The adrenaline rush of climbing a peak, pine trees decorated with snow, panoramic views of towering Himalayan peaks, and the sub-zero temperatures, all this make Kedarkantha Trek a wonderful and a must-visit trek in Indian Himalayas. The trek to Kedarkantha peak is one of the most popular treks in winters and adventurers from all over the country do this trek for at least once. Read More
Arrive at Dehradun and gather at the meeting point in the morning by 6 AM. After all the formalities, the assigned trek leader takes you to the vehicle and then we start our journey to the base village of Kedarkantha, viz, Sankri. We take the route from Dehradun via Mussoorie, Kempty Falls, and then took the right turn from the Yamuna Bridge. We drive through Nainbagh, Naugaon, Purola, Mori, and Netwar and take a few pit stops for breakfast, lunch, and tea breaks. The journey further from Purola becomes scenic as we drive through the pine forest. We then enter into the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and finally reach Sankri village. The overall journey takes around 10-11 hours to travel from Dehradun to Sankri.
Sankri is a small but scenic village settled at 2100 m above the mean sea level. The village is popular among trekkers as it serves as a basecamp for several beautiful treks such as Kedarkantha, Har Ki Dun, Phulara Ridge, Bali Pass, Borasu Pass, etc.
After reaching Sankri, we check-in into our guest house and relax. In the evening, one can roam around the village and play with the mountain dogs. Keep your rucksacks ready as we have to start our trek from the next day morning. Dinner and Overnight stay.
Note: Purola is the last place where one can get 4g signals, ATM, and a good market. Though there is an ATM at Sankri as well but it usually runs out of cash.
Today is our first trekking day and we move towards Juda ka Talab, which is a small lake. We have a hearty breakfast and then begin our trek by 8 am. There is a board placed at the starting point showcasing information about the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and Kedarkantha Trek. The trail is moderate and not very steep. We walk along the pine and deodar forest throughout the trail. After walking for half an hour, we get the first glimpse of Swargarohini massif, which is a treat to eyes. Today’s trek distance is around 4 km and it takes around 4 hours to reach the campsite. We have our lunch at the first meadow that arrived on our way. There are a few shops available there from which one can buy snacks and chocolates.
After having lunch, we resume our trek and reach our campsite at Juda ka Talab in an hour. Enjoy the campsite and forest views. The trek leader assigns the camps and other camping equipment and then we all are free to play games and have fun. Enjoy the piping hot soup in the evening followed by dinner. Overnight stay in camps.
Today, we move towards our second campsite, Kedarkantha base camp, which is also the last campsite. The trek distance is around 4 km and it usually takes 3 hours to reach the campsite. We take the trail going towards the Juda ka Talab and have a small photo session at the lake. The lake gets frozen in winters when the mercury drops to zero. After spending some time, we resume our trek and take the further trail going towards the base camp. The trail gets slippery during snow hence one has to walk carefully on that. We reach the base camp by noon and have hot lunch there. The Kedarkantha Base camp is a big meadow surrounded by trees and is a perfect place for camping. The campsite offers a complete view of the valley and distant villages. During the months of December, January and February, the base camp remains covered with a blanket of snow.
Enjoy the hot soup and tea in the evening. The base camp is the coldest place on this trek where we stay for a night. The temperature drops to – 15 degrees in extreme winters. We have our dinner a bit early as we have to wake up by around 2 am to start the final day trek to Kedarkantha peak.
This is the D-Day, yes that’s what we call it. We wake up at around 2 AM, freshen up and get ready for our trek to the summit. We all use head torches and proper layering as it remains quite cold. The first half of the trail is not very tiring as it is less steep. Within 15 minutes of continuous trekking, the body becomes warm and now it’s easy to trek. In around 1 hour, we reach a small canteen from where the entire mountain and the Kedarkantha peak is clearly visible and we also start seeing the lights of dawn by that time. The trail from here gets steep and a bit difficult too. There were a few patches that remain slippery and require extra efforts to negotiate that. We keep walking by enjoying the views and in a span of two hours, we finally reach the summit. Get mesmerized by the panoramic views of snow-covered mountains and valleys. Swargarohini massif along with Banderpuch and Kinnaur ranges are visible from the Kedarkantha peak.
After a photo session, we start descending towards the base camp. The downhill route is slightly different from the uphill one. It takes around 3 hours to reach the base camp. We relax a bit, have our lunch, and then descend further to Juda ka Talab. It takes another 2 hours and then we finally rest at our campsite. Time to relax and celebrate as the difficult part is already finished. Dinner and overnight stay in camps.
This is our last trekking day and also the last day of our trip. We break our camp at around 8 am and start our downhill trek towards Sankri village. The route remains the same that we take while trekking up. It takes around 3 hours and we reach the village.
We freshen up and have some refreshments and now it’s time to bid adieu to the village and mountains. We start our return journey towards Dehradun and reach there by evening. After seeing off, one can start with his/her further journey back to home.
Tour Ends Here.
Yes, beginners having good physical fitness can go for this trek. The trail is not very steep and the terrain suits the beginners, hence it's not mandatory to have a prior experience to go on this trek.
The weather may remain sunny or cloudy. There are chances one might find snowfall during the months of late-November, December, January, and February.
Yes. In case you have any extra luggage that you don’t require on the trek and on further campsites/location then you can leave the luggage at the base or starting location of the trek (Sankri). Your luggage will remain safe but we suggest not leaving any valuables or expensive items like mobile, laptop, wallet, etc.
The best season to experience snow is December, January, and February.
No. It's not the same. Kedarnath is a famous temple and pilgrimage site for Hindus. It's one of the Chota Char Dham temples situated in Uttarakhand. Whereas Kedarkantha is a trekkable peak and is a famous trekking destination in Uttarakhand. Most of the people get confused and consider both the places the same.
If you are opting for a group trek then there will be a maximum of 15 people in one group including the trek leader (Mountaineering Certified).
Yes, it is totally safe. In our group treks, our trek leader accompanies the group throughout the trek starting from the pickup location. All our staff including taxi drivers, hotel vendors, local guides, cook, and helpers are reliable. Sometimes, we also send a woman trek leader in some of the treks.
We use Tata Sumo, Mahindra Bolero, and Tempo Traveller depending upon the group requirements and size. We can also arrange Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo on request.
Usually, we recommend carrying your backpack on your own during the trek as it helps to keep your body posture correct. Check out why it is recommended to carry your backpack while trekking? In case you cannot, then you can offload your rucksack/backpack. We arrange separate mules/horses/porters to carry the offloading bags. Charges for the same would be INR 300 per bag per day.
If you are doing this trek in winters then we recommend you bring only trekking shoes that are waterproof/water-resistant and have ankle support. As the trail will have snow, normal running/sports shoes will not provide you the grip and there will be chances of getting slipped.
There will be toilet tents at each campsite and will be separate for women and men. There will not be any running water facility inside the toilet tents. The toilets will be dry.
There are a total of 4 nights stay during the entire trip in which the first-night stay will be in a guest house at Sankri and the rest three-night stays will be in camps.
Yes. Since there is camping on this trek we will be providing sleeping bags, mattresses, and all other necessary camping equipment.
One can opt for single, double, or triple sharing in one tent/room. Charges vary accordingly.
can fill the inquiry form given on the right side of this page and send us all the details. Our travel consultant will reach out to you as soon as possible and plan the best itinerary as per your requirements. One can also call or WhatsApp us at +91-7428710595 or email us at contact@happygotrips.com.
Food will be veg and nutritious on the trek. Jain food can also be available. On request, we can also arrange non-veg food at certain places.
Himalayan water is considered the purest form of water. We recommend people to carry a 1-liter water bottle with themselves so that they can use and refill it from the water streams available during the trek. While filling the bottle from the water stream, make sure you fill it from a point where the water is running, and not stable.
Yes. We offer fully customized tour/trek packages as per the traveler's requirements and feasibility. You name it and we will do it.
No, a doctor doesn’t accompany on the trek. Our trek leaders are mountaineering certified and they are taught all the techniques and methods required on a trek. The trek leaders are also certified in the wilderness and first aid responder course.
Yes, it is always recommended that you should bring your own medicines that are suitable for you or that are prescribed by your doctor.
No, Diamox is not advisable for this trek as the altitude gain is quite gradual. Though, our trek leader still carries Diamox tablets in his first aid kit.
Yes, you can take your child if he/she is above 6 years.
Any photo ID proof – Aadhar Card, Driving License, Passport, Voter ID Card. (No pan card)
For a group trek, the pickup and drop location would be Dehradun ISBT. For a private trek, we can arrange a pickup from anywhere but the trek leader would meet the group at Dehradun ISBT only.
Yes, we give certificates to people who successfully complete the trek
Yes, one can find shops at Purola and Sankri as well where trekking essentials remain available. However, we recommend people bringing the essentials from your place only.
It depends from person to person. Some people find it helpful during the trek as it provides support while climbing whereas some don’t prefer to use it as they think that the trekking pole affects their walking rhythm or pace. So it’s up to you.
It depends on the type of snow. If the snow is fresh and soft then we just provide gaiters so that snow doesn’t go inside your shoes. If there is hard snow or a glacier, then we provide micro spikes that you can wear on your shoes along with the gaiters. In case of challenging trekking or climbing expeditions, we provide snow boots and crampons.
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