Three corners, three gods
Satopanth means the path of truth. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are believed to meditate at its three corners, and Mana families immerse the ashes of their dead in it.
After the trail · the almanac
The trek in four numbers
Satopanth is a high glacier walk from the last road at Badrinath to a lake held sacred by the people of Mana.
4,346m
Satopanth Tal
37km
Walking, over 5 days
7,138m
Chaukhamba I
46km
Joshimath to Badrinath
💪 Moderate to difficult🌸 May–Jun🍂 Sep–Oct🎫 Permit needed
Day by day
Eight days, step by step
This is Bikat Adventures' plan. Its trek days add up to 37.4 km.
How high you are on each kilometre
- Day 1Arrive in JoshimathFrom Dehradun, about 300 km10–13 h by road🛏️ Joshimath · 2,041 m
- Day 2Joshimath → BadrinathDrive and acclimatise46 km🛏️ Badrinath · 3,179 m
- Day 3Badrinath → Laxmi VanPast Mana and Vasudhara7.3 km🛏️ Tents · 3,658 m
- Day 4Laxmi Van → ChakratirthaBoulders, scree, moraine7 km🛏️ Tents · 4,162 m
- Day 5Chakratirtha → Satopanth Tal → ChakratirthaThe lake and back4.9 km🛏️ Tents at Chakratirtha
- Day 6Chakratirtha → ChamtoliBack down the valley8 km🛏️ Tents · 3,580 m
- Day 7Chamtoli → Mana → JoshimathWalk out, then drive10.2 km🛏️ Joshimath
- Day 8Joshimath → DehradunThe drive home
Stories and nature
The lake of the trinity
The Pandavas' last walk
The Pandavas are said to have taken this valley on their way to heaven. Bhim Pul at Mana and Vasudhara are both tied to the story; guides disagree on where each brother fell.
A river is born
The Alaknanda begins where the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers meet. The Satopanth glacier pulled back about 2.3 km between 1962 and 2013.
The Queen of the Garhwal
Nilkantha, 6,596 m, stands 9 km east of Badrinath. Legend says Shiva blocked a path between Kedarnath and Badrinath with it. Its first accepted ascent was in 1974.
When to go
Late spring and early autumn
Bikat runs the trek in May–June and September–October. Wikipedia says the lake is frozen from late September to mid-May or early June.
May–June
10–20 °C by day lower down, 5–15 °C near the lake. Nights 0–10 °C or colder.
July–August
Himalaya Shelter advises against the monsoon. Landslides often block the highway near Joshimath.
Sep–Oct
Clear skies. In October it can drop to 0–10 °C or below up high.
Nov–April
Snow and freezing nights. Mana's people move down the valley for the winter.
Plan your trip
Getting to Mana
Joshimath is the last big town. Badrinath and Mana are at the end of the road.
- Dehradun🚌 About 300 km, 10–13 h
- Joshimath🚌 46 km
- Badrinath🚕 3 km
- Mana
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant, Dehradun. Nearest railheads: Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun. Rishikesh to Joshimath is about 247 km.
Cost
Bikat Adventures charges ₹22,550 + 5% GST, Joshimath to Joshimath, with stays in Joshimath and Badrinath.
Permits
Operators arrange the forest permit. Himalayan Dream Treks says it comes from the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve forest office in Joshimath. Some guides say an inner line permit is also needed; we could not confirm this from an official page.
Camping
Lake-side camping was stopped in September 2018 under a High Court order, so groups camp at Chakratirtha. The Supreme Court lifted the meadow camping ban on 20 July 2026; ask whether lake camping is allowed again.
Rescue
In October 2025 a trekker died here and three were rescued. The SDRF team took until the next morning to reach them. Guides advise going with an authorised operator.
Good to know
The small things
Cash, signal, water, permits and help on the way. Checked October 2026; confirm with your operator.
Bring cash
The last reliable ATMs are in Joshimath: SBI, PNB, HDFC and ICICI. There are none at Mana or on the trail. Carry small notes. Trekkaro
Phone signal
Jio, Airtel and BSNL work in Badrinath and Mana. Signal is patchy up to Laxmi Van and absent at Chakratirtha and the lake. Trekkaro
No charging
There is no charging beyond Mana. Bring a solar panel or a large power bank. MountRoutes
No food on the trail
There are no food or shelter stops on the trail. Everything goes with your group. Himalaya Trekker
Medical certificate
The medical certificate must come from a medical facility in Chamoli district. You can get it at Joshimath or Badrinath. Himalayan Hikers
Papers
Carry an original photo ID with a photocopy, a doctor-signed medical certificate and a signed disclaimer form. Trekkaro
Offloading
Trekkaro carries your bag for ₹2,500 + 5% GST for the whole trek, up to 9 kg. Trekkaro
Mules
The Searching Souls says a mule for your backpack costs up to ₹700 a bag a day. The Searching Souls
Shared transport
Bikat's optional cars leave ISBT Dehradun at 7 a.m.: a Sumo for 5–6 costs ₹8,000 and a Tempo for 11–12 costs ₹12,000, each way. Bikat Adventures
Not beyond the lake
Going on past the lake towards the Swargarohini glacier needs a mountaineering permit. MountRoutes
What to pack
Your checklist
Tick items as you pack. Your ticks stay saved on this device. Items with a red price can be rented.
Clothing
Shoes
Gear
Papers and money
Health
List from Trekkaro: Satopanth things to carry.
Rent or buy
Where to get gear
Many operators lend tents, sleeping bags and spikes. Ask yours before you rent.
Dehradun before you leave
DecathlonBuy · thermals, socks, fleece, gloves, torch, polesPlot 1591, Haridwar Bypass Road · Website
Himalayan Dream TreksRent · per day (1 day / 3+ days): high-ankle shoes ₹400/₹200, jacket ₹200/₹100, bag ₹200/₹100, poles ₹100/₹50, power bank ₹200/₹100, gaiters ₹5010 B Mothorowala Road, Dharampur · +91 80896 93825 · Website
Joshimath at the start of the trek
Bikat AdventuresRent · shoes, poles, fleece jacket, rucksack · for Bikat trekkers, handed over in Joshimath on day 1Website
Shop details are from each shop's own page. Phone to confirm prices and stock.
Who runs it
Choose an operator
We found 7 operators with a Satopanth page in October 2026. Prices run from ₹15,000 to ₹55,000 and start points differ (Badrinath, Joshimath, Rishikesh or Dehradun); only Himalaya Trekker lists a date.
Prices are base prices from each operator's own page (October 2026); most add 5% GST. Ratings are what each operator shows, not an independent audit. Names marked † show last season's price or one seen only in a search snippet.