Kedarkantha trek is a popular winter trek in Uttarakhand that spans over six days, including travel to and from the base camp. This beginner-friendly Himalayan trek offers a rewarding winter experience, with abundant snow and an unparalleled summit climb experience. From December to February, trekkers flock to Kedarkantha to witness the winter wonderland.
The summit offers an exhilarating view of the big mountains, including Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag, and Ranglana. Kedarkantha offers a wholesome experience for trekkers with trails full of forests, snowy paths, green meadows, and beautiful views. At the summit, you can enjoy stunning views of the arc-shaped chain of snow-capped mountains and the first ray of sun seeping through those towering mountains evokes your emotions in different ways.
The trail begins from the quintessential village of Sankri and is followed by breathtaking campsites, remote villages, and glimpses of the rich and diverse local culture. Kedarkantha offers a complete package of fun and adventure with a beautiful forest cover, allowing for an immersive wilderness experience with campsites and snow-covered forests.
If you are looking for a winter trek that offers mountains, snow, and wilderness, Kedarkantha must be on your bucket list. The mountains with white snow, perfect sunrises, and fringes of pine trees adorn the beauty of the snow on the Kedarkantha.
The Basecamp of the Kedarkantha Trek is Sankri, a remote village near Uttarkashi. To reach the base camp, plan your travel to the nearest airport or the railway station well in advance. The base camp is around a 10 to 12-hour drive from Dehradun city.
OWLS arranges pick-up from Dehradun to Sankri for the participants. The pick-up will be available at the Inter-State Bus Stand, Dehradun (ISBT Dehradun). Reach the pickup location at 6 a.m.
Note: The cab costs Rs.7,500 for an SUV and Rs.10,000 for a Tempo Traveler. This amount can be shared among the participants and paid directly to the driver
The base camp Sankri is around 190 km and is an 8- 9 hrs drive from Dehradun. Dehradun is easily accessible by air, train and road. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant International Airport in Dehradun. You can book your tickets well in advance till Dehradun to avail of tickets at cheaper rates. You can choose to travel by air from any metro city to Dehradun. The other option is to reach Delhi by air and travel by train or bus from Delhi onwards.
If you are reaching Dehradun by air, here are a few options for planning your travel. Dehradun Airport is well connected with all the metro cities. Book a direct or connecting flight to Dehradun. If you intend to arrive in Dehradun by air make sure your flight lands in Dehradun on Day 0.
Dehradun city is 32 km away from the Jolly Grant Airport. It takes 1 hour to reach the city. You can opt to hire a cab/auto directly from the Airport. The other option is to exit the Airport complex and book an auto. The charges for prepaid cabs at the airport are exorbitant. Another low-cost alternative to get to Dehradun city is to travel on a city bus. Walk towards the Dehradun – Rishikesh highway and hop on a shared auto or city bus. You will have to wait for the bus. Regular city buses run between Dehradun and Rishikesh almost every half an hour.
If you land in Dehradun on day 0, book a hotel or dorm near ISBT, Dehradun. Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam’s hotel is 10 minutes away from ISBT and offers rooms at reasonable rates. They have economical as well as deluxe rooms.
This option will be economical for you. Flight to Dehradun will be slightly priced higher than flight to Delhi. To cut down your travel budget, fly to Delhi, then get on a bus or train from Delhi to Dehradun.
You can book and find bus options at UTC Online or Redbus. Another option is to go to Kashmere Gate and book a bus offline. Board a bus or train which will arrive in Dehradun on the evening of Day 0. Reaching Dehradun on Day 0 helps you to rest before your trek starts on Day 1.
If you want to travel overnight, Nanda Devi Express runs daily and departs from H. Nizamuddin at 11.35 p.m. and arrives at Dehradun early at 5.40 a.m. Overnight Volvo AC buses also run frequently between Delhi and Dehradun. It takes 6-7 hours to get to Dehradun from Delhi.
Your Trek takes 6 days, including travel to and from the base camp. The team will be back in Dehradun on Day 6. You reach Dehradun in the evening, between 7 to 8 pm.
While returning, you can fly directly out of Dehradun to your city. The second option is to travel by bus or train to Delhi.
If you go with the first option, you can book a direct flight from Dehradun to your city on Day 4.
The second option requires you to travel to Delhi by train or bus. Once you reach Dehradun in the evening, you can head to ISBT Dehradun and book an AC Volvo bus to Delhi and travel comfortably. The other option to reach Delhi from Dehradun is to book a train.
If you prefer the second option then book a flight that departs late morning or early afternoon. The overnight buses from Dehradun arrive in Delhi in the wee hours. Book a flight that departs in the afternoon to avoid rushing.
