Kedarkantha Trek is an amazing 5 day trek located in the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the most popular winter treks and is known for its magnificent beauty. Perched atop an altitude of 12,500 ft, Kedarkantha Peak Trek offers stunning views of snow-capped mountains and lush green meadows. The name Kedarkantha is derived from two words Kedar + Kantha, literal meaning – ‘Throat of Lord Shiva’.
The trek starts from a famous village called Sankri which is 200 km away from Dehradun. The trail passes through dense forests of pine and oak trees, with occasional glimpses of the majestic Himalayan peaks. As you ascend higher up the mountain, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of snow-covered peaks and meadows blanketed in white snow.
Kedarkantha Trek is suitable for both beginners as well as experienced trekkers. It is considered to be a beginner friendly and easy trek and can be done by anyone who has basic fitness level. During the winter months (December to March), the entire region will be covered in snow making it even more beautiful and picturesque.
The best part about this trek is that it offers something for everyone – adventure seekers can enjoy thrilling activities like skiing while nature lovers can take in all the beauty around them. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful getaway or an adrenaline-filled adventure, Kedarkantha Trek has something for everyone!
Dehradun I.S.B.T (Google Map)
7 A.M
Distance: 200 km
Time Taken: 10 hours (Drive)
Altitude: 1,950 m (6,400 ft)
The Kedarkantha Trek starts from the quaint little village Sankri. The drive from Dehradun to Sankri is a 200 km road journey through winding mountain roads. If you book transport with us, the vehicles will pick you up at Dehradun I.S.B.T at 7 am. You can expect to reach Sankri by evening.
We’ll be having breakfast at Kempty Falls, Mussoorie. We’ll drive through Mussoorie & other picturesque villages with the breathtaking view of the green hills and the vivid flora during this remarkable road journey. We’re going to drive along the banks of the River Tons, which later changes course to become the River Supin.
We’ll be having lunch at Purola, where you can enjoy the authentic cuisine of the region. We’ll reach the Sankri village by evening. Over the past few years, Sankri has become a bustling hub for trekkers because of the many treks situated in the area.
The stay will be in a hotel/guest house and you can see a sensational view of the sunset in the valley. Your trek leader will brief you properly about all the details of the trek, and dinner will be served.
Distance: 4 km
Time Taken: 4 hours
Altitude: 2,774 m (9,100 ft)
We’ll be starting our trek early morning after a healthy breakfast. As soon as we start walking on the trail, the Kedarkantha trail will get you into the serene forest of tall pines. The magic of this trail starts to unveil as you climb higher and witness the mesmerizing landscape.
You will start to find snow on this trail, depending on the season. In the peak winter season, you’ll find snow from the start of the trail. After trekking for a couple of hours, we’ll reach a Dhaba. We’ll rest and snack here.
As you climb, the magnificent oak trees welcome you to the stunning campsite at Juda-Ka-Talab. There were two smaller lakes that are conjoined to form a larger lake, i.e. Juda-ka-Talab.
This will be the campsite for the night. As we reach, we’ll have a cool-down session and relax with a hot cup of tea.
Distance: 3.5 km
Time Taken: 3 hours
Altitude: 3,429 m (11,250 ft)
Today we will be trekking to the Kedarkantha Base Camp. We’ll be trekking through dense pine forests and meadows. The climb begins steeply from the Juda Ka Taal campsite and then turns into a gradual ascent towards the Kedarkantha Base Camp. On the trail, you can get a 180-degree view of the snow-capped Kedarkantha Summit. We will be trekking for approx. 3 hours.
This short day is to provide your body with the much-needed rest before the much-anticipated summit day. This day will also help you naturally acclimatize to the high altitude so make sure to keep your body hydrated and eat nutritious food.
We will be having an early dinner and retiring for the night after a short briefing session about the summit day. We will be starting the trek to Kedarkantha Peak at 3 in the night.
Distance: 9 km
Time Taken: 7 hours
Altitude: 3,810 m (12,500 ft)
This day is going to be the hardest and most adventurous day of the trek. We’ll be getting ready with all the necessary equipment for the trek to the Kedarkantha summit and start around 3 am. This day is sure to be cold so be prepared to experience the wind chills on the way to the summit. We will be aiming to reach the summit by sunrise to get the best views of the sun rays hitting the snow-capped peaks all around us.
On the way to the summit, you leave behind the forests. The trail and the scenery are sure to enchant you. As we near the summit, the views will start to open up and will motivate you to keep you going. Once you reach the summit, a complete 360 view of the Himalayas will reveal itself. There is a Lord Shiva temple at the summit.
From here, you can see the Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch mountains. You can also see the Gangotri ranges, Yamunotri ranges and also notice the Chanshal pass and the Kinner Kailash ranges.
After spending some time at the summit, we will start to descent back to the base camp. We’ll have hot lunch at the Kedarkantha Base Camp and later descend to Hargaon campsite while enjoying the beauty of the mountain and rest.
Distance: 6 km
Time Taken: 4 hours
Altitude: 1,950 m (6,400 ft)
After having an early breakfast, we will start descending back to the Sankri village. In peak winters, the trail may have verglas and may be slippery. So, you will need to be very careful to avoid any slips, falls, and injuries.
Once we reach Sankri, your transport will be ready and waiting to take you back to Dehradun. You can expect to reach Dehradun by 9 PM. The cab will drop you at ISBT Dehradun.
It is time to bid adieu to your trek mates and go our own ways with a lot of wonderful memories and memorable experiences.
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Kedarkanta 😍🤩 What an amazing trek it was… One should experience the experience once in a life. Swena and Pranay , you both are really great, you guys took care of each and everyone among us very nicely. I personally felt secured and protected … I would love to look forward much more adventurous trek with Team Adventure. Thanks for being a FAMILY in an unknown place, unknown temperature, unknown environment , especially on summit 😊
Awesome experience with the kedarkanta trekking. Thanks to Advenchar team.. specially those 2 very passionate people Swena & Pranay,
Guides were too very supportive throughout the trek. For us it was just 11 people customized group, there were 4 people taking care of us. Looking forward to more adventurous treks in future and highly recommend to my friends circle!! Thanks.
The best thing about advenchar is the expertise in their work, they provide all the safety equipments and support needed to reach the destination. Would definitely recommend advenchar for your next trip. Looking forward to another great experience. Good luck✌🏻
Amazing services by amazing people. Made unforgettable memories on the trek. They are very professional and made all the arrangements perfectly. Can’t wait to for another advenchar with them!