Detailed Suggested Kedarkantha Trekking Itinerary (4 Nights only) in Winters
Day 1: Dehradun – Sankri
Distance: 200 Kms by road Time Taken: 8 - 10 Hours
Sankri Altitude: 1967 Meters
Highlights: Beautiful scenery, Tons river, Pine forests, Sankri village, HomeStays, Sankri Zipline
Reach at Dehradun and take an early morning bus or taxi to Sankri. The drive to Sankri will be a memorable one of most enchanting views. Overnight stay can be done at Meraki Sankri Homestay. If you stay somewhere else, you must visit the Meraki Cafe - Arthouse in the Himalayas, which offers the best food in the region. You can spend the evening strolling across the small village and enjoying the gentle sound of Tons river.
Meraki Home Stay in Sankri
Day 2: Sankri – Juda Ka Talab - Kedarkantha Base Camp
Distance: 8 Kms trek Time taken: 7 - 8 Hours
Altitude: 3,430
Highlights: Small villages with wooden houses, bridges, diverse Himalayan flora and fauna
The trek commences today as we ascend towards Juda Ka Talab. The trial leading to Juda Ka Talab passes through beautiful forests of oak, birch, and deodar trees. Juda Ka Talab is one of the most sought after attractions in the Kedarkantha trek. It gains even more prominence in winters where it remains completely frozen. The trek will begin after a pleasant breakfast at Sankri. Sankri to Juda Ka Talab is a 4kms trek which will take around 3-4hrs to complete.
Arun Singh Rawat/facebook: Juda Ka Talab - Kedarkantha, Uttarakhand.
You’ll get your trekking gears and the instructors will give you information and tips for the journey ahead. The journey passes through beautiful villages and ascends as you go further. This is one of the most interesting parts of the journey. You’ll see women, men, and children going about with their lives, and short quick glances of Himalayan Languars, hares and boars along the way. There are small huts which serve tea, Maggi, and other eatables. You can stop for tea and have your lunch here.
As you ascend further, the beautiful Himalayan ranges come to view. You reach your destination- the mesmerizing Juda Ka Talab which is at an altitude of 2,700 mts. You’ll rest here for some time and take in the captivating scenery of the place. Swargarohini peak is visible from here. During winters, the entire lake remains frozen. You can walk and glide on the ice sheet.
It's a winter time and getting a flat land without snow is tough here. Trekkers enjoying the warm shed in their camps on the way of Kedarkantha Trek. Photo ©Nitish Thakur
From Juda Ka Talab, the trek to Kedarkantha Base Camp follows a steeper gradient and dense forests of pine and oak trees. You’ll cover a distance of 4kms which will take about 3-4hrs to complete. You’ll camp here for the night. Kedarkantha Base Camp, at an altitude of 3,430m, has one of the best campsites. Every location offers spectacular views. Explore the place and sleep under the alluring stars. The Milky Way looks spectacular from here.
Day 3: Kedarkantha Base Camp – Summit – Kedarkantha Base Camp
Distance: 6 Kms trek Time taken: 7 Hours
Altitude: 3,430 mts - 3,800mts - 3,430mts
Highlights: Early morning sunrise, 360° view of prominent mountain ranges and peaks, Kedarkantha peak
Today, you’ll start early (before dawn) after having a healthy breakfast and trek towards the summit. It’ll take around 2hrs to complete the trek.
The sunrise illuminates the meadows and the majestic peaks which leave you mesmerized. Walking along with the rising sun fills you with a refreshing energy and zeal. Take photos as you move forward for you don’t want to miss the views of the majestic Himalayas surrounding you.
The Kedarkantha summit looks breathtaking at an altitude of 3,800mts. Stones arranged in square with a Trishul pointing towards the sky mark the summit. A small beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati rises at the top of the peak along with a little temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. All your tiredness gets washed away with the enchanting sight in front of you. Surrounded 360° by mountains, you’ll feel something unworldly altogether. The Gangotri and Yamunotri mountain ranges, Chansil pass, Kinnaur Kailash ranges, Har ki Dun and Rupin ranges are visible from the summit. Along with the mountain ranges, notable peaks like Swargarohini, Black peak, and Bandarpoonch peaks are visible from the summit.
The Trishul of lord Shiva or shri Kedarkantha and a trekker overlooking the uncountable range of mountains from Kedarkantha summit & trek. Photo ©Nitish Thakur
You can rest for some time here at the summit. Take momentous pictures and explore the sight. During winters, everything remains covered with snow and the contrasting beauty of the peaks amidst the snow captures the breathkating beauty of Kedarkantha.
We’ll head down towards the base camp on the same day. Walk carefully along the descent. You can have tea and light refreshments on tea huts. You’ll have your lunch at the campsite and spend the night there among the stars.
Day 4: Kedarkantha Base Camp - Sankri
Distance: 6 - 7 Kms trek Time taken: 4 - 5 Hours
Highlights: Early morning sunrise, pine and oak forests, Har ki Dun valley
Today you bid adieu to the majestic Kedarkantha and trek back to Sankri via Hargaon. Wake up early to capture the beautiful sunrise from Kedarkantha Base Camp. You’ll have your breakfast and get ready for the descent. Walking through the gorgeous pine and oak forests and the crystal clear streams where you can fill up your water bottles, makes the descent interesting. The clear summer streams remains completely frozen during winters. It’s a sight worth watching. The glorious Har ki Dun valley can be seen from the ridge.
The curves of nature, to enjoy more spellbinding views like this visit Kedarkantha Uttarkashi. Photo ©Nitish Thakur
After trekking for 4-5 hours at moderate speed you reach Sankri, Since, you started the trek early in the morning, you’ll have a plenty of time to stroll around the villages in Sankri and explore the area. At Sankri, we’ll stay at Meraki Homestay.
Day 5: Sankri – Dehradun
Distance: 200kms by vehicle Time taken: 8 - 10hrs
Highlights: Scenic view of the route, Mori town, Purola, Tons River, Doon view from Mussoorie
Today, you’ll head back to Dehradun via Mussoorie. You can either drive back or take an early morning bus to Dehradun. It will take around 8-9 hrs to reach Dehradun. Halt at Mussorie or Kempty Falls and have your lunch there. You can visit places nearby Dehradun like Mussoorie, Rishikesh, or Haridwar.
