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Har Ki Dun valley with snow peaks at its head

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Govind Pashu Vihar, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India · India

Har Ki Dun trek: grade, cost & permits

A long valley walk through old wooden villages like Osla and Seema, ending in a glacial bowl under Swargarohini. It is gentler than its length suggests, with steady gradients and no steep pass. Choose it over the crowded Valley of Flowers if you want village life as much as views. Budget-operator price from Sankri, permits included.

Photo: Omkar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeModerate
Duration7 days
Highest point3,566 m
SeasonSeptember to December is best; spring from mid-March. The forest department closes the trek from the end of December to mid-March
Cost from base₹13,000per person
BaseSankri (1,950 m), about 197 km and 9 to 10 hours by road from Dehradun

A long valley walk through old wooden villages like Osla and Seema, ending in a glacial bowl under Swargarohini. It is gentler than its length suggests, with steady gradients and no steep pass. Choose it over the crowded Valley of Flowers if you want village life as much as views. Budget-operator price from Sankri, permits included.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groupsGood for families
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On the trail now and the next 7 days

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Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 7Next: Route

The route

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On the map

Har Ki Dun · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

1950 m2400 m2500 m3250 m3566 m2500 m1950 m Start · 1950 mEnd · 1950 m 3,566 m

How to reach the start

Public buses and shared jeeps run from Dehradun to Sankri; we could not confirm current fares. Operators run a shared vehicle from ISBT Dehradun at 7 am (Bikat charges ₹2,200 return). From Sankri a jeep takes you on to the roadhead at Taluka or Dhatmeer, and the walk starts there.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: Har Ki Dun lies inside Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary, run by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. You need a park entry permit, issued at the Sankri forest check post; carry a government photo ID and passport photos. Registered operators get it for you and include the cost. Sources give different fees, so check the current amount at Sankri before you go.
GuideRecommended
Seasonal closureClosed by the Uttarakhand Forest Department from the end of December to mid-March.

Official permit or booking page ↗

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 7Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 7Next: Cost

Altitude safety

Har Ki Dun reaches 3,566 m, high enough for acute mountain sickness (AMS). Climb slowly, drink water, and tell your guide about headache, nausea, dizziness or breathlessness. If symptoms get worse, go down: descent is the treatment. Take travel insurance that covers trekking at this altitude and rescue.

What it costs

Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.

Your group, from the base₹26,000
Couple · from Sankri (1,950 m), about 197 km and 9 to 10 hours by road from Dehradun
Per person₹13,000

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Sankri (1 is extra.

Step 6 of 7Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Har Ki Dun trek?

Moderate grade. It takes 7 days and climbs to about 3,566 m. A long valley walk through old wooden villages like Osla and Seema, ending in a glacial bowl under Swargarohini. It is gentler than its length suggests, with steady gradients and no steep pass. Choose it over the crowded Valley of Flowers if you want village life as much as views. Budget-operator price from Sankri, permits included.

Do I need a permit for Har Ki Dun?

Har Ki Dun lies inside Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary, run by the Uttarakhand Forest Department. You need a park entry permit, issued at the Sankri forest check post; carry a government photo ID and passport photos. Registered operators get it for you and include the cost. Sources give different fees, so check the current amount at Sankri before you go.

How do I reach the Har Ki Dun trek?

Public buses and shared jeeps run from Dehradun to Sankri; we could not confirm current fares. Operators run a shared vehicle from ISBT Dehradun at 7 am (Bikat charges ₹2,200 return). From Sankri a jeep takes you on to the roadhead at Taluka or Dhatmeer, and the walk starts there. Base: Sankri (1,950 m), about 197 km and 9 to 10 hours by road from Dehradun.

What is the best season for Har Ki Dun?

September to December is best; spring from mid-March. The forest department closes the trek from the end of December to mid-March.

How much does the Har Ki Dun trek cost?

From about ₹13,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Broken-in trekking boots, a rain jacket (showers are common in autumn), warm layers for near-freezing nights at Har Ki Dun, a headlamp and water purification.

Step 7 of 7Next: Sources

Guides for Har Ki Dun

Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.

The Best Winter Treks in India: Five Snow Treks, Compared on CostFive winter treks in Uttarakhand compared: Brahmatal, Kuari Pass, Dayara Bugyal, Har Ki Dun and Kedarkantha. Cost…Read the guide →

Sources and last check

Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.

  • uttarakhandtourism.gov.in OfficialGovind National Park, the protected area containing Har Ki Dun
  • forest.uk.gov.in OfficialUttarakhand Forest Department, the park authority
  • bikatadventures.comFee ₹12,500 + 5% GST Sankri to Sankri, permits included; 7 days; Sankri 1,950, Dhatmeer 2,400, Pauni Garaat 2,500, Seematra 3,250, Har Ki Dun 3,566 m; Dehradun 197 km, 9-10 h; transport add-on ₹2,200; closed post-December to mid-March; best Sep-Dec
  • himalayandreamtreks.inPermit at Sankri check post; ID and photos needed; entry fee given as ₹150 Indian / ₹600 foreign for 3 days (unofficial)
  • dehraduntourism.co.inPermit obtained at Sankri, about ₹200-300 per person (unofficial)

Nearby treks

Waterfall tumbling down snow-streaked cliffs above a campsite in the Rupin valleyRupin PassHard · 8 days · up to 4,650 mFrom ₹16,000Snow-capped Kedarkantha peak above red-leaved forest under a blue skyKedarkanthaMedium · 6 days · up to 3,810 mFrom ₹9,000Open meadow of Dayara Bugyal with snow peaks behindDayara BugyalEasy · 5 days · up to 3,750 mFrom ₹11,000

Places to stay near by

Chitkul village under snow-capped peaks in the eveningSangla & ChitkulWooden villages and apple orchards along a glacier river, ending at Chitkul, the last village on…From ₹1,200/dayHillside houses and forest at ChakrataChakrataA quiet army hill station in deodar forest, three hours from Dehradun, with no mall road, few…From ₹1,300/dayStone Tungnath temple with the Chandrashila ridge rising behind it, UttarakhandChopta & TungnathThe highest Shiva temple in the world at the end of a three-kilometre walk, with the whole…From ₹1,000/day

Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: Omkar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Mayur.mundra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Chits009 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: T.prachi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Anshul24Sharma · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

From the base · —
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