Kedarkantha Trek 5-Day Itinerary: Day-Wise Campsites, Trail Map & Summit Push

The Kedarkantha Trek is famous for having one of the most rewarding and beautifully planned routes in the entire Indian Himalayas. Starting in the picturesque village of Sankri (6,400 ft), you climb gently through whispering pine woods, camp beside the legendary frozen lake of Juda Ka Talab (9,100 ft), and reach the dramatic 12,500 ft summit just as the sun rises over snow-capped peaks.

If you want to know exactly what happens on each day—including daily walking hours, campsite features, and the midnight summit push—here is your step-by-step master itinerary.

Quick Itinerary Overview

Day	Route & Destination	Distance & Mode	Altitude Change
Day 1	Dehradun to Sankri Village	200 km (Drive / 8–10 hrs)	2,100 ft to 6,400 ft
Day 2	Sankri to Juda Ka Talab Campsite	4 km (Trek / 4–5 hrs)	6,400 ft to 9,100 ft
Day 3	Juda Ka Talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp	4 km (Trek / 3–4 hrs)	9,100 ft to 10,500 ft
Day 4	Base Camp to Summit (12,500 ft) & down to Hargaon	6 km (Trek / 7–8 hrs)	10,500 ft → 12,500 ft → 8,900 ft
Day 5	Hargaon to Sankri & drive back to Dehradun	6 km trek + 200 km drive	Descend to 2,100 ft

Day 1: Scenic Mountain Drive from Dehradun to Sankri (6,400 ft)

Your journey begins bright and early at 6:30 AM outside Dehradun Railway Station. After meeting your Treki group captain and loading your bags into your tempo traveller, the vehicle begins climbing toward the hills.

The road offers stunning views as you bypass Mussoorie and descend toward the Yamuna River valley. After a relaxed breakfast stop at Nainbagh and a lunch halt at Purola, you drive alongside the sparkling Tons River. By late afternoon, you enter Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and arrive in Sankri.

• Stay: Cozy traditional wooden homestay in Sankri.
• Highlights: Evening orientation briefing, hot home-cooked Garhwali dinner, and gear check.

Day 2: Trek from Sankri to Juda Ka Talab (9,100 ft)

Distance: 4 km | Trek Time: 4 to 5 hours | Terrain: Gentle forest ascent.

After a hot breakfast and a cup of mountain tea, you strap on your daypack and set off from the trail starting point just above Sankri. The trail enters a dense, fragrant forest of giant pine and oak trees. In winter, as you gain height, brown earth gives way to patches of crisp white snow.

Around 1:00 PM, you arrive at Juda Ka Talab. Legend has it that Lord Shiva once meditated here, and a drop of water fell from his hair to form this tranquil mountain tarn. During winter, the lake freezes completely solid, creating a natural ice skating rink surrounded by snowy pines.

• Stay: Alpine camping in warm tents beside the frozen lake.
• Highlights: Piping hot vegetable soup in the dining tent, photography around the frozen lake, and a night sky full of stars.

Day 3: Trek from Juda Ka Talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp (10,500 ft)

Distance: 4 km | Trek Time: 3 to 4 hours | Terrain: Forest trail opening into alpine snow meadows.

Day 3 is a shorter hiking day, allowing your body to conserve energy for the big summit climb ahead. The trail climbs out of the pine woods and enters expansive open meadows known as bugyals.

By noon, you reach Kedarkantha Base Camp. The campsite sits in a wide bowl directly beneath the triangular peak of Kedarkantha. Standing outside your tent, you get uninterrupted views of famous snow giants like Bandarpoonch and Swargarohini glowing pink in the afternoon light.

• Preparation: In the afternoon, your trek captain gives a hands-on demonstration on how to wear microspikes and gaiters on snow.
• Early Night: Dinner is served early at 7:00 PM so everyone can rest before the 2:30 AM wake-up call.

Day 4: Summit Push (12,500 ft) & Descent to Hargaon Campsite

Distance: 6 km | Trek Time: 7 to 8 hours | Terrain: Steep snow ridge ascent, followed by forest descent.

This is the big day! The campsite wakes up at 2:30 AM. After a cup of warm tea and porridge, you switch on your headlamps, strap on your microspikes, and begin walking up the snow ridge at 3:30 AM.

Climbing under a silent canopy of shooting stars is a magical experience. As you make the final push up the summit ridge, the first golden rays of sunlight break across the horizon. At the 12,500 ft summit, you are rewarded with a breathtaking 360-degree view of 13 Himalayan mountain ranges. At the top sits a small stone shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.

After taking photos and celebrating with your batch, you begin the exciting descent. Sliding down the snow slopes on your way down is pure fun! You stop at Base Camp for hot lunch, pack up, and walk down to Hargaon campsite (8,900 ft) for your final night of camping.

Day 5: Hargaon to Sankri & Drive Back to Dehradun

Distance: 6 km trek (2 to 3 hours) + 200 km return drive to Dehradun.

The last morning is a gentle downhill walk through pine forests back to Sankri village. You arrive in Sankri by 10:30 AM, enjoy a celebratory cup of chai with the local team, freshen up, and board your vehicle back to Dehradun.

You reach Dehradun Railway Station by 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM, giving you plenty of time to catch your overnight train or bus back to Delhi with unforgettable memories of the snow.