Chopta to Auli Distance: The Ultimate No-Nonsense Travel Guide

Last updated on August 5th, 2026 at 08:21 am

The chopta to auli distance is around 135 km to 148 km by road. It takes 5 to 6 hours by car. There is no direct bus. A private cab is the easiest way to do this trip.

This route connects two of the best places in Uttarakhand. Chopta is known for Tungnath Temple and quiet forests. Auli is known for skiing and big mountain views. Together, they make a great back-to-back trip.

The Route from Chopta to Auli

The road goes through some really pretty towns in the Garhwal hills. Here is the full route:

• Chopta
• Mandal
• Gopeshwar
• Chamoli
• Pipalkoti
• Joshimath
• Auli

Gopeshwar is the first big town you will cross. It is a good place to stop for food or fuel. After that, the road follows the Alaknanda river for a long stretch all the way to Joshimath. The last bit from Joshimath to Auli is only 16 km, but it is the most exciting part of the drive.

How to Travel from Chopta to Auli

There are a few ways to get from Chopta to Auli. Let’s go through each one so you can pick what works best for you.

Private Cab (Best Option)

This is the most comfortable and fastest way to do this trip. A private cab takes you door to door with no changes in between. The full ride takes around 5 to 6 hours depending on road conditions and stops.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Pre-book your cab from Chopta before your trip. Chopta is a small place and cabs are not always available on the spot.
• Pre-booking also protects you from last-minute overcharging, which is common in peak season.
• Local cab drivers in Chopta and Ukhimath area are familiar with this route.

Expect to pay somewhere between ₹3,000 to ₹4,500 for a full cab depending on the vehicle type and season.

Shared Taxi and Bus (Budget Option)

This is the cheaper option but it takes more effort. There is no direct bus from Chopta to Auli. You will have to change vehicles at least once or twice.

Here is how it works:

1. Take a shared taxi or local bus from Chopta to Gopeshwar or Chamoli.
2. From Gopeshwar or Chamoli, take another shared taxi heading towards Joshimath.
3. From Joshimath, take a local cab or the ropeway up to Auli.

This option can take 7 to 9 hours total because of waiting time between connections. It is fine if you are on a tight budget, but not ideal if you have luggage or are travelling with family.

Quick Comparison

Joshimath to Auli: The Final Stretch

Joshimath is your base camp before Auli. Almost every traveller coming from Chopta, Rishikesh, or Haridwar stops here first. From Joshimath, you have two ways to get up to Auli.

Option 1: By Road

The road distance from Joshimath to Auli is 16 km. It takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour by cab. The road is steep and winding but manageable. Local cabs are easily available at Joshimath.

Option 2: By Ropeway

This is the more popular choice and honestly the better one. The Auli Ropeway covers 4.5 km in about 25 minutes. It is one of Asia’s longest ropeways and the views of Nanda Devi and the surrounding peaks during the ride are hard to beat.

The ropeway costs around ₹1,000 per person for a return ticket.

A few things to note:

• The ropeway runs from Joshimath to Auli directly.
• It can get crowded in peak winter and ski season. Go early in the morning.
• You can check timings and availability on the GMVN official website or the Uttarakhand Tourism portal.

Road vs Ropeway

If this is your first time in Auli, take the ropeway up. Take the road back. You get the best of both.

Stopovers and Where to Stay

Before You Leave Chopta

If you are starting this trip from Chopta, don’t rush out early without seeing what’s there. Two things you should not miss:

• Tungnath Temple – The highest Shiva temple in the world. It is a 3.5 km trek from Chopta. Start early if you plan to do this before driving to Auli.
• Chandrashila Peak – Just above Tungnath. Offers a 360 degree view of the Himalayas. Takes about 1 to 1.5 hours more from Tungnath.

If you need a comfortable base in Chopta, Meraki Mayadeep is a well-known stay option there. Good rooms, decent food, and well located for early morning treks.

Gopeshwar: Quick Stop on the Way

Gopeshwar is around 40 km from Chopta and is the first proper town on this route. Stop here for lunch or a quick rest. There are small dhabas and restaurants on the main road. It is also a good place to refuel your cab.

Where to Stay in Auli

Auli has some great stay options depending on your budget:

• Cliff Top Club – One of the most well-known hotels in Auli. Great views and good amenities.
• Royal Village Resort – Popular with families and groups. Comfortable stay with mountain views.

Things to Do in Auli

• Visit the Auli Artificial Lake, especially beautiful in winter when it freezes over
• Try skiing on the slopes (best from January to March)
• Take the Auli Ropeway if you haven’t already
• Walk around for Nanda Devi and Trishul peak views

The Ideal 5-Day Chopta to Auli Itinerary

Most people I meet on this route either rush it badly or under-plan it completely. The itinerary below is built around real travel time and real road conditions, not optimistic assumptions from a booking platform.

Day 1: Rishikesh/Haridwar to Chopta (7 to 8 Hours)

Leave Rishikesh by 6 AM to hit the river valley roads before traffic builds around Rudraprayag. The drive along the Alaknanda is scenic enough to justify a 20-minute stop at Devprayag, where the Alaknanda meets the Bhagirathi. Check in at Chopta or Sari Village. Budget travellers will find Sari slightly cheaper and better positioned for a Deoria Tal sunrise walk.

Day 2: Tungnath Trek from Chopta (5 to 6 Hours on Trail)

Start at 6 AM without exception. The 3.5 km climb to Tungnath at 3,680 m and the further 1 km push to Chandrashila Peak at 4,000 m rewards early starters with clear views before clouds roll in after 11 AM. Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world, and the peak delivers a 360-degree panorama of Nanda Devi, Trishul, Kedarnath, and Chaukhamba on a clear spring morning. Return to camp, eat well, sleep early. Day 3 is a long one.

Day 3: Chopta to Joshimath/Auli (5 to 6 Hours Driving)

This is the centrepiece of the entire trip. The route via Gopeshwar and Chamoli runs along river valleys and through small Garhwali towns that see almost no tourist traffic. Stop for chai in Chamoli. Fill your tank in Gopeshwar. Take the Auli Ropeway before 4 PM since the last ride down has a fixed cutoff, and arriving late means missing the one thing you drove 5 hours for.

Most people rush this day and arrive at Auli completely exhausted. Taking a night to rest in Joshimath before heading up the ropeway completely changed my experience. The town has decent hotels, a few solid dhabas, and it gives your body time to acclimatise before ascending further. Day 3 is purely for enjoying the drive along the river.

Day 4: Auli Sightseeing (Full Day)

Spend the morning skiing or snowboarding if you are visiting during the winter window. The Auli Artificial Lake at 2,914 m is worth an hour of your time, and the Nanda Devi viewpoint near the ropeway upper station is one of the finest mountain sightings accessible without technical gear anywhere in India. If adventure sports are not your priority, the Gorson Bugyal meadow walk from Auli is underrated and almost always quieter than the main ski slopes.

Day 5: Auli to Rishikesh/Delhi (8 to 9 Hours)

Leave before 7 AM. The return stretch is long, and getting caught in Haridwar or Dehradun traffic after dark on mountain-weary legs is a poor ending to a great trip. Break the journey at Dhari Devi Temple near Srinagar, Uttarakhand. The temple, the river setting, and the architecture are worth 30 minutes and a chai stop before the final highway stretch.

Realistic Budget Breakdown (2026 Updated)

These numbers come directly from my most recent Chopta to Auli trip, updated for current market rates. This reflects a comfortable backpacker to mid-range experience, not a shoestring budget and not a luxury one.

Transportation: ₹4,500 to ₹6,000 Per Person

Getting from Rishikesh to Chopta by shared cab runs ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 per seat. The critical spend is the Chopta to Auli leg: a private cab for the group splits to ₹3,000 to ₹4,500 per person depending on group size and negotiation.

I have noticed that cab drivers in Ukhimath often quote ₹5,000 and above during peak ski season. The fix is to negotiate and book your transit cab a day in advance while you are still in Chopta. Locking it in the evening before consistently gets you the ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 range without any back-and-forth on the morning of departure.

Accommodation: ₹3,500 to ₹5,500 Per Person (5 Days)

Budget camps in Chopta run around ₹1,000 per night and usually include basic meals. Joshimath has clean mid-range hotels at ₹1,500 per night that are warm enough for winter stays. Auli guesthouses vary significantly by season, so book at least 3 days ahead during ski season or expect to pay surge rates.

Food and Meals: ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 Per Person

Maggi and chai on the Tungnath trail costs around ₹150. A full dhaba meal in Gopeshwar or Chamoli runs ₹200 to ₹300. The food along this corridor is not fancy, but it is honest, filling, and priced fairly. Budget a slightly better dinner in Joshimath on Day 3 as a reward for the long drive.

Activities and Permits: ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 Per Person

The Auli Ropeway return ticket costs ₹1,000 and above. Basic ski gear rental adds ₹500 to ₹1,000. There are no major entry fees on the Tungnath trail, but carry cash for the nominal donation at the temple.

Travel Tips and FAQs

3 Tips Before You Drive from Chopta to Auli

• Start early. Leave Chopta by 7 AM at the latest. Mountain roads slow down in the afternoon and you want to reach Joshimath before dark. The last stretch to Auli can get tricky at night.
• Check road conditions before leaving. The route passes through high altitude areas. Roads can get blocked due to landslides or snow, especially between November and February. Check with your hotel or local cab drivers the night before.
• Pre-book your cab. Chopta is a small town. Walk-in cabs are hard to find, especially in peak season. Book at least a day in advance to avoid overcharging and last minute stress.

FAQS

Is There Any Direct Bus from Chopta to Auli?

No. There is no direct bus from Chopta to Auli. You will have to take a shared taxi to Gopeshwar or Chamoli first, then change to another vehicle heading to Joshimath, and then make your way up to Auli. It works but takes longer. A private cab is much easier.

Can We Travel from Chopta to Auli in One Day?

Yes, easily. The distance is 135 km to 148 km and takes 5 to 6 hours by car. If you leave Chopta by 7 or 8 AM, you can reach Auli by early afternoon. That gives you time to check in, take the ropeway, and still catch the sunset from the slopes.

Is the Road Safe for Driving?

Yes, for most of the year. The Chopta to Auli route is a well-travelled Uttarakhand highway. The tricky parts are near Chopta and again on the Joshimath to Auli road stretch. Avoid driving after heavy rain or snowfall. Always hire a local driver who knows the route well.

Final Thoughts

Chopta to Auli is one of those road trips in Uttarakhand that does not get talked about enough. You start from one of the quietest forest spots in Garhwal and end up at one of the most stunning ski destinations in India. The drive itself is beautiful.

Keep it simple. Book a private cab, start early, stop at Gopeshwar for food, and take the ropeway up to Auli. That is really all the planning you need.

Whether you are doing this as a weekend trip or as part of a longer Uttarakhand circuit, this route will not disappoint.