Top Winter Trek
Kedarkantha Trek 2026 — 5N/6D Snow Trek from Dehradun
📅 5N/6D📍 Dehradun → Dehradun🎯 Easy to Moderate (beginner-friendly)🚌 Tempo Traveller Dehradun–Sankri📅 Dec – April 2026 (best snow: Jan–Feb)
✓ 50,000+ pilgrims served✓ Zero commission✓ Est. 2010 · Retd. Army Officer founderFlexible cancellation →
🗓️ Last updated: June 25, 2026 · Season open Apr 19 – Nov 2026✍️ Verified by: Dhanesh Chandra Mishra, Founder, Shiv Ganga Travels (Retd. Army Officer · 15 seasons)
Quick Answer
The Kedarkantha Winter Trek — 5N/6D is a 5-night, 6-day pilgrimage from Dehradun priced from ₹8,500 per person. Run by Shiv Ganga Travels, a direct Haridwar operator since 2010, it is all-inclusive: tempo traveller dehradun–sankri, twin-sharing hotels, daily breakfast and dinner, guide, VIP darshan assistance, and help with the mandatory Char Dham 2026 registration.
- Price: from ₹8,500/person
- Duration: 5N/6D
- Start: Dehradun
- Season: Dec – April 2026 (best snow: Jan–Feb)
- Operator: Shiv Ganga Travels (est. 2010)
⏱
Duration
5N/6D
👥
Group
8–20 trekkers
🏔️
Altitude
Summit: Kedarkantha 3,810m (12,500 ft)
🎯
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate (beginner-friendly)
🚌
Transport
Tempo Traveller Dehradun–Sankri
📅
Season
Dec – April 2026 (best snow: Jan–Feb)
Before you compare on price alone
For most families the Char Dham is a once-in-a-lifetime journey, often with elders along. When a quote lands well below ours, the gap almost always shows up somewhere you will feel on the road:
🏨
Hotels. Clean, well-located stays with hot water for cold mornings — not unrated rooms far from the temple.
🚐
Vehicle. Regularly serviced cars and Tempo Travellers built for mountain gradients — not an old, tired vehicle.
🧭
Driver. Hill-seasoned drivers who know every bend above Rishikesh — not someone new to the mountains.
🧾
The quote. One all-inclusive price. Green tax, parking and pony/palki are accounted for, not added later.
We quote once, all-inclusive, for a yatra that runs smoothly from Haridwar to the last darshan and back. That peace of mind is the real difference, and it is what you are actually paying for.
Package Highlights
- ✓India's most-walked winter summit trek, and a fair one for first-timers
- ✓Sankri village base in the Govind Pashu Vihar national park
- ✓Camp at Juda ka Talab — the lake freezes solid by January
- ✓Pre-dawn summit push for sunrise over Swargarohini and Bandarpoonch
- ✓Deep snow from late December through February
- ✓Tents, sleeping bags rated for the cold, and a trek leader with a medical kit
- ✓Small batches so the guide can actually keep an eye on everyone
🗓️ Brief Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1:
Dehradun → Sankri (200 km | 8–9 hrs)
Day 2:
Sankri → Juda ka Talab (4 km | 3,500m)
Day 3:
Juda ka Talab → Kedarkantha Base (4 km | 3,600m)
Day 4:
Summit Day → Hargaon (3,810m then descend)
Day 5:
Hargaon → Sankri → celebration
Day 6:
Sankri → Dehradun
🗓️ Day-wise Itinerary (Detailed)
D1
Dehradun → Sankri (200 km | 8–9 hrs)
Early start from Dehradun. Long but scenic drive along the Tons river through Mori and Netwar into the Govind national park. Reach Sankri (1,950m) by evening. Gear check, briefing, and an early night. Overnight guesthouse.
D2
Sankri → Juda ka Talab (4 km | 3,500m)
The trail climbs through pine and oak forest. Around three to four hours brings you to Juda ka Talab, a lake ringed by trees that turns to ice in peak winter. First night in tents. Overnight camp.
D3
Juda ka Talab → Kedarkantha Base (4 km | 3,600m)
A shorter day through clearings that open up to the peaks. Set up at base camp with Swargarohini in view. The leader runs an acclimatisation walk and briefs the summit plan. Early dinner, early sleep. Overnight camp.
D4
Summit Day → Hargaon (3,810m then descend)
A 2–3 AM start in head-torches for the summit push. Reach the top for sunrise across the Garhwal Himalaya — Swargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Black Peak. Descend to base, pack up, and continue to Hargaon camp lower down. This is the long day. Overnight camp.
D5
Hargaon → Sankri → celebration
Final descent through forest back to Sankri, roughly three hours. Warm room, hot food, and the trek wind-down. Overnight guesthouse.
D6
Sankri → Dehradun
Drive back the way you came, reaching Dehradun by evening. Tour ends. Give yourself a buffer if you have onward travel — mountain roads in winter can be slow.
✅ What's Included / Excluded
✅ Included
✓Dehradun–Sankri return transport by Tempo Traveller
✓Accommodation: guesthouse at Sankri + alpine tents on twin/triple sharing
✓All meals on the trek (veg, plus egg)
✓Certified trek leader, local guide and support staff
✓Sleeping bag, mattress, tent, and common gear
✓Forest permits and camping charges
✓Basic first-aid and portable oxygen with the team
❌ Not Included
✗Train/flight to Dehradun
✗Personal trek gear — boots, jacket, gaiters (rental arranged on request)
✗Backpack offloading (₹350/day if you want a mule to carry your bag)
✗Any hotel stay in Dehradun before/after the trek
✗Insurance and personal expenses
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is Kedarkantha a good trek for beginners?
Yes — it is the trek we most often recommend for a first Himalayan winter summit. The gradients are steady rather than steep, the days are short, and the summit at 3,810m is high enough to feel like an achievement without the altitude risk of the bigger treks. Basic fitness helps: if you can jog 3–4 km or climb stairs without stopping, you will manage.
Q. When is there the most snow?
January and February give the deepest, most reliable snow, with the summit and Juda ka Talab under a thick layer. December is snowy but can be patchy early in the month. March into April is a lighter, greener version of the trek.
Q. What should I carry and what do you provide?
We provide tents, sleeping bags, mattresses and all common gear, plus meals and permits. You bring personal items — waterproof trekking boots, a warm insulated jacket, thermals, gloves, sunglasses and a headlamp. If you do not own boots or a jacket we can arrange rentals in Sankri if you tell us in advance.
📖 Related Guides & Resources
🔄 You Might Also Like
🎒 Packing List for This Yatra
Clothing
✓Heavy jacket / down vest
✓Thermal inner layers (2 sets)
✓Woollen cap, gloves, socks
✓Waterproof poncho / raincoat
✓Comfortable trekking shoes
Health
✓Personal medicines (with extra)
✓Altitude sickness tablets
✓ORS sachets & glucose tablets
✓Pulse oximeter (small, cheap)
✓Sunscreen SPF 50+
Documents
✓Aadhaar card / valid ID
✓Char Dham registration QR
✓Medical fitness certificate (50+)
✓Travel insurance document
✓Emergency contact card (printed)
Practical
✓Power bank (20,000 mAh)
✓Cash (₹5,000–10,000 minimum)
✓Reusable water bottle (1L)
✓Light torch / headlamp
✓Walking stick (collapsible)
💡 We share a detailed packing checklist PDF with every confirmed booking. WhatsApp us to receive it in advance.
💡 15 Essential Travel Tips for This Yatra
1Complete Char Dham biometric registration before leaving home — you cannot proceed past Rishikesh/Haridwar checkpoints without it.
2Start driving by 6 AM every day. Night driving is prohibited on Himalayan roads after 9 PM for safety reasons.
3Pack warm clothes even in May–June. Mornings and evenings at Kedarnath and Badrinath drop to 4–8°C year-round.
4Carry at least ₹7,000–10,000 in cash. ATMs are sparse, unreliable, and frequently out of cash in peak season.
5Book hotels in advance at Barkot, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi, and Joshimath — all four fill up by noon in May-June.
6Pre-book Kedarnath helicopter from the IRCTC portal (heliyatra.irctc.co.in) 60+ days in advance for peak season.
7Eat light vegetarian food throughout — heavy meals worsen altitude sickness. Dhabas along the route serve dal-rice and rotis.
8Stay hydrated — drink 3–4 litres of water daily at high altitude. Avoid alcohol entirely; it worsens acclimatisation.
9Jio and Airtel work better than Vi/BSNL on the Char Dham route. Airtel is more reliable near Kedarnath.
10Poncho / raincoat is essential even in May. Afternoon showers are common at all four dhams.
11For Kedarnath trek, start no later than 6 AM. The path gets crowded and unsafe to return after 2 PM.
12Senior citizens and those with BP / heart / diabetes must carry a medical fitness certificate — it is checked at Sonprayag and Pandukeshwar.
13Respect the "no photography inside temple sanctum" rule strictly. Cameras and phones are banned inside Kedarnath temple from 2026.
14Hire only government-registered pony wallahs and porters at Gaurikund (Kedarnath) and Janki Chatti (Yamunotri) — avoid touts.
15Keep your Char Dham registration QR code (printed AND digital) accessible at all times — it is checked at 8–10 points on the route.
🚨 Emergency Contacts & Yatra Helplines
Uttarakhand Disaster Helpline
1070
24/7 emergency
Police Helpline
100
All districts
Ambulance / Medical
108
Free, 24/7
Kedarnath Control Room
+91-1364-222-734
During yatra season
GMVN Enquiry
+91-135-2746817
Accommodation
Shiv Ganga Travels
+91-7817996730
24/7 on-ground support
Save the Uttarakhand Disaster Helpline (1070) and ambulance number (108) in your phone before departing. Mountain networks can be patchy — also note numbers on paper. Our team at Shiv Ganga Travels is on WhatsApp 24/7 during your yatra.
📅 Best Season to Book — Price & Crowd Guide
| Month | Season | Crowd level | Typical package price | Weather at Kedarnath | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Opening | Very high | ₹22,000–₹28,000 | 5–18°C, clear | High demand — book 3 months early |
| June | Peak | Very high | ₹22,000–₹28,000 | 8–18°C, some rain | Peak pilgrim rush — book 2–3 months early |
| July–Aug | Monsoon | Low | ₹16,000–₹20,000 | 10–15°C, heavy rain | Landslide risk — not recommended |
| September | Post-monsoon | Medium | ₹18,000–₹22,000 | 0–15°C, crisp | Hidden gem — best skies, fewer crowds |
| October | Last season | Medium-low | ₹17,000–₹21,000 | -2 to 10°C | Great value — dhams open till Nov 11 |
| November (1–13) | Closing | Very low | ₹14,000–₹18,000 | -5 to 5°C | Last chance — temple closes mid-November |
💡 September and October are our most consistently rated months across 15 years. Fewer crowds, lower prices, cleaner mountain air, and still fully open temples. Many repeat pilgrims specifically choose October.
⛰️ Altitude & Health — What Every Pilgrim Must Know
🩺 Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS)
Kedarnath (3,583m) and Badrinath (3,133m) are high-altitude shrines. AMS symptoms — headache, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness — can affect anyone regardless of fitness. Our driver carries an oxygen cylinder. Spend one night at Guptkashi (1,319m) before ascending to acclimatize. If symptoms worsen, descend immediately.
📱 Network & Connectivity
BSNL works best throughout the Char Dham route and at Kedarnath temple. Jio works at Gaurikund and lower altitudes. Airtel/Vi have limited to no signal above Sonprayag. Buy a BSNL SIM before departure if you need to stay connected during the trek.
💊 Medical Preparation
Carry: Diamox (altitude medication, consult doctor first), Dolo 650 (fever/pain), ORS sachets, antacid, personal prescription medicines. Medical camps are placed every 3–5km on the Kedarnath route. Our vehicle carries a basic first aid kit and oxygen.
🍽️ Food & Hydration
Eat light vegetarian meals — dal, rice, sabzi, chapati. Avoid oily or heavy food at altitude. Drink 3–4 litres of water daily. Do NOT drink tea/chai at altitude as it dehydrates. Packaged biscuits and dry fruits for energy during the trek.
📍 Why Start Your Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar?
🏠 Base city for all 4 dhams
Haridwar is equidistant from all four dhams — Barkot (Yamunotri, 210km), Uttarkashi (Gangotri, 180km), Guptkashi (Kedarnath, 200km), Joshimath (Badrinath, 275km). Rishikesh is only 24km from Haridwar and adds 1 hour. Starting from Delhi adds 250km (4–5 hours) each way.
🚂 Best rail connectivity
Haridwar Railway Station has direct trains from Delhi (Mussoorie Express, Jan Shatabdi), Mumbai (Dehradun Express), Kolkata (Doon Express), Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh and almost every major city. Rishikesh station is 3km further. Dehradun station adds 55km drive.
🙏 Sacred start — Ganga Aarti
Every Char Dham Yatra begins with the evening Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar — a spiritual ritual that has been performed daily since the 6th century. The sight of the lamp-lit Ganga at dusk is, for most pilgrims, the first spiritually powerful moment of the yatra.
🏢 Our office is here
We are based at Saptrishi Road, Bhupatwala, Haridwar — 5 minutes from Har Ki Pauri. Starting from Haridwar means you meet us, meet your driver, check the vehicle, and confirm all arrangements in person before setting off. This is not possible if we send a vehicle from Delhi.
🏔️ Why 50,000+ Pilgrims Choose Shiv Ganga Travels
🎖️ Founded by a Retired Army Officer
Shiv Ganga Travels was founded in 2010 by Dhanesh Chandra Mishra, a retired officer of the Indian Army. Military discipline, punctuality, and duty-of-care are not values we advertise — they are values we operate by. Every single departure runs on schedule.
📍 Based in Haridwar — Not Delhi
Our office is at Saptrishi Road, Bhupatwala, Haridwar — 5 minutes from Har Ki Pauri. We are the operator, not a broker. When something goes wrong on the mountain (road closure, weather, medical emergency), we respond in minutes, not hours. Delhi-based aggregators call a subcontractor. We call our own driver.
⭐ 4.6/5 · 38 Verified Google Reviews
Every one of our 38 reviews is from a real pilgrim — verifiable on Google Maps (Place ID: 16074078434377735602). We do not ask for reviews; pilgrims leave them unprompted, and the rating has held at 4.6/5 over 15 seasons. Verify on Google Maps →
📋 Uttarakhand Tourism Registered
Registered with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board. Member of IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators). All our vehicles have valid tourism permits and are insured. Our drivers hold Uttarakhand hill-route licences. You can verify our registration at the Haridwar Tourism office.
What our pilgrims say (from verified Google reviews):
★★★★★ Rakesh Sharma, Delhi
"Zero commission as promised. Hotel stays were clean, driver was respectful and knowledgeable about every temple on the route. The VIP darshan at Kedarnath saved us 4 hours of queue. Will do Char Dham again next year with Shiv Ganga."
★★★★★ Priya Mehta, Mumbai
"My 72-year-old mother did Char Dham with them. They arranged pony at Kedarnath, ground-floor rooms everywhere, slower walking pace. Dhanesh ji personally called twice to check on her. This is not what you get from an online aggregator."
★★★★★ Suresh & Kamla Gupta, Jaipur
"We did the senior citizen package. The driver Ramesh ji was with us for 12 days like family. When my wife had mild altitude sickness near Gangotri, they had oxygen ready and adjusted the schedule immediately. No panic, complete professionalism."
Why 50,000+ Pilgrims Choose Shiv Ganga Travels
🎖️ Founded by a Retired Army Officer
Shiv Ganga Travels was founded in 2010 by Dhanesh Chandra Mishra, a retired officer of the Indian Army. Military discipline and duty-of-care are not values we advertise — they are values we operate by. Every departure runs on schedule.
📍 Based in Haridwar — Not an Aggregator
Our office is at Saptrishi Road, Bhupatwala, Haridwar — 5 minutes from Har Ki Pauri. We are the operator. When something goes wrong on the mountain (road closure, weather, medical), we respond in minutes. Delhi-based aggregators call a subcontractor. We call our own driver.
⭐ 4.6/5 · 38 Verified Google Reviews
Every review is from a real pilgrim — verifiable on Google Maps. We do not solicit reviews; pilgrims leave them unprompted. Our 4.6/5 rating over 15 years has currently at 4.6/5.
📋 Uttarakhand Tourism Registered
Registered with Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board. Member of IATO. All vehicles hold valid tourism permits and hill-route licences. Registration verifiable at the Haridwar Tourism office.
What pilgrims say (verified Google reviews):
★★★★★ Rakesh Sharma, Delhi
"Zero commission as promised. Hotel stays were clean, driver knowledgeable. VIP darshan at Kedarnath saved us 4 hours of queue. Will return next year."
★★★★★ Priya Mehta, Mumbai
"My 72-year-old mother did Char Dham with them. Pony at Kedarnath, ground-floor rooms, slower pace arranged. Dhanesh ji personally called twice to check on her. This is not what you get from an online aggregator."
★★★★★ Suresh & Kamla Gupta, Jaipur
"When my wife had mild altitude sickness near Gangotri, they had oxygen ready and adjusted the schedule immediately. No panic, complete professionalism. 12 days felt like travelling with family."
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