring a guide, booking a tour, or spending more than Rs 5,000 including transport.
218 km from Dehradun. 5-6 hours by road. 3.5 km up to the Tungnath temple at 3,680m, the world's highest Shiva temple. Another 1.5 km if you push to Chandrashila summit at 4,130m. One night camping in the meadow if you time it right. Back home Sunday night.
🚗 The drive: Dehradun to Chopta
218 km via Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar (Uttarakhand), Rudraprayag, Ukhimath. 5-6 hours in good conditions. The road is paved throughout - NH-7 to Rudraprayag, then the Kedarnath/Chopta branch via Ukhimath.
Fuel up in Rishikesh or Rudraprayag. No reliable fuel between Rudraprayag and Chopta (78 km).
The last 18 km from Ukhimath to Chopta is a narrow hill road through dense oak and rhododendron forest. Single lane in places, with blind corners. Drive this section in daylight.
Parking at Chopta: a small clearing at the trailhead. Rs 50-100 per vehicle per day. Secure enough - locals watch the area.
🥾 The trek: Chopta to Tungnath to Chandrashila
Chopta (2,680m) to Tungnath temple (3,680m): 3.5 km, stone-paved path, 580m elevation gain. Takes 2-3 hours up, 1.5-2 hours down. The path is well-marked and impossible to lose. One chai stall midway (seasonal).
Tungnath to Chandrashila summit (4,130m): 1.5 km further, 450m additional gain. Steeper, rockier, not paved. The last 300m is a scramble over loose rock. This section requires proper trekking shoes - not sports shoes, not sandals.
Chandrashila summit: 360-degree view of Nanda Devi, Trisul, Chaukhamba, Kedarnath, and Bandarpunch ranges. On a clear October morning, this is one of the best viewpoints in Uttarakhand.
Start early: leave Chopta by 6-7 AM to reach Chandrashila before afternoon cloud builds.
⛺ Camping vs tent stay
Tent stays at Chopta: Rs 500-800 per person including dinner and breakfast. Multiple operators at the trailhead meadow. Walk-in bookings work most of the season. October long weekends: call ahead.
Self-camping: permitted in the meadow area. Carry your own tent, sleeping bag rated to -5C for October, and food. No facilities beyond what the tent-stay operators provide.
Practical advice: tent stays are the right call for first-timers. Self-camping is for experienced trekkers who own the gear. Renting camping equipment for Chopta specifically is not worth the cost.
🍂 October: why it is the best month
October at Chopta is the single best month. The monsoon has retreated. The air is clear. Snow sits on the high peaks but has not yet reached the trail. Temperatures are cold but manageable - 5-15C days, -2 to 5C nights at Chopta.
From Chandrashila summit on a clear October morning, every major peak in the Garhwal Himalaya is visible. This view is obscured by cloud for 4 months during monsoon and often hazy in May-June.
The meadow at Chopta turns golden-brown in October. The rhododendron forest below glows in autumn light. This is not poetic exaggeration - it is genuinely one of the most photogenic locations in Uttarakhand in this window.
Avoid: July-August (monsoon, trail is slippery and views are nil), December-February (snow covers the trail, Tungnath temple is closed).
📋 3-day itinerary from Dehradun
Day 1 (Friday evening or Saturday morning): Drive Dehradun to Chopta (218 km, 5-6 hours). If leaving Friday evening, stop at Rudraprayag for the night. If Saturday morning, leave by 5 AM to reach Chopta by noon.
Day 2 (Saturday or Sunday): Trek Chopta to Tungnath to Chandrashila and back. 10 km round trip, 6-7 hours including time at the summit. Start by 6-7 AM.
Day 3 (Sunday): Drive Chopta back to Dehradun. Leave by 7 AM to be home by 1-2 PM.
Alternative: For a more relaxed trip, camp one night at Chopta and one night at Ukhimath or Guptkashi. This also works as an acclimatization base before a Kedarnath trek.
🎒 What to pack for Chopta
Trekking shoes with ankle support (the Chandrashila scramble requires grip). Fleece or down jacket for early morning and camp. Waterproof shell if any rain is forecast. 1.5L water and snacks. Headlamp if starting early. Sunscreen and sunglasses.
For October camping add: sleeping bag rated to -5C comfort, thermal base layers, beanie and gloves, and a tent if self-camping.
See /guides/packing-4000m for the complete high-altitude packing list and /gear/trekking-shoes-under-5000 for shoe recommendations.
💡 Altitude and first-timer advice
Chopta at 2,680m is below the altitude where most people experience AMS. Tungnath at 3,680m is borderline. Chandrashila at 4,130m is altitude territory.
If this is your first time above 3,000m: drink water consistently on the trek, eat before you feel hungry, and do not push through headache or nausea on the Chandrashila section. The temple at Tungnath is the primary destination - Chandrashila is optional and weather-dependent.
Acclimatization: if you drive from Dehradun (682m) to Chopta (2,680m) and trek to 4,130m in the same day, that is a 3,448m altitude gain. Go slowly. Rest at Tungnath before the Chandrashila push.
See /guides/acclimatize-above-3000m for the full protocol.
When to Go
What to Pack
I maintain a full packing checklist you can tick off and share. Here are the essentials from my list: