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Eight places worth a night from Haridwar, with the drive, the return fare and how each weekend runs.
Short answer
8 destinations from Haridwar are worth a night, 25 to 290 km away by road. The closest is Rishikesh at 25 km, about 45 minutes of driving, with the return journey from ₹5,940 in a sedan. 4 work as a two-day weekend; 4 need a third day because the drive is too long to justify a single night — the longest being Auli at 290 km.
Fares are the full return journey with a chauffeur, from the published round-trip rate card. Fuel, the driver and GST are included; tolls, parking, state permits and the driver's night allowance are charged at actuals.
Haridwar is where the Ganga leaves the hills, which makes it the natural starting point for a weekend going up. The Char Dham road begins here, Rishikesh is twenty minutes away, and the Doon valley and the Kumaon lakes are both within half a day.
The day-trip page covers Rishikesh, Dehradun and the close temple towns. This page is for the trips that need the night — the pilgrimage gateways, the high meadows, Corbett, and the hill stations that are a drive rather than an outing.
Return fares are computed from the published round-trip rate card, so what is shown here matches the booking page.
Every fare below is the full return journey with a chauffeur, computed from the published round-trip rate card. Fuel, the driver and GST are included; tolls, parking and any state permit are charged at actuals.
Rafting between Shivpuri and Rishikesh, the Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula bridges, the Beatles ashram, and the Parmarth Niketan aarti at dusk.
How the weekend runs
Twenty-five kilometres, so plainly a day trip — except that rafting runs in the morning and the aarti is at sunset. A night turns a choice into both, and the Shivpuri stretch is quiet at seven in the morning.
Robber's Cave and the Forest Research Institute at Dehradun, then the climb to Mussoorie for the Mall, Gun Hill and Kempty Falls.
How the weekend runs
Both in one trip is too much for a day. One night, Dehradun on Saturday afternoon and the climb to Mussoorie on Sunday morning, which is when the Doon valley view from the Camel's Back road is clearest.
Safari zones at Bijrani, Jhirna and Dhikala along the Ramganga. Elephant, gharial and birds in quantity; tiger if you are lucky and patient.
How the weekend runs
Four and a half hours each way with safaris by booked slot at dawn and afternoon. A day trip gets you nothing useful. One night gets two drives in different zones, which roughly doubles your chances.
Meadow at 2,700 metres, the Tungnath temple three and a half kilometres up on foot, and Chandrashila a kilometre beyond looking at Nanda Devi, Trisul and Chaukhamba.
How the weekend runs
Three days. Drive Saturday up the Rudraprayag road, sleep at Chopta, climb at first light Sunday, drive down Monday. The climb takes three hours up and it is not something to attempt after seven hours in the car.
The confluence where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda become the Ganga at Devprayag, and the second confluence with the Mandakini at Rudraprayag, with the Raghunath temple above the first.
How the weekend runs
The confluences are best in morning light when the two rivers are visibly different colours. Three hours up means arriving in the afternoon, staying, and being at Devprayag at eight on Sunday when the water shows clearly.
Naini Lake and the Mall, the Snow View cable car, Tiffin Top, and Bhimtal and Sattal in the quieter lake country below.
How the weekend runs
Six hours across to Kumaon. Two nights rather than one — the lake district has three or four days in it, and a single night means twelve hours of driving for one afternoon on the Mall.
The Ridge and the Mall, Christ Church, the Jakhoo temple, the Viceregal Lodge, and the Kalka toy train down the hill.
How the weekend runs
Seven hours via Paonta Sahib and Solan. Two nights. Shimla rewards an evening on the Mall and a full day after it, and the drive is long enough that arriving and leaving the next morning wastes the journey.
A ski slope at 2,800 metres above Joshimath, the longest cable car in Asia, and the Gorson Bugyal meadow walk, with Nanda Devi directly in view.
How the weekend runs
Nine hours up the Alaknanda on the Badrinath road. Three days at minimum. The cable car and the slope want a full day between them, and the gorge road home should be driven fresh rather than tired.
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This page was last updated on . Fares follow the published rate card; tolls and parking are extra at actuals.
