Overview

About Kedarkantha Peak

Feel the essence of fresh winter snow upon lush green meadows as you begin your journey upon a road earmarked by tall pine trees. A carpet of leaves of the darkest brown will greet you at the very outset. Make sure to freeze your initial view of a frozen lake encompassing the campsite in your lens (or maybe even your handy 4G/3G camera phone). It will take a while to reach the summit, but oh! the complete 360 degree view of snow clad peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas is sure to take your breathe away. Feel at home in the serene and calm Himalayas.

Travel Suggestions

• Please meet the Travel Trikon Team at Dehradun Railway Station at 6am on Day 1
• For Departures, we would be reaching Dehradun by evening 6 - 7 pm. Kindly book your travel arrangements accordingly.

Batch 1 : 24th - 29th November 2019

Batch 2 : 22nd - 27th December 2019 Ex Dehradun ( Christmas Special Batch )

Batch 3 : 29th Dec - 03rd January 2020 Ex Dehradun ( New Year Special Batch )

Batch 4 : 26th - 31st January 2020 Ex Dehradun

Batch 5 : 09th - 14th February 2020 Ex Dehradun

Batch 6 : 15th - 20th March 2020 Ex Dehradun

5 Nights 6 Days 22 Dec, 29 Dec, 26 Jan, and more Lakkhi Bagh, Uttarakhand

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Dehradun to Sankri (200kms; 10-11 hours)

Our drive to Sankri begins. The banks of the River Tons are a treat by themselves, especially so as they slowly give way to the ‘Queen of Hills’ (a.k.a Mussoorie). Take a moment to take it all in. It will be late in the evening when we will reach the base village. We know the excitement of the following day may just keep you keep, but tired eyes may not get you very far. So enjoy a scrumptious meal and tuck in before the adventure begins!

Day 2: And it begins from Sankri to Juda-Ka-Talab (4 kms; 4-5 hours) Altitude: 6,400ft – 9,100ft

And so it begins…the trail to Juda-ka-Talab starts with a steep climb until we reach a ridge. It evens out soon after and spans out for almost the rest of the journey. A leaf out of a fairy tale, you will get to experience a short walk across wooden bridges, look across snow covered grounds that lay home to a few huts and cottages. It says, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder and the beauty of the Kedarkantha trail magnifies as the ascent increases. Do keep an eye open for the Himalayan Langurs as they swing merrily between trees.

Day 3: Juda-ka-Talab to Kedarkantha Base (4 kms; 2.5 hours) Altitude: 9,100 – 11,250ft

Start slow but make sure to finish strong! We begin day 3 with a slight climb up a ridge that also opens up into the darkest part of the pine forest (the constant companion to your stay in the hills). The climb will often be frequented by multiple clearings and expansive open meadows. You will ignore the beads of sweat lining your forehead as you gulp in the panoramic view of snow clad ranges encompassing the Kedarkantha Peak. The trio ranges of the Bandarpoonch, Swargarohini, Kala Nag and Ranglana stand out. As the night descends, it is the view of the picturesque “Milky Way” that is going to fill your souls, and of course the anticipation of the summit climb that awaits.

Day 4:  Hit the Summit, descend down to Kedarkantha Base hours) Altitude: 11,250ft – 12,500ft , Descent 

On our day 4, the first of the many views will be that of the summit as we begin our ascent from camp. It is a gentle trail up and soon after a short dip, it circles back to into the depth of an oak forest (just for a little while-so make sure you let the Bollywood in you come out a little). The climb to the summit takes place through the northern ridge and includes a series of switchbacks to reach the Kedarkantha temple. After paying respects, it is then time to feel the fresh snow of the summit that offers a clear view of the Gangotri, Yamunotri and the Kinner Kailash ranges. Stop. Relax. Just let the beauty of nature flow into your veins.We will not hurry you as you look around and gulp in the beauty of the snow-capped peaks and the whiteness of snow.

We return to the base camp. Enjoy the climb down, it's worth it.

Day 5: Back from Sankri (6 kms; 4 hours) Altitude: 8,900ft – 6,400ft

We would try reaching Sankri at the earliest to ensure a good rest before a long drive the next day to delhi. However, we would not wish for you to miss out on celebrating the climb to the summit and the view that followed suit.

Day 6:  Drive from Sankri to Dehradun

Retrace your footsteps back to where we started from and enjoy the drive to Dehradun. Spend some quality time in the bylanes of this budding city. Board the night train from Dehradun Railway Station to Delhi and bid adios to this beautiful small hamlet.

Things to Carry

• A photocopy of your Identity Proof (Passport / Voter ID Card/PAN Card/Aadhar Card/ Driving License)
• Rucksack – If you are offloading your Rucksack, you will need a small daypack to carry your basic essentials
• Good trekking shoes and a pair of slip-ons, if required for campsite
• 2 Water Bottles (1 litre each)
• Woolen or Fleece Gloves and a pair of waterproof gloves
• Cotton socks and woolen socks (2 pairs each)
• Balaclava, Woolen scarf – If you do not have a Balaclava, you can carry Monkey cap instead
• Thermal Inners
• Fleece Jacket, Snow Jacket or Padded Jacket (1 each)
• Windcheater or Poncho
• 2-3 pairs of trek pants
• 2 collared and full sleeved t-shirts – Do not carry loose t-shirts as they tend to make you feel cold
• Camera or Binoculars
• Ready to eat snacks, Enerzyl Powder or Glucon D Powder – Carry nuts, dryfruits, energy bars to munch during the trek. They provide instant energy whenever it hits the lower base.
• Cap, Sunglasses – Do ensure that your sunglasses are UV Protected. Do not carry reflectors.
• Headlamp/LED Torch – Mandatory
• Toiletries – Sunscreen, Moisturizer, light towel, lip balm, wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, Hand Sanitizer, Mosquito repellent, if required
• Polythene Bags or Zip-lock Bags – These help to segregate wet clothes, used wet wipes or sanitary napkins on trek
• Any medicines that you normally consume – Please consult your doctor in this regard

Consuming liquor or any kind of Alcoholic substance is prohibited. Carrying any kind of substance that’s illegal is not allowed. Smoking is strictly not allowed. Anybody found smoking or consuming alcoholic drinks will be expelled from the event without refund.

Fitness & Health – Though trekking is a fun-filled activity, it demands good amount of physical fitness. If you are under medication, please carry your medicines. During the trek, leaders will have over the counter medication for temporary treatment, so do give a heads up to them if you need any medical assistance.

Highlights

•   Surreal trek through the glistening white snow covered mountains
•   Get to touch the sky and get an eye level view of the famous mountain summits
•   Astronomy and Astrophotography is best done here where the glittering stars and stretched milky way ornament the sky at night
•   The frozen Juda-Ka-Talab situated in the clearing of the forests of Oak and Maple creating a perfect picnic spot
•   Drive through “Queen of Hills” –Mussoorie and reach the astonishing village of Sankri located on a hill slope