Important Facts:
Kedarkantha peak height:
12,500 ft
Kedarkantha trek distance: 23
kms
Kedarkantha is not just a trend
starter but also one of the most popular and best winter treks of India. There
are various reasons for this.
It has gained its popularity due to
the views, terrain, flora, fauna and easy with which someone can complete it.
The word Kedarkantha is made of up
two words Kedar + Kantha, literal meaning – ‘Throat of Lord Shiva’. This trek
has a whole lot of fascinating mythical stories attached to it.
Kedarkantha is not to be confused
with Kedarnath, as these two are completely different.
Kedarkantha is a 6 days long trek in
Govind PashuVihar National Park. As you begin your climb up the trek, you will
be able to view peaks of Swargarohini, Bandarpunch, Kalanag, and Draupadi ka
Danda around you on all days of your trek. The star studded sky in the night is
one of the best that you will ever see.
On your way up, you will come across
large clearings or open grounds that will provide you not just excellent view
but also a sense of nature’s beauty.
The place was initially just a
grazing ground for shepherds and a temple for villagers. Over the period it has
gained its popularity among trekkers and turned into a buzzing place for
tourists.
Thanks to the thrill thirsty
Indians!
One of the earliest discovered
commercial winter treks in India, Kedarkantha peak has held mind and heart of
millions of Indian trekkers throughout its history.
The sheer beauty it holds captivates your eyes and heart.
Trekking on Kedarkantha is much more
than what it looks over a couple of photos on your screen. It gives you a sense
of satisfaction and achievement.
How is the weather like?
In Summers:
Kedarkantha is an all-round year trek
and however, the views you will get to see depends on the weather conditions.
The temperature during summer months varies
from 10 – 20 degrees Celsius.
The warm weather and ample of
sunshine results in lush green landscapes and trees filled with leaves and
flowers.
One of the best things about
Kedarkantha trek in summers is the flourishing trees and flowers. While
trekking, you pass through several trails of stunning rhododendrons and
gorgeous oak trees. As the temperature remains very moderate, the entire route
becomes extraordinarily colourful too.
In Winters:
During winters Kedarkantha trek is
packed with heavy snow and offers your beautiful views of snow topped Himalayan
mountains.Sun’s reflection from the snow studded mountains makes the mountains
glow.
The weather becomes extremely cold in
winters and the actual temperature dips to -5 degrees in winter. Due to wind
gusts the temperature feels like -10 to -15 degrees.
Your campsites are placed in grounds
full of snow. An itinerary planned for half day treks and balance half rest
period make sure that you get ample time to enjoy snow.
What’s the best time to visit?
Honestly, the best time to visit
Kedarkantha depends much on the trekkers. This trek in itself is a beautiful
trek, but the experience varies with the changes in the season.
People who like to trek amidst the
green environment with comfortable weather, summer is good time to take on this
trek. But if you are looking for some excitement winter is the time to go. The
fresh snow fall, trees covered with snow makes it an amazing time to visit the
place during the winters.
Though, it is difficult to set out a
particular month as the best time to undertake this adventure, but majority of
the trekkers choose winters to conquer this peak.
How difficult is the terrain throughout the trek?
The entire trek is located in one
single national park which is Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, and terrain
changes according to the height. The trek takes you from Sankri (located at a
height of 6455 ft.) to Kedarkantha summit (located at a height of 12,500 ft.)
The trek starts with a steep gradient
for a short distance and then eases itself during the middle sections.
Kedarkantha trek route comprise of several narrow streams and at times the
terrain becomes slippery and muddy. The terrain also has some rocky patches and
you might encounter several boulders marking your way. The last one KM climb to
the summit is the steepest one and takes longest time.
The best thing about this terrain is
theflora and fauna that you encounter on the way. The trek route has ample of
oak, walnut, chestnuts, maple and apple trees.
Majority of the trail is fairly easy
but sometimes it turns into a little harder ascend. Specially during the summit
climb, the trail becomes steep, but because you have ample of time, trekking
over that trail is not a problem.
What about your stays and washroom
facilities?
During the five day stays trek you
stay three days in the dome tents and two days in the guest houses. While you
are in Sankri, we provide you extremely hygienic and clean rooms at the guest
houses with proper bathing facilities.
One of our specialties is the dual
occupancy tents. We provide you the best of alpine dome winter camps in India
with the maximum capacity of two trekkers. Of course, if you wish to stay in triple
occupancy tent, we can surely arrange that for you.
The best thing about a trek is the
night sky in the clear weather that you encounter and the glowing tents. At
12,000ft and clear skies, you can fulfil your star gazing dreams with a sky
full of stars that you never see in a city sky.
Well, our campsites our placed at
ideal spots from where you can experience the perfect star gazing moment.
Trekking in the wild also teaches us a lot of things. One of them is to adjust in the most vulnerable situations. At high altitudes there is no permanent construction, hence there are only dry toilet facilities.
How delicious your food is going to
be?
The food that you get on the trek is
locally procured to help sustain he local villages and is vegetarian. A
vegetarian healthy diet helps keeps your bowl movements in order throughout the
expedition. Your food consists of lentils, chapattis, cooked vegetables and
rice.
Kedarkantha is one of the most
magnificent treks in the entire Himalayas. This is the perfect trek to get
started on your trekking expeditions.
For further queries regarding
Kedarkantha trek package, Kedarkantha trek cost, Kedarkantha trek itinerary and
Kedarkantha trek map, call us or write to us today!
Day 1:
Dehradun to Sankri
Altitude:
6,455 ft
Drive:
6-7 hrs (187 km)
Meals Included: Dinner
Stay type: Stay at guest houses on double /triple sharing basis.
Day 2:
Sankri to Juda Ka Talab
Altitude:
8,859 ft
Trek: 4
km (4-5 hrs)
Meals Included: Breakfast
- Lunch - Evening Snacks - Dinner
Stay Type: Stays in tents on double/triple sharing basis.
Day 3: Juda
Ka Talab - Kedarkantha Base Camp
Altitude:
11,250 ft
Trek:
4 km (3-4 hrs)
Meals Included:
Breakfast - Lunch - Evening Snacks - Dinner
Stay Type: Stays in tents on double/triple sharing basis.
Day 4: Base
Camp to Kedarkantha Top, Descend to Hargaon campsite
Altitude: 11,250
ft - 12,500 ft - 8,900 ft
Trek: 6
km (6-7 hrs)
Meals Included: Breakfast
- Lunch - Evening Snacks - Dinner
Stay Type: Stays in tents on double/triple sharing basis.
Day 5:
Hargaon to Sankri
Altitude: 8,900
ft - 9,100 ft
Trek: 4
km (4-5 hrs)
Meals Included: Breakfast
- Lunch - Evening Snacks - Dinner
Stay Type: Stays in tents on double/triple sharing basis.
Day 6:
Sankri to Dehradun
Drive: 7-8
hrs (187 km)
Meal: Breakfast
Trek ends here
Air: Take
a flight to Jolly Grant (Dehradun) airport and from there take a Shared /
Private cab or a local bus to reach Dehradun.
Road: Volvo
transfers are available from Delhi to Dehradun, It takes around 6 hrs to reach
Dehradun from Delhi.
Rail: Dehradun
has a railway station so book a train to Dehradun railway station direct and if
there in no direct train available from your city then book a train to delhi
and from there either you can book another train or take a bus to Dehradun.
Before booking a cab or bus to or
from Sankri, it is advisable to contact the trek operator first as they have
the local transport facility running which usually borne and shared between the
trekkers.
1. Shirts / T-shirts –2/3, Jeans / Trekking Pants -2
2. Windproof jacket of decent quality (no flimsy wind cheaters please!) preferably with a hood
3. Warm and thick Fleece / Full-sleeve Woollen sweater
4. Thermal inner wear (upper & lower), Scarf/muffler (optional)
5. Woollen cap, Woollen gloves, Woollen socks & regular socks (3-4 pairs)
6. Comfortable Trekking/Hiking shoes (Waterproof shoes with a thick sole are recommended)
7. Lightweight floaters/sandals/slippers
8. Raincoat / Poncho, Small quick dry towel
9. Water bottle (sturdy ones, no empty Bisleri bottles!!)
10. Cap / Hat to keep the strong sun away from your face
11. Sun glasses (polarized/UV Protected), Walking stick / Trekking pole
12. Sunscreen Lotion, Lip Balm, Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries)
13. Medicines, if requiring any specific medication
14. Personal toiletries
15. Day pack/small bag in case if you are planing to offload your regular backpack
16. Hand Sanitizer
17. Extra face masks
18. Camera if you like (with fully
charged batteries)
Inclusions:
1. You will be greeted by our
trek team with a welcome drink on your arrival to Sankri.
2. All stays included from
Sankri to Sankri on double / triple sharing basis:
3. Guest house on day 1 & 5.
4. Alpine / Dome tents on day 2,
3, 4.
5. All meals included from Day 1
dinner to Day 6 breakfast. Vegetarian meals will be served throughout the trek.
6. Skilled local staff who have
ample knowledge of the route
7. Hot water in buckets can be
provided on request depending on availability while staying at guest houses in
Sankri only.
8. Kitchen, dining and toilet
tents will be used during the trek.
9. Cooks/Helper for carrying
common equipment like rations/tents/utensils/groceries.
10. All trek essentials
included–
Accommodation - tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats etc
Safety equipment - microspikes,
gaiters as per requirements and basic first aid kit with a portable oxygen
cylinder.
11. Permit - forest and camping fee included.
Exclusions:
1. The above trek charges do not
include the GST charges (5%).
2. Personal essentials –
Equipment - Gumboots, trekking poles,
liners, etc.
Insurance - Personal and travel
insurances.
Beverage - Mineral water
bottles/bottled or canned beverages
Snacks - Chocolate, dry fruits,
protein or nutrition bar.
Entertainment - Camera or drone fees.
Transportation - The charges of
transportation on day 1 and 6 are to be borne and shared between the trekkers.
3. In case if your trek remains
incomplete or uninitiated because of "force majeure", medical
emergency or by personal choice after you arrive at the starting point, you
will not be able to get refund, reschedule or replace any services that remain
unutilized by you.
4. Any additional cost incurred
due to changes in Government Guidelines related to travel/trek/COVID-19 will be
borne by the Guest.
5. Anything which is not
included in Inclusion.
6. Separate tents on request, will be charged extra (INR 1,500 per tent)
1. If cancellations are made
within 48 hours prior to the start of the trek, 100% advance will be charged as
cancellation fee.
2. If cancellations are made
between 2-7 days prior to the start of the trek, either 75% of paid amount will
be returned to the guest or the whole advance amount can be adjusted against
any trek within next 6 months.
3. If cancellations are made
prior to 7 days from the start of the trek, 100% of total advance will be
refunded.
4. If you book the trek by
paying 25% of booking amount and fail to make the 100% payment before 25 days
from date of travel. In this case your booking will get cancelled automatically
and can only be reconfirmed once you make the full payment, depending on the
availability of slots.
5. In case if your trek remains
incomplete or uninitiated because of "force majeure", medical
emergency or by personal choice after you arrive at the starting point, you
will not be able to get refund, reschedule or replace any services that remain
unutilized by you.
6. Cancellations are strictly
subjected to cancellation policies mentioned on the website & are
irrespective of the date of booking.
Q1. What will be the Kedarkantha trek
route?
Answer: The Kedarkantha trek starts from the Dehradun to the base
village of Sankri to Juda Ka Talab to Kedarkantha base camp and to Peak Summit,
from the peak summit the final leg goes down to the base camp to Hargaon and to
Sankri and a drive to Dehradun. You can check the detailed itinerary listed on
the website.
Q2. What are the clothing and
equipment that need to be carried from our end on the Kedarkantha trek?
Answer: A proper summarised list of what needs to be carried is listed
on our website under the Kedarkantha trek page. You must check it and prepare
accordingly.
Q3. Which type of shoes should I
bring on the Kedarkantha trekking tour?
Answer: We recommend you to buy the high ankle waterproof shoes with a
good grip. Also, you can buy a pair of gumboots for yourself from the local
shops of Sankri base camp.
Q4. How difficult is the Kedarkantha
Trek?
Answer: The Kedarkantha trek is a winter trek and during the hike, you walk over the hard and soft snow patches. Also, the Kedarkantha trek is listed under the beginner’s trek, with proper gears and instructions from the trek guide you can easily win the Kedarkantha Summit.
Q5. What kind of food will be provided during the Kedarkantha trek?
Answer: During the Keadarkantha trek, you will be provided with proper
vegetarian food. While keeping in mind the supply of goods in the hilly areas
the seasonal food varieties will be provided to you.
Q6. Are Kedarnath and Kedarkantha the
same?
Answer: The Kedarnath and the Kedarkantha sound the same but are very
different. The Kedarnath is a part of the Char-Dham yatra of the Hindus and the
Kedarkantha is a trek in the western Gharwal Himalayas which offer great views
of the many snow-capped mountains.
Q7. How long is Kedarkantha trek?
Answer: The Kedarkantha Trek is a scheduled 6 Days / 5 Nights trek.
You trek for approx 18 km in a span of 4 days, the rest 2 days will be coming
to Sankri and leaving for Dehradun respectively.
Q8. What is the height of the
Kedarkantha trek?
Answer: The highest altitude gain for the trek are as below-
Sankri - Approx 6,455 ft
Juda Ka Talab - Approx 8,859 ft
Base Camp - Approx 11,250 ft
Kedarkantha Peak - Approx 12,500 ft
Q9. What is the Kedarkantha Trek best
time to visit?
Answer: Since the Kedarkantha is a winter trek and the best time to
visit would be October to April.
Q10. Will I find snow on Kedarkantha
Trek?
Answer: Yes, the Kedarkantha Trek is a winter trek and during the months
of late Nov. to February, you will encounter soft fresh snow.
Q11. How much weight will I have to carry?
Answer: The backpack which you will carry shouldn’t be more than 10 kg
of weight, on day 1, the trek leader will guide you through the luggage
packing.
Q12. What makes Kedarkantha a great trek for beginners?
Answer: The highest elevation is 12,500 ft on the Kedarkantha trek, the
easy ascend and the well-marked path makes the Kedarkantha Trek great for
first-timers.
Q13. Will there be mobile connectivity on Kedarkantha Trek?
Answer: During the trek of Kedarkantha, the last point of mobile network
connectivity will be Purola which is 54 km before the Sankri Base village.
Q14. How do we reach Sankri?
Answer: You can take a shared cab from the Dehradun to reach
Sankri, also detailed information on how to reach the Sankri campsite is listed
on the website, you must check it out.
Q15. What sort of fitness is expected from trekkers?
Answer: Normal fitness is required for the Kedarkantha Trek, the trekker
should be able to jog 2-3 km in a single day.
Q16. What type of vehicles will be used for transportation?
Answer: The transportation vehicle for the Kedarkantha Trek will be
SUV/MUV or the traveler, the type of vehicle is totally dependent on the group
size. Although as per the respective itinerary, the transportation will be done
on Day 1 & 6 if you choose to opt for the transit with us.
Q17. Is Kedarkantha Trek safe?
Answer: The Kedarkantha Trek is a beginner trek and is totally safe as
you pay heed to the trek guide.
Q18. I am a first-timer. Should I go for this trek?
Answer: Yes, you should go on the trek of Kedarkantha. The trail is well
marked and offers a great view of many famous peaks. This trek will allow you
to walk deep into the Uttrakhand side of the Himalayas.
Q19. What is Delhi to Kedarkantha distance?
Answer: The distance from Delhi to Sankri is 432 km which is the base
village for the Kedarkantha and many other treks of the region. The distance
will take 12 hours to complete.
Q20. What's the Kedarkantha weather in December?
Answer: During the month of December in the Kedarkantha Trek, the
weather dips to around-15 degrees at the summit point.
Q21. What is the temperature during Kedarkantha Trek?
Answer: The temperature during the Kedarkantha trek stays between 5
degrees to -15 degrees.
Q22. What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
Answer: There are no criteria to a minimum or maximum age for the
Kedarkantha Trek but we recommend children of age 8 above should join this
trek.
Q23. What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
Answer: There will be a mixed type of accommodation on the trek of
Kedarkantha as you will be staying in a guest house while in Sankri and on
tents during the other locations on the trek.
Q24. Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Answer: You will be provided with attached washrooms while staying in
the guest house and dry toilet tents while on the trek.
Q25. How much distance will we cover each day on the Kedarkantha
trekking tour?
Answer: Every day, the trekking distance is different, however, you will
be trekking approx 5 km (average) on a daily basis on the trek of Kedarkantha.
Q26. Why plan the Kedarkantha trek in November?
Answer: The Kedarkantha trek in November is also an early and great time as you encounter soft snowfalls and the more enriched forest sections.
Q27. Can we have liquor or smoke while on the trek?
Answer: No, it is strictly not allowed to have Liquor or Smoke on the
Kedarkantha Trek as it might cause AMS.
Q28. What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
Answer: The nearby attraction points that you can cover near Dehradun
are - Robber’s cave - Tapkeshwar Mandir Dehradun - Rajaji National Park -
Malsi Deer Park - George Everest’s House and many more.
Q29. If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
Answer: Gaiters and microspikes will be provided as equipment if you
trek in the snow during the trail of Kedarkantha.
Q30. Is there an option to offload my backpack?
Answer: Yes, you can offload your backpack at the Sankri guest house
after an extra amount on the ground.
Q31. Is the trekking pole necessary?
Answer: Trekking pole is not necessary for this trek, however, it will
provide extra support to the legs while climbing or descending.
Q32. Are there any local stores/shops where I can shop trekking
necessities?
Answer: Yes, the trekking equipment are available on shopping only at
Sankri shops, however, the supply is limited with the local shops.
Q33. Is it safe for a solo woman traveler to trek in Fixed departures?
Answer: Yes, it is completely safe for the female traveler to join the
fixed departures of Kedarkantha Trek.
Q34. Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Answer: Yes, our team will provide you the Kedarkantha Trek certificates
on completion of the trek.
Q35. In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us
from and where will you drop?
Answer: In case if you opt for the transport with us then the pickup
point will be the Dehradun Railway Station.
Q36. What time will you drop us at the endpoint on the last day of the
trek?
Answer: You will reach Sankri at around 12 or 1 in noon followed by
the leisure stay and on Day 6 it's an 8-10 hour drive back to Dehradun.
Q37. What are the mandatory documents required for the trek?
Answer: You must carry your valid government-issued ID proof and their copies. Note - PAN card copies will not be accepted as it does not have the local address mentioned.