About the Trek
Kedarkantha is such a popular winter trek that it would be apt to entitle it as the Queen of Winter Treks. Knee-deep snow in winters, mesmerising views from the top, and beautiful, easy trails make it popular among trekkers. The 'easy on endurance' trail goes through the thick pine forests of Govind National Park. The views from the top are worth climbing to an altitude of 12,500 ft.
Kedarkantha trek will give you an inimitable view of the cosmic sky, lush meadows, snow paths, charming villages, scented pine forest, sky-knocking peaks, tranquil rivers, and some mythological story whispers.
Trek Highlights
- Easy beginner-friendly trail through Govind National Park
- Camp beside the frozen Juda Ka Talab — a sacred high-altitude lake
- Sunrise summit climb with views of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini and Kala Nag
- Snow-laden trails through scented pine forests
- Stay in charming Sankri village — gateway to the Garhwal Himalayas
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A 4-day journey from Dehradun through pine forests, alpine lakes and a snowy summit.
- Arrive at Dehradun and start your journey towards Sankri village
- Drive along the Yamuna and Tons rivers, with pine forests surrounding your way — enjoy the beauty of nature at its best
- After the breezy ride, reach Sankri and check in to the hotel
- Enjoy a lip-smacking dinner at the campsite
- Overnight stay at Sankri
- After breakfast, set out on the hike from Saur Village and start climbing up
- Cross several high-altitude suspension bridges and small villages along the way
- Reach Juda Ka Talab — legend says Lord Shiva opened a small lock of his hair here, and water dripped from it to form this lake
- Step out of your camps and witness the starlit sky beside the frozen lake
- Overnight stay at Juda Ka Talab
- Enjoy breakfast at Juda Ka Talab and head towards Kedarkantha base
- Immerse yourself in the snow-lined path and patches of green that surround your way
- Imposing views of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks of Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag and Ranglana
- Mark the end of the day with a wonderful dinner and retire to the tents for the night
- Overnight stay at the Kedarkantha base
- After early-morning breakfast, get ready for the ultimate adventure
- Start at around 3 AM — it takes 3 to 4 hours to reach the summit
- Feel the welcoming, filtered sunrays from the Yamunotri, Gangotri and Kinner Kailash ranges
- On reaching the summit, your jaw will drop as you see the sun rise from the top
- After spending some time at the summit, descend all the way to base camp
- After breakfast, walk down to Sankri
What's Included
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
- Accommodation — Hotel / Homestay / Tents on triple sharing
- All necessary entry fees and permits
- Professional trek leader, guide, cook and support staff
- Camping equipment — sleeping bags, blankets, mats, toilet tents
- Safety equipment — medical kit, oximeter, crampons & gaiters
What's Not Included
- Meals during the road journey
- Any kind of insurance
- Mules or porter to carry personal luggage (can be arranged at extra cost)
- Medical / evacuation expenses (assistance provided in emergencies)
- Any expense of personal nature
- Any expense not specified in inclusions
Things to Carry
Essentials
- Backpack (50–60 L) with rain cover
- Day pack (20 L)
- Trekking shoes with ankle support
- Headlamp / torch with spare batteries
- Water bottles (2 L)
- Personal medication
Winter Clothing
- Thermal innerwear (top + bottom)
- Heavy fleece / down jacket
- Waterproof outer shell
- Woollen cap, gloves, neck gaiter
- Trekking pants × 2
- Quick-dry t-shirts × 3
Documents
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar / Passport / DL)
- Two passport-sized photos
- Medical fitness certificate
Optional
- Trekking poles
- Sunglasses (UV protection)
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
- Power bank
- Energy bars / dry fruits
How to Prepare
This is an Easy grade trek. If you can walk 5 km comfortably and have a basic level of fitness, you're good to go. A little preparation will make the experience much more enjoyable.
Fitness — Start 2–3 Weeks Before
- Walk daily: 3–4 km brisk walk, gradually increasing to 5 km
- Jog: Aim to jog 2–3 km without stopping by departure week
- Stairs: Climb 5–6 floors daily — builds the legs you'll need on inclines
- Stretching: 10 minutes post-walk — calves, hamstrings, quads, hip flexors
Strength (3x per week)
- Bodyweight squats — 3 sets of 15
- Lunges — 3 sets of 12 each leg
- Planks — hold 45 seconds, 3 sets
- Calf raises — 3 sets of 20
Diet & Hydration
- Drink 3–4 litres of water daily starting 2 weeks before the trek
- Increase carbs and protein in the final week — your body needs fuel reserves
- Avoid alcohol for at least 3 days before departure
- Carry electrolyte sachets (ORS) for the trail
Good to Know
- Most easy treks stay below 3,500 m — altitude sickness is rare but stay hydrated
- Rental trekking shoes and jackets are usually available — but own shoes are always better
- Break in your shoes at least a week before the trek if they're new
- Your trek leader will brief you on Day 1 — ask every question you have
Photo Gallery
Photos from the trail. More coming soon — follow us on Instagram for daily updates.
Gallery photos will be added soon. Binoy is preparing the best shots from the trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — Kedarkantha is one of the most popular beginner-friendly Himalayan winter treks. The trail is gradual and well-marked, and the maximum altitude (3,800 m) is manageable for first-time trekkers in reasonable shape.
December to April is the prime season — that's when you'll see knee-deep snow and the postcard-perfect winter wonderland Kedarkantha is famous for.
You should be able to walk 5 km comfortably and jog 4 km in under 30 minutes. Start preparing at least a month before your trek with cardio and basic leg strength work.
BSNL and Jio work patchily till Sankri. Beyond Sankri there is no network — embrace the digital detox.