Kedartal Trek

Trek to Bhoj Kharak

• Wake up and visit the sacred temple of Gangotri and explore a few local markets around.

• Start the Kedartal trek by reaching Bhoj Kharak via crossing a bridge over the river Bhagirathi.

• Start ascending to the right and carry on the steep climbs slowly.

• Enter the mixed vegetation zone of pine, fir, and Bhoj trees.

• You can witness the serenity of Kedar Ganga from the top that plunges into the George.

• Thalaysagar will present you with its first look, offering a majestic environment.

• Carefully ascend Spider wall- the steep and slant rocks between the trail as there are only a few permissible steps to reach Bhoj Kharak at 3,780 m.

• Rest overnight at the Bhoj Kharak campsite.

Trek to Kedar Kharak

• Cross the 5-kilometer-long rugged terrain to reach Kedar Kharak.

• Cross by the flora of mountains and witness the views of Manda peaks.

• Experience the charming views of Bhrighupanth peak.

• Cross the Gila Pahar zone if habitable, else you can take the route near Kedar Ganga.

• The Kedar Ganga route will let you hike against river flow till you reach Gila Pahar and trek back to your original path.

• You will reach Lower Kedar Kharak at 4100 meters and trek to reach the enchanting meadow of Kedar Kharak at 4,280 meters.

• Stay overnight in the camps to witness the Gangotri National Park region.

Trek to Kedartal

• Trek 5 kilometers long trail through glaciers, snow, and moraines.

• Cross the ice-cold water brook and climb the steep Rocky terrain following the cairn marking.

• Climb the final ridge to witness the mesmerizing views of Kedar Bamak Glacier and other lakes.

• Watch the breathtaking view of Kedar Bamak Glacier merging into the foot of Mount Bhrigupanth and Mount Thalaysagar.

• Trek for another hour to witness Thalaysagar peak.

• Reach Kedartal lake at 4780 meters, here you can sit by the lake and leave around noon.

• Enjoy the best views of Thalay Sagar peak, as you acclimatize and watch the beautiful icefall of the Thalay Sagar.

• Trek to Jogin at 4900 meters and start to explore Jogin Advance Base camp.

• Trek back to Kedartal lake and stay overnight in the camps beside the magical lake.

Trek back to Gangotri

• Trek back to Bhoj Kharak. If you reach there by 3 PM, you can proceed to Gangotri, else you can enjoy the campsite.

• Reach Gangotri in a 7-8 hours long strenuous Kedartal trek.

• Seek blessing from the Gangotri Holy shrine.

Reach Dehradun

• Wake up early in the morning and get mesmerized by the beautiful sunrise.

• Travel back to Dehradun with a bag full of amazing memories.

You have to reach Gangotri (Base camp) to start the Kedartal trek.

By Train: You can board a train and reach the nearest railway station to Gangotri, the Rishikesh railway station at 234 km. The railway station has connectivity to many major cities across India. From there, you can take a private taxi or bus to reach Gangotri.

By Air: You can take a flight to the nearest airport to Gangotri, Jolly Grant Airport at 250kms. This airport has connectivity to Delhi and other major metropolitan cities with a number of flights each day. From there, you can take a private taxi or bus to reach Gangotri.

By Road: You can take privately operated jeeps, SUVs, taxis, or buses from Rishikesh, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, and many other popular cities to Gangotri. Major taxi stations are in Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Dehradun.

Season-wise breakdown

• Summers Season: Mid-May to End-June

The temperatures range from 15 – 20 °C during the day and drop to below 10 °C and closer to 0°C at night. The summer season is one of the best times to visit as Kedartal lake is completely frozen during early summers. This is a rare sight to witness in summers as it is unlikely for an alpine lake to be frozen during summers. You will be able to experience the views of Mt Thalaysagar and Mt Bhrigunath underneath the blue sky. The presence of snow through the trail will add more adventure to the trek. There are regions where there is no trace of sunlight, just the magical white wound of snow. However, the weather is subject to heavy snowfall.

• Autumn Season: mid-September to mid-October

The temperatures are around 20 °C during the day and might drop below 0°C at night. It is one of the best seasons to try the Kedartal trek because the crystal clear blue sky will let you witness the beauty of the Himalayas throughout the trail. The Kedartal lake will shine in the emerald shade and completely reflect mighty Mount Thalaysagar. You will encounter the silver birch trees turning in golden or yellow colors. Another advantage is to witness the mountain sheep Bharal, as it comes out this season near the brown and maroon-colored shrubs.

• On the first day of your Kedartal trek, you will start ascending Bhoj Kharak by crossing the bridge over the river Bhagirathi.
• You will encounter a few steps as you enter the zone of pine, Bhoj, and fir trees. Through the trail, you will witness the looks of Thalaysagar and Kedar Ganga, to reach Spider Wall- an 8 kilometers long steep and slant rock trail.
• Once you reach the Bhoj Kharak campsite at 3,780 meters, you can rest overnight. The next day, you will take a 5-kilometer-long trek to Kedar Kharak and cross the Gila Pahar region, if accessible.
• Otherwise, you will join the Kedar Ganga route to join the trail to Kedar Kharak. Once you reach the Kedar Kharak campsite at 4,280 meters, you spend your night in the tents.
• The third day of the trek will take you to Kedartal through a long trail filled with moraines, glaciers, and snow. Once you reach the emerald lake, you can sit by its side and feel enchanted.
• After some time, you will be heading to the Jogin advance base camp at 4900 meters. From there, you will descend to the lake campsite and sleep overnight. The last day will descend you to Gangotri in a 7-8 hour long strenuous journey.