Classic Uttarakhand
The trip most families ask for: a night of Ganga aarti, a night in Rishikesh, two easy days in Mussoorie, and two in Nainital via Corbett-direction roads. No single drive longer than 6 hours.
Highlights
- Arrive and Ganga Aarti
- Temples and the ghats
- Into the hills
- Kempty Falls and Dhanaulti
- Across to the lake district
- The lake and the viewpoints
- Fly home
Good to know
Indicative cost
Per person, twin sharing
Per person, twin sharing
Per person on twin sharing, indicative, excluding flights. May–June and October long weekends run 20–25% higher; add ₹8,000–14,000 per person for return Ahmedabad–Dehradun flights if booked.
What's included
- Private AC vehicle for the whole circuit (Innova or similar)
- 6 nights in inspected 3★/4★ hotels
- Daily breakfast and veg dinner
- Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi cable car tickets
- Gun Hill and Snow View Point cable car tickets
- Airport/station pickup and drop
Not included
- Ahmedabad–Dehradun/Delhi flights or train fare
- Lunches on sightseeing days
- Naini Lake boating and Kempty Falls cable car
- Travel insurance
- GST 5%
Day by day
Arrive and Ganga Aarti
Fly into Dehradun (Jolly Grant Airport) and drive to Haridwar, 35 km, about 1 hour, or arrive by the overnight train from Ahmedabad. Check in by early afternoon and rest. In the evening, walk to Har-ki-Pauri for the Ganga Aarti, which starts around 6:30 pm in winter and 7 pm in summer — arrive 30–40 minutes early to get a good spot near the ghat.
Temples and the ghats
Morning visit to Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples by cable car (both about 10 minutes each way), then drive to Rishikesh, 25 km, 45 minutes. Afternoon at Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula, and a walk through the Beatles Ashram if the group is interested. Evening aarti at Triveni Ghat, smaller and quieter than Haridwar's, around 6–6:30 pm.
Into the hills
Drive to Mussoorie via Dehradun, about 90 km, 3–3½ hours with the climb from Dehradun taking the last hour. Check in and spend the afternoon on Mall Road and at Gun Hill (cable car up, about 8 minutes). Evening free for shopping and the famous Mussoorie momos and Chinese food street stalls (vegetarian versions widely available).
Kempty Falls and Dhanaulti
Morning at Kempty Falls, 15 km/30 minutes from town — go early (by 9 am) to avoid crowds, and note the 200-odd steps down to the falls, tough for seniors, though a cable car covers part of the descent. Afternoon drive to Lal Tibba for the best snow-line view through the coin-operated telescope, then on to Dhanaulti, 24 km, for its quiet deodar forests if time permits.
Across to the lake district
Long but scenic drive to Nainital, about 280 km, 8–9 hours via Dehradun and Haldwani — start by 6:30 am, or split the drive with an overnight halt in Ramnagar (near Corbett) if the group prefers shorter days. Check in by evening and take a first walk along the Mall Road and the lake.
The lake and the viewpoints
Morning boat ride on Naini Lake (paddle or shikara-style boats, about ₹250–400 for 30 minutes) and darshan at Naina Devi Temple on the northern shore. Cable car to Snow View Point for Himalayan views on a clear day, then browse Mall Road and Tibetan Market in the evening.
Fly home
Drive to Pantnagar (65 km, 2 hours) for a regional flight, or the longer 300 km/8-hour drive back to Dehradun airport — most groups instead route via Delhi (Nainital to Delhi is about 300 km, 7–8 hours) and take an evening flight to Ahmedabad. We plan this leg around your actual flight once dates are fixed.