Uttarakhand Tourism certified · Dehradun based · Since 2014
Rishikesh & Haridwar
Tour Package
Tour Package
Three days, two Ganga aartis and two cities that are nothing alike — Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world, and orthodox Haridwar twenty-five kilometres downstream. Since the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opened, this is a genuine two-night weekend from Delhi NCR.
2 Nights / 3 Days
From ₹22,300 per couple
Private car throughout
3–3.5 hrs on the new expressway
Families, pilgrims & seniors
The route — on the new Delhi–Dehradun Expressway
Delhi
216 m
230 km
3–3.5 hrs
Rishikesh
372 m
25 km
under 1 hr
Haridwar
314 m
210 km
2.5–3 hrs
Delhi
216 m
Rishikesh & Haridwar trip — key facts
How long you needTwo nights and three days from Delhi covers both cities. Four days if you want river rafting, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Kunjapuri or a yoga session as well.
What it costsFrom ₹22,300 per couple, about ₹11,150 per person, travelling by private car from Delhi. It is the least expensive package we run.
Getting there is now much fasterThe Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opened in April 2026. Delhi to Rishikesh is about 3 to 3.5 hours and Delhi to Haridwar about 2.5 to 3 hours via the Haridwar spur, against five to six hours on the old NH-58 route.
Where they areRishikesh sits at 372 metres and Haridwar at 314 metres in Uttarakhand, 25 km apart on the Ganga. There is no altitude to adjust to.
They are not the same cityRishikesh is the yoga capital of the world and the river-adventure town, known for Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula and its ashrams. Haridwar, downstream, is one of the seven holiest Hindu cities and the traditional gateway to the Char Dham Yatra.
The aartisTriveni Ghat and Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh are the calmer ones. Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar is the large, ancient ceremony that draws thousands each evening.
River raftingRuns roughly late September to June. It is suspended during the monsoon when the Ganga is in spate — usually July to mid-September.
Both cities are vegetarianMeat and alcohol are prohibited in Rishikesh and Haridwar by law. Sattvic and Jain meals can be arranged on request.
Who runs this tripPack The Bag Tours, based in Dehradun about 45 km from Rishikesh, certified by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and operating since 2014.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · route timings, rafting season and local rules checked for the current year.
The trip
Two cities on one river, twenty-five kilometres apart
People say "Rishikesh Haridwar" as though it were one place. It is two, and the difference between them is the whole point of doing both.
Rishikesh is where the Ganga runs green and fast between the Shivalik hills, and it is known as the yoga capital of the world. Ashrams and yoga schools line the eastern bank, reached over the Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula footbridges; rafting outfits run the river down from Shivpuri; and the cafes above Ram Jhula have been full of people from everywhere since long before the Beatles arrived at Chaurasi Kutia in 1968.
Haridwar, twenty-five kilometres downstream, is a different country. It is one of the seven holiest cities in Hinduism and the point where the Ganga leaves the mountains for the plains. Orthodox, ancient, and busy in a way that has nothing to do with tourism — the crowd at Har Ki Pauri is there to bathe, not to look.
One is a place people come to and forget to leave. The other is a pilgrimage. Three days gives you both.
The practical case is just as strong, and it got considerably stronger in April 2026. There is no altitude — both cities sit near 350 metres, so nobody in your group will feel unwell. There is no mountain driving at all. And with the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway now open, Rishikesh is three to three and a half hours from Delhi rather than five to six. At ₹22,300 per couple it is also the least expensive package we run. For families with elderly parents, for a first visit to Dev Bhoomi, or for a genuine weekend away from Delhi NCR, this is the one.
Haridwar is also the traditional starting point of the Char Dham Yatra. If you are considering that trip, three days here first is the natural introduction to it.
What changed in 2026
The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway has rewritten this trip
The 210 km Delhi–Dehradun Expressway opened on 14 April 2026 — a six-lane access-controlled corridor running from Akshardham in east Delhi through Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli and Saharanpur, with a dedicated 50.7 km spur to Haridwar. There are no traffic signals and the speed limit is 100 km/h.
For this itinerary it is the difference between a long drive and a short one.
| Journey | Old route (NH-58) | On the expressway | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi → Rishikesh | 5–6 hrs | about 3–3.5 hrs | Leave after breakfast, arrive for lunch |
| Delhi → Haridwar | 5–6 hrs | about 2.5–3 hrs | Har Ki Pauri is now a same-day trip from Delhi |
| Delhi → Dehradun | 6–6.5 hrs | about 2.5 hrs | Jolly Grant Airport becomes a realistic alternative |
| Delhi → Mussoorie | 6–7 hrs | about 4 hrs | Easy to add to this trip — ask us |
Toll for a car is roughly ₹670 each way across the five plazas and is included in your package price — you will not be asked for it at the barrier. Times assume normal conditions; the approach through east Delhi can still be slow at rush hour, so we leave early. The honest upshot: a Rishikesh and Haridwar trip is now a real two-night weekend from Delhi NCR rather than something you need four days for. It has also shortened the first day of our Char Dham Yatra and Mussoorie packages considerably.
The two cities
Rishikesh or Haridwar — what each one is
| Rishikesh | Haridwar | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 372 m | 314 m |
| The river | Fast and green, still in the Shivaliks | Broad and slow, entering the plains |
| Character | Yoga capital of the world, adventure hub, international crowd | Orthodox pilgrimage city, one of the seven holiest |
| Main sight | Laxman Jhula, Ram Jhula and the ashrams | Har Ki Pauri and its evening aarti |
| Temples | Neelkanth Mahadev, Trayambakeshwar, Bharat Mandir, Kunjapuri Devi | Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi by cable car, Maya Devi, Daksha Mahadev, Bharat Mata Mandir |
| Activities | River rafting, bungee jumping, cliff jumping, yoga, meditation, the Beatles Ashram | Ganga snan, temple circuits, Shanti Kunj and Sapt Rishi Ashram |
| Best for | Younger travellers, adventure, yoga retreats, longer stays | Pilgrims, families, elderly travellers |
| Evenings | Cafes along the river, live music, later nights | The aarti, then the city quietens early |
If you only have time for one, choose by what you want from it. Rishikesh for the river, the yoga and the energy. Haridwar for the pilgrimage and the ritual. This package gives you a night in each, which for a first visit is the right answer.
The thing you came for
Three Ganga aartis, and how they differ
The evening aarti is the centre of this trip, and there is more than one. They are not interchangeable.
| Where | City | What it is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triveni Ghat | Rishikesh | Large but manageable, with the same ritual and considerably more room. Held at the confluence where the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are said to meet | Families, elderly travellers, a gentler first aarti |
| Parmarth Niketan | Rishikesh | Ashram aarti on the riverbank — chanting, children of the ashram, an intimate scale, seated | Those who want to sit rather than stand in a crowd |
| Har Ki Pauri | Haridwar | The big one — hundreds of priests, thousands of pilgrims, lamps carried into the current at Brahma Kund. Genuinely overwhelming | The full experience. Arrive an hour early for a place on the steps. |
This itinerary includes Triveni Ghat on the first evening and Har Ki Pauri on the second, in that order — the gentler one first. Timings shift with sunset through the year, broadly around 6pm in winter and closer to 7pm in summer, so your driver will confirm on the day. Two pieces of practical advice: arrive early, and leave your shoes in the car rather than at a stall. At Har Ki Pauri, hold on to children and phones in the crush at the end.
At a glance
Package snapshot
Duration
2 Nights / 3 Days
Price
₹22,300 per couple · about ₹11,150 pp
Route
Delhi – Rishikesh – Haridwar – Delhi
Nights
Rishikesh 1 · Haridwar 1
Pickup & drop
Delhi — Haridwar station or Dehradun airport on request
Hotels
Deluxe 3-star, twin sharing
Vehicle
Private A/C Dzire, Ertiga or Innova by group size
Meals
Daily breakfast and dinner — vegetarian throughout
Altitude
None to speak of — both cities near 350 m
Day by day
The full itinerary
An aarti on each of the first two evenings. The driving is short and mostly highway.
1
Delhi → Rishikesh
230 km · 3–3.5 hrs on the expressway · evening aarti372 m
A morning start from Delhi on the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway from Akshardham, through Baghpat, Shamli and Saharanpur — about three to three and a half hours rather than the five to six the old NH-58 route took. Check in at Rishikesh and rest through the afternoon. In the evening, the Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat — lamps on the water as the light goes, with far more room than Haridwar the following night. Afterwards the local market, and dinner. If you would rather see the ashram aarti at Parmarth Niketan instead, tell your driver in the morning.
Overnight RishikeshMeals Dinner
2
Rishikesh → Haridwar
25 km · under 1 hr · Har Ki Pauri aarti314 m
The morning in Rishikesh: Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula, the two suspension bridges that define the town, the ashrams and temples along the eastern bank including Parmarth Niketan, Gita Bhawan and Trayambakeshwar, and the Beatles Ashram at Chaurasi Kutia inside Rajaji National Park, now overgrown and covered in murals, where the band wrote much of the White Album. Then the short drive down to Haridwar and check in. Bharat Mata Mandir, Shanti Kunj and Sapt Rishi Ashram can be added if time allows.
In the evening, Har Ki Pauri for the main Ganga Aarti — the one people come for. You can take a dip in the Ganga here beforehand; steps, chains and changing areas are provided. Arrive early for a place on the ghat.
In the evening, Har Ki Pauri for the main Ganga Aarti — the one people come for. You can take a dip in the Ganga here beforehand; steps, chains and changing areas are provided. Arrive early for a place on the ghat.
Overnight HaridwarMeals Breakfast, Dinner
3
Haridwar → Delhi
210 km · 2.5–3 hrs on the expressway216 m
After breakfast, the two hilltop temples: Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi, both reached by cable car with views across the city and the river. Then the run back to Delhi on the expressway via the Haridwar spur — two and a half to three hours, so you are home by mid-afternoon rather than late evening. Drop wherever suits you. Cable car tickets are paid on the spot and queue early in season — going straight after breakfast is the right move.
Meals Breakfast
Want river rafting, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Kunjapuri Devi at sunrise, Vashishta Gufa or a yoga session? None of them fit into three days alongside two aartis. A fourth day makes room for any of them and only adds one hotel night — on a trip this short, it is the best value change you can make. Ask us to price the four-day version.
Adventure
River rafting — and when it actually runs
Rishikesh rafting is genuinely good, and it has a season. Booking a trip in July expecting to raft is the most common mistake made on this route.
| Months | Rafting | River conditions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Sept – November | Running | Clear water, good flow | The best window of the year |
| December – February | Running | Low and cold | Fine, but the water is genuinely cold |
| March – June | Running | Rising with snowmelt | Busy, warm, popular with groups |
| July – mid Sept | Suspended | Monsoon spate | Closed on safety grounds. No operator can run it. |
Standard stretches run from Brahmpuri (9 km, gentle), Shivpuri (16 km, the popular one) and Marine Drive (24 km, the longest). Bungee jumping, cliff jumping, zip-lining and rock climbing also operate around Mohanchatti and Shivpuri. None of these are included in the package price — they are booked and paid separately, and we can arrange them or you can book on arrival. Exact opening and closing dates each year are set by the district administration.
Cost
What it costs
From ₹22,300 per couple
About ₹11,150 per person for two sharing a room, travelling by private car from Delhi. This is the least expensive package we run, largely because there is no mountain driving and the distances are short.
Two ways to bring it down further. Take the train to Haridwar — it is well connected to Delhi and removes both long driving days, and we will meet you at the station. Or travel midweek: Haridwar and Rishikesh fill at weekends and on festival dates, and rates follow. Per-person costs also fall as the vehicle fills.
What you pay for
Inclusions and exclusions
Included
✓2 nights in deluxe 3-star hotels — one in Rishikesh, one in Haridwar
✓All transport Delhi to Delhi in a private A/C car with driver
✓All sightseeing and transfers as per the itinerary
✓Daily breakfast and dinner at the hotels
✓Both evening Ganga Aartis — Triveni Ghat and Har Ki Pauri
✓Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and all state taxes
✓On-ground support from our Dehradun office, 45 km away
Not included
×River rafting, bungee jumping and all adventure activities
×Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi cable car tickets
×Beatles Ashram entry and all other entrance fees
×Yoga sessions, meditation and Ayurveda treatments
×Lunch
×5% GST
×Air or train tickets to and from Delhi
×Guide services — available at additional cost on request
×Personal expenses, puja offerings, tips and donations
×Travel insurance of any kind
×Costs arising from landslides, road blockage, strikes or weather
Transport is as per the itinerary and is not at disposal. Rates are subject to change without notice and rise around major festivals and bathing dates. Cancellation refunds follow the hotel policies applicable to your booking.
Tell us your dates
Packages start from ₹22,300 per couple. Tell us if rafting or yoga matters to you and we will say honestly whether your dates allow it.
Mon–Sat · 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Timing
Best time to visit Rishikesh and Haridwar
| Months | Weather | Rafting | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| September – November | Warm days, cool evenings, clear | Running from late September | The best window of the year |
| December – February | Cold, misty mornings on the river | Running, but the water is cold | Excellent for the aartis and temples; fewest crowds |
| March – April | Pleasant, warming | Running | Very good all round |
| May – June | Hot on the plains, cooler by the river | Running, busiest weeks | Fine, but Haridwar is crowded and warm |
| July – mid September | Monsoon, humid, heavy rain | Suspended | Cheapest, and the river is spectacular from the bank |
Major bathing festivals — Kanwar Yatra in the monsoon, Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh years, and other auspicious dates — bring enormous crowds and heavy traffic restrictions to Haridwar. Hotel rates rise sharply and roads close. Tell us your dates and we will tell you if they fall on one.
Before you go
Practical things worth knowing
Both cities are vegetarian
Meat and alcohol are prohibited in Haridwar and Rishikesh. This is not a hotel policy, it is the law, and it applies everywhere including your hotel. The food is excellent and the cafés in Rishikesh are among the best in north India, but plan for it rather than discovering it at dinner.
Arrive early for the aarti
Har Ki Pauri fills an hour before it starts and the good places on the steps go first. Timings move with sunset through the year, so ask your driver on the day rather than relying on a fixed time. Leave shoes in the car, and keep hold of children and phones in the crush at the end.
Bathing at Har Ki Pauri
Anyone can take a dip and most visitors do. There are chains to hold, steps into the water and changing areas. The current is strong even close in, so hold the chain, do not go beyond the marked area, and keep children within arm's reach. Carry a change of clothes and a towel.
The bridges are foot traffic only
Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula are pedestrian bridges, and Laxman Jhula has been closed to the public at times for structural work. Your car cannot cross, so the eastern bank is walked. It is not far, but wear something you can walk in and expect the bridges to be busy.
What to wear
Modest dress for the temples and ghats — shoulders and knees covered for everyone. Shoes come off at temples, so slip-ons save time. A light layer for the evening by the river even in summer, and something warm from November to February.
Easiest trip we run for seniors
No altitude, short drives, mostly highway, and nothing that requires walking uphill except the temples — and both of those have cable cars. If elderly parents want to see the Ganga and a mountain trip is not realistic, this is the one that works.
Choosing
Other Uttarakhand packages we run
| Package | Covers | Duration | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh & Haridwar (this page) | Both cities, two aartis | 2N / 3D | ₹22,300 per couple | A short spiritual trip with no altitude |
| Char Dham Yatra | All four shrines | 9N / 10D | ₹30,000 pp | The full pilgrimage — Haridwar is its gateway |
| Kedarnath | Kedarnath, Guptkashi | 3N / 4D | ₹14,500 pp | One shrine, with a night at the temple |
| Mussoorie & Dhanaulti | Garhwal hill stations | 3N / 4D | ₹29,000 per couple | Adding hills — only 80 km from Rishikesh |
| Auli | Joshimath, Auli | 2N / 3D | ₹13,499 pp | Snow and skiing |
| All Uttarakhand packages | Garhwal and Kumaon | Varies | From ₹13,499 | Browsing everything in one place |
Haridwar and Rishikesh combine easily with Mussoorie, 80 km up the road, or as the opening days of a Char Dham or Kedarnath yatra. Tell us if you want them joined and we will build one itinerary rather than two.
Why us
Why book this with us
We are 45 km away
Our office is in Dehradun, 20 km from Jolly Grant Airport. Our drivers know the aarti timings for the day you are there, where to park near the ghats, which expressway exit saves twenty minutes, and which side of Ram Jhula you actually want to be dropped at.
Honest about rafting season
It is suspended from roughly July to mid-September. We publish that rather than letting you book a monsoon trip expecting a raft, which is the most common disappointment on this route.
Both aartis included
Triveni Ghat on the first evening and Har Ki Pauri on the second. Many three-day packages fit only one in, and they are genuinely different experiences.
Certified and registered
Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board certificate UTTR/DEHRADUN/08-2019/003412. GST registered. Operating since 2014.
Expressway tolls included
About ₹670 each way across five plazas, built into your price rather than handed to you at the barrier. We will also tell you honestly if the train to Haridwar Junction suits you better, even though it means a smaller booking.
Private, never pooled
Your own car and driver throughout. On a trip built around two evening ceremonies, controlling your own departure time is most of the experience.
Questions
Rishikesh & Haridwar questions, answered
How much does a Haridwar Rishikesh tour package cost?
From ₹22,300 per couple for two nights and three days from Delhi, about ₹11,150 per person. That covers hotels in both cities, a private car throughout, daily breakfast and dinner and all sightseeing including both Ganga Aartis. GST of 5%, rafting, cable car tickets, entrance fees and lunches are extra. Taking the train to Haridwar instead of driving from Delhi reduces the cost further.
What is the difference between Haridwar and Rishikesh?
They are 25 km apart and completely different. Haridwar is one of the seven holiest cities in Hinduism, where the Ganga leaves the mountains — orthodox, ancient, and centred on Har Ki Pauri and its evening aarti. Rishikesh is upstream where the river is still fast and green, and is the yoga and adventure capital — ashrams, rafting, the suspension bridges and the Beatles Ashram. Most first visits do both, which is what this package covers.
Is river rafting included, and when does it run?
Rafting is not included in the package price — it is booked and paid separately, and we can arrange it. It runs roughly from late September to June and is suspended during the monsoon, usually July to mid-September, when the Ganga is in spate. This is a safety closure and no operator can run trips through it. If rafting is the reason for your trip, avoid those months and allow a fourth day, because it does not fit into three days alongside both aartis.
How has the new Delhi–Dehradun Expressway changed the journey?
Considerably. The 210 km expressway opened on 14 April 2026, running from Akshardham in east Delhi through Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli and Saharanpur, with a 50.7 km spur to Haridwar. It is six-lane, access-controlled, with no traffic signals and a 100 km/h limit. Delhi to Rishikesh is now about 3 to 3.5 hours and Delhi to Haridwar about 2.5 to 3 hours, against five to six hours on the old NH-58. The practical effect is that this is now a genuine two-night weekend from Delhi NCR. Toll is roughly ₹670 each way for a car and is included in your package price.
Is Rishikesh a good weekend trip from Delhi?
Since the expressway opened, yes — genuinely. Leaving Delhi on Friday evening or Saturday morning puts you in Rishikesh in three hours or so, which leaves the whole of Saturday and Sunday for the town, the aarti and Haridwar. Before April 2026 the same trip meant losing most of two days to the drive. If you can leave Friday night, ask us to price a three-night version that adds rafting or a sunrise trip to Kunjapuri.
How many days do I need?
Two nights and three days covers both cities and both aartis, which is this package. A fourth day makes room for rafting, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple or a yoga session, and only adds one hotel night — on a trip this short it is the best value change you can make. Longer stays make sense if you are doing a yoga or meditation course in Rishikesh.
What time is the Ganga Aarti?
It follows sunset, so it moves through the year — broadly around 6pm in winter and closer to 7pm in summer. Your driver will know the exact time for the day you are there. Arrive at least an hour early at Har Ki Pauri, which fills well before it starts. Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh has considerably more room, and the ashram aarti at Parmarth Niketan is quieter again.
Can we bathe in the Ganga at Har Ki Pauri?
Yes, and most visitors do. There are steps into the water, chains to hold and changing areas at the ghat. The current is strong even close to the edge, so hold the chain, stay within the marked area and keep children within arm's reach. Carry a change of clothes and a towel.
Is alcohol or non-vegetarian food available?
No. Meat and alcohol are prohibited in both Haridwar and Rishikesh — this is a legal restriction, not a hotel policy, and it applies everywhere including your hotel. The vegetarian food is excellent, and Rishikesh has some of the best cafés in north India. Sattvic and Jain meals can be arranged on request.
Is this suitable for senior citizens and families?
It is the easiest trip we run for both. There is no altitude, the drives are short and mostly highway, and nothing requires walking uphill — Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi both have cable cars. The only real consideration is the crowd at Har Ki Pauri during the aarti, which is dense. Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh gives the same ritual with far more room if that is a concern.
How do we reach Haridwar and Rishikesh?
By road from Delhi it is now about three to three and a half hours to Rishikesh and two and a half to three hours to Haridwar on the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, which is how this package is planned. By rail, Haridwar Junction is well connected to Delhi and there is also Yog Nagari Rishikesh station; we will meet you at either. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, about 35 km from Rishikesh and roughly 20 km from our own office.
What is the best time to visit?
September to April is the broad answer. Late September to November is the best window — clear weather and rafting running. December to February is cold and misty with the fewest crowds, and excellent for the aartis. May and June are hot on the plains. July to mid-September is the monsoon: cheapest, dramatic from the bank, but rafting is closed and Kanwar Yatra brings very heavy crowds and road restrictions to Haridwar.
Can we add yoga or a wellness retreat?
Yes. Rishikesh is the centre of yoga in India and there are ashrams and schools at every level, from a single drop-in class to a multi-week teacher training. Sessions, meditation and Ayurveda treatments can be added on request but are not in the package price. A single session fits into a fourth day; anything longer needs its own itinerary.
Can we combine this with Char Dham or Mussoorie?
Easily. Haridwar is the traditional starting point of the Char Dham Yatra, so these three days work naturally as its opening. Mussoorie is only about 80 km from Rishikesh and adds two nights. Tell us what you want and we will build one itinerary rather than two.
Pack The Bag Tours · Dehradun
Plan your Rishikesh Haridwar trip
Talk to the team that will actually run it. Share your dates and the number of travellers and we will send a full quote with hotels, car and both aartis included.
Mon–Sat · 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
