Itinerary

1. Day 1: Rishikesh - Badrinath

   • Drive to Badrinath (10-hour drive)

   Stay overnight at Badrinath.

2. Day 2: Badrinath - Mana – Laxmiban

   • Reach Mana early in the day. This is the last village within the Indian border. 

   • Get your permits checked and proceed with the trek.

   • Head in the direction of Vasundhara Falls. 

   • Pass Saraswati temple. From here, the gradient of the trail becomes increasingly steep. 

   • Continue to walk with the Alaknanda River flowing below you. The valley is incredibly green during monsoon. Around 2-3 hours later, begin to hear the sound of water plunging down from 400 ft. 

   • Reach Vasundhara Fall, which is known for its scientifically-proven medicinal value. 

   • Tread through the rich birch forests of Laxmiban. 

   • Take a 4 km of moraine walk and reach the campsite of Laxmiban. (5-6 hours)

3. Day 3: Laxmiban – Chakratirtha

   • Enter the Satopanth Valley. The trail is dotted with green patches in the middle of the vast terminal moraine of the Dhano Glacier. 

   • Look for a few of the most beautiful high-altitude alpine flowers here. 

   • Catch the first view of the famous three peaks of Bhagirathi from the Satopanth Valley. 

   • Climb up the steep ridge of Sahashradhara to Chakratirtha camping grounds, which is only a kilometre away. 

   • Bask in the beautiful view of the west face of Mt. Neelkanth. (6 hours)

4. Day 4: Chakrateeratha - Satopanth Tal - Chakrateertha

   • Revel at the sight of Neelkanth, Satopanth and Parvati peaks on your left, the Chaukhamba peak in the centre and the Balakun range on your right.

   • Prepare yourself for a difficult day of trekking. 

   • Take the trail that meanders through a maze of boulders and moraine. The sound of avalanches perpetually rumbles throughout the valley. The last 2 km of the trail has loose soil over the glacial moraine. 

   • Reach the top of the ridge and catch your first view of the triangular lake. There is a small room constructed as a temporary shelter here. A local sage, Mauni Baba, is known to live near the lake. From the lake, the views are spectacular. 

   • Cross Satopanth Col and connect with the icefield of Panpatia.

   • Trek till Kedarnath.

   • Do a return trek to Chakratirtha.

   • Trek down to Laximban if time permits (6 hours).

5. Day 5: Satopanth lake to Lakshmi Van

   • Start your descent and set up the campsite at Lakshmi van once again. The area is a beautiful meadow full of high altitude flowers and breathtaking views. Draupadi is believed to have left her body here.

6. Day 6: Lakshmi Van - Badrinath

   • Trek back to Mana village. From Mana, Badrinath is 3 km away, and if you prefer, you can get accommodation at Badrinath or head to Joshimath and stay overnight there.