About the Trek
Kedarkantha is a popular trekking destination situated in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, India. This trek is considered as one of the best winter treks in India due to its stunning snow-covered peak and panoramic views of the Himalayas.
The Kedarkantha trek starts from Sankri, a small village situated in the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary. The trek distance is around 20 km and takes around 4 days to complete. The route passes through dense forests of oak and pine trees, pristine meadows, and beautiful campsites.
The trek offers breathtaking views of the snow-covered peaks of Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, and Black Peak. The summit of Kedarkantha peak is located at an altitude of 12,500 feet, which makes it a moderate trek suitable for beginners as well as experienced trekkers.
The best time to do the Kedarkantha trek is from December to April, when the entire region is covered with a thick blanket of snow. During this time, the temperature drops down to -5 degrees Celsius, making it a challenging yet adventurous trek.
The trek route is well-marked and safe, and the local guides are well-trained and experienced. The trekkers are provided with camping tents, sleeping bags, and other necessary equipment. The campsites are located in beautiful locations, providing a perfect opportunity to witness the sunrise and sunset amidst the Himalayas.
Apart from trekking, the Kedarkantha region also offers various other activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. The local villagers are friendly and welcoming, and they offer a glimpse into the rural life of Uttarakhand.
In conclusion, Kedarkantha trek is a must-do for all adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers. The trek offers stunning views of the Himalayas, pristine meadows, and dense forests, making it a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The trek is safe and well-organized, making it suitable for beginners as well as experienced trekkers.
DETAILED ITINERARY 1 (4N/5D)
DAY 1 : DEHRADUN – SANKRI (210 km - 10 hr drive)
The first day after a quick meet and greet at Dehradun we start the first leg of our journey. Dehradun to Sankri is a 187 km long drive which passes through dense pine forest. The route is quite scenic as one passes through Mussoorie, Kempty Falls, Mori, etc. In evening we reach Sankri, where we retire for the night.
DAY 2 : SANKRI – JUDA KA TALAB (4 km trek - 5hrs)
In the morning after breakfast, a briefing is conducted after which we embark on our journey to the summit. During winters trek leader furnishes the group with micro spikes and gaiters before commencing the trek.
From Sankri, the trail will take you through the Saud village before leading you to Kedarkantha. The forest ground is thickly covered with maple leaves, surrounded by dense foliage of pines. You will hear stream burbling, which you will come across later on the trek.
During winters, the path looks no less than a winter wonderland, with soft snow covering the branches and the floor below as the warm sun shines overhead. If you are fortunate enough, you might even encounter snowfall during the trek.
The path gradually ascends through the woods in a meandering pattern. The maple and oak forest becomes denser and denser as we make our way through. Throughout the way one can experience the woody smell of the forest and petrichor. We take a break somewhere in between to charge ourselves up. After a little more of trekking the trail ultimately opens up to a beautiful alpine lake, i.e. Juda ka Talab. It’s a small high altitude lake which has the shape of a tear guarded by a thicket of emarald-green Oak and Pine forests on one side. The place serves us our first campsite where we have our dinner, fuel ourselves up for the next day and retire for the night.
DAY 3 : JUDA KA TALAB – KEDARKANTHA BASE CAMP (3.5 km trek - 5 hrs)
The trek for the second day involve steeper slopes than the day before. The trek starts after a healthy breakfast at around 9:00am. To begin with, we follow the trail leading away from Juda ka Talab campsite. As the path ascends towards the ridge that ventures deeper into the forest we see the lake slowly disappearing in the dense of the forest.
After a brief walk through a snow-covered trail, you will catch glimpses of the tall peak of Kedarkantha peeking through the trees. During late winters and early springs, we encounter some residual snow otherwise on winters which is covered by a thick layer of snow throughout. In springs, the Rohdodendron trees can also be seen in bloom.
A short hike through snow-dusted, amber-brown Oak forests leads you to a breathtaking snowfield surrounded by towering trees on one side and an impressive panorama of snow-covered peaks on the other. Around afternoon we reach the Kedarkanth Base Camp.
From here one can spot Kedarkantha Peak, Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Kalanag on clear days. At night, the milky way gleams through the sky with a blanket of white snow shining all around. The spot also serves as a great spot of Astro-photography and to shoot timelapses of the stars laden sky.
After early dinner, prepare to get a good night’s sleep, as the trek begins very early in the morning the next day.
DAY 4: KEDARKANTHA BASE CAMP – KEDARKANTHA SUMMIT – JUDA KA TALAB (6.5 km trek - 4 hr)
To catch the sunrise from the top, the trek to Kedarkantha summit commences at approximately 3AM. Prepare for the journey with warm clothing as you will experience numbingly cold tempratures and icy mountain winds throughout the trek. The initial trail is easy and has a mild ascent that goes through dense Oak forests for an hour.
Afterwards, the forest begins to clear up, revealing a space with two trails leading to the summit. The section which follows is steep with an inclination of 45 to 60 degrees and during winter months the snow can run knee-deep. However, from March onwards, the snow starts to dry and eventually disappears completely by April.
After about 30 minutes, you will encounter switchbacks that lead to the surreal summit of Kedarkantha at the break of dawn. At the top, on can witness a spectacular 360 degree view of the region’s renowned mountain peaks and ranges such as Gangotri, Yamunotri, Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Har ki Doon amongst others. Additionally, one can also have a darshan of a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati at the summit. The shrine is a square arrangement of rocks with a Trishul pointing towards the sky.
After spending some time at the summit we begin our descent to Juda ka Talab. On the way packed lunch is also provided.
DAY 5 : JUDA KA TALAB – SANKRI – DEHRADUN (4.5 km trek - 3 hr + 210 km drive - 10 hr)
In the morning after breakfast we start our trek down to Sankri, from where we get in our cabs to leave for Dehradun.
In the evening we reach Dehradun and now is the time to bid adieu.
DETAILED ITINERARY 2 (5N/6D)
DAY 1 :
DEHRADUN – SANKRI (210km drive - 10 hrs)
The first day after a quick meet and greet at Dehradun we start the first leg of our journey. Dehradun to Sankri is a 187 km long drive which passes through dense pine forest. The route is quite scenic as one passes through Mussoorie, Kempty Falls, Mori, etc. In evening we reach Sankri, where we retire for the night.
DAY 2 :
SANKRI – JUDA KA TALAB (4km trek - 5 hr)
In the morning after breakfast, a briefing is conducted after which we embark on our journey to the summit. During winters trek leader furnishes the group with micro spikes and gaiters before commencing the trek.
From Sankri, the trail will take you through the Saud village before leading you to Kedarkantha. The forest ground is thickly covered with maple leaves, surrounded by dense foliage of pines. You will hear stream burbling, which you will come across later on the trek.
During winters, the path looks no less than a winter wonderland, with soft snow covering the branches and the floor below as the warm sun shines overhead. If you are fortunate enough, you might even encounter snowfall during the trek.
The path gradually ascends through the woods in a meandering pattern. The maple and oak forest becomes denser and denser as we make our way through. Throughout the way one can experience the woody smell of the forest and petrichor. We take a break somewhere in between to charge ourselves up. After a little more of trekking the trail ultimately opens up to a beautiful alpine lake, i.e. Juda ka Talab. It’s a small high altitude lake which has the shape of a tear guarded by a thicket of emarald-green Oak and Pine forests on one side. The place serves us our first campsite where we have our dinner, fuel ourselves up for the next day and retire for the night.
DAY 3 :
JUDA KA TALAB – KEDARKANTHA BASE CAMP (3.5 km trek - 5hr)
The trek for the second day involve steeper slopes than the day before. The trek starts after a healthy breakfast at around 9:00am. To begin with, we follow the trail leading away from Juda ka Talab campsite. As the path ascends towards the ridge that ventures deeper into the forest we see the lake slowly disappearing in the dense of the forest.
After a brief walk through a snow-covered trail, you will catch glimpses of the tall peak of Kedarkantha peeking through the trees.
During late winters and early springs, we encounter some residual snow otherwise on winters which is covered by a thick layer of snow throughout. In springs, the Rohdodendron trees can also be seen in bloom.
A short hike through snow-dusted, amber-brown Oak forests leads you to a breathtaking snowfield surrounded by towering trees on one side and an impressive panorama of snow-covered peaks on the other. Around afternoon we reach the Kedarkanth Base Camp.
From here one can spot Kedarkantha Peak, Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Kalanag on clear days. At night, the milky way gleams through the sky with a blanket of white snow shining all around. The spot also serves as a great spot of Astro-photography and to shoot timelapses of the stars laden sky.
After early dinner, prepare to get a good night’s sleep, as the trek begins very early in the morning the next day.
DAY 4 :
KEDARKANTH BASE CAMP – KEDARKANTHA SUMMIT – JUDA KA TALAB (6.5 km trek - 4hr)
To catch the sunrise from the top, the trek to Kedarkantha summit commences at approximately 3AM. Prepare for the journey with warm clothing as you will experience numbingly cold tempratures and icy mountain winds throughout the trek. The initial trail is easy and has a mild ascent that goes through dense Oak forests for an hour.
Afterwards, the forest begins to clear up, revealing a space with two trails leading to the summit. The section which follows is steep with an inclination of 45 to 60 degrees and during winter months the snow can run knee-deep. However, from March onwards, the snow starts to dry and eventually disappears completely by April.
After about 30 minutes, you will encounter switchbacks that lead to the surreal summit of Kedarkantha at the break of dawn. At the top, on can witness a spectacular 360 degree view of the region’s renowned mountain peaks and ranges such as Gangotri, Yamunotri, Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Har ki Doon amongst others. Additionally, one can also have a darshan of a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati at the summit. The shrine is a square arrangement of rocks with a Trishul pointing towards the sky.
After spending some time at the summit we begin our descent to Juda ka Talab. On the way packed lunch is also provided.
DAY 5 :
JUDA KA TALAB – SANKRI (4.5 km trek - 3hr)
On the day fifth, after breakfast we descend to Sankri where we stay for the night. The cozy comfort of the homestay will gives you an otherworldly experience.
DAY 6 :
SANKRI – DEHRADUN (210 km drive - 10hr)
We catch our cab and leave for Dehradun. Around evening we reach Dehradun which marks the conclusion of our tour.
INCLUSIONS
1. All meals Ex Dehradun ( Gerenal nutritious meal )
2. Accommodation in camps
3. Forest charges
4. Alpine 4 men tents (Triple sharing), good quality sleeping bags and matteresses, toilet tents, utensils.
5. Team leader, chef and support staff. Porters and mules to carry common luggage.
6. Transport from Dehradun to Sankri and back to Dehradun.
EXCLUSIONS
1. Meals during road transit i.e. meals during travel between Dehradun and Sankri and vice versa.
2.Any kind of medical Insurance.
3.Any personal expenses like extra food, gears etc.
4. Any expense not specified in the inclusion list.
5. Carriage of personal luggage during the trek.