Kedarnath helicopter with a stay in Guptkashi or Sitapur: planning around the shuttle
The Kedarnath shuttle is booked on IRCTC, but the nights around it are yours to arrange. How a two-night stay works, and what to expect at the helipad.
Most pilgrims who fly to Kedarnath take the helicopter shuttle from the Kedar valley, at Phata, Sersi or Guptkashi. The shuttle ticket is sold only by IRCTC, on heliyatra.irctc.co.in. Everything around it, the drive in, the nights in the valley and the reporting at the helipad, still needs planning. This guide covers how a stay near the helipads works.
What does a stay package cover?
The Kedarnath Helicopter Yatra Stay Package runs for two nights and three days, based in Guptkashi or Sitapur. It includes:
- Two nights in a mid-range hotel, with buffet breakfast and dinner.
- Help booking your shuttle ticket on IRCTC, and going over its reporting time with you.
The shuttle fare is not included: it is set by UCADA and the government authorities, and paid to IRCTC. The package price is given on request.
How do the three days run?
- Day 1: reach the hotel in Guptkashi or Sitapur on your own. Dinner is served, and the team goes over the reporting time on your IRCTC ticket for the next day.
- Day 2: report at the helipad at the time on your ticket and fly to Kedarnath for darshan. Come back the same day, or stay the night at Kedarnath. Your room in the valley is kept either way.
- Day 3: check out after breakfast and continue on your own arrangements.
Same day or a night halt at Kedarnath?
- Same day: reach Phata helipad from 6 AM, or as the Phata helipad office advises. You get about 1½ hours at Kedarnath, and same-day pilgrims need to buy a priority darshan slip, at INR 1,100 per person or as the temple committee decides.
- Night halt: reporting is between 10 AM and 12 noon, and the priority darshan slip is not needed.
A night halt gives unhurried darshan, but Kedarnath is cold at night, especially in September and October. Older pilgrims should read helicopter yatra for senior citizens first.
What to expect at the helipad
- Reporting time is not flight time. Expect to wait at least two to three hours, and longer depending on the weather and the crowd.
- Baggage: no more than 2 kg per passenger in the flight, and no bulky bags.
- Weight: overweight charges apply above 85 kg and are decided at the Phata office.
- Weather: if the shuttle is cancelled for weather or a technical reason, the fare is refunded under IRCTC's rules. The stay package is refunded under its own cancellation terms.
No one can guarantee a shuttle on a particular date or time, because the flights depend on the weather and the operators' loads. That is why a stay with a spare night is worth considering. Kedarnath by helicopter: what the flight day actually looks like walks through the shuttle in more detail.
Payment and cancellation
The full package cost secures the reservation. Pay into the company's account and share the receipt; the hotel confirmation is emailed once the payment is received, which takes at least two working days. Cancellation charges are 10% of the tour cost 30 days or more before, 25% at 29 to 22 days, 60% at 21 to 16 days, and 100% at 15 days or less.
Other ways to reach Kedarnath
If you would rather not arrange the drive into the valley, the Kedarnath Ji Yatra by Helicopter flies you from Dehradun to the shuttle base and back in a day. To add Badrinath, see Kedarnath vs Badrinath by helicopter.
For stay dates and a price, call +91-9634801801 or send an enquiry.