Kedarkantha Trek Package 5 Nights 6 Days

The Walk: About 4 km and four hours, gaining roughly 3,000 ft through pine and maple.

Juda ka Talab: A small lake at 9,100 ft, frozen solid through winter. Camp beside it. This is the day your body decides how it feels about altitude.

• Top Places to Cover: Juda ka Talab, the pine forest trail, Sankri ridge.
• Importance of Each Place: Local legend holds Shiva created the lake by wringing out his hair, which is where the name comes from.
• Things to Know: Walk slowly and drink more water than feels necessary. Report any headache to the trek leader rather than pushing through.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Juda ka Talab camp

The Climb: A shorter day, about 4 km and three hours, rising to the base camp meadow at around 11,250 ft.

The View Opens: The tree line thins and the summit ridge becomes visible from camp for the first time.

Afternoon: Rest and an acclimatisation walk. Early night - summit day starts in the dark.

• Top Places to Cover: Base camp meadow, the summit ridge viewpoint, shepherd huts.
• Things to Know: This is the coldest night of the trek. Sleeping bags are rated for the season but wear thermals and a cap inside the bag.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Base camp

Before Dawn: Start in the dark to be on the summit for sunrise. The climb is about 2.5 km with 1,250 ft of gain, steep and often on snow.

The Top: At 12,500 ft the ridge opens to Swargarohini, Bandarpunch, Black Peak and Ranglana. A small Shiva shrine marks the summit.

The Long Descent: Down all the way to Sankri afterwards - nine to ten hours in total for the day.

• Top Places to Cover: Kedarkantha summit, the shrine, Swargarohini viewpoint, Hargaon.
• Importance of Each Place: Kedarkantha is associated with a legend in which Shiva was disturbed here before the shrine could be completed, which is why the summit temple remains small.
• Things to Know: Micro-spikes or gaiters are supplied where conditions require them. The final ridge is exposed to wind and the summit push may be withdrawn at the leader discretion.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Sankri guesthouse

The Drive Back: Down the Tons valley, arriving Dehradun in the evening. The trek ends there, or continue on an overnight bus to Delhi.

• Top Places to Cover: Tons valley, Mori, Dehradun.
• Things to Know: Do not book a same-day evening flight from Dehradun. Arrival times vary widely with road conditions.

Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Journey ends

Why It Exists: Himalayan itineraries need slack. Where the summit is not attemptable on Day 4 because of snow or weather, this is when we try again.

If Unused: The trek concludes a day early and you travel home.

• Things to Know: This day is a contingency, not a scheduled activity. Plan onward travel with it in mind.

Meals: As required | Overnight: As required