KEDARKANTHA TREK

The finest summit climb for beginners

Winter snow has arrived at Kedarkantha. Need help with planning your winter trek? Speak to our expert Trek Advisors

It has started snowing in Kedarkantha. If you are planning for a Winter Trek, our expert team of Trek Advisors can help you choose the right one. So if you have questions like, "Can I do this trek?" or "Will I get to see snow in this trek?", please get in touch.Talk to our Trek Advisors

TREK DIFFICULTY

Easy Moderate

TREK DURATION

6 days

HIGHEST ALTITUDE

12,500 feet

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SUITABLE FOR

8 to 62 years

TOTAL TREK DISTANCE

23 kms

BASECAMP

Kotgaon

ACCOMMODATION TYPE

Tents

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PICKUP POINT

Hotel Grand Legacy, Dehradun

The finest summit climb for beginners

Kedarkantha is one of the most iconic winter treks in India. It provides the perfect opportunity for beginners to experience the thrill of climbing a mountain peak.

At Kedarkantha, the summit push is the clear highlight. From the very onset, the Kedarkantha peak is always in clear view. The climb Bhoja Dhadi is steep and challenging. More so in the snow. But it’s the kind of challenge that feels exciting rather than intimidating.It is the perfect blend of adventure and accessibility for both beginners and seasoned trekkers.

Did you know Indiahikes was the first to explore and document Kedarkantha? Read the untold story here.

Reaching the summit of Kedarkantha is a deeply rewarding experience. The views are spectacular with Mt. Swargarohini, the Bandarpunch massiff, Mt. Kalanag and the Gangotri massif lining the horizon. But, we have observed that the sense of accomplishment that comes from this summit push impacts trekkers far more than the views.This is what makes Kedarkantha such a celebrated trek.

But Kedarkantha isn’t just about the summit. It also immerses you in nature and culture. You walk through pristine forests filled with pine, oak, and rhododendron trees. You camp in stunning clearings with wide-open views and unforgettable sunsets. And you get a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the villagers in Kotgaon, adding a unique cultural element to your journey.

Trekker Reviews

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Abhishek Ballabh

Group of 27th Decembe, Tech entrepreneur & CEO of ExtraEdge, Pune

Our Kedarkantha trek an unforgettable and transformative experience

Dear Walter, Akshay, and the entire Indiahikes team, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for making our Kedarkantha trek an unforgettable and transformative experience. The journey was not with...Read More

Khushi Oswal

Group of Apr 2024

I completed the Trek despite all the difficulties I faced

This was my first trek and also I had some health issues. My Trek Leader Vijay and both the guides, Bhiru paaji and Mukesh bhaiya made sure I complete the Trek despite all the difficulties I faced. I ...Read More

Chitra Narayanan

Group of February 2024

As always, I had a great and memorable trek.

This is my third trek with Indiahikes. As always, I had a great and memorable trek. Looking forward to more treks with you. With Dhananjay as our trek lead, his guidance, expertise and knowledge trul...Read More

Abhishek Ballabh

Group of 27th Decembe, Tech entrepreneur & CEO of ExtraEdge, Pune

Our Kedarkantha trek an unforgettable and transformative experience

Khushi Oswal

Group of Apr 2024

I completed the Trek despite all the difficulties I faced

Chitra Narayanan

Group of February 2024

As always, I had a great and memorable trek.

Kedarkantha Videos

About the Kedarkantha Trek

How to prepare for your trek

Videos by our trekkers

Kedarkantha - Complete Trek Information

We have always wanted trekkers to be well-informed before they go on a Himalayan trek. Knowledge is the difference between a safe trek and a dangerous one. It’s also the difference between a wholesome experience and a superficial experience.

Use this section to learn about the Kedarkantha trek. It has in-depth information about each day of the trek, what to expect, and how you need to prepare for it. Many years of expertise have gone into this content. Trekkers find that extremely useful.

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Day 1

Drive from Dehradun to Kotgaon

Drive Distance: 200 km | Duration: 10-11 hours | Pick up point for Indiahikes trekkers: Grand Legacy Hotel, near Laal Pul, Dehradun or Library Chowk, Mussourie | Pick up Time: 6.30 am | Location of Indiahikes basecamp: Kotgaon

Transport will be arranged at 6.30 AM. The cab can also pick you up from Library Chowk, Mall Road, Mussoorie at 7.30 AM. Cost of the cab – Rs 1100 (additional 5% GST) per trekker (one-way). Please pre-book your transport through the dashboard before your trek.

Day 2

Trek from Kotgaon to Khujaai

Trek Distance: 5.3 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude Gain: 6,400 ft to 9,460 ft

Day 3

Trek from Khujaai to Bhoja Dhadi

Trek Distance: 3 km | Trek Duration: 3.5 hours | Altitude Gain: 9,460 ft to 10,700 ft

Day 4

Trek from Bhoja Dhadi to Khujaai via Kedarkantha Summit

Trek Distance: 9 km | Trek Duration: 7-8 hours | Altitude Gain: 10,700 ft to 9,460 ft via 12,500 ft

Day 5

Trek from Khujaai to Kotgaon

Trek Distance: 5.3 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude Loss: 9,460 ft ft to 6,400 ft

Day 6

Drive back from Kotgaon to Dehradun

Drive Distance: 200 km | Drive Duration: 10-11 hours | Drop off point for Indiahikes trekkers: Grand Legacy (near Laal Pull) Hotel, Dehradun

This transport cost has to be borne by trekkers. Cost of the cab – Rs 1100 (additional 5% GST) per trekker (one-way). Please pre-book your transport through the dashboard before your trek.

Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending the weather conditions and the route you take. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.

IMPORTANT POINTS

➤Documents required: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo id and medical certificate for entry at forest check posts on the trek. The medical certificate along with the disclaimer form will be part of the Safety Check-in done by the trek leader when you arrive at the base camp.

➤Stay facility: At the base camp, your stay will be arranged in lodges. Do not bring any packaged food, tags from your new clothes or any waste with you. We follow a Dustbin Free Zone and No Wet Wipes Policy at our base camps in line with our spirit of Green Trails.

- On the trek, you will be staying 2 in a tent.

➤Cloakroom facility for excess luggage: We have a Cloak Room facility at the base camp for excess luggage. Every trekker is permitted to leave behind one piece of luggage at no charge. Anything beyond one piece of luggage is chargeable at Rs 500 per luggage. (The luggage could be a backpack/suitcase/duffel bag or anything similar.). Do not leave behind any valuables in the cloakroom.

Day 1

Drive from Dehradun to Kotgaon

Day 2

Trek from Kotgaon to Khujaai

Trek Distance: 5.3 km | Trek Duration: 5 hours | Altitude Gain: 6,400 ft to 9,460 ft

Day 3

Trek from Khujaai to Bhoja Dhadi

Trek Distance: 3 km | Trek Duration: 3.5 hours | Altitude Gain: 9,460 ft to 10,700 ft

Day 4

Trek from Bhoja Dhadi to Khujaai via Kedarkantha Summit

Trek Distance: 9 km | Trek Duration: 7-8 hours | Altitude Gain: 10,700 ft to 9,460 ft via 12,500 ft

Day 5

Trek from Khujaai to Kotgaon

Trek Distance: 5.3 km | Trek Duration: 4-5 hours | Altitude Loss: 9,460 ft ft to 6,400 ft

Day 6

Drive back from Kotgaon to Dehradun

Drive Distance: 200 km | Drive Duration: 10-11 hours | Drop off point for Indiahikes trekkers: Grand Legacy (near Laal Pull) Hotel, Dehradun

This transport cost has to be borne by trekkers. Cost of the cab – Rs 1100 (additional 5% GST) per trekker (one-way). Please pre-book your transport through the dashboard before your trek.

Please note: The distance between campsites may vary by 100 meters depending the weather conditions and the route you take. The altitude may also vary by 100 feet for similar reasons.

IMPORTANT POINTS

➤Documents required: It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a copy of their photo id and medical certificate for entry at forest check posts on the trek. The medical certificate along with the disclaimer form will be part of the Safety Check-in done by the trek leader when you arrive at the base camp.

➤Stay facility: At the base camp, your stay will be arranged in lodges. Do not bring any packaged food, tags from your new clothes or any waste with you. We follow a Dustbin Free Zone and No Wet Wipes Policy at our base camps in line with our spirit of Green Trails.

- On the trek, you will be staying 2 in a tent.

➤Cloakroom facility for excess luggage: We have a Cloak Room facility at the base camp for excess luggage. Every trekker is permitted to leave behind one piece of luggage at no charge. Anything beyond one piece of luggage is chargeable at Rs 500 per luggage. (The luggage could be a backpack/suitcase/duffel bag or anything similar.). Do not leave behind any valuables in the cloakroom.

Day 1 (Pick-up Day): Drive from Dehradun to Kotgaon

Drive Duration: 10-11 hours | Drive Distance: 185 km

Altitude: 6,520 ft

The trek begins at Kotgaon. The journey takes you past Mori and Purola. You see beautiful valleys and forest cover throughout the journey.

At the Naitwar Barrier, you need to take permission. A government-issued ID is essential for this. Take the road that goes straight towards Sankri. Take a right turn in about 30 minutes.

This takes you to Kotgaon surrounded by small hamlets called Shialdi, Paisar, Guradi, Suchan Gaon, Dargar Gaon and Dewara. The guest house where you will be staying is in Shialdi.

Roam around this quaint village and be enchanted by the sound of the Tons river.

The trek begins at Kotgaon. The journey takes you past Mori and Purola. You see beautiful valleys and forest cover throughout the journey.

At the Naitwar Barrier, you need to take permission. A government-issued ID is essential for this. Take the road that goes straight towards Sankri. Take a right turn in about 30 minutes.

This takes you to Kotgaon surrounded by small hamlets called Shialdi, Paisar, Guradi, Suchan Gaon, Dargar Gaon and Dewara. The guest house where you will be staying is in Shialdi.

Roam around this quaint village and be enchanted by the sound of the Tons river.

Day 2: Trek from Kotgaon to Khujaai

Trek Duration: 5 hours | Trek Distance: 5.5 km

Altitude Gain: ⇗ 2,940 ft (6,520 ft to 9,460 ft)

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. Gradual ascent in the forest till Mohlani meadows. A combination of ascents and descent to Khujaai

Highlights: Mohlani meadow. It’s a huge clearing with a grand view of the surroundings.

The trek starts from Kotgaon. Start off from the road that goes towards right from the Kotgaon campus. About a kilometre of walk on the road leads to a small suspension bridge. Watch out for the beautiful views of the valley on your left. Just before the suspension bridge, the trail deviates towards the right. Take this trail.

Now, you enter the dense forest. This is a beautiful section predominantly of oak trees. Gradually ascend in the dense jungle for about an hour. You come across a small clearing surrounded by bushes and trees. This is your first resting point.

The forest section continues. It’s a bit of an ascent from here. Savor every bit of it. Listen to the sound of the wind, chirping birds and the rustling of leaves. In another hour, you reach Mohlani meadows. This is a huge clearing and opens up on one side to the grand views of the hills. It is surrounded by tall pine trees on other sides. There is a small Matrishakti Mandir. There is a water source too. Replenish your water supplies here.

Continue in the forest section again for half an hour to reach another small clearing. From here, it’s a bit of a descent. Listen to the sounds of the gushing water stream. Within a few minutes, you come across a small wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and start ascending. About 15-20 minutes of gradual ascent from here takes you to the Khujaai campsite.

The Khujaai campsite is a huge clearing in the middle of dense forest. This is where you spend the rest of the day. Explore around a bit. To your right, you can see the next day’s trail. To your left, there is a cattle space and shepherds’ huts. A little ahead from this is a space where there are a lot of boulders. You can sit and enjoy the view from here. If the weather permits, do not miss out on views of the starlit sky at night.

Day 3: Trek from Khujaai to Bhoja Dhadi

Trek Duration: 3.5 hours | Trek Distance: 3.5 km

Altitude Gain: ⇗ 1,280 ft (9,460 ft to 10,740 ft)

Difficulty: Easy. A combination of ascents and descents in the forest and meadows.

Highlights: Stunning sunset views from Bhoja Dhadi

Start the trek from the trail that goes to the right in the south-west direction from Khujaai. About a kilometre of an ascent in the forest section takes you to Tatalona meadows. It’s a beautiful clearing. Rest here for sometime.

From the meadows, about 600 metres of a descent takes you to a water stream. The gushing stream, the boulders and all of this in the middle of a dense forest makes it a beautiful setting.

Cross this stream. The trail further is again an ascent in the forest section. It can get slippery when it rains. So be mindful of your footing. In about 20 minutes you will reach another small clearing.

Take a steep right turn here. The trail now is through boulders. About another 100 metres of a descent takes you to another water stream. Cross this stream and start your final ascent to Dhoka. It’s another 700 metres of an ascent in the forest section.

Dhoka in Garhwali means “meadow with a big boulder”. Aptly, it is a huge meadow with one big boulder at one end. From here onwards, snow-clad mountains start making their appearance.
A little ahead of Dhoka is Bhoja Dhadi, where you stay for the night. Do not miss the alpen glow on these peaks during sunset. You can also see Kedarkantha summit up ahead of you.

Take a good rest as tomorrow will be a long day.

From the meadows, about 600 metres of a descent takes you to a water stream. The gushing stream, the boulders and all of this in the middle of a dense forest makes it a beautiful setting.

Take a good rest as tomorrow will be a long day.

Day 4: Trek from Bhoja Dhadi to Khujaai via Kedarkantha Summit

Trek Duration: 7-8 hours | Trek Distance: 9 km

Altitude Gain and Loss: ⇗ 1,760 ft ⇘ 3,040 ft (10,740 ft to 9,460 ft via 12,500 ft)

Difficulty: Moderate. 2-3 hour steep ascent to reach the summit. Steep descent to Khujaai

Highlights: Stunning views of the Himalayan ranges from the summit.

There is a trail on the right of Bhoja Dhadi campsite. Start ascending on this trail. Soon, you will reach a section of beautiful rhododendron trees. Meander your way through them to reach a clearing in about 500 metres.

Now you are almost out of the treeline. Continue ascending on a grassy trail. The trail slowly transitions from grassy to muddy. Be cautious as it could get slippery. Ascend in a zigzag manner.

You will soon reach a point where the trail from Sankri joins. It’s a steep ascent from here onwards to all the way up to the summit. You see the Phulara ridge on your left from here. It takes around 2.5-3 hours to reach the summit from Bhoja Dhadi.

Once you are at the summit, you’re surrounded by the mountain ranges and valleys. You see the Rupin and Har ki Dun valleys. You see Mt Swargarohini, Mt Bandarpoonch and Mt Kalanag predominantly. You see Jaonli, Gangotri, Draupadi Ka Danda and Jorkanden peaks at a distance.

After spending some time at the summit, retrace your way back to Dhoka and further to Khujaai.

Now you are almost out of the treeline. Continue ascending on a grassy trail. The trail slowly transitions from grassy to muddy. Be cautious as it could get slippery. Ascend in a zigzag manner.

After spending some time at the summit, retrace your way back to Dhoka and further to Khujaai.

Day 5: Trek from Khujaai to Kotgaon

Trek Duration: 5 hours | Trek Distance: 5.3 km

Altitude Loss: ⇘2,940 ft (9,460 ft to 6,520 ft)

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate. A gradual descent through a narrow forest trail.

Highlights: Lovely dense oak forest

From Khujaai, you find a trail going further down. It’s a descent all the way to the Kotgaon.

It’s a narrow trail in the dense forest section, consisting predominantly of oak trees. Savour the forest walk for one last time, as today is the last day of your trek.

Retrace the way back to Kotagon from here and stay at the Indiahikes Community Campus for the day.

From Khujaai, you find a trail going further down. It’s a descent all the way to the Kotgaon.

It’s a narrow trail in the dense forest section, consisting predominantly of oak trees. Savour the forest walk for one last time, as today is the last day of your trek.

Retrace the way back to Kotagon from here and stay at the Indiahikes Community Campus for the day.

Day 6: Drive from Kotgaon to Dehradun

Duration: 9-10 hours | Drive Distance: 185 km

Start early in the morning, preferably before 7.00 AM since the journey takes at least 10 hours. Plan your travel from Dehradun post 7.00 PM on this day.

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Easy-Moderate

Suitable for Beginners

At Indiahikes, while rating a trek difficulty we consider a number of factors. These include, altitude gained every day, length of trek everyday, highest altitude, nature of the terrain, weather etc. Based on this, we rate a trek as easy or difficult or somewhere in between.

Kedarkantha is categorized as an easy-moderate trek. At Indiahikes, we classify a trek as easy-moderate if it fits the following criteria:

The ascent is gradual and evened out
The trek is 5-6 days long
The altitude reached is within 14,000 ft
The trek has easy and multiple exit points

Kedarkantha fits all of these criteria very well. In Kedarkantha, you climb an altitude of 5,500-6,000 ft within 3 days. The ascent is gradual and steady. Of course, there are certain steep sections spread out, but when well-prepared, they are easy to tackle.

Also, every day of the trek, you climb for a maximum of 4 hours (except on the summit day which in general tends to be longer).

Next, the trek reaches a maximum altitude of 12,500 ft. Hence, it is extremely well-suited for beginners and trekkers who are looking to not do a demanding trek.

Last, as mentioned earlier, Kedarkantha is a stand-alone mountain. Hence the trek presents multiple routes to the summit. The biggest asset is that these routes provide multiple exit routes making it an ideal trek in terms of safety. This is especially important when you are looking to trek on your own.

What raises the difficulty level to easy-moderate?

Although this trek has all the components of an easy trek, the aspect of Kedarkantha which makes it an easy-moderate trek is its summit climb. The summit climb is long and steep.

Not just that, the duration of the summit day is also quite long. You are looking at about 7-8 hours of the trek on the summit day with about 5 hours of steady climb and 2-3 hours of fast descent. This is challenging on the legs and you need a good level of fitness to comfortably finish this day.

Considering all of this, the trek has been marked as easy-moderate.

Safety on the Kedarkantha Trek

When it comes to terrain, Kedarkantha can be considered as highly safe. The entire route is marked with:

Well marked trails
Well trodden routes
Gradual ascents
Well placed campsites (important when considering AMS)
Easy and multiple exit points

There are hardly sections that are challenging and require technical assistance. The only tricky section is the ridge walk closer to the summit. However, even this section does not require technical assistance.

In this trek, you are climbing around 6,300 ft in the first three days and reaching a maximum altitude of 12,500 ft. Naturally, you can get hit with AMS.

Few aspects of the trek that helps mitigate AMS:

The campsites are placed well within a normal altitude gain for each day. With a steady pace, the chances of getting AMS are less.
The second day is shorter in length and altitude gain. This gives you ample opportunity to rest and acclimatize before the long summit day.
On the third day, you lose a lot of height. This helps recover from most AMS symptoms that might occur on the summit day.

However, there are still chances of getting hit by AMS.

In this trek, the symptoms can start right from day 1. Most trekkers present with the starting symptoms of AMS – usually headache or tiredness mixed with perhaps lack of appetite or sleep. The immediate step to take would be to start on a curative course of Diamox which is 250 mg, every 12 hours followed by ample rest.

The earlier you treat these symptoms, the higher the chances of recovering and completing the trek.

If you present with symptoms that persist for more than 12 hours, descend to the base camp.

As you climb higher and proceed beyond 11,000 ft, there are chances of HAPE/ HACE to occur as well. In our history of running this trek, we have never had a trekker present with HAPE/HACE. Nevertheless, it is better to be prepared and mindful of the symptoms. Read and learn more about HAPE/HACE and how to tackle it here.

Here’s a Complete Guide to Acute Mountains Sickness, HAPE and HACE:

The trek is safe for all the ten months of the year it is open. The trek can get slippery and tricky when there is a lot of snow. However, this can be managed with the right gear – microspikes, gaiters, etc.

The trek also gets extremely cold in the winter and can result in cold-related injuries. But this can be tackled with the right winter gear, right technique of layering and good insulation techniques.

Emergency Exits: Kedarkantha is one trek that has multiple routes and thereby multiple exit points to safety. You can follow them easily on the map below.

You can exit the trek from Sankri, Kotgaon or Gaichawan Gaon. In case of an emergency, the closest exit point to the hospital would be Kotgaon. It is also the nearest road head when compared to the other exit points of the trek.

Note: As you can see, the three trails in Kedarkantha are interconnected. There are multiple bridging routes in between to move from one route to the other within the trek. However, this requires extensive knowledge of the trails to navigate. So, we strongly recommend against switching a route unless you are with a team who knows the trek like the back of their hand.

Closest Hospitals: For mild medical issues, the closest medical assistance can be found in Mori and then in Purola. This includes simple fracture, sprain, etc.

1. Mori

Government Hospital
Mori – Sankari Rd, Mautar, Uttarakhand – 249128

Primary Health Center
Mori, Uttarakhand – 249128
Ph: 01373 234 486

2. Barkot

Government Hospital
Barkot, Uttarakhand – 249141

Swami Vivekanand Dharmarth Chikitsalay
Barkot, Uttarakhand – 249141
Ph: 095576 19690

However, for major medical emergencies, the nearest hospital is in Mussoorie or Dehradun – which is almost 8-9 hours away from the base camp of the trek.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Kedarkantha trek is one of the few treks in the Indian Himalayas where you can trek for the most part of the year. Kedarkantha trek is accessible for 10 months of the year except for July and August (the peak rainy months in Uttarakhand).

The 10 months cover four different seasons –

Winter – December to February
Spring – March and April
Summer – May and June
Autumn – Mid September to November

Each of these seasons has something very different to offer in terms of terrain, difficulty and weather.

Kedarkantha in Winter (December, January and February)

Day time: Between 8 °C and 10 °C | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between 0 °C and -10 °C.

Presence of snow: You will find snow from the base camp towards the end of December. The entire landscape and valley will be in white.

No. of warm layers required: 5 warm layers.

Kedarkantha is most popular as a winter trek and it is rightly so. The beautiful snow-covered landscape and an adventurous summit climb especially in the winter can make anyone go weak in the knees. It was discovered, documented and brought out to Indian trekking by Indiahikes as a winter trek.

Kedarkantha is a perfect winter trek – especially for beginners. What makes it perfect is how it brings about beauty and adventure together in the right proportion. You get to trek through dense forests that are covered with snow. You will learn to camp in clearings on thick mounds of snow.

The summit climb will get your adrenaline kicking with the thick blanket of snow to the summit. These make the trek in winter a memorable and a unique experience even for experienced trekkers.

Note: Kedarkantha trek gets extremely crowded from the Sankri side starting December 15th until mid-January.
Read Vikash Lavaniya's Blog on Kedarkantha - 7 Lessons My First Winter Trek Taught

Kedarkantha in Spring (March and April)

Day time: Between 15 °C and 18 °C | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between 0 °C and 5 °C.

Great time to experience the last of the winter snow. The snow starts to recede from the lower campsites when spring sets. The upper reaches of Kedarkantha are still under snow.

No. of warm layers required: 3 warm layers.

Kedarkantha in March still carries quite a bit of snow – especially the higher campsites towards the summit. What you will also see are the Rhododendrons and the freshly exposed grasslands blooming. This is a sight to watch especially when you see the flush of colours in contrast against the snow backdrop as you climb higher.

Snow melts away by April in Kedarkantha. Kedarkantha in April is a must to experience the beautiful landscape come alive after its long winter hibernation. The weather is much more pleasant to trek and camp in and the spring is in full force during this month. There is a riot of colours all along the way.

Kedarkantha in Summer (May and June)

Day time: Between 18 °C and 24 °C | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between 3 °C and 8 °C.

Presence of snow: You will not find any snow in the summer season.

No. of warm layers required: 2 warm layers.

Kedarkantha in May is marked with bright sun in the morning. In the evenings, the cold is not as harsh as in the other months.

Kedarkantha in June has occasional rainfall. Monsoon sets in only in July. The entire trek turns lush green.

In May and June, crowds are less as most of them are now moving towards the higher altitude treks. All in all, a great time to trek if you are looking to enjoy the trek in more isolation.

Kedarkantha in Autumn (September, October and November)

Day time: Between 10 °C and 15 °C | Night time: Will drop to temperatures between 0 °C and -5 °C.

Presence of snow: You will not find any snow in the autumn season.

No. of warm layers required: 4 warm layers.

Right after the monsoon, the entire trek comes alive in September. The meadows and the forests are fresh and alive during September and continue to be so in October as well. The air is crisp and the views of the upper Himalayas are strikingly clear.

The trek does get cold as we proceed towards November. And the feeling of incoming winter sets in during November. The views and the terrain remains crisp and beautiful for the trekker.

All in all, the ten months are ideal for anyone to do the trek.

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Planning your onward flight/train booking

If you are travelling from Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai or any other city, book your air tickets for Day Zero, which is the day before Day 1 on the itinerary. If your trek start day is 25 August, book your air tickets for 24 August to either Delhi/Dehradun.

There are two options.

Option 1: Fly directly to Dehradun

We recommend this. It gives you an added rest day at Dehradun. Most metros are directly connected to Dehradun. However, if the cost of the flight ticket to Dehradun is too high, book to Delhi and connect to Dehradun by train/bus.

Tip: Train is the best option to get to Dehradun. Bus journeys are often delayed by a few hours.

Taxis are available from the airport (plenty). Prepaid taxis are available (look for the pre-paid taxi counter just out of the conveyor belt at the arrivals). You can also flag down a taxi (bargain a bit) with taxis outside the airport. Airport taxis are exorbitant. They usually charge between Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 to Dehradun.

Usually, most passengers take taxis from the airport. Try to hook up with co-passengers on the flight for your taxi ride to Dehradun.

Pro Tip: If you want to save real money try to catch an auto just outside the airport terminal complex. They usually come there to drop passengers off. Autos are not allowed to enter the airport complex. They charge approximately Rs 300 to Dehradun.

If autos are not available, walk for a further 1.5 km to get to the Rishikesh Dehradun highway. From the highway, you can flag down regular town buses or shared autos (shared autos are called Vikram's). Bus fare is about Rs 30 to Dehradun. Shared autos charge about Rs 20.

Option 2: Flying to Delhi/Dehradun

Flying to Delhi may be a lot cheaper than getting to Dehradun. Make sure to book a flight that reaches Delhi by 8.00 pm. You must arrive in Delhi on Day Zero and not on Day 1.

Note: If you notice the difference in air ticket prices between Delhi and Dehradun is less than Rs 1000 then book directly to Dehradun. The rest and shorter travel time are worth the difference.

Next, book yourself on the Nanda Devi Express to Dehradun (Train No: 12401). It is a fully AC train that leaves at 23.35 hrs from Hazrat Nizamuddin and gets to Dehradun at 5.40 am.

Note: Earlier the Nanda Devi express would depart from New Delhi railway station. From 26 Aug 2019, it leaves from Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. The train now comes from Kota. So expect about 15 to 30 mins delay in arrival. The train number has changed too from 12206 to 12401.

At Hotel Grand Legacy (near Laal Pull), Dehradun/Library Chowk, Mussourie, wait for Indiahikes pick up at 6.30 am/7.30 am. Contact your driver by 6.00 am. The number of your transport coordinator will be shared with you a day or two before your departure.

Caution: Do not book on any other train except the Nanda Devi Express. The other option, Mussoorie express, is notorious for its delay. Your pickup vehicle may leave without you. If you do not get tickets on the Nanda Devi Express, take a bus from Delhi to Haridwar, but do not book on the Mussoorie express.

Pro Tip: Take the afternoon Jan Shatabdi express from New Delhi railway station (leaves at 3.20 pm) to arrive at Dehradun by 21:10 in the night. Stay overnight at Dehradun. Take the Indiahikes to pick up the next morning directly from Hotel Grand Legacy (near Laal Pull), Dehradun/Library Chowk, Mussourie.

Bus: If in case you do not get a train ticket, there are regular Volvo AC buses from Delhi’s ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Dehradun. You also get Non-AC buses. Buses are frequent and not usually crowded. You can get a bus almost every half hour. Buses take 7-8 hours to get to Dehradun from Delhi. AC bus tickets cost about Rs 700.

Note: The last metro line from airport to New Delhi to reach Kashmiri gate is 23:15. It costs you Rs 60.

Planning your return flight/train booking

Booking your return tickets requires some thought. First, keep some buffer time in mind before booking tickets. If you are scheduled to reach Dehradun around 6.30 pm, book your onward bus or train tickets only after 9 pm. In case you are stuck in traffic or get delayed at your lunch spot, you will have some buffer time to catch your bus/train.

Next, if your onward flight departs from Delhi/Dehradun, then book flight tickets for Day 7.

Sometimes trekkers worry if they can book an early morning flight out of Delhi on Day 7. Yes, you can. But book flights that depart only after 8 am. Do not book any flight between 6.00 and 8 am. You may not reach Delhi in time.

How to get to Delhi on time for an early morning flight.

If your flight is early, say between 8.00 and 9.00 am, then there are two options.

Train: Take the Nanda Devi Express from Dehradun (12402) that leaves at 22:40 hrs to get to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station at 04:50 in the morning. From Hazrat Nizamuddin, you get airport buses from outside the station as well as taxis. The Metro train is somewhat inconvenient from Hazrat Nizamuddin.

Note: Earlier Nanda Devi express would arrive at the New Delhi railway station. From 26 August 2019, it has been extended up to Kota. It no longer goes to the New Delhi railway station. Instead, it goes to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. The train number has changed from 12206 to 12402.

Bus: The other option is to take a bus from Dehradun. It is about a 6½ – 7 hrs journey to Delhi. So if you take a bus that leaves around 9.00 pm, then expect to reach Delhi at around 04.00 am (ISBT Kashmiri Gate). A bus that leaves at 10:00 pm will reach Delhi around 05.00 am. AC Volvo buses are the fastest, so opt for them. Non AC buses can take up to 7-8 hrs for the journey.

From Kashmiri Gate ISBT you get Airport buses or taxis.

Note: Metro trains in Delhi do not start before 5.00 am.

If you are taking a flight out of Dehradun

If you are taking a flight out of Dehradun then book yourself on Day 7. Most metros are now well connected by Dehradun by flight.

Planning your hotel/stay

In Dehradun, look for hotels around your pick up point. There are quite a few options available online and it is not difficult to find last-minute hotel bookings.

Hotel options at Dehradun

1. Hotel Grand Legacy is where your pick up is. It's a nice option. It has clean rooms with good amneties. Rooms ranges from Rs 1,800 onwards depending on the booking website.

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/tcbToJs1qnu3JP349

Phone: +91-9358774612

2. Nomads House is another new backpacker hostel in Dehradun. The atmosphere is good. The place is neat and clean. Indiahikes trek leaders love Nomads House. It is about 10 mins from the Dehradun railway station. Bunk beds start at Rs 400, rooms start at Rs 800. Shared autos are easily available to get to Nomads House.

Location: https://g.page/NomadsHouse?share

Phone: +91-9760596464

3. Hotel Drona, which is a government property owned by the GMVN is decent. It is an old, but large and spacious property. It is about 1.5 km from Dehradun railway station. Rooms start at Rs 750.

Phone: +91-9568006631

Book online https://gmvnonline.com/room-tariff.php?trhID=9&adults=&child=&checkindate=&checkoutdate=

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/sjWSkGhe5LfAN8wDA

4. Simran Guest house is another option near Grand Legacy. It has very basic amneties with rooms starting from Rs 700 onwards.

Location: https://g.page/simran-guest-house?share

Phone: +91 - 9219882447

Hotel options near Jolly Grant Airport

1. Sun n Soil Backpackers hostel is a great option, if you want to stay near Jolly Grant airport. It's a great place for the backpackers and travellers as it has a different ambience. Bunk beds start at Rs 450, rooms start at Rs 1,000.

Location: https://g.page/sun-n-soil-backpacker-hostel?share

Phone: +91 - 9634570743

What if you miss the Indiahikes pickup?

Getting to Kotgaon on your own

If you miss the Indiahikes pick-up from Dehradun, here is how you can get to Kotgaon base camp on your own.

Bus from Dehradun to Sankri

There is a direct bus from Dehradun Railway Station to Jakhol. It leaves at 7 am. The cost per ticket is Rs 400/-. Get down at Motwar. Kotgaon is about 3 km away from Motwar and is not on the same route as Sankri. Take a shared taxi from Motwar to Kotgaon. There are private buses that leave from outside Dehradun Railway Station 6:30-7:30 AM to Sankri as well.

Alternatively, there is a trekking route from Motwar to Kotgaon base camp. This is a well-marked 1 km long trail but is a steep ascent. It may become difficult if you have more luggage.

If you are reaching Dehradun late, you can take a bus to Purola/Naugaon and then a private cab to Motwar

Tip: While this bus hopping may sound cumbersome, we do it regularly at Indiahikes. They are a fun and a good way to know the real Uttarakhand. You also get to meet very interesting local people. So while no one wants to miss a pickup, don’t be too disheartened if it happens. You may just experience one of your best travel moments!

Given below is a list of all the gear you need for the Kedarkantha trek:

If you don’t have certain items, you can rent high-quality gear like trekking shoes, backpacks, and jackets from the Crosstrek Rental Store by Indiahikes. It costs less than Rs 2000 for the entire trek. We highly recommend renting gear since it is both more affordable and environmentally friendly.

Additionally, you’ll notice a small medical kit in the list. While our trek leaders carry medical kits with 17 medicines including life-saving drugs, you must bring your personal medical kit as well. We are already equipped with BP machines, oximeters and canned oxygen, but your medical kit is for quick access to you, especially while travelling.

Most importantly, you must digitally upload and carry mandatory documents to get government permits for the trek - your ID card, medical certificate, and disclaimer certificate. Keep them in a plastic bag to keep them safe in your backpack. There are no printing or photocopy facilities at the basecamp.

Here is a list of everything you need for your trek.

Shoes and backpack

Trekking shoes with ankle support (Available on rent)
Backpack with rain cover (Available on rent)

Warm Layers and Clothes

Warm layers (Padded jackets available on rent)
- 3 layers if you're trekking in spring, summer and monsoon (1 woollen sweater, 1 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 4 layers if you're trekking in autumn (1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
- 5 layers if you're trekking in winter (1 pair of thermals, 1 woollen sweater, 2 fleece, 1 padded jacket)
3 Collared T-shirts (Wear one, carry two)
2 quick-dry trek pants (Wear one, carry one)

Accessories

Sunglasses (Available on rent)
Sun cap, preferably with flaps
Waterproof gloves (Available for purchase)
Waterproof socks (Highly recommended for trekking in snow. Available for purchase)
Balaclava
Woollen socks (2 pairs of Dry fit + 1 pair of Woollen)
Headlamp (Available on rent)
Trekking pole (Available on rent)
Rain jacket + pants / poncho (Rain Jacket is available on rent)

Toiletries:

Sunscreen
Moisturiser
Light towel
Lip balm or vaseline
Toilet paper (Wet wipes are strictly not allowed on our treks)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Reusable plastic covers (for used clothes)

Cutlery:

Steel lunch box, spoon and a coffee mug (Lunch box is available on rent)
Two water bottles or Hydration Pack (Water bottles are available on rent)

Once you run through this list, don't miss this ultimate guide on what gear to take on a trek. It contains tips on what gear to choose, where to get it from and how much to spend on it.

Our only tip: Keep your backpack light. Indiahikes practices low impact sustainable trekking in every aspect of the trek. Carrying your own personal backpack reduces your impact on the mountains by 20%. We expect all our trekkers to carry their own backpacks unless they have a justifiable reason not to.

PRO TIPS

Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.

These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.

Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar Card, or passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.
Disclaimer certificate: There are two sections in this. The first part is a personal medical record. The second part is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully, fill in and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp. – Download disclaimer certificate
Medical certificate: The medical certificate needs to be filled out by an MBBS doctor, without which the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download medical certificate

Note: Indiahikes has a panel of doctors who can help you with a medical certificate. They are available for online consultation. To get in touch with them, please write to trekmedicalcertificates@gmail.com. They will respond to you within 24 hours.
Consultation fee: Rs 300

Carry these medicines with you, easily accessible at all times. Do not take any medicine unless you have consulted your trek leader.

Diamox (1 Strip): It is important to carry Diamox as part of the Live Saving Drugs. Read more about Diamox here on how it reduces the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness on the trek.
Dolo 650 (5 tablets): This is a paracetamol. It helps to tackle fever, mild pain
Avomine (4 tablets): Carry this especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Pop one-half hour before the start of your road journey.
Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol.
Digene (4 tablets): Take it if you feel the food that you’ve taken is undigested. Alert your trek leader immediately. It could be a sign of AMS.
ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid-day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking. Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.
Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.

Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.

Pro Tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit.

We recommend walking/jogging/running as the best routine to get fit for any trek. It works on the same muscles you use while trekking—your calves, glutes, quads and hamstrings. It also mimics your foot movement so you are better prepared for sudden twists and turns they may go through on uneven terrain.

It helps increase your stamina gradually if done consistently. It is also an easy routine that does not require any equipment or tools.

Fitness Target

To do the Kedarkantha Trek comfortably, you must be able to walk, jog or run 5 km in under 38 minutes. This is the minimum recommended fitness level that you must aim for.

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Trekking is a sport that primarily uses your lungs, core, calves, glutes, quads and hamstrings. Being fit will help you enjoy the trek and will keep you safe.

To reach any fitness target, there are two things you must work on:

Cardiovascular Endurance
Muscle strength

If you are not currently active, follow the below schedule to get trek fit in 6 weeks!

A 6-Week Plan to Help You Get Trek-Fit for the Kedarkantha Trek

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Pro Tip: Warming up and cooling down before and after your workout is important. Do not miss that.

| Note: If you are not a regular runner, do not start running all of a sudden.

Strength Training Schedule:

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Workouts marked with (*) are optional. But completing them, will help you prepare better.

Note:

Alternatives to 20 Standard Pushups = (3 x 15 = 45 knee pushups) = (3 x 30 = 90 wall pushups)
Alternative to 36 full squats = (4 x 18 = 72 half squats)
Alternative to jumping lunges = forward lunges (same count)
If you cannot complete 1 full set of any plank, divide it into 2 halves and complete it with a rest break in between. For example, if you cannot complete 1 minute of a standard plank, divide it into 2 sets of 30 seconds each.
After completing a few weeks of training, if you can progress, you may increase the number of sets or reps for desired results.

Important note: We accept only running, jogging, or walking workout screenshots as fitness proof. Screenshots of cross-training workouts will not be considered valid. We've suggested cross-training options to help keep your fitness journey engaging and fun, allowing you to explore activities you enjoy and avoid inconsistency.

Note: Use apps like Nike and Strava to record your runs.

What happens if you are not fit:

You do not enjoy the trek
You struggle to be a part of the team because you’re slow.
You miss out on a deep, transformative experience that Indiahikes specially designs for you.

The good part is it is not difficult. All you need to do is start following the fitness routine 6 to 8 weeks before your trek begins.

We are here to help you in this fitness journey. Just start slow and as long as you are committed and consistent with your routine, you are in for an unforgettable trek experience.

How to Get Fitness Approval from the Indiahikes Team:

Every trekker needs fitness approval from the Indiahikes team 20 days before the trek date. Without this, you will not be allowed on the trek.

Note: Use apps like Nike and Strava to record your runs.

What to upload?

A minimum of 3 screenshots of your runs/jogs/walks/cycling
Monthly summary of your routine

Kedarkantha Trek is an 18 km long trek that spans over 4 days (6 if you include the travel days from Dehradun and back). On the first day, you trek for about 5 km for about 4 hours. The second day is shorter where you trek for about 2 km over 2 hours.

The third day is the longest day of the trek as you trek to the summit and come back to the next campsite. On this day, you trek about 6 km over 6-7 hours. On the last day, you trek for 5-6 km again over 5 hours.

Kedarkantha trek reaches a maximum altitude/height of 12500 ft. Depending on the starting point, there are three altitudes you start the trek from:

Sankri – 6,455 ft
Kotgaon – 6,520 ft
Gaichawan Gaon – 5,600 ft

From the starting point, the trek climbs a height/altitude of more or less 6,000 ft during the length. You steadily climb up the first three days of the trek till the summit and climb down on the last two days. Please check the short/detailed itinerary to understand the trek in more detail.

Kedarnath and Kedarkantha are not the same. The distance between Kedarkantha and Kedarnath is around 370 km by road. They are a 12-hour-journey away from each other.
Kedarkantha is a Himalayan summit in the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarakhand. It is a popular trekking trail that takes trekkers to the top of a summit, from where you see fantastic views of the Garhwal Himalayas. It is known for its beautiful forest trails, pretty campsites and the remote villages on the trail.
Kedarnath, on the other hand, is a revered Hindu temple in Uttarakhand. It is considered one of the 12 most sacred Shiva Temples in the world (the Jyotirlingas). It has enormous religious and mythological significance, attracting pilgrims from all over the world.

Yes you can!

If you are above the age of 58 years, you’ll need to submit a Treadmill Test (not older than 12 months) within a week of completing your trek registration. Apart from this, you should also be able to jog 5 km in 45 minutes.

Network and connectivity are sparse in Kedarkantha. But there are few locations where you can rely on a good network for communication on the trek route.

The last ATM en route to the base camp is in Mori. Mori has an SBI bank with an ATM attached to it. However, the ATM is empty of cash many times. In such a case, you may head out to an SBI authorized cash withdrawal centre. You can swipe your card and get cash from the person servicing the desk. This centre is located on the first floor, two buildings to the right of SBI.

Although Mori has this possibility, we strongly encourage trekkers to bring cash or to withdraw cash from the 3 ATMs available in Purola (SBI, ICICI and Axis Bank ATMs).

Sankri/Gaichawan Gaon/Kotgaon are the last points that are electrically connected. However, the electricity is extremely intermittent and can be absent for most part of the day during winter/late summer (when the monsoon starts to set in).

So, we strongly encourage you to bring additional batteries for your cameras and a power bank with more than 10,000 mAh to last you the entire trek.

Pro Tip: Beware that the power from your batteries will drain faster in cold temperatures of this region. So, put the batteries in a small pouch and keep them inside your sleeping bag to keep them warm during the night.

At Kedarkantha, you have the opportunity to drop your luggage at the base camp for the duration of the trek. Every trekker is permitted to leave behind one piece of luggage at no charge. Anything beyond one piece of luggage is chargeable at Rs 500 per luggage. (The luggage could be a backpack / suitcase / duffel bag or anything similar.).

At the end of the trek, the cloakroom belongings will be brought back to you.

Please do ensure that you do not leave valuables in our cloakroom facility. If you do so, do inform our staff so that they can take the necessary precautions to keep it safe.

Having too many mules on a trail isn’t good for the ecosystem. This is why, at Indiahikes, we do not encourage offloading. A trekker carries his/her own backpack in the true spirit of trekking.

But if — due to a medical condition — you are unable to carry your own backpack, you may offload your backpack.

The cost of offloading on the Kedarkantha trek is Rs 1,680 for the trek.

Find details about the offloading process here.

5 Reasons Why Indiahikes

We are known for our safety

We are known for our pioneering safety practices in trekking. Microspikes, oximeters, and BP checks became standards thanks to us. In the mountains, emergencies don't care who you're with—everyone knows that when trouble hits, you look for the yellow tents of Indiahikes.

We are pioneers of treks in India

We are pioneers in trekking. Since 2007, we have brought out treks that have become India's most famous treks: Roopkund, Rupin Pass, Buran Ghati, Kedarkantha, Kashmir Great Lakes, Tarsar Marsar, Brahmatal, Phulara Ridge—the list goes on. In 2023 alone, we brought out five new treks in Indian trekking. We know treks better than anyone. This comes directly from the reason why Indiahikes was born: to bring out trek information and enable trekkers to trek on their own.

We are India’s largest trekking organisation

More than 30,000 people trek with us every year. We are the largest trekking organisation in India. 24% of our trekkers come back to trek with us every year. Over 4,000 students from the top educational institutions trek with us every year. Aside from this, families with children choose to trek with Indiahikes knowing that our treks are the safest. We have taken over 8000 children trekking so far, and the number continues to grow.

Our treks are transformative

We focus on designing transformative experiences. Our trek leaders conduct thought-provoking exercises that help you reflect and contemplate. This impact stays with you for a long time. Trekkers return feeling energised, more confident, or developing abilities to deal with difficulties. Many have changed careers, rethought their core values, become more humble, shown gratitude to others, or started a new fitness journey.

Sustainability is at the heart of our operations

For us, sustainability is not just writing on the wall. Using eco-bags, our trekkers have cleared over 120 tonnes of litter from the mountains. We do not carry packaged foods; instead, we serve freshly made food. We do not light campfires; we carry coal to light angethis to keep you warm. Our bio-toilets not only keep our toilets odour-free but also enrich the soil. When you trek with us, you leave mountains better.

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