Rishikesh to Chopta and Tungnath by bike

Chopta is where Rishikesh's day-trip riding stops and proper mountain touring starts. It's a long ride, the road gets rougher in the second half, and the payoff — the Tungnath-Chandrashila trek — asks something of you too. Worth every bit of it on a clear day.

At a glance

The route, turn by turn

Devprayag confluence. The genuine first stop of the trip — where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet to form the Ganga. Worth ten minutes off the bike even if you're pushing for time.

Srinagar. A real town with fuel, food and a chance to stretch before the road starts winding properly.

Rudraprayag. Another confluence town, another fuel stop, and roughly the psychological halfway point of the day.

Ukhimath. Your last reliable pump before Chopta — fill up here even if your tank looks fine, because the gap after this town is the one that catches people out.

Chopta. The road narrows and roughens in this final stretch. You'll know you've arrived when the tree line opens into meadow.

Road condition, honestly

Good, well-maintained tarmac all the way to Ukhimath. Past it, expect patchier surfaces, occasional loose gravel on corners, and slower going than the distance alone suggests — this is where "165km" stops meaning what it would on a highway.

Which of our bikes

First choice: Himalayan — the ground clearance and tank range both matter on this route, and the fuel gap past Ukhimath is exactly what its 17 litres tank is built for.

Second choice: Classic 350, if you're prepared to ride the rougher final stretch more cautiously.

Avoid: a scooty. Neither the distance nor the road surface past Ukhimath is realistic on one — see our scooty vs. Royal Enfield breakdown if you're still deciding.

When to leave, when to turn back

Leave by 6am if you're pushing this as a single long day — anything later and you're arriving in fading light with no buffer for a flat tyre or a slow lunch stop. If you're overnighting at Chopta or Ukhimath, a more relaxed 7-8am departure is fine.

What to carry

Warm layers regardless of season — Chopta sits near 2,900m and evenings are cold even in summer — rain gear, and cash, since card acceptance thins out fast past Rudraprayag.

Where to stay

Chopta itself has limited accommodation — a handful of guesthouses and camps, nothing large-scale. Ukhimath has more options if Chopta is full or you'd rather split the ride. Book ahead in peak season (May-June, Sep-Oct).

What it costs

Rental (2+ days, see rates), fuel for roughly 330km round trip, one or two nights' stay, and food — a realistic total for two days including a modest guesthouse runs a fraction of what a car-and-driver package would cost for the same route.

Frequently asked

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