Kedarkantha Trek

Sankri to Juda ka Talaab

Distance: 4 km

Duration: 3-4 hours

Altitude: 2786m

• Start your day with a delicious breakfast and set out on the hike from Saur village.

• Climb up through the picturesque trails, crossing several high-altitude suspension bridges and small villages.

• As you trek, you'll reach the stunning Juda Ka Talab, a lake said to be formed by Lord Shiva's flowing hair.

• Take a moment to step out of your camps and gaze at the starlit sky while you stand beside the frozen lake.

• Spend the night at Juda Ka Talab, surrounded by the natural beauty.

Juda ka Talaab to Base Camp

Distance: 4 km

Duration: 4-5 hours

Altitude: 3430m

• Start the day with breakfast at Juda Ka Talab and embark on the journey to the Kedarkantha base camp.

• Take in the breathtaking beauty of the snow-lined path and patches of green that surround you.

• In case of harsh weather, take refuge in the safe and equipped Gujjar huts.

• The majestic view of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag and Ranglana will leave you breathless.

• Reach the campsite, enjoy dinner, and retire to the tents for the night. Spend the night at the Kedarkantha base camp, surrounded by the natural wonder of the Himalayas.

Base camp to Kedarkantha summit

Distance: 6 km

Duration: 6-7 hours

Altitude: 3800m

• Begin your day with a hearty breakfast and gear up for the ultimate adventure. Set out early, around 2 am, for the summit trek.

• The trek will take around 7 to 8 hours to complete. As you trek, you'll be greeted by the warm, filtered sun rays from the mountains of the Yamunotri and Gangotri range, and the Kinner Kailash ranges.

• When you reach the summit, be prepared for a jaw-dropping view as you watch the sun rise from the top.

• After taking in the summit's beauty, begin your descent back to base camp. Once you reach the campsite, relax and refuel with a delicious dinner to end the day.

Base camp to Sankri

Distance: 6 km

Duration: 4-5 hours

Altitude: 1900 m

• Start your day with a satisfying breakfast at the base camp. As you begin your descent to Sankri village, listen to interesting local stories shared by your guide.

• Take in the beautiful views of the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas along the way.

• Once you arrive at the quaint Sankri village, share your trekking experiences with friends over a cup of coffee.

• Spend the night in the village and rest up for the journey ahead.

Sankri to Dehradun

Distance: 187 km

Duration: 8-9 hours

• The last day, you are supposed to bid adieu to the mountains.

• After breakfast, drive towards Dehradun.

• Return home with a bag full of memories.

• Sturdy Trekking shoes - For Kedarkantha trek, you would require sturdy, ankle gripping shoes that would be suitable to walk on snow.

• Backpack - A 50-60 L backpack would suffice for Kedarkantha trek, make sure the backpack has good back support with quick access pockets.

• Clothes - T shirts(wear one and pack 2), preferably long sleeves quick-dry t-shirts which have a high dollar. A t-shirt which hides your neck will prevent the neck from getting sunburnt. You can also carry thermals with you if you are susceptible to cold but keeping in mind that you have to carry them all along.

• Clothing in Winters - During winters it is necessary to carry insulin jackets and a 5-layer clothing is recommended : 1 pair of thermals, 2 light fleece layers, 1 light sweater and a padded jacket. Do not carry heavy sweaters or fleece, carry which are foldable and don't take up much space. Carry 1-3 trek pants with you which are comfortable and stretchable and would not restrict your movements. Even for trek pants, go for the quick-dry ones rather than the cotton as they take the longest time to dry. Trek pants with several zips are convenient as you can keep a few essentials in your pocket.

• Sunglasses - Sunglasses are mandatory in your Kedarkantha winter trek as without them you may get snow blindness from the directly reflected UV rays from the snow.

• Cap - A sun cap is necessary as it prevents quick exhaustion, dehydration, headache and sunstrokes.

• Hand gloves - Carry a pair of hand gloves since you will have to grip on snow on your trek if needed and they would also protect you from extreme gold. Try to get synthetic hand gloves as they would be water-proof.

• Woolen cap- It is necessary that you protect your head from the extreme cold after sun down. The maximum amount of hat that our body loses is from our head so it becomes mandatory to keep our head warm.

• Socks - Take at least 4 pairs of socks, out of which 3 must be sports socks and one woolen. Again it is recommended that you do not take cotton socks as they take a lot of time to dry.

• Trekking Poles - you would require at least one pair of trekking poles as they enhance your stability and balance to a great extent and at the same time it reduces your energy consumption.

• Rainwear - The weather in the mountains are unpredictable and can change anytime.From a bright sunny day, it might turn cloudy and start raining. So to protect yourself from such a situation, carry a very lightweight poncho or rainwear.

• Raincover for your backpack - All your warm clothes will be inside your backpack so you cannot afford to get it wet. Get a raincover for your backpack or a large plastic bag to protect your clothes from getting wet.

• Daypack - If you are unloading your main luggage on a mule then you must carry a daypack where you will keep your essentials.

• Toiletries - Carry your toothbrush, paste, a small soap, toilet tissue roll deodorant, lip balm,moisturizer in a separate toiletry kit. Since you won’t be able to bathe in your trek, packing your bag with soaps and shampoos is pointless. For women : If you are menstruating on your trek then you can carry your sanitary napkins, tampons and menstrual cup on the trek. Carry ziplock bags to carry your menstrual waste.

• Plastic covers- It is a very smart idea to carry 2-3 plastic bags to keep your dirty or wet clothes. That way you would also be reusing the plastics in a better way as well.

• Medicine kit - Diamox, Dolo 650, Avomine, Combiflam, Digene, ORS, Knee brace(optional). Take these medicines only after consulting your trek leader.

By Air : Jolly Grant airport is the nearest airport in Dehradun, which is located 25 kms away from the city. Regular flights are available from Delhi to Dehradun.

By Train : There are many trains available which run till Dehradun from different parts of India. However, if you are traveling from Delhi then there are two Express trains, with an overnight journey : Nanda Devi Express and Dehradun Express.

By Bus : If you are going for Kedarkantha trek from Delhi, then Buses ply regularly from Delhi to Dehradun bus stand. Catch a bus from Kashmere gate ISBT, which is the main bus station of Delhi. Here you will find both AC and non-AC buses till Dehradun. It is recommended that you take the government bus, as it will drop you at Dehradun ISBT.

The best time to go on a Kedarkantha trek is winter, as the season offers dreamy views and amazing weather. Every season has something different to offer, however, Kedarkantha winter holds a unique place in terms of adrenaline and adventure.

• Kedarkantha trek in winters ( December, January, February )

Average temperature during day - 8 degree to 10 degree celsius Average temperature during night - 0 degree -5 degree celsius

Kedarkantha has gained popularity as the most sought after winter trek and that is for all the right reasons. If you are a beginner in the world of trekking and you want to venture out for something serious then Kedarkantha winter trek will give you the right adrenaline rush and sense of adventure.

Trek through the dense forest and learn how to camp on a thick heap of snow. The ultimate adventure awaits as you start ascending the summit of Kedarkantha, the path will be covered with thick layers of snow. As you reach the summit, you will be overwhelmed with a sense of fulfillment, the feeling of which will be etched in your memory for an eternity.

• Kedarkantha Trek in Spring (March and April)

Average temperature during day- 15 degree to 18 degree celsiusAverage temperature during night - 0 degree to 5 degree celsius

In this time, you would still find snow in irregular patches, as reminiscent of the bygone winter season. If you want a pleasant experience with a touch of colors from nature, then spring should be the ideal time for you. Find beautiful newly bloomed Rhododendrons and fresh patches of grass set against the white washed backdrop as you ascend higher.

By the month of April, the snow completely melts away and bursting colors take over the scenery. The place wakes up from its hibernation with fresh energy. A trek to Kedarkantha becomes a must in Spring for its calming nature and it becomes an ideal time for camping.

• Kedarkantha in Summer (May and June)

Average temperature in day - 18 degree celsius to 24 degree celsiusAverage temperature in night - 3 degrees celsius to 8 degree celsius

Kedarkantha trekking during summers sees the dominance of sun during the day, however the evenings remain chilly. During this time you will find no snow, and in June, you might find light rainfall. Proper monsoon sets in the month of July.

If you are looking for an experience devoid of much crowd then this time should be ideal for you since during this time people go for higher altitude treks and Kedarkantha sees leser footfall.

• Kedarkantha Trek in Autumn ( September, October, November)

Average temperature in day - 10 degree to 15 degree celsiusAverage temperature in night- 0 degree to -5 degree celsius

After the monsoon season, the Kedarkantha trek comes to life from the month of September. In this time you get an unparalleled view of the mighty Himalayas as the forests and meadows are at their best. Till October the trekking experience will be pleasant in terms of weather and landscape, however, from November the winter sets in.

For Kedarkantha trek, you would require documents for legal purposes and to present them to the forest department. So, carrying proper documents is of utmost importance, without them you won’t be able to do the trek. The documents that you need to carry with you are as follows :

- Original and photocopy of government photo identity card - Aadhar card/ Driver’s License/ Passport. This is required by the Forest Department for your identification.

- Medical Certificate - You must get a medical clearance by a practicing doctor, without a medical certificate, the forest department would not allow you to trek.