Har Ki Dun from Delhi — itinerary, permits, gear & budget

1,967 mRoadhead

Getting there from Delhi

New for 2026

The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opened on 14 April 2026: 210 km of access-controlled highway that cuts Delhi→Dehradun to roughly 2.5 hours and Delhi→Rishikesh to roughly 3.5 hours by car. Every itinerary here is re-timed around it — most Uttarakhand roadheads are now a comfortable single day from Delhi instead of an overnight ordeal.

Your gateway is Dehradun. From there it is 206 km and 8–9 hours of hill road to Sankri (1,967 m), which is where the walking starts.

Car / cab (expressway) 2.5–3 hrs

210 km via the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway. One-way car toll approx ₹670.

Indicative cost · ₹2,500–4,500 one-way cab; ₹1,800–2,500 in fuel + toll self-driving

Vande Bharat (22457) approx 4 hrs 45 min

Anand Vihar Terminal → Dehradun. Fastest train on the route; book the moment the window opens in trek season.

Indicative cost · ₹1,100–2,100 (CC / EC, dynamic)

Nanda Devi AC Express approx 7–8 hrs

Overnight option — sleep on the train, start the hill drive at dawn.

Indicative cost · approx ₹600 (3A) / ₹830 (2A) / ₹1,380 (1A)

Volvo / AC bus 5–7 hrs

From ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Services run through the night, roughly 02:00 to 23:55.

Indicative cost · ₹400–1,200

Shared cabs and buses run Dehradun → Sankri in the morning. A private cab is the reliable option and splits well across four people.

Outline guide

This one is a planning outline, not the full day-by-day treatment yet — the numbers, permits and seasons below are researched and usable, but the detailed route notes are still being written. Get on the list to know when it goes deep.

2,447 mTiming

When to go

Best window: April – June and September – November.

When not to go

July – August (monsoon); deep winter closes the upper valley.

Long walking days rather than steep ones, over 34 km. The distance, not the altitude, is what you train for.

2,926 mPaperwork

Permits, fees and budget

Govind Wildlife Sanctuary permit Charged per person per day

Where · Forest Department office at Uttarkashi, or via a Sankri operator

The entire route is inside the sanctuary. Carry two ID photocopies and passport photos — checkposts verify at multiple points on the trail.

Self-organised₹8,000–13,000

With an operator₹8,000–15,000

Sankri-to-Sankri, before Delhi travel.

3,566 mSummit

Know before you go

The route sits inside a wildlife sanctuary; permits are checked more than once.
Add a day for the valley or Jaundhar Glacier — rushing Har Ki Dun defeats the purpose.

Why this one is worth your leave days

Osla and Gangaad — villages with centuries-old wooden temple architecture
The Har Ki Dun cradle valley beneath Swargarohini
Optional Jaundhar Glacier day
Shares its roadhead with Kedarkantha — easy to combine on one trip

Check before you book

Costs, permit fees and transport timings are researched estimates for the 2026 season and move around. Treat them as planning ranges, not quotes, and re-check permits and road status before you book.

Last updated 2026-08-18