Kedarkantha Dates Full? Do the Deoriatal-Chandrashila Trek Instead
Deoriatal-Chandrashila is a terrific alternative that matches up to the snow experience, the summit climb and winter experience of Kedarkantha. The best part is that unlike Kedarkantha, it is crowd-free and will give you a serene experience.
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Easy-Moderate treks have even trails and a gentle gradient. No more than 5-6 days long. They do not go to very high altitudes and have easy exits from most campsites.
Kedarkantha (not to be confused with the popular Temple Kedarnath) is a 6-day long trek in Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarakhand (6 when including the travel days from Dehradun to the base camp and back). Kedarkantha is easily one of the most popular treks in India — popular amongst seasoned trekkers and beginners alike.
There are many reasons why it is a very popular trek to do in the Indian Himalayas. The most important of them is this — the summit climb.
The summit climb of Kedarkantha is a very rewarding one. Right from the base camp of the trek, the summit looms large. As you start your trek in the early hours of the morning and steadily climb up the steep slope, the world opens up around you.
The climb is not easy. The entire stretch is steadily steep. As you get closer to the summit, it gets tricky as well. But the big mountains of the upper Himalayas keep you company until you finally reach the summit.
As you stretch yourself and take in the views of the Himalayas from the summit, you feel a strong sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. This is an unparalleled feeling.
Very few treks offer the same adventure, making it popular among beginners for its finest summit climb.
The finest summit view of kedarkantha. Picture by Gourab Nandy taken in january 2021
Use these pointers to navigate through this extensive trek guide:
There is lots to like about this trek. Having done this trek 5 times in different seasons, I have got to experience what the trek has to offer in all its glory. In particular, there are few things that stand out for me.
What I like about Kedarkantha
1. The drive to the base camp It is one of the most beautiful drives you will ever have to any trek. The 18 km stretch of the dense pine forest after Purola and the drive through the Mori valley alongside River Tons will stay with you for a long time. Do not miss to watch out for them.
The drive from Purola all the way to Gaichwangaon snakes through lovely pine forests. It’s worth the long journey! Picture by Sreenath.
2.The Homestays
If you are trekking with Indiahikes, you are in for a treat. Very rarely will you get to experience how the local people live. In this trek, you get to see it. You will be spending both your first night and the last night in homestays in Gaichwangaon.
Indiahikes basecamp in Gaichwangaon Picture by Jothiranjan taken in March 2021.
Although they are close to each other, their houses look different, they dress different and their lifestyle is a little different. You will get to experience this up close.
Culture in Gaichwangaon. picture by Jothiranjan Indiahikes photographer.
3. The Forests
When you are in the forests of Kedarkantha, especially the stretch from Gaichwangaon to the summit, you will feel this sense of oneness with your surroundings more strongly.
Kedarkantha in winter. Picture by Dhaval Jajal.
Many factors bring this about:
– The forests in this stretch are least traveled. Apart from the villagers, only our trekkers take this route. So in a lot of ways, this route has stayed pristine. In fact, if you are not careful, you can get easily lost.
Unlike the other forests, where the forest looks almost manicured and arranged, this stretch of the forest has its wilderness intact. You will feel it strongly the moment you enter it.
– The forest is extremely dense and immersive. The sun plays hide and seek and this makes this stretch all the more magical.
– It is also diverse. Along with Deodar, Pine and Oak, you will see more variety of trees and shrubs that you do not see on the other side.
You’ll not see snow-laden pine forests like the Kedarkantha trek on any other trail. Picture by Bappaditya Chandra.
The forest from Gaichwangaon till the summit is one of my most favorite forests that I have ever trekked in. The diversity, contrasting colors, the density – all give a very surreal feel to this section. I would be most happy to do this trek again and again just for these forests. However, the other sides of Kedarkantha equally offer some of the most beautiful forest climbs in the Himalayas.
4. The Clearings
Kedarkantha has many such clearings on all sides. No other trek offers such clearings. I have done almost 11 treks so far and I am yet to find a trek that has such beautiful clearings.
In fact, it is one trek in the entire Himalayas, where you have no dearth of campsites. In fact, one of the reasons we have been able to open multiple routes in this trek is because of these clearings.
There are also other factors that make these clearings even more special. They are:
– Each of the clearings on this trek is so uniquely different from the other. While Khujey gives you the feeling of camping along a cliff, Juda Ka Talab immerses you completely with its lake.
– The views you get from each of the clearings are stunning. The sunsets from these clearings are absolutely out of the world.
– The clearings are very well spaced along the route. So, with the forest and the clearings together, each day’s trek feels really complete. You will find a clearing every 2 hours of the trek. Such is the number and ideal placement of these clearings.
Thanks to terrific clearings in forests, such as this one at Julota, there is no dearth of campsites on the Kedarkantha trek. Picture by Harish NN
5. Multiple routes
Being a standalone mountain, this trek is blessed with multiple routes to reach the summit and all of them are unique and beautiful in their own way. This gives everyone the opportunity to explore this trek in the way we want to – going with the popular route or choosing the more quieter trail, adapting the route depending on the weather, etc. There are plenty of ways to reach the summit.
Since there are many routes to the stand-alone summit, it’s easy to escape crowds and choose trails that are isolated. Here’s the view of the summit on the way from Odari.
6. The Sunsets
This trek offers some of the most dramatic sunsets and it is precisely so because of the placement of the campsites. Julota and Pukhrola both face the western side of the sky and are both wide open to the sky. This makes the sunsets along this trail absolutely must watch on the trek.
The sunsets I have witnessed have stayed with me until now. All I need to do is close my eyes and remember to be transported back there.
The golden hour! With snow changing its colour from pure white to golden. Picture by HarshitChawla.
7. The Summit
The trek is famous for its summit and is rightly so. First is that, this is a proper summit marked by cairn.Of all the 12,500 ft treks in the Himalayas, Kedarkantha is one of the two summit treks. The rest are all mostly passes or high points on a range.
This itself is special. Second, is the route to the summit. As soon as you clear the tree line, the summit is right in front of you. So, right from the beginning of the trek, you know where you are trekking to and it creates an instant aspiration. This builds the challenge of the trek right from the beginning of the summit day.
The first ever batch of trekkers making their way to the Kedarkantha Summit in 2010. Picture from Indiahikes archives.
Deoriatal-Chandrashila. which is the other summit trek, doesn’t have such views of the summit until you trek beyond Tungnath.
Third, is the slope. The summit is a steady climb at almost an inclination of 45 to 60 degrees. At many places, especially in snow, it gets challenging even for experienced trekkers. This again makes the summit climb a rewarding one.
Fourth, is the views that accompany along. Although the views are not the most prominent or the highlights of the trek, the upper Himalayas do accompany the entire way up. This does add a charm to the entire climb giving respite when you take a break.
The view from the Kedarkantha summit is extremely rewarding with the Garhwal Himalayas spreading all the way to the horizon. Picture by Vivek HJ
So, all of this together makes this the most rewarding summit climb for beginners in the Himalayas.
Trekkers emotional moment on the summit. Picture by Jothiranjan.
What I don’t like about Kedarkantha
1. The Crowd
I will be very frank here that during the peak winter season, the Sankri route is extremely crowded. As a person looking for quiet and peace, I would not want to do the trek during this time. But luckily, we do have the alternative routes that we, at Indiahikes, run precisely to give you the exclusiveness you will want while trekking.
We talk about this route in more detail below but just giving you an idea of what you can expect if you want to take the Sankri route normally.
2. The Hydro project
As I mentioned before, the trip to the base camp is one of the most beautiful ones – especially driving by River Tons from Mori till Naitwar. However, this charming route has changed dramatically ever since the Hydro electric project started along this route. Frankly, I am not a fan of it. Because of the deforestation that this stretch has seen ever since the project started.
So, there you go. Aside from these, there is hardly anything that I will fault with this trek. Precisely why, I believe it is one of the most famous treks in the Indian Himalayas today.
Best Time To Do The Kedarkantha Trek
Kedarkantha trek is one of the few treks in the Indian Himalayas where you can trek for most part of the year. Kedarkantha trek is accessible for 10 months of the year except July and August (the peak rainy months in Uttarakhand).
The 10 months cover four different seasons –
Winter – December to February Spring – March and April Summer – May and June
Autumn – Mid September to November
Each of these seasons have something very different to offer in terms of terrain, difficulty and weather.
In a nutshell, let me tell you about the subtle differences you will see in the different seasons of the year. This should help you plan your trek better.
Season
What You Will Get To Experience
Kedarkantha in Winter (December, January, February)
– Fresh Snow and snow fall
– Beautiful snow covered forest and grasslands
– An adventurous and difficult climb to the summit
– Mildly cold mornings and extremely cold post sundown
Kedarkantha in Spring (March and April)
– Residual snow
– Beautiful summit climb
– Colorful forest and lush green meadows
– Warm mornings and cold evenings
Kedarkantha in Summer (May and June)
– No snow
– Beautiful summit climb
– Green forest and golden meadows
– Hot mornings and cold evenings
– Mild rainfall by end of May
Kedarkantha in Autumn (September, October and November)
– No snow
– Beautiful summit climb
– Crisp views from the summit
– Colorful forest and green meadows
– Mild mornings and very cold evenings
– Mild rainfall until end of September
Kedarkantha in December, January and February
Kedarkantha is most popular as a winter trek and it is rightly so. The beautiful snow covered landscape and an adventurous summit climb especially in the winter can make anyone go weak in the knees. In fact, it was discovered, documented and brought out to Indian trekking by Indiahikes as a winter trek.
Kedarkantha is a perfect winter trek – especially for beginners. What makes it perfect is how it brings about beauty and adventure together in the right proportion. You get to trek through dense forests that are covered with snow. You will learn to camp in clearings on thick mounds of snow.
The summit climb will get your adrenaline kicking with the thick blanket of snow all the way till the summit. These make the trek in winter a memorable and a unique experience even for experienced trekkers.
| Note: Kedarkantha trek gets extremely crowded from the Sankri side starting December 15th until mid-January. It is at this time, you will appreciate the more quiet and pristine Gaichawan Gaon route which Indiahikes trekkers go on.
Kedarkantha in March and April
Kedarkantha in March still carries quite a bit of snow – especially the higher campsites towards the summit. What you will also see are the Rhododendrons and the fresh exposed grasslands blooming. This is a sight to watch especially when you see the flush of colors in contrast against the snow backdrop as you climb higher.
Snow melts away by April in Kedarkantha. Kedarkantha in April is a must to experience the beautiful landscape come alive after its long winter hibernation. The weather is much pleasant to trek and camp in and the spring is in full force during this month. There is a riot of colors all along the way.
Kedarkantha in May and June
Kedarkantha in May is marked with bright sun in the morning. In the evenings, the cold is not as harsh as the other months.
Kedarkantha in June has occasional rainfall. Monsoon sets in only in July. The entire trek turns lush green.
In May and June, crowds are less as most of them are now moving towards the higher altitude treks. All in all, a great time to trek if you are looking to enjoy the trek in more isolation.
Kedarkantha in September, October and November
Right after the monsoon, the entire trek comes alive in September. The meadows and the forests are fresh and alive during the months of September and continue to be so in October as well. The air is crisp and the views of the upper Himalayas are strikingly clear.
The trek does get cold as we proceed towards November. And the feeling of incoming winter sets in during November. The views and the terrain still remains crisp and beautiful for the trekker.
All in all, all the seven months are ideal for anyone to do the trek.
Weather On The Kedarkantha Trek
The weather on Kedarkantha during the entire year is very close to what you will experience in most of our Uttarakhand treks. There are clear distinctions between the seasons and there are 5 distinct seasons during the year.
Winter – December to February
Spring – March and April
Summer – May and June
Monsoon – July till Mid September
Autumn – Mid September to November
Kedarkantha in Winter
The winter season is marked by fresh snowfall, high snow and cold days and extremely cold nights. The snowfall starts usually towards the end of December and continues until mid-February.
You can expect day temperatures to average around 8-10° C, while night temperatures to drop below zero. Some days it even goes below -5° C. You may find this season quite cold to trek in, especially in the higher campsites. But you can tackle a winter trek with the right gear. With additional layering from top to bottom, you have high chances of enjoying the trek in the winter snow.
For anyone interested in experiencing snow, this is the time to plan your trek. Even in winter, Mid January and February tend to not be too crowded. So plan your trek during Jan and Feb if you are looking for some peace on this trek.
| Note: Heavy snowfall may block the trail for 2-3 days in a stretch during peak winters. If you are planning a trek during in these months, be ready for flexibility in days or route.
Trekker Walking on the trail. Picture by Anish Pillai
Kedarkantha in Spring
Spring is all about the flowers contrasting with the melting snow on the higher altitudes and the carpeted meadows and forests in the lower altitudes. The sun will be brighter, the days start to get longer and the nights, much less colder. There won’t be fresh snowfall.
Day temperatures will be around 15-18° C while night temperatures tend to be around 0-5° C.
Choose this time if you are looking to experience a good mix of foliage and snow.
Pukhrola Campsite surrounded Beautiful Oak trees. Picture by Jothiranjan.
Kedarkantha in Summer
During summer, you will experience bright sunny days and mildly colder nights. So, if you are looking to trek around comfortable temperatures, this is the right time.
Day temperatures will be around 18-24° C while night temperatures tend to be around 3-8° C.
By the end of summer, do expect mild rains to start. The rains usually start from the afternoons and go till the evening. This will mark the beginning of the monsoon season.
Kedarkantha in Monsoon
The Monsoon season is hard to trek as this is the time there is the danger of incessant rain and lightning – two main hazards to watch out for.
This is an ideal time to trek if you are looking for crisp views of the mountain and lush green everywhere. The maple trees in the beginning of the trek will start to change color marking the arrival of winter.
You will see smaller streams gushing with flow of fresh water. It is a beautiful time to trek.
Because we are moving towards winter, the days get shorter and the nights start to get much colder.
You can expect morning temperatures around 10-15° C and night temperatures to drop to zero.
How Difficult Is Kedarkantha?
Kedarkantha is categorized as an easy-moderate trek. At Indiahikes, we classify a trek as easy-moderate if it fits the following criteria:
The ascent is gradual and evened out
The trek is 5-6 days long
They altitude reached is within 14,000 ft
The trek has easy and multiple exit points
Kedarkantha fits all of these criteria very well. In Kedarkantha, you climb an altitude of 5,500-6,000 ft within 3 days. The ascent is gradual and steady. Of course, there are certain steep sections spread out, but when well-prepared, they are easy to tackle.
Also, every day of the trek, you climb for a maximum of 4 hours (except on the summit day which in general tends to be longer).
Next, the trek reaches a maximum altitude of 12,500 ft. Hence, it is extremely well-suited for beginners and trekkers who are looking to not do a demanding trek.
Last, as mentioned earlier, Kedarkantha is a stand alone mountain. Hence the trek presents multiple routes to the summit. The biggest asset is that these routes provide multiple exit routes making it an ideal trek in terms of safety. This is especially important when you are looking to trek on your own.
Outside the terrain, Kedarkantha also stays as an easy-moderate trek during all the seasons of the year. When there is a high level of snow (you can expect this in the later part of December, January and February), the trek does tip towards a moderate trek, but nevertheless, those do not happen often.
These high snow situations require good management from the organizer and you. At Indiahikes, we ensure a strong technical team accompanies the trekkers during this time. The role of the technical team is to ensure that the route you take to the summit is safe for you trek in.
We also provide you with the right gear – microspikes, gaiters, etc. specially to tackle snow. This along with your physical and gear preparation can make the trek easier for you to do.
What raises the difficulty level to easy-moderate?
Although this trek has all the components of an easy trek, the aspect of Kedarkantha which makes it an easy-moderate trek is its summit climb. The summit climb is long, steep and if you are doing it from the Sankri side is also tricky – especially in the last stretch.
Not just that, the duration of the summit day is also quite long. You are looking at about 7-8 hours of trek on the summit day with about 5 hours of steady climb and 2-3 hours of fast descent. This is challenging on the legs and you need a good level of fitness to comfortably finish this day.
Considering all of this, the trek has been marked as easy-moderate.
Having said all of this, we want to stress this again: the trek is as easy as your preparations go. Even the easiest of treks can turn into a difficult one if you are not physically and gear-wise prepared for the trek. So, do follow the preparation details provided here with care.
How Safe Is Kedarkantha?
Kedarkantha is a very safe trek to do. At Indiahikes we determine safety on a variety of factors – most important of which includes terrain, altitude and weather.
Safety of Kedarkantha — Terrain wise
When it comes to terrain, Kedarkantha can be considered as highly safe. The entire route is marked with
Well marked trails
Well trodden routes
Gradual ascents
Well placed campsites (important when considering AMS)
Easy and multiple exit points
There are hardly sections that are challenging and require technical assistance. The only tricky section is the ridge walk closer to the summit. However, even this section does not require technical assistance.
Safety of Kedarkantha — Altitude wise
In this trek, you are climbing around 6,300 ft in the first three days and reaching a maximum altitude of 12,500 ft. Naturally, you can get hit with AMS.
Few aspects of the trek that helps mitigate AMS:
The campsites are placed well within a normal altitude gain for each day. With a steady pace, the chances of getting AMS is less.
The second day is shorter in length and altitude gain. This gives you ample opportunity to rest and acclimatize before the long summit day.
The third day, you lose a lot of height. This helps recover from most AMS symptoms that might occur on the summit day.
However, there are still chances of getting hit by AMS.
In this trek, the symptoms can start right from day 1. Most trekkers present with the starting symptoms of AMS – usually headache or tiredness mixed with perhaps lack of appetite or sleep. The immediate step to take would be to start on a curative course of Diamox which is 250 mg, every 12 hours followed by ample rest.
The earlier you treat these symptoms, the higher the chances of recovering and completing the trek.
If you present with symptoms that persist more than 12 hours, descend to the base camp.
As you climb higher and proceed beyond 11,000 ft, there are chances of HAPE/ HACE to occur as well. In our history of running this trek, we have never had a trekker present with HAPE/HACE. But nevertheless, it is better to be prepared and be mindful of the symptoms. Read and learn more about HAPE/HACE and how to tackle it here.
Here’s a complete list to read and learn about Altitude Sickness:
The trek is safe for all the 10 months of the year it is open. The trek can get slippery and tricky when there is a lot of snow. However, this can be managed with the right gear – microspikes, gaiters, etc.
The trek also gets extremely cold in the winter and can result in cold related injuries. But this can be tackled with the right winter gear, right technique of layering and good insulation techniques.
Exit points on the trek
Kedarkantha is one trek that has multiple routes and thereby multiple exit points to safety. You can follow them easily on the map below.
You can exit the trek from Sankri, Kotgaon or Gaichawan Gaon. In case of an emergency, the closest exit point to the hospital would be Gaichawan Gaon. It is also the nearest road head when compared to the other exit points of the trek.
The possible routes and exit points in case of an emergency on the Kedarkantha trek.
| Note: As you can see, the three trails in Kedarkantha are interconnected. There are multiple bridging routes in between to move from one route to the other within the trek. However, this requires extensive knowledge of the trails to navigate. So, we strongly recommend against switching a route unless you are with a team who knows the trek like the back of their hand.
Nearest Hospitals
For mild medical issues, the closest medical assistance can be found in Mori and then in Purola. This includes simple fracture, sprain, etc.
Mori
Government Hospital Mori – Sankari Rd, Mautar, Uttarakhand – 249128
Primary Health Center Mori, Uttarakhand – 249128 Ph: 01373 234 486
However, for major medical emergencies, the nearest hospital is in Mussoorie or Dehradun – which is almost 8-9 hours away from the base camp of the trek.
How To Reach Kedarkantha?
What you must look out for on this journey
The drive from Dehradun to Gaichawan Gaon is one of the most beautiful journeys you can take in the Himalayas. Everyone at Indiahikes loves the section that starts after Purola.
What you must look out for:
– The pine forest that starts right after you cross Jarmola check post. What makes this section special is the density of the forest and the contrast it provides with the road. Given that you are also winding down this section, the windings pull you into the forest slowly adding to the charm.
– A taste of the local cuisine at the Har ki Dun restaurant right after Purola. Our Trek Leaders recommend that you try the Red rice, Mandwa ka roti and Bichu Ghas ki sabzi. This cries Uttarakhand and you will not get to taste this unless you are invited into someone’s home. So don’t miss this opportunity to try the local cuisine.
| Did you know – Bichu Ghas is nothing but the Stinging Nettle that you find on the way to the trek. The local villages make sabzi out of this green. It is rich in Calcium, Iron and Vitamin A and C.
– The drive after Mori by the River Tons. What makes it special is that you are on the same level as the river. This makes you appreciate the beauty of the valley much more than the earlier part of the drive. You will also appreciate the color of this river which is a stunning aqua/turquoise depending on the season you go.
| Did you know – Tons is the largest tributary of Yamuna.
– The homestays of Gaichawan Gaon. These houses are made from Deodar sourced from the nearby forest. They are constructed to keep them warm during winter and cozy during summer.
| Did you know – The cow sheds are always in the bottom floor of the house. This is to ensure that the methane produced by the cows warms the higher floors where people live.
PS: If you are traveling on your own and you need to break your journey, we recommend that you do so at Purola. Purola has good homestays and hotels to comfortably stay in and there are buses and shared cabs to the base camp at regular intervals that start right from the morning.
What To Pack For Kedarkantha Trek
Before you start shopping and packing for the high-altitude Kedarkantha trek, watch this video to get a clear idea about what you need to take along.
Complete Video Playlist: How To Pack For Kedarkantha Trek
Carry an Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar card, a passport will do.
You will need to submit your identification to the forest department. Without these, you will not be allowed to trek.
| Tip: Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack to prevent them from getting wet.
If you have registered with Indiahikes, you also need to carry the Disclaimer Certificate and the Medical Certificate.
For an exhaustive list of things to carry, click here.
Other Information To Know About The Trek
Network and Connectivity on Kedarkantha
Network and connectivity is sparse in Kedarkantha. But there are few locations where you can rely on a good network for communication.
We have put down the network zones on the entire trek from all three routes in the table below.
The last ATM en route to the base camp is in Mori. Mori has an SBI bank with an ATM attached to it. However, the ATM has been found to be empty of cash many times. In such a case, you may head out to an SBI authorized cash withdrawal center. You can swipe your card and get cash from the person servicing the desk. This center is located on the first floor, two buildings to the right of SBI.
Although Mori has this possibility, we strongly encourage trekkers to bring cash or to withdraw cash from the 3 ATMs available in Purola (SBC, ICICI and Axis Bank ATMs).
Electricity
Sankri/Gaichawan Gaon/Kotgaon are the last points that are electrically connected. However, the electricity is extremely intermittent and can be absent for most part of the day during winter/late summer (when monsoon starts to set in).
So, we strongly encourage you to bring additional batteries for your cameras and a power bank with more than 10,000 mAh to last you the entire trek.
ProtipBeware that the power from your batteries will drain faster in cold temperatures of this region. So, put the batteries in a small pouch and keep it inside your sleeping bag to keep them warm during the night.
Cloak room facility at Kedarkantha
At Kedarkantha, you have the opportunity to drop your luggage at the base camp for the duration of the trek.
At the end of the trek, the cloak room belongings will be brought back to you.
Please do ensure that you do not leave valuables in our cloak room facility. If you do so, do inform our staff so that they can take the necessary precautions to keep it safe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kedarkantha
1. How long is Kedarkantha trek?
Kedarkantha trek is a 18 km long trek that spans over 4 days (6 if you include the travel days from Dehradun and back). On the first day, you trek for about 5 km for about 4 hours. Second day is shorter where you trek for about 2 km over 2 hours.
The third day is the longest day of the trek as you trek to the summit and come back to the next campsite. On this day, you trek about 6 km over 6-7 hours. The last day, you trek for 5-6 km again over 5 hours.
2. What is the height of Kedarkantha trek?
Kedarkantha trek reaches a maximum altitude/height of 12500 ft. Depending on the starting point, there are three altitudes you start the trek from:
Sankri – 6,455 ft Kotgaon – 6,800 ft Gaichawan Gaon – 6,800 ft
From the starting point, the trek climbs a height/altitude of more or less 6,000 ft during the length. You steadily climb up the first three days of the trek till the summit and climb down on the last two days. Please check the short/detailed itinerary to understand the trek in more detail.
Short Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Dehradun to Gaichawan Gaon It’s a 10-11 hours drive from Dehradun. Transport will be organised from Hotel Grand Legacy, Dehradun at 6.30 am. The cab can also pick you up from Library Chowk, Mall Road, Mussorie at 7.30 am.
Cost of the cab – Rs. 6,000 per vehicle.
Day 2: Trek from Gaichawan Gaon to Jalota Trek Distance: 5.18 km / Duration: 5 hours Altitude gain: 5,571 ft to 8,924 ft
Day 3: Trek from Jalota to Pukhrola Trek Distance: 3.5 km / Duration: 3.5 hours Altitude gain: 8,924 ft to 10,871 ft
Day 4: Trek from Pukhrola to Akhoti Thatch via Kedarkantha Summit Trek Distance: 8.9 km / Duration: 7-8 hours Altitude gain and loss: 10,871 ft to 8,270 ft via 12,500 ft
Day 5: Trek from Akhoti Thatch to Gaichawan Gaon Trek Distance: 3.95 km / Duration: 4-5 hours Altitude loss: 8,270 ft to 5,571 ft
Day 6:Drive back from Gaichawan Gaon to Dehradun
You will reach Dehradun between 6 pm and 7.00 PM. We can drop you at the Dehradun railway station.
The cab costs Rs 6,000 per SUV (6 seater) and Rs 9,000 per Tempo Traveller.
Here is the detailed itinerary of Kedarkantha trek:
Day 1 (Pick-up Day): Reach Gaichawan Gaon
Distance: 200 km
Time taken: 10 – 11 hours
The trek begins at Gaichawan Gaon, 10-11 hours drive from Dehradun. The journey takes you past Mori and Purola. You see beautiful valleys and forest cover throughout the journey.
At the Naitwar Barrier you need to take permission. A government issued ID is essential for this. After the barrier, take a right turn to go to Gainchawan Gaon. The road that goes straight takes you to Sankri. After taking the right turn, take another right turn in about 30 minutes.
This takes you to Gainchwan Gaon surrounded by small hamlets called Shialdi, Paisar, Guradi, Suchan Gaon, Dargar Gaon and Dewara. The guest house where you will be staying is in Shialdi.
Roam around this quaint village and be enchanted by the sound of the Tons river.
Day 2: Gaichawan Gaon to Julota
Altitude: 5,571 ft (1,698 m) to 8,924 ft (2,720 m)
Time taken: 5.5 hours
Trek gradient: Moderate. Gradual ascent for 2 – 2.5 hours followed by a steep ascent
Water sources: Carry 2 litres of water. There’s one water source half way through the trek
There’s a motorable road all the way to Altwar which is a work in progress. You will have to stick to the villager’s path that goes through apple orchards and farm lands. The Suchan Gaon and Dargar Gaon villages are unique in their culture, in their architecture and lifestyle. Altwar is at a distance of 3 km from Gaichawan Gaon if you come through these villages and 6 km via the motorable road.
The forest section in winter. Dark green on top, and bright white in the bottom. PC – Izzat Yaganagi
Altwar is a small village with few houses. You get beautiful views of the Rupin valley from here.
From Altwar, the trail first goes inside a light forest that ascends gradually. In some time, you see a beautiful clearing amidst pines and oaks. There’s a water source here to refill your water bottles.
After the clearing, you enter a dense forest of pine and oak. This place is very quiet. Soon you see a wooden bridge over a dried stream bed. The trail from here on is quite steep and more like a staircase made of slabs of rock. After gaining some altitude, the incline becomes more gradual. You see the Tons river as you traverse through fallen trees on the trail. Be careful not to trip on loose branches and roots.
As you walk further, you enter a clearing with a hut. This place is Raj Odari, from where you take a route which deviates from the main trail. After some distance, you see a stream cutting through the trail. After crossing the stream, you trek up a trail that is on a gradual incline on a grassland. Less than half a kilometer later, you arrive at Gainkaka.
From here it is a gradual ascent till you get to a stream. The trail from here ascends steeply to reach a clearing. This is your Julota campsite.
Day 3: Julota to Pukhrola
Altitude: 8,924 ft (2,720 m) to 10,871 ft (3,313 m)
Time taken: 3.5 hours
Trek gradient: Easy. Half kilometer of ascent to a meadow followed by half kilometer of level walk. Gradual ascent which becomes steep for the last 300 metres to Pukhrola
Water sources: Carry sufficient water. You will find streams along the trail to refill your water bottles
Today’s trek is quite short but there’s close to 2,000 ft of altitude gain. So remember to keep yourself hydrated well. The trail is steeper and the terrain is undulated and mixed.
Within 400 metres of Julota, you reach a clearing. Pass this clearing and walk for another 400 meres to reach the next clearing. This is called Siunn Ka Thatch.
The trail again goes through a jungle and opens into another clearing called Mowru Ka Thatch. Take a short break here to enjoy the serenity of the place. After Mowru Ka Thatch, you trek through a tree covered area on steep terrain. The tree cover slowly loses density and you see Rhododendron trees.
You will cross a few streams on the way ahead. In 45 minutes to an hour you reach an amphitheatre-like setting. You can see a lot of mountain ridges from this meadow. This is Pukhrola, our new base of Kedarkantha. You can also see the Kedarkantha summit up ahead of you.
Take a good rest and enjoy the picturesque sunset here.
[Note: The cold in the open is intense and it often gets windy. Carry enough woollen wear to protect you from the elements.]
Day 4: Pukhrola to Kedarkantha Summit; descend to Akhoti Thatch
Altitude: 10,871 ft (3,313 m) to 12,500 ft (3,810 m), and on to 8,270 ft (2,521 m)
Time taken: 7–8 hours
Trek gradient: Easy to moderate. 2-3 hour steep ascent to reach the summit. Steep descent to Akhoti Thatch
Water sources: Carry two litres of water. First water source is at Talkhetra, around 2 hours into the descent
Today you make the final push towards the summit. Start from Pukhrola at 4.00 AM.
The route goes on the western ridge of the mountain and it gets very steep at multiple points. Climb in a zigzag way in such places. It takes 2-3 hours to reach the summit by this route. On the summit you are surrounded by mountain ranges and valleys.
A star-lit sky at Pukhrola. Photo Courtesy: Spandan Soneji
You see the Chainsheel Pass, Rupin valley, Har Ki Dun valley. Mt Swargarohini also comes into view along with Mt Bandarpoonch and Mt Kalanag. Some of the other peaks you see include Jaonli, Gangotri, Draupadi Ka Danda and Jorkanden.
After spending some time on the summit, retrace your way to Pukhrola.
A slight deviation from the trail towards Pukhrola takes you on the trail towards Akhoti Thatch. You are back to the treeline now. Akhoti Thatch campsite is 2 km from Pukhrola. It will take 2.5-3 hours to complete this stretch.
Reach Akhoti Thatch by lunch time. This campsite is a nice big clearing amidst walnut trees and hence the name.
Day 5: Akhoti Thatch to Gaichawan Gaon
Altitude: 8,270 ft (2,521 m) to 5,571 ft (1,698 m)
Time taken: 4-5 hours
Trek gradient: Easy. Gradual descent all the way
Water sources: Carry sufficient water. There is one water source, around 1.5 hours into the trek
After breakfast, start moving towards Gaichawan Gaon. This is 6 km from Akhoti Thatch. The trail before reaching Akhoti Thatch and till reaching Altwar is totally untouched and serene.
A sunny day on Akhroti Thatch campsite. Photo Courtesy: Mit Gudhka
The trail goes through thick Oak and Rhododendron forests. There are few small clearings while on the way down. The trail is not that well-made because not too many trekkers come here.
After 2 hours and almost 2 km of descent from Akhoti Thatch, we reach a place called Sada, an opening with beautiful old wooden huts. Kedarkantha peak and a few small villages are seen on the side of the valley. The route descends further towards Altwar, which is one and a half hours away. While on the way to Altwar, you can see Gaichawan Gaon from a small opening in the forest. It takes another 1.5 hours to reach Gaichawan Gaon.
Day 6 (Drive-back Day): Drive to Dehradun from Gaichawan Gaon
Distance: 200 km
Time taken: 10 – 11 hours
Start early in the morning, preferably before 7.00 AM since the journey takes at least 10 hours. Plan your travel from Dehradun post 7.00 PM on this day.
Plan Your Travel for the Kedarkantha trek
It is great to see you going on the Kedarkantha Trek, one of the finest summit climbs for beginners . While it is a great trek to do, you need to get your travel plan worked out perfectly.
Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do next. Use this guide and nothing else to plan your travel.
Day 0: Book yourair ticket to Delhi or Dehradun. If Delhi, book night train/bus to Dehradun. Click here for more explanation.
Day 1 (Pick-up Day): Drive from Dehradun to Gaichawan Gaon (6,800 ft); 10-11 hours drive from Dehradun. Gaichwangaon is the basecamp for your trek. (It will be Sankri if the snow levels are high during your trek period)
We organise transport to Gaichawan Gaon from Hotel Grand Legacy, Dehradun leave at 6:30 am sharp. It costs Rs 6,.000 per vehicle (shared between 5-6 trekkers).
Day 2: Trek Gaichwan Gaon to Jalota
Day 3: Jalota to Pukhrola
Day 4: Pukhrola to Kedarkantha summit and then on to Akhoti Thatch
Day 5: Trek Akhoti Thatch to Gaichwan Gaon
Day 6 (Drive-back Day): Drive from Gaichwan Gaon to Dehradun. It is a 10-11 hour drive to Dehradun. We organise transport from Sankri to Dehradun Railway station. You will reach around 6.30pm. It costs Rs 6,000 per vehicle (shared between 5-6 trekkers).
Book return train/bus ticket to Delhi from Dehradun (Nanda Devi or Mussoorie express). Do not book plane tickets to your hometown from Delhi on Day 6. Click here for more explanation.
Day 7: Book return train ticket to Delhi from Dehradun (Nanda Devi or Mussoorie express). Or book direct air ticket from Dehradun. Do not book plane tickets to your hometown from Delhi on Day 6. Click here for more explanation
Note:
While getting to Gaichwangaon, we recommend you arrive a day earlier and stay at Dehradun (Day zero). Our vehicles can pick you up at Dehradun Railway station (on Day 1). Staying at Dehradun gives you a well deserved rest for the night. Plus some bonus sightseeing.
On your return from the trek you can get off at Mussoorie. If you do not want to get off at Mussoorie, the final stop of the vehicle is at the Dehradun railway station. You reach Dehradun between 6.00 and 7.00 pm.
2. Planning your onward flight/train booking
If you are travelling from Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai or any other city, book your air tickets for Day Zero, which is the day before Day 1 on the itinerary. If your trek start day is 25 August, book your air tickets for 24 August to either Delhi/Dehradun.
There are two options.
Option 1: Fly directly to Dehradun
We recommend this. It gives you an added rest day at Dehradun. Most metros are directly connected to Dehradun. However, if the cost of the flight ticket to Dehradun is too high, book to Delhi and connect to Dehradun by train/bus. Tip: Train is the best option to get to Dehradun. Bus journeys are often delayed by a few hours.
Taxis are available from the airport (plenty). Prepaid taxis are available (look for the pre-paid taxi counter just out of the conveyor belt at the arrivals). You can also flag down a taxi (bargain a bit) with taxis outside the airport. Airport taxis are exorbitant. They usually charge between Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 to Dehradun.
Usually most passengers take taxis from the airport. Try to hook up with co-passengers on the flight for your taxi ride to Dehradun.
Pro Tip: If you want to save real money try to catch an auto just outside the airport terminal complex. They usually come there to drop passengers off. Autos are not allowed to enter the airport complex. They charge approximately Rs 300 to Dehradun.
If autos are not available, walk for further 1.5 km to get to the Rishikesh Dehradun highway. From the highway you can flag down regular town buses or shared autos (shared autos are called Vikrams). Bus fare is about Rs 30 to Dehradun. Shared autos charge about Rs 20.
Option 2: Flying to Delhi.
Flying to Delhi may be a lot cheaper than getting to Dehradun. Make sure to book a flight that reaches Delhi by 8.00 pm. You must arrive in Delhi on Day Zero and not on Day 1.
Note: If you notice the difference in air ticket prices between Delhi and Dehradun less than Rs 1000 then book directly to Dehradun. The rest and shorter travel time is worth the difference.
Next, book yourself in the Nanda Devi Express to Dehradun (Train No: 12401). It is a fully AC train that leaves at 23.35 hrs from Hazrat Nizamuddin and gets to Dehradun at 5.40 am in the morning.
Note: Earlier the Nanda Devi express would depart from New Delhi railway station. From 26 Aug 2019, it leaves from Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. The train now comes from Kota. So expect about 15 to 30 mins delay in arrival. The train number has changed too from 12206 to 12401.
At Dehradun railway station, wait for Indiahikes pickup at 6.30 am. Contact your driver by 6.00 am. The number of your transport coordinator will be shared with you a week prior to your departure.
Caution: Do not book on any other train except the Nanda Devi Express. The other option, Mussoorie express, is notorious for its delay. Your pickup vehicle may leave without you. If you do not get tickets on the Nanda Devi Express, take a bus from Delhi to Haridwar, but do not book on the Mussoorie express. Pro Tip: Take the afternoon Jan Shatabdi express from New Delhi railway station (leaves at 15.20 pm) to arrive at Dehradun by 21:10 in the night. Stay overnight at Dehradun. Take the Indiahikes pickup the next morning directly from Dehradun railway station.
Bus
If in case you do not get a train ticket, there are regular Volvo AC buses from Delhi’s ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Dehradun. You also get Non-AC buses. Buses are frequent and not usually crowded. You can get a bus almost every half hour. Buses take 7-8 hours to get to Dehradun from Delhi. AC bus tickets cost about Rs 700.
3. Planning your return flight/train booking
Booking your return tickets require some thought. First, keep some buffer time in mind before booking tickets. If you are scheduled to reach Dehradun around 6.30pm, book your onward bus or train tickets only after 9 pm. In case you are stuck in traffic or get delayed at your lunch spot, you will have some buffer time to catch your bus/train.
Next, if your onward flight departs from Delhi/Dehradun, then book flight tickets for Day 7.
Sometimes trekkers worry if they can book an early morning flight out of Delhi on Day 7. Yes, you can. But book flights that depart only after 8 am. Do not book any flight between 6.00 and 8 am. You may not reach Delhi in time.
How to get to Delhi on time for an early morning flight.
If your flight is early, say between 8.00 and 9.00 am, then there are two options.
Train: Take the Nanda Devi Express from Dehradun (12402) that leaves at 22:40 hrs to get to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station at 04:50 in the morning. From Hazrat Nizamuddin you get airport buses from outside the station as well as taxis. Metro train is somewhat inconvenient from Hazrat Nizamuddin.
Note: Earlier Nanda Devi express would arrive at New Delhi railway station. From 26 August 2019, it has been extended up to Kota. It no longer goes to New Delhi railway station. Instead it goes to Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. The train number has changed from 12206 to 12402.
Bus: The other option is to take a bus from Dehradun. It is about 6½ – 7 hrs journey to Delhi. So if you take a bus that leaves around 9.00 pm, then expect to reach Delhi at around 04.00 am (ISBT Kashmiri Gate). A bus that leaves at 22:00 pm will reach Delhi around 05.00 am. AC Volvo buses are the fastest, so opt for them. Non AC buses can take up to 7-8 hrs for the journey.
From Kashmiri Gate ISBT you get Airport buses or taxis.
Note: Metro trains in Delhi do not start before 5.00 am.
If you are taking a flight out of Dehradun
If you are taking a flight out of Dehradun then book yourself on Day 9. Most metros are now well connected by Dehradun by flight.
4. Planning your hotel/stay
In Dehradun, look for hotels around the railway station. There are quite a few options available online and it is not difficult to find last minute hotel booking.
Hotel options at Dehradun
Hotel Drona, which is a government property owned by the GMVN is decent. It is an old, but a large and spacious property. It is about 1.5 kms from Dehradun railway station. Rooms start at Rs 750.
Latest Update: Hotel Drona has been converted into a Covid Centre
MyRoom252 is a new backpackers facility in Dehradun. Modern, colourful and clean. Bunk beds start at Rs 300. Rooms are available too. It is not too far from the Dehradun Railway station. Shared autos (which are called Vikrams) can get you there. For online booking: http://www.myroom252.com/. Phone: 086308 81083. Location: https://goo.gl/maps/p5xkbMyUF4X5VHwx9
Nomads House is another new backpackers hostel in Dehradun. The atmosphere is good. The place neat and clean. Indiahikes trek leaders love Nomads House. It is about 10 mins from the Dehradun railway station. Bunk beds start at Rs 400, rooms start at Rs 800. Shared autos are easily available to get to Nomads House. Phone: 9760596464 Location: https://g.page/NomadsHouse?share
What if you miss the Indiahikes pickup? Getting to Gaichwangaon on your own.
If you miss the Indiahikes pick up from Dehradun, here is how you can get to Gaichwangaon base camp on your own.
Bus from Dehradun to Sankri
There are 2 direct buses from Dehradun railway station to Sankri. They leave at 6 am and 7 am respectively from Dehradun ISBT. The cost per ticket is Rs 350 – 400/-
If you are reaching Dehradun late, you can take a bus to Purola/Naugaon and then a shared cab to Sankri. It costs Rs 150, make sure you reach Purola by 3 pm to take the last shared cab to Sankri.
After you reach Sankri, you can take a share cab to Gaichwangaon. It costs Rs. 500 per cab. You will be sharing the cost with others. You can also walk up to Gaichwangaon. It is 4km away from Sankri.
Tip: While this bus hopping may sound cumbersome, we do it regularly at Indiahikes. They are a fun and a good way to know the real Uttarakhand. You also get to meet very interesting local people. So while no one wants to miss a pick up, don’t be too disheartened if it happens. You may just experience one of your best travel moments!
How to get fit for the Kedarkantha trek
The Kedarkantha trek is marked as an easy-moderate trek. It starts at an altitude of 6,800 ft at Gaichwangaon and climbs to 12,500 ft at Kedarkantha peak. This means there is an altitude gain of 6,300 ft over the first three days of the trek. Consequently, all the three days leading to the Kedarkantha summit involve constant ascent.
Cardiovascular endurance
This trek requires a good amount of cardiovascular endurance. You can begin by jogging everyday. Start jogging at a slow pace and then keep increasing your pace day by day. In order to be prepared for high altitude trek, you should have a combination of distance and speed targets.
Here’s a fitness routine that works:
In case you’re just starting with a regular fitness routine, phase out your distance targets in the following manner –
–>Target completing 5 km in 45 minutes when you begin.
–> Gradually increase your pace by running 4 times a week and bring it down to 5 km in 40 mins.
–>If you are 45 years or above, try to cover 5km in less than 47 minutes.
If you are somebody you prefers cycling over running, then try to cover 22 km in 60 minutes.
How to send us a proof of your fitness routine?
Record your run on an app like Nike Run. Start recording your run when you start running. At the end of your run, hit the stop button.
Take a screenshot of the summary of your run. We will need a detailed split of each kilometre of your run. This is usually integrated in all running apps.
Note: Make sure your GPS is on when you record your run. If the GPS is off, we will not accept the screenshot.
Upload two screenshots 10 days prior to the start of the trek
For > 45 years age : One screenshot of 5 km in 50 minutes and the second 5 km in 47 minutes.
For < 45 years age : Two screenshots of 5 km in 40 minutes.
If you love cycling, cover a distance of 22 km in one hour and upload the same.
Fitness proof to be uploaded with GPS on and along with your picture.
Here’s a guide to help you prepare for the trek.
One month trek fitness routine for easy treks
Working out indoors If you can’t go out and jog because of time and space constraints, here’s a video you can use to work out indoors.
Things to get for the Kedarkantha Trek
Kedarkantha is a high altitude trek with snow. In winter, the temperatures drop to negative temperatures. You’ll need enough warm layers and accessories to keep you warm and help you trek comfortably. So pay careful attention to this entire section.
A list of everything you need for the trek (Skip to section)
| Buying Tip: The Trek series and MH series are good options by Decathlon. They are tried and tested. There really isn’t any necessity to buy the higher priced models. Here is a list of other budget shoes that trekkers are using.
| Rental: We have the Trek series and the MH series by Decathlon available on rent from the Indiahikes store. They are already broken into and in good condition. Rental shoes are not dirty or unhygienic. This is how they are kept clean. Rent here.
2. Backpack
For a trek like Kedarkantha, you need a 50-60 litre backpack. Make sure your backpack has good hip support, shoulder support and quick access pockets. Here is a guide on how to choose a backpack.
| Buying Tip: Wildcraft, Decathlon and Adventure Worx usually make good backpacks. While Wildcraft has more expensive ones, the other two brands have budget-friendly backpacks to choose from.
| Rental: The 48 litre backpack by Adventure Worx is available on rent from the Indiahikes store. They are custom-made for our Himalayan treks. Rent them if you don’t have a backpack. Rent here.
3. Clothes
Wearing layers is the mantra in the mountains. Layers give you maximum protection from all elements. And when the weather changes in the mountains (as it happens every few hours), you take take off or put on layers as required.
Base Layer: 3 T-shirts
Wear one T-shirt and carry two. Carry full sleeve dry-fit T-shirts (preferably collared). These prevent your arms and neck from getting sunburnt. In the rarified air on the trek, especially at high altitudes, UV rays can burn you in no time.
Dry-fit T-shirts quickly dry your sweat, they are easy to wash and in case of a rainy day, they dry quicker. Round neck T-shirts are ok, but collared ones are better.
| Cotton or Synthetic? As Indians, we love cotton. Down in the plains when the heat is a blistering 40°C it makes sense to wear cotton. But it takes a long time to dry when it gets wet. In the mountains, where it is cooler, synthetic is what you wear. They wick sweat rapidly and keep you dry. (But they do tend to smell quickly, so carry a roll-on deodorant with you.)
| Buying Tip: You can get dry-fit T-shirts from Decathlon. Also, stores like Reliance Trends, Max have dry-fit T-shirts. They don’t usually cost much.
| Pro Tip: If you are extra susceptible to cold, you could get a set of thermal inners. In our experience, wearing two T-shirts over another works as a better thermal. And they save you weight and space, since you’re already carrying them.
5 Insulation Layers in Winter
The Kedarkantha trek is primarily a winter trek. If you’re going any time between December and March, you will need at least 5 warm layers.
You will need 1 pair of inner thermals, 2 light fleece layers, 1 light sweater and 1 padded jacket. Do not get your grandma stitched sweaters, which can be very heavy. You need sweaters and fleece jackets that can fold into compact rolls.
For your outer later, a padded jacket serves the purpose here. You don’t really need a water resistant material. But you need an outer padded jacket that keeps the wind and cold out. Ensure your padded jacket has a hood as well.
| Note: Down/feather jackets are really not available these days. Many jackets masquerade as down/feather jackets. They are essentially fine polyester-filled jackets. They mimic the function of a down jacket but are usually expensive.
| Rental: Padded jackets made by Fort Collins are available on rent at the Indiahikes store. They are custom made for Indiahikes and trekkers find them terrific, even in winter. Rent here.
Trek Pants
A minimum of one pair and maximum of two pairs of trek pants should suffice for this trek. Wear one pair and carry one just in case it rains/snows. Trek pants with zippered cut offs at the thighs are very suitable for treks. Also, choose quick-dry pants over cotton. They dry up soon even in the cold climate.
| Buying Tip: Go for pants with zippered pockets. They come in handy to keep your phone, handkerchief or pocket snacks.
| Track pants or trek pants? Stretchable track pants make a good backup and can double up as your thermal bottoms. But track pants are not trek pants — so don’t use them as your main outerwear. Keep them only as a backup.
Mandatory Accessories, without these too you won’t be able to do the trek.
These accessories are mandatory. Don’t go to Kedarkantha without them. Trekkers generally put off purchasing / borrowing the accessories for the last minute. We suggest the opposite. Start gathering these accessories first.
1. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are to prevent snow blindness. On a winter trek like Kedarkantha, expect to walk on long stretches of snow. A small overexposure to direct sunlight on snow can lead to snow blindness (about a half hour’s exposure). That’s because fallen snow is like thousands of mirrors that reflect direct UV rays. So you need sunglasses with UV protection.
| Wearing tip: Wear sunglasses if the trekking day is bright and sunny (on open sections, meadows). On a snowy section you must absolutely never take off your sunglasses until the section has been fully crossed.
| Buying Tip: Try getting sunglasses that wrap around instead of those that have openings on the side. Even peripheral UV ray exposure is not a good idea.
| If you wear spectacles: If you wear spectacles, you can get oversized sunglasses that you wear over your regular glasses (available at Decathlon). If that is cumbersome, photochromic lenses work equally well. Here’s a quick guide on managing sunglasses with spectacles.
| Contact lens users: If you use contact lenses, you can use them on the trek too. The lens solution will not freeze. You will also not face any problems in changing your lens in your tent. Just carry enough cleaning solution with you to clean your fingers well. Wear your sunglasses over your contact lens. Read this article for more guidance on managing contact lenses on treks.
2. Suncap
A sun cap is mandatory. Trekking without a sun cap can lead to headaches, sun strokes, quick dehydration and a sharp drop in trekking performance.
| Tip: In the mountains, the general rule is to keep your head covered at all times. During the day a sun cap protects you from the harsh rays of the sun (it is doubly stronger with naked UV rays). A sun cap keeps your body temperature in balance. In the evening/early morning, the reverse is true. Your head loses your body heat quickly. A woolen cap prevents heat from dissipating from your head.
| Pro Tip: Sun caps with flaps are a blessing for trekkers. They cut out almost all UV leaks. They prevent sun burns in every possible way. They are a lot more effective than sunscreen lotion. A wide-brimmed sports hat also helps to prevent sunburn in a big way.
3. Synthetic Hand Gloves
On a trek like Kedarkantha you are going to be handling snow quite a bit. You’ll need gloves to grip something or to steady yourself in snow. You also want the gloves to keep you warm. Get synthetic hand gloves that have waterproofing on the outside and a padded lining on the inside. If you find the combination difficult to get (not likely), wear a tight fitting fleece hand glove inside a synthetic hand glove. Hand gloves are mandatory on this trek.
4. Woollen Cap or Balaclava
Ensure these cover your head. In the cold mountains, you lose maximum heat from your head, not from your hands, feet or the rest of your body. Which is why you need to keep your head protected, especially when the sun is down. Early mornings, late evenings, a cold trekking day are when you must use your woollen cap.
Your ears are sensitive too, so a woollen head cap that covers your ears is absolutely essential. A balaclava is a modern version of the woolen cap. It covers your ears, neck and parts of your face as well. If you get woollen cap that only covers your head, you will need a neck warmer or a woolen scarf.
5. Socks (4 pairs)
Apart from three to four pairs of sports socks, take a pair of woollen socks. Sports socks give you cushioning plus warmth. Again the mantra is to wear synthetic socks or at least a synthetic blend. Cotton socks soak in water and sweat. They are very hard to dry.
As for woollen socks, they help you to keep warm and snug in the night. If you cannot get woolen socks, wearing two sports socks serves the purpose as well.
6. Headlamp
Trekkers are often confused about whether they need to get a headlamp or a handheld torch. You need to get a headlamp because it leaves your hands free to do other activities. On the Kedarkantha trek you’ll need your hands free to wash dishes, pitch tents and hold your trek poles.
| Buying tip: Ensure your headlamp covers a wider area and is not too focused as a single beam. On a trek, your headlamp must help you see around you as much as ahead of you.
| Rental: Headlamps are available on rent on the Indiahikes store. Rent here.
7. Trekking Poles (a pair)
Trekking poles give you stability and balance. They reduce your energy consumption by almost 40%. On the Kedarkantha trek there are steep ascents and descents. A pair of trekking poles will make the difference between a comfortable and a strenuous trek. In India we tend to use a single trekking pole. However, two trekking poles give you greater stability and balance. They also increase your walking pace.
| Rental: Imported side-locking trekking poles are available on rent on the Indiahikes store. Rent here.
8. Rainwear
On a trek, the weather can change quickly. A bright sunny day can turn into a downpour in a matter of minutes. Carry a poncho or a rain jacket to tackle this. A poncho is a big rain cover with openings for your arms and your head. It is extremely effective because it covers both you and (partially) your backpack. It is extremely light and weighs next to nothing.
| Pro tip: Rain jackets are more streamlined and less cumbersome but weigh more. Rain pants are really not required. Dry fit trek pants dry quickly even if soaking wet.
| Rental: High grade ponchos are available on rent on the Indiahikes store. Rent here.
9. Rain cover for your backpack
Backpacks are your life. You carry all your dry clothes, your warm gear in your backpack. It is important that your backpack stays dry at all times. Modern backpacks usually come with built in rain-covers. If your back pack does not have a rain-cover, ensure you get a rain cover by either (a) buying a rain cover (b) or cutting a large plastic sheet to the size of your backpack. You can roll the plastic sheet around your backpack and keep it in place with a string or elastic.
| Pro tip: It’s good practice to compartmentalise your clothes, accessories and other things in plastic covers inside your backpack. That way, even if it rains and your backpack gets wet, your things are water-proof inside the backpack.
10. Daypack (20-30 ltrs, optional)
Some trekkers opt to offload their bags to a mule on the Kedarkantha trek. While we do not encourage this practice,in case you opt for offloading, then carrying a daypack is mandatory. In your daypack you carry essentials like water bottles, rainwear, emergency medicines, headlamp, some snacks and a warm layer. Your main backpack that carries most of your equipment is accessible only at the campsites.
A daypack is a smaller backpack that is usually of 20-30 ltr capacity. Laptop bags are not daypacks. Do not get them.
Other Mandatory Requirements
1. A toilet kit
Keep your toilet kit light. Carry just the basics — toothbrush, toothpaste, small soap, toilet tissue roll, a small moisturiser, lip balm, and a roll-on deodorant. You will not be able to have a bath on the trek, so don’t overload on soaps and shampoos.
| Pro Tip: Carry miniature-sized items. You will not need more than that. If you’re travelling in a group, share one toothpaste for all.
| Pro Tip: Avoid getting large toilet rolls. The smallest size roll is more than enough for a trek like Kedarkantha.
| For Women: If you are likely to have your periods on your trek date, don’t worry about it. You can use your pads, tampons or menstrual cups on the trek. There will be toilet tents where you can get changed. Make sure you carry ziplock bags to bring back your menstrual waste. Don’t leave behind any waste in the mountains. Watch this video to learn how to dispose your sanitary waste.
2. Cutlery
Carry a lunch box, a mug and a spoon. Your lunch box must be leak proof. You are expected to wash your own cutlery. Trekkers often expect Indiahikes to wash their cutlery. When you allow Indiahikes to wash your cutlery, your cutlery becomes part of a mass washing system. You immediately invite germs, bacteria to settle on your cutlery. Incidence of stomach disorders rises exponentially.
| Pro Tip: Carry stainless steel cutlery. Avoid fancy high grade plastic cutlery. Stainless steel cutlery is infinitely easier to wash in cold water. Grease is easier to remove and hygiene is at the highest.
| Two 1 litre bottles or a 2 litre hydration pack: Kedarkantha has many hours of trekking everyday (approximately 6 hours). You need to carry two one litre water bottles to keep yourself hydrated over the distance. If you are used to a hydration pack, then that is ok too. If one among the two bottles is a lightweight thermos, then that helps you to store warm water on a really cold day or for late evenings and early mornings.
| Rental: You could rent lightweight thermos flasks from the Indiahikes store. Rent here.
3. Plastic Covers
Carry 3-4 old plastic covers to keep your used clothes. You could use them even for wet clothes. Re-use old plastic bags for this and do not buy new ones.
Personal medical kit
Carry these medicines with you, easily accessible at all times. Do not take any medicine unless you have consulted your trek leader.
Dolo 650 (5 tablets): This is a paracetamol. It helps to tackle fever, mild pain
Avomine (4 tablets): Carry this especially if you are prone to motion sickness. Pop one half hour before the start of your road journey.
Combiflam (5 tablets): Take a combiflam if you get a sudden twist of the leg or a muscle strain. It is a pain reliever. It also contains paracetamol.
Digene (4 tablets): Take it if you feel the food that you’ve taken is undigested. Alert your trek leader immediately. It could be a sign of AMS.
ORS (6 packs): Consume a pack of ORS water at least once a day, usually mid day when you are in the middle of your trek. It replenishes essential salts lost while trekking. Tip: It also makes cold water easier to drink.
Knee Brace (optional): Carry this if you are prone to knee injury or have known issues of knee pain.
Our trek leaders carry a high altitude medical kit with them which also consist of Life Saving Drugs. If there is an emergency our trek leaders know how to tackle it. Meanwhile, contact your trek leader before consuming any of these medicines listed here.
| Pro tip: We find that these medicines by trekkers are rarely used. But you cannot do away with them. At the end of the trek please donate unused medicines to your trek leader. Some of these medicines get distributed to villages on the trek and some are added to the Indiahikes medical kit.
Mandatory Documents to carry
These are documents required for legal purposes by Indiahikes and the forest department. Without any of these, you will not be allowed to trek.
Original and photocopy of government photo identity card. Anything such as a driver’s license, Aadhar card, passport will do. This is required by the forest department for your identification.
Disclaimer certificate. This is a legal requirement. Download the PDF, read carefully and sign it. This must be handed over to your Trek Leader during registration at the base camp – Download PDF
Medical certificate. There are two sections in this. The first part must be filled by a practising doctor. The second part must be filled by you. Without the medical certificate the forest department will not issue permissions for your trek. It is also a requirement by Indiahikes – Download PDF
| Pro Tip: Keep important documents in a clear plastic cover and slide them into the inner pocket at the back of your backpack. This keeps them from getting wet.
What are the risks on the Kedarkantha Trek?
Kedarkantha is an easy to moderate trek in terms of difficulty but it goes up to an altitude of 12,500 ft. Which means it’s still a high altitude trek. As with every high altitude trek, the Kedarkantha trek comes with certain risks.
At Indiahikes, we pay utmost importance to safety of trekkers. While we do our bit to ensure your life is safe, we also expect you as a trekker to know what could go wrong, and if it does, how to tackle it.
What Indiahikes does to ensure your safety
Our philosophy is simple. We ingrain safety aspects in the people we work with, in the processes that we follow and in the equipment we carry. All our trek leaders are trained repeatedly on safety issues and protocols. Most issues are resolved with their intervention.
From the time you register for a trek, we will keep you informed of safety procedures on high altitude treks. We have listed a few of them below.
1. Fitness criteria before registration
Over the years, we have come to notice that safety issues are widespread among unfit, unaware and ill-prepared trekkers. Therefore we have brought in an eligibility criteria for the Kedarkantha trek.
Before registration, you need to meet the fitness requirements. The primary measure for fitness is BMI or Body Mass Index. An ideal BMI is a minimum requirement to register for this trek. You can take a look here.
2. Monitoring health on a trek
Every trekker will be given a Health Card at the beginning of the trek. The Health Card is issued to monitor the trekker’s daily health. It contains details of symptoms he should look out for and what action he should take during emergencies as well. These Health Cards will be taken back at the end of the trek.
On the Kedarkantha trek, your Trek Leader will be monitoring your Oxygen levels and Pulse rate twice a day. Your blood pressure is measured once every day. Any abnormal reading will be paid special attention to and immediate action will be taken.
3. High Altitude Medical Kit
Your trek leader will also be carrying a full-fledged high altitude medical kit. This will include basic medicines and specific medicines catering to altitude sickness – Diamox, Dexamethasone (tablets and injections) and Nifedipine.
Your Trek Leader will also be carrying a portable oxygen cylinder throughout the trek. In addition to that, there are oxygen cylinders installed at all high campsites for any emergency situations.
4. High Altitude Trek Equipment
Kedarkantha is popular for its snowy terrain. If you go on this trek in the months from December to mid-April, you will be trekking on snow. To ensure safe trekking on snowy terrain, Indiahikes will provide you with micro-spikes.
These are attached to your shoes and will give you good traction on hard snow. To avoid snow from entering your shoes, Indiahikes will provide you with gaiters that you can wear over your shoes. You will have qualified technical guides with you. They lead the way on difficult terrain, where there might be too much snow.
All our sleeping bags and tents are custom-made for high altitude. If it is cold outside, it will be around 10 degrees warmer inside the tent. Our sleeping bags can withstand temperatures as low as -10 degree Celcius.
5. Being hydrated and well nourished on the trek
You need to drink a minimum of 4 litres of water every day during the trek to ensure that you’re well hydrated. De-hydration on a trek can make you lose energy very quickly and intensify the effects of AMS. Your trek leader will brief you about the amount of water that you need to carry with you at the start of each day as well as water sources on the trail.
We provide trekkers with nutritious meals to ensure that they are energized to complete the trail each day. Apart from this, snacks or packed lunch is provided wherever the trail before a meal break is likely to be long. Make sure that you do not skip any meal as this can lead to serious health emergencies on high altitudes.
With all these processes and equipment in place, you can be rest assured that you will have a safe trek with Indiahikes.
Nevertheless, you will need to be cautious and report the slightest of symptoms of uneasiness to your trek leader as soon as you feel them.
What you need to know if you’re going on the Kedarkantha trek
If you have registered for this trek, then here is some information that you must know in order to have a safe trek. At Indiahikes, we believe that as long as you are well-informed and well-prepared, you can survive easily at high altitude.
Like in every winter trek, a common risk factor on the Kedarkantha trek is slippery snow. You will be provided with micro spikes to help you walk better. But if you fall, no need to panic.
Even the smallest wound takes longer to heal at higher altitude. Reasons for this are increasing stress hormones and lower overall oxygen delivery to the tissues. Keeping your wounds clean and covered will prevent infection. To prevent the bruise from festering, apply a triple antibiotic ointment regularly.
Where on the Kedarkantha trek is Acute Mountain Sickness likely to affect you:
Any campsite above 11,000 ft poses a risk of AMS. On the Kedarkantha trek, the Kedarkantha Base camp is at 11,250 ft. It is the only campsite on this trek where you could be affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. From here and while going up to the summit is when you should watch out for symptoms.
AMS occurs when your body isn’t acclimatising to its surroundings. It can accelerate very rapidly, so it is important to identify the symptoms as soon as you see them. Before you read further, watch this video to understand the symptoms of AMS.
We cannot stress enough on how important it is for you to communicate any symptom to your Trek Leader.Only then will he be able to take steps at the right time.
What to do if you feel symptoms of AMS at Kedarkantha Base Camp
Very few cases of AMS have been recorded on the Kedarkantha trek. Nevertheless, don’t let your guard down. If you feel any symptoms of AMS on the trek, report to the Trek Leader immediately. Do not wait till the end of the day’s trek. Do not try to handle it yourself either. Our Trek Leaders are well-trained and experienced to handle any cases and they will be the decision makers in any such cases.
As a first step, your trek leader will run you through the Triple One Test – One Disprin, One litre of water and One hour of rest. If you’re suffering from dehydration, this will solve the problem and you will be fine in one hour.
If the symptoms don’t go away, then he’ll begin to treat you for AMS, perhaps with a course of Diamox. If you’re already on a course of Diamox, your trek leader is likely to increase the dosage. The increased dosage of Diamox usually takes care of the Acute Mountain Sickness. Evacuation will be done if no improvement is shown. You will be taken down to Sankri as descent is the sure cure for AMS.
Exit points on the Kedarkantha trek:
There are only a few exit points on the Kedarkantha trek – the base camps, Gaichwangaon and Sankri. It takes around 5 hours to descend from the highest campsite of the trek. Both these base camps are well below high altitude. So any symptoms of AMS will stop showing there.
Closest hospital:
For advanced treatments, the closest hospital is in Purola which is around 54 km away. Please note that these are mountain roads and usually takes around 2-3 hours to cover this distance. It takes longer after nightfall.
Why you should personally know about the risks and precautions of high altitude treks
If you cannot find your fellow trekkers or anyone else while trekking independently or with another organisation, there are some life-saving steps you can take.
Secondly, there might be instances when you have to administer medicines to yourself or to a fellow trekker.
There are three life-saving medicines that you should always carry on you – Diamox, Dexamethasone and Nifedipine.
If you are trekking independently, you need to know when exactly to administer these medicines and in what dosage.
Here, Sandhya UC, partner at Indiahikes, explains in detail about HAPE and HACE. Here, you can learn about the advanced symptoms are and how to tackle them.
It is a myth that fit and experienced people are not affected by Acute Mountain Sickness
If you’re of the opinion that fit people don’t get AMS, please get rid of that notion right away. AMS can affect anyone without paying heed to their fitness and prior experience at high altitude! Altitude sickness does not distinguish between a first timer and an experienced trekker.
For more detailed information about Acute Mountain Sickness, you can download and study the manual below.
Click on the AMS Manual to open and download
The Indiahikes Special Covid Cancellation Policy
We understand the pain of cancelling a trek. As trekkers, we always look forward to treks, and after months of training and planning, if we have to cancel our trek, there’s no greater disappointment than that.
This is why we have one of the most trekker-friendly cancellation policies.
This policy is effective for registrations starting August 12, 2021.
1. Cancellation 30 days before the starting date of the trek — Get your full trek fee back in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher OR get a monetary refund with 15% cancellation charges.
2. Cancellation between 30 days and 20 days before the starting date of the trek — Get 80% of the trek fee in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher OR get a monetary refund with 50% cancellation charges.
3. Cancellation less than 20 days before the starting date of the trek — No monetary refund, get 50% of your fees in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher
Important note: The Trek Insurance amount is not refundable.
| In the rare event that we cancel a trek, this is the policy we follow:
We almost never cancel our treks. But in case we cancel a trek because of natural calamities (snowstorms, thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes) or unexpected political unrest, curfews, local riots, or government orders, Indiahikes will issue a voucher for the full amount of your trek fee (minus the trek insurance). You can redeem the Trek Voucher on any of our treks over the next one year.
Important note: The Trek Insurance amount is not refundable.
|The Indiahikes “Repeat My Trek” Policy (trekkers love this!)
There are some thoughts and ideologies that we hold close to our hearts.
1. As trekkers, there are times when we have to let go of a trek midway. Sometimes we fall ill, or get hit by AMS or at times simply fatigue pulls us down. At other times bad weather plays spoilsport, or the trail is blocked. It can happen that your Trek Leader sends you down due to a safety or health issue.
At Indiahikes we feel terrible when such an event happens.
Should such a situation occur that you have to drop out from this trek, we want you to know that we feel as bad as you do. You can always come back another time and finish your adventure. For this you do not have to pay Indiahikes any money.
2. On the other hand, there are times when you fall in love with a trek. So much so that you want to do it again, perhaps see it in another season. If you ever desire to do a trek again, please do so. You don’t have to pay Indiahikes any money for repeating this trek. Just inform your Experience Coordinator who will guide you through a special internal process.
Our only request: Just register for your trek in advance – you know how it is with our groups – they get booked in advance.
Note: The Indiahikes “Repeat My Trek” policy does not apply to our international treks.
If you cancel any rental gear from our store:
Cancellation of rental gear 7 days before the start date of the trek — Get a full refund minus 4% transaction charges.
Cancellation of rental gear less than 7 days before the start date of the trek — Get a voucher for the whole amount. This voucher is applicable on all our future treks.
If you cancel the offloading of your backpack:
The offloading fee will be refunded to your account with a 4% transaction charge.
If you choose to cancel your backpack offloading AFTER reaching the base camp, you will get a voucher of the offloading fee.
| How to cancel your trek:
In case, you wish to cancel your trek, follow these steps.
Mention why you’re cancelling your trek on the form that appears.
Choose either a voucher or a refund (where applicable).
Click on “Cancel Booking”
How long does the refund process take?
After you have cancelled your trek, if you have opted for a refund, the refund amount will land in the same account that you have made the payment from. It will take 4-5 working days.
If you have chosen a trek voucher, it will land in your inbox within an hour. You will also be able to see it on your Trek Dashboard.
What is a Trek Voucher?
Trek Vouchers are credit amounts added to your Indiahikes account. You can redeem these on any of your future treks with Indiahikes. Every Trek Voucher has a validity of one year.
Important note:Indiahikes Trek Vouchers are non-refundable, not transferable to others or extendable.
How to use an Indiahikes Trek Voucher?
If you have received an Indiahikes Trek Voucher, you will automatically see it when you are making a payment for your next trek.
Once you click on the voucher and apply it, the system will deduct the voucher amount from your payable amount.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Experience Coordinator.
Your trek fee includes:
Accommodation – Stay is included from Day 1 to Day 5 (Gaichwangaon to Gaichwangaon). You will be staying in lodges at Gaichwangaon and camping on remaining days of the trek (2 per tent).
Meals – All meals from dinner at Gaichwangaon on Day 1 to breakfast at Sankri on Day 6 are included. We provide simple, nutritious vegetarian food on all days of the trek.
Camping charges – All trekking permits and forest camping charges are included.
Trekking equipment – High-quality tents, sleeping bags, ice axes, roped, microspikes, gaiters etc. as required.
Safety equipment – First aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinders, stretchers etc.
Your trek fee does not include:
Transport to and from the base camp – We will arrange shared taxis for trekkers to pick you up from Dehradun and drop you back. This will cost approx. Rs. 6,000 per 5-6 seater vehicle one way. You will have to share this cost with the other trekkers
Food during transit to and from the base camp
Backpack offloading charges – Rs. 1,000 + 5% GST for the full trek. The backpack cannot weigh more than 9 kg. Suitcases/strollers/duffel bags will not be allowed. Please note that charges will vary for last minute offloading in case you decide to offload your bag after reaching Naitwar (Rs.335 per day + 5% GST).
Anything apart from inclusions
Cancellation Policy
In the event that you cancel your trek, this is the cancellation policy we follow:
– Cancellation 30 days before the starting date of the trek — Get your full trek fee back in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher OR get a monetary refund with 15% cancellation charges.
– Cancellation between 30 days and 20 days before the starting date of the trek — Get 80% of the trek fee in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher OR get a monetary refund with 50% cancellation charges.
– Cancellation less than 20 days before the starting date of the trek — No monetary refund, get 50% of your fees in an Indiahikes Trek Voucher
Fitness Policy
A high altitude trek in the Himalayas requires considerable fitness. Your body needs to train itself to process more work with lower levels of oxygen. Therefore, on treks, cardiovascular training is critically important.The trek has long climbs and steep descents on a daily basis. As a measure of your fitness, we require you to be able to run at least 5 km in 40 minutes by the time your trek starts. If you are 45 years or above, try to cover 5 km in 47 minutes. This is a minimum, mandatory requirement.
If you prefer cycling over running, then try to cover 22 km in 60 minutes.
Unable to do so can make your trek difficult.
In addition, preparation of trek needs to include strength and flexibility training. Registering for the trek is an understanding that you will undertake the mandated fitness training and upload the fitness screenshots on your dashboard. Trekkers who have not adequately prepared may be asked to discontinue the trek at any point.
Indiahikes has the right to reject trekkers who do not meet our eligibility requirement at the base camp.
Backpack Offloading
Indiahikes expects all trekkers to carry their own backpacks. All common gear will be carried by the support team. If for some reason a trekker is unable to carry his or her backpack, he/she can offload the same by paying an additional charge.
Backpack offloading charges – Rs 1,000 plus GST of 5%. Charges for last minute offloading during the trek will be Rs. 375 per day inclusive of tax. You can opt for offloading directly your dashboard after your payment is done for the trek.
Partial offloading is not allowed. The backpack cannot weigh more than 9 kg. No suitcases/strolleys/duffel bags will be allowed.
Online offloading in advance is possible up to three days prior to the trek start date.
Discount Policy
Discount for a group of 10 and above
If there is a group size of 10 trekkers and above, then we will waive off the trek fee charges for one person.
Note - There is no discount available if the group size is 9 or less than that.
You can register the entire group and send us an email. If the group is registering individually, then the primary participant needs to send an email to the Trek Coordinator with the list of trekkers from the same group.
If you want to make the payment individually, then individual registrations have to be done.
This will be the case for a group of 10 trekkers. So if you have a group of 20 trekkers, then we will waive off the charges for 2 trekkers.
Repeat Trekker Policy
At Indiahikes, we believe that the mountains hold all the aces. The weather could play spoilsport, the altitude could mess with a trekker, the unpredictability of nature itself could turn against him. Whatever the reason might be, it is never nice to turn away from a trek midway.
In the event that a trekker has to come down without completing your trek, they can always head back to the mountain and do the same trek again. If this happens, trekkers don’t have to pay the trek fee. They have to just make the optional payment for the insurance amount.
On another note, it could also happen that you love a trek so much that you want to go back time and again. Trekkers don’t have to pay the trek fee for repeating a trek.
Note – The Repeat Trekker Policy holds good only for Indian Treks.
It is not valid for treks we run in Nepal.
Is there an option to offload my backpack on this trek?
Yes, there is an option to offload your backpack (have a porter carry it for you). This will cost Rs 1000 + 5% GST if you inform us in advance. If you decide to offload once you reach Gaichwangaon, the amount will be Rs 350 per day inclusive of tax. The offloaded bag should not weigh more than 9 kg. Strolleys, duffel bags, suitcases etc. are not allowed. Online offloading in advance is possible up to five days prior to the trek start date. You can opt for this from your dashboard directly.
Is there a mobile network on this trek? Are there any electricity charging points on this trek?
You won't get any network on the trek or at the base camp. There are no charging points as well on the trek.
If you are very lucky, then small connectivity is possible for BSNL network to send a message.
The last point where you get connectivity will be Purola which is 54 km before Gaichwangaon and Sankri.
Can you arrange pickup from Mussorrie?
Yes, trekkers will have the option to stay at Mussorrie and get picked up as well.
The pickup will take place an hour later from Library Road end at 7.30 am.
Will I get snow on this trek?
You find snow during the winter and early summer season, from December to the end of April is when you can expect snow. Post this, you won’t have snow on this trek.
What are washroom/toilet facilities like on the trek?
The guest houses at Gaichwangaon and Sankri will have concrete toilets. On the other days, toilet tents will be set up along each campsite. A toilet tent will have a deep pit, where one can answer nature’s call. There will be a mound of soil and a shovel to cover it up. These are dry toilets, where you’ll have to use toilet paper. There will be a room freshener as well. It’s the most hygienic and convenient way to answer nature’s call in the wild. Please use plain toilet paper and do not use wet wipes since these are not bio-degradable.
Here is what trekkers have to say about their experience at Kedarkantha Trek
Kushan Dharmadarshi
Batch of
February 2021
From technical leaders to guides, to cooks, everyone on the staff on, various campsites was keen to help us in any form.
There wasn't a sense of being left behind if one is found to lack strength; in lieu, one finds this resilient, warm feeling of reassurance that someone will definitely be there to help you out, should you need help.
For instance, on spraining her ankle, one of my fellow trekkers was carried piggyback by a young co-guide (Kushaluv Bhai), the rest of the way downhill, a profoundly admirable experience.
I'm glad to have met such people and been in their presence, and I will definitely recommend Indiahikes to anyone who seeks my opinion on trekking in the Himalayas.
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Hrishikesh Rane
Batch of
February 2021
Being my 1st Himalayan trek I was quite excited and Indiahikes was my only choice. The amazing teamwork, there Greentrail concept and the extra efforts my the team made it an exceptional experience for me. I was sick in the 1st day of the trek and had lost confidence but the help and care by Indiahikes team by preparing special meals was such a kind gesture.
Also a special mention about our trek leader Areeb. He is a real Eco-warrior. The way he explains the concept of greentrail, waste free lifestyle, green mountains and sustainably I amazing. Helps the trek to realise the importance of it. His overall experience, coordination and support during the entire trek was just amazing. Thanks you IH for the amazing experience.
Super happy about the initiative and respecting the mountains the right way.
I specially love the way Areeb explained the concept of why one should avoid Maggi and how it makes the mountains messy. Because of him we turn towards the local cuisine and didn’t even crave for the mountain Maggi. Most organisations don’t take such efforts to make it comfortable for trekkers and prepare for it, especially for 1st timers who are a quite nervous about it. The preparations and all the assist by the Trek Coordinator was very helpful for being ready for the trek. Being it physical fitness or what to carry, etc.
Yes. I love mountains and seeing them covered in trash is heartbreaking. As a naturalist and environmentalist by professional I always try to pickup waste while trekking and seeing similar initiatives taken up by Indiahikes made me quite happy. Another reason why one should chose IH for exploring the Himalayas.
Also I’ll be incorporating the same policy in my own treks and trail company’-Jungle Maniacs’.
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GSS JAGANNATH
Batch of
February 2021
Trek Leader:- Areeb Parvez:
This was his first Kedarkantha trek as a leader. He is an amazing guy with lots of positive energy. Right from first day till end of the trek he is been motivating everyone and making sure that we all are in good shape and conditions to complete the trek. He has given everyone personal attention to their problems and resolving them be is medical, physical etc.
Trek Guide:- Vimlesh Rangar:
He is very good guide, simple and nice person. With him around the group will always feel safe as he ensures that everyone follows the trail and no one is lagging behind. During the trek he leads the group and takes us safely from one camp to another. He has immense knowledge about mountains, places and he is used to share with us during the trek and also at night during dinner.
Trek Guide:- Akshay Rawat:
If we need to see a person with patience then it is Akshay. He is very clam and motivates people to go beyond their limits. He always used to be at the last with the group and takes cares of people who are not able to match the pace of others. Motivates them and ensures that they reach the cam or summit safely. Some of our group members who were behind having issues of moving forward but due to him all have made up to the summit.
Mangal Da:
How one can forgot about Mangal Da, the man who took us to the summit. Anyone meets him once will never forget him lifetime. Such inspiring word during briefing and it instils confidence in you which will help you to reach the summit. He keeps on motivating you during push to summit which is a steep climb in freezing cold. You require such people to help you to reach the summit and we are fortunate to have one.
Kitchen Staff:
Kitchen Staff at every camp site including base camp were amazing. They served with simple but good food which has taken care of our nutritional requirements. They are one of the back bones at such remote places where it is difficult to get a glass of warm water.
Campsite Management Team:
Very much impressed with overall camp including the base camp. People who are responsible for managing these have done the tremendous job to keep it clean, hygienic and in a liveable conditions.
Three sink system:
We really liked the three sink system for washing tiffin box and cutlery using saw dust. We found it very useful without using any chemical our boxes used to get clean. We appreciate to the person who has developed this.
To sum up the overall experience was very good and we all have really enjoyed the trek and I will definitely come back to India Hike for my next trek.
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Smit Jhaveri
Batch of
January 2021
My experience with Indiahikes was amazing! They take care of each and every detail from the time you book the trek with them. From what all things are needed, how to pack them in your bag, your safety from pick up point to the top of the summit, each and every detail of the trek is taken care of. Their trek leaders are well trained and know everything about the local terrain and flora fauna. They are very helpful and make sure all your doubts regarding the trek are solved before even starting the trek. They also have 2 local guides as a part of the trek team who know the terrain in and out and can help you with everything you can think of! The tent sites selected are very scenic and beautiful where you can spend your day enjoying the nature around. The tents and sleeping bags are of the best quality and are cleaned and sanitised after each use. You will never find any trash around the tents or at the campsite. They provide a very delicious and well balanced diet throughout your trek. You will never feel hungry or an urge to eat any packed food if you take your meals properly! They also give a dessert at the end of dinner everyday 😋
My overall experience with Indiahikes was one I would remember all my life and will recommend them to anyone who is going for a trek!
The courteous nature of the Indiahikes team at the trek, the entire kitchen staff, their slope manager Mr Abhishek, our trek leader, Mr Dawa, Our local guides, Rohit ji and Roopmohan ji! They are the people who made our experience even better at this trek!
Take back from this trek would be the helpful nature of each and every person staying at the base camp and at the campsites! No one would ever say no for any help you ask out of them and that is something each and everyone of us should learn!
Thank You Indiahikes for such a wonderful experience and making me fall for trekking a little bit more!
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NIDHEESH R
Batch of
January 2021
DISCIPLINE AND PUNCTUALITY : Be it getting ready for the trek or be it the meal getting ready for serving, everything was right on time, without a delay, not even once.
SAFETY : The trek leader (Parthiban), the 2 guides (Santhosh and Sandeep), and the technical guide for the summit climb (Mangal) were much patient and courageous to help everyone make this trek a successful feat for all the trekkers.
QUALITY : Quality of the campsite, the cleanliness of it and the quality of food was on par. The menu seems to have chosen carefully based on the trek that was to be followed. (Porridge, dry fruits, fresh fruits, rice and roti, sabzi, dhaal, kheer, sweet etc etc). This is something out of box, which IndiaHikes has stolen the show of meticulous planning. Had the quality of food and sleep been compromised, the trek would have definitely gone unsuccessful. Thanks to the cook/chefs available on the campsite.
A short story: During the descent from Akhoti to Gaichawon goan, I happened to shake hands with a little kid, who silently stuffed a tiny chocolate cover from his hands to mine. I felt the impact that IH has created on the mountains. The need of keeping the mountains clean has gone through the child's mind through this small initiative of Green Trials. This is a huge step for the upcoming changes that are coming through. Highly appreciate that.
The co-ordinators were much helpful in getting us fit and fine for this trek. Right from booking, renting and maintaining a physical fitness level. The first and foremost reasons of our successful trek would be their share and we dedicate this feat to them.
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Anisha S. Lalwani
Batch of
January 2021
The Kedarkantha trekking was the first Himalayan trek experience for me and Indiahikes has made my experience one of its kind! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. What I also realised was that Indiahikes just does not want us to trek a summit, they create and curate a complete lifetime experience. It was the small things that mattered the most - as simple as an encouraging wake-up call, the 10 minutes of silence on the summit and the postcard. I was in tears at the summit at the beauty of the Himalayas. The trek leader - Syama Krishna left no stone unturned to make us comfortable and motivated us every single minute. The stories we have exchanged with him, the star-gazing experience, everything is so dear to my heart and I cannot wait to trek with Indiahikes again. Thank you, truly.The experience of taking part in Green Trails was also one of a kind. While we saw other trekking groups actually leaving behind so much trash, I felt proud that Indiahikes was helping in clean up this trash. Every single waste matters and I am proud I was able to contribute in a small way to clean our mountains.
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Rajiv Sharma
Batch of
January 2021
I found the trek team and the trek leader very professional. Each meal served was hot, freshly cooked and wholesome. Consciously, IH was providing food which was not factory made and comes in bio-nondegradable packing. Through the trek they continued to emphasize on the need to keep the nature free of any trash. They chose a route not taken by other teams so the trail was not crowded and clean.
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Hussain Jamali
Batch of
January 2021
My India Hikes experience was just amazing. I noticed that you take the four value pillars very seriously and make sure you provide with the best to the trekkers. my experience with green tails had been very good. I now know how much of a pollution we cause and how people are careless when it comes to plastic consumption. I have understood all the hazardous waste that is dumped into our mountains causes harm not just to us but also to the entire eco-system. I actively participated in the green tails initiative during the trek and I feel this will remain with me for good. definitely is life changing. It has made me aware of my plastic consumption and now I try and reduce it to the maximum. It has automatically made me aware of what could be a much healthy and a sustainable alternative to all the hazardous waste that is being produced. Kudos to such a wonderful initiative.
I have learnt a lot about trekking on this trek. All thanks to the wonderful Trek leader and the local guides who accompanied us to the trek.Our trek leader Nitesh was extremely experienced. His love for nature and the zeal to preserve it was evident. He was well informed and took very good care of all of us during the trek. A word of appreciation to the local guides who had accompanied us. They were very friendly and also experienced. They lead us all the way up and back to our basecamp with utmost care.
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Anusha MS
Batch of
January 2021
From trekking in rain to snowfall, we experienced everything one would expect coming on a winter trek. We had such amazing trek guides and Aayushi, our trek leader was so energetic and motivating.Bonding with the people around me is what stood out for me the most. Talking to the guides about the culture and food in these places, about their previous trek experience. Making a good rapport with the technical guide on our summit day and having sliding race on our way back from the summit.
A sense of accomplishment on the summit , that if I could do this despite all the bad weather our team had to face in the last 3 days then I can tackle any problem that I may face in my life ahead. Just the feeling of being mentally strong. Talking to the guides who are locals of that place and listening to their stories and folklore was such a thrilling experience. Knowing what happened in a place even before trekking existed in these mountains was so amazing and once-in-a-lifetime.
Trek Coordinator, Prathima ma'am was so prompt and always kept us well informed. She was making sure we were prepared for the bitter cold weather by sending us videos and telling us what all to carry. After my trek I was just waiting to go back and write to her about this wonderful experience that I had.
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Anita Nuna
Batch of
December 2020
I’m glad to jot down this review and think it’s overdue for the wonderful experience that was mesmerizing as well as informative. I can't describe the feeling which I am returned with! Being a Canadian and stuck herein lockdown in India, this trek was very much needed when I’m going through a very difficult time in India. I had done hiking before in Canada and the US. But this time, my patriotism calling me and I really want to start my Trekking Journey, and what’s the best way other than the Himalayas to start with!
IndiaHikes made my journey smoother and possible at every strep. This was the very first trek of my life. My journey starts with staying extra 2 days at beautiful Gaichwan Gaon (base camp). Seeing the teams coming from the summit and leaving for the summit, I’ll never forget those stories and faces. With IH, everything was organized perfectly from the pick up to every detail, including food, accommodation, guiding, and providing the information. Brilliant team IndiaHikes. Thanks to Gaurab da, Abhishek, Akshay, Ayushi, and Parthy Anna (my trek leader) was amazing, I met them during my 2 days' extra stay at base camp. Special THANKS to Parthi Anna for his professionalism in trekking. In Parthi a trek leader, you have a great administrator who not only ensures the safety of his Trekkers but also manages the support staff with dexterity. With Parthi around, I knew nothing could happen to me and others, on this challenging trek. He is true Mountain Man and real Hima-Lion. soft-spoken, always on the move, and disciplined. You have a real gem in Parthi in your team, preserve him. Exceptional efforts made by IH to made our Journey smoother and memorable. My message will remain incomplete if I don't mention the Cook and helper (Mahaveer dada, Labu da, Santosh da, and Bhagwan Singh Uncle) especially. They were such a great example who practices their work as worship. Feeding using such a harsh winter and Motivating, Inspiring and Supporting us all all the way, was much needed for moral support. They took care of us like their child in the snow.
I had teary eyes at the Summit on New Year 2021, I will never forget and meant so much to me and has a special feeling which I take back a very rich experience, merely can't be expressed in words. This trek taught me so much about myself. I shall cherish forever and every moment rest of my life. Can't wait for another adventure "Goechala" before I leave for Canada. Thank You IndiaHikes!
coming from Western Countries, we do focus a lot on Trash. How to segregate the Trash way before in mind when we do shopping, when we have this awareness, we will buy less plastic bags or plastic containers or plastic package dry-foods items. Then you will produce Zero-Waste. Also, I'm practicing Reuse, Recycle a lot in my day-to-day life. I know people were sharing their thoughts on this on trek time, but actually a few handfuls of only practicing afterward when they left the border of vacation.
Instead, it should be like a Pledge to Ourselves and to Our Future. And try to teach your other family members, especially the kids, they only learn when they see us doing it, giving a lecture to them or anybody is not going to work.
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Cini Joseph
Batch of
December 2020
Trekking with IndiaHikes is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Your focus on making this a memorable experience for each individual requires a huge applause. The dedication is evident in the care taken to prepare each meal, in the patience shown in being with us and taking care even if one of us is walking at a slower pace, the list goes on.
The trek left me overwhelmed and emotional at more than one instance. One special incident has to be mentioned. On our second day of the Kedarkantha trek, after we reached Pukhrola base camp, our trek leader Akshay told us that he'll take us to visit a sunset spot. That was one of the most magical sights I have ever seen in my life. The purest stretch of snow, the brook flowing gracefully beside it, the trees standing tall at a distance, the majestic array of mountains in varying shades of blue and grey as far as you can see, and the golden sun almost ready to shower the prettiest rays of the day... To say I was overwhelmed would still be an understatement. I cried, couldn't stop it. It was a moment of pure gratitude, for being alive, for being able to witness this beauty and for all the precious things I have in my life that I take for granted. That sight is something I'll remember for as long as I am alive. I cant thank Akshay, our sweeper-guide Kush bhaiyya and the whole of IndiaHikes team for giving me that moment.
Taking part in GreenTrails was a beautiful experience. It reminded me that inspite of the beauty and majesty, the mountain ecosystem is still fragile. We need to be much much much more careful with how much of a footprint we're leaving behind. And thanks to GreenTrails it gives me the reassurance that not only did we prevent creation of new waste but also left the trail better than we found it. And the consciousness it has instilled in all of us is an added advantage to carry back to our cities. I am trying to be more conscious about the impact of each of my actions and each of my purchases. I have switched to menstrual cup after coming back from the trek which is a small yet positive way to start reducing my footprint. I am also reading IndiaHikes articles on GreenTrails, they provide valuable insights on how we can switch to less polluting ways in our daily lives.
Prathima's timely emails and messages, we would have been seriously underprepared for our trek. Her emails covered every aspect from what to pack, how to reach the destination, how to get fit and experiences from other trekkers. She was also available to answer all of our queries at any given time. We were physically and mentally prepared for this, thanks to the timely and proactive guidance of our coordinator.
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VARSHA ARUN
Batch of
December 2020
This was my 2nd trek with Indiahikes and while both treks were fantastic, this one stood out for me for a few reasons. Firstly, the trek, needless to say, was incredibly beautiful. The west facing campsites ensured each sunset was better than the previous one. We were the fortunate batch to do a sunset summit to avoid crowd. HANDS DOWN, THIS WAS BETTER THAN ANY FORM OF MEDITATION. The climb, the views, the freezing weather.. it was all worth it once we got to see the peaks in all their glory from the top. The skies were clear and we got to spend a quiet 60 minutes on the summit after a long day of trekking. One word, PRICELESS. We also got to experience snowfall on our last day and it was amazing to see how everything around us felt surreal!!
Secondly, our trek leader Tanmay Bain exceeded expectations. He was extremely professional, helpful and such a fun person overall. He'd give us information about the trek, clouds, his travels and in general was very curious about every member of the group. The manner in which he shouldered responsibility of our group needs to be highly appreciated.
Thirdly, the changes made by Indiahikes from last year like introducing an app to monitor health information as opposed to the older health cards is a great upgrade. The new 3-sink system for washing dishes consuming less water is absolutely novel. The KAZI Thermos ensured we had warm drinking water throughout. What was even better is that we got to hear about it from Kazi Bhai himself at Gaichawan Gaon.
Last, but certainly not the least, the food was, for the lack of better words, mind-blowing! Appreciate how food is not just given to keep us full, but how thoughtfully the menus are curated according to what we have planned for the day. Those Gulab Jamuns were the best I've had so far! Huge thank you to all the kitchen staff, our local guides Roop Mohan Ji and Aryan who were just as friendly and helpful, the slop manager Gaurav, the mule staff, the extremely insightful articles on the blog, Prathima our experience coordinator and to the entire back-end team that strives to deliver an experience of a lifetime! Thank you Prathima for tirelessly sending those extremely helpful emails from 30 days before the trek. This clarified most of our questions ( trust me we had a lot of questions because it was a winter trek!!) about packing layers and most importantly, helped us train better. The trek went off smoothly because we were well equipped with all necessary information about it :)
It was appalling to see how something so pristine could be so polluted. Kudos to your entire Green Trails team for this fantastic initiative of leaving the mountains better than we found them. As a group of 19, we did do our bit and GOD DID IT FEEL GREAT! Thank you for encouraging sustainable living and reinstating the fact that less is definitely more. the amount of plastic we consume at home,inspired by you, we have slowly started the transition towards plastic-free way of life.
Buying groceries in bulk, making bio enzymes at home for cleaning, not picking up packaged food.. I believe this trek is exactly what we needed to implement these changes at home! Thank you again.
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Pradeep Gahalot
Batch of
December 2020
it was a great experience with IH the food served to us was very tasty and hearty and at that hight with that freezing temperature the food served was freshly cooked and warm. the trek leader KRUPA VYAAS and the guides DEV BHAI & KUSH LOVE were great help. they were always standing next to us for any help. I never thought that that trek will be that easy for me but with the great help of IH team. the tents and sleeping bags are very neat and clean also the location of the camping was great as it used to be sunny during the day times on the tents and very less of wind during the nights also the equipments provided by IH team were pretty good as that made trekking in snow and on ice pretty easy. this was my first trek and it was finished two days back only and I am already planning for another trek with you guys in January for brahmaltal trek. also there is a suggestion from my side that you guys should have some membership system like yearly or lifetime with which the trekker can do all the treks he want to do with you guys by just paying the total membership fees upfront.
thanks guys for such a great experience.the green trails is a great initiative taken by the IH team and it has taught me a a great lesson of keeping my waste along with myself and keeping our mountains clean and green and this was strictly followed by all of our group as our trek leader was pretty strict on this point and I feel its a great thing,also it has changed my habit of throwing the wrappers on the roads and in the surroundings.trek coordinators really played a big role in completing the trek as each and every time they ask for our good help and keep checking our blood pressure,heart rate and oxygen and if der is anything wrong then guides us how to maintain the same. also keeps us reminding to keep ourself hydrated all the times and so on.
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Vimal Sharma
Batch of
December 2020
There are lot of things which stood out :
1) Green trail initiative.
2) 5 minutes of silence in jungle.
3) Post card to write experience.
4) Get together at camp side and chit-chat with Trek Leaders(Akshay,Dabbu bhai and Prahlad bhai) and other team mates .
5) Food was awesome throughout the trek. Thanks to all the staff of India hikes for arranging such tasty meals on mountains.
Trek information was too good. The mailers which we received before starting of the trek helped a lot and trek leader also provided valuable inputs regarding selecting a campsite and other details.So information provided was really very helpful.Prathima who helped with each and every query i had and i was able to clear all my doubts related to transport and what to carry and what will be already included(e.g. Micro spikes and gaiters) that helped me not to take anything extra and keep my luggage light.
Green trail has impacted a lot and now when i'm back to home.I made sure that i segregate the waste and ensure to reduce the usage of plastic.
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Divya Penmetsa
Batch of
December 2020
My kedarkantha trek with India hikes was just incredible. I will surely run out of words. This is easily the most challenging trek for me since its my first winter trek and the weather has not been our friend. With temperatures ranging in minus and campsites surrounded with snow and winds, specially after sunset when nights can be really really hard, India hikes crew brought a lot of warm by updating us with all necessary information. Minor details as simple as when to layer and how to was told. Not just told for the sake of telling us as their responsibility but they also kept monitoring and reminding us as to when to change into more layers. That was special care that trek leaders- Krupa and Aayushi along with prahlad bhai showing great leadership and delivering way beyond their responsibility.
What the whole team of india hikes did was commendable. I would love to trek with you guys again and prepare better for a winter trek. Change in trail and summiting from the westerns side of kedarkantha was also a special since there was no crowd at all. And kudos to India hikes for curating such special experiences for their trekkers.
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Nileshwari Mahida
Batch of
February 2020
Best part of India Hikes is that they got us through the fresh trails while making to the summit.
From the moment I reached Katgoan, i was skeptical as a beginner. But after meeting Leo Saldanha, Saini and Mukesh while the trek, things placed very well. The day of the summit was very tough. It was never-ending, at one point, I had almost given up with the negative thoughts that I had. But Mukesh, Leo and Saini motivated me and therefore, I could complete this trek. The moment I reach the summit, I cried like a baby. The fact that trekkers who were little slow were placed first while trekking, which showed their priority of working at a team and keeping all together and completing the summit. I felt safe. After completing, the descent was super fun, we played antakshari and we dint realized we were about to reach the base camp. We all wanted that this journey continues for days and days. Well, at last, heartfelt gratitude to all them, also those who cooked food for us, the persons carrying our bags and the entire team who contributed this trek for its success.
The discipline and the safety was the utmost priority (Commendable) for Leo Saldanha and so the whole group followed the instructions. This made the trek enjoyable. I loved the knowledge sessions and activities being played by Leo. The trek was an eye-opener for the fact that as an individual one can contribute to preserving the nature and so much for self-reflection. The green trail initiative is good work. We all had this personal bond with each other at the end of the trek. Leo and his team will always remain an inspiration for us - the city people. It has taught us lessons and self-realization that cannot be put into words. This will remain long life with me.
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Priya Ranjan Sahu
Batch of
February 2020
Really it was amazing experience especially with our Trek Leader Leo And Sain. Both of them were so punctual and professional. Mukesh was good too. Love the way they took care of things.
This was my second trek and first with India Hikes and I really want to go with India Hikes every time from now on. Simply Loved it. Thank You Manisha and Team India Hikes for such wonderful arrangement & management.
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Kiran raju M
Batch of
February 2020
The food which was served on the trek was very delicious and very hygienic. Overall I enjoyed trekking with India hikes and I am looking forward to doing treks with India hikes in the future as well.
My trek leader Vivek maintained very good hygiene. He is very helpful and explained about the mountains and even shared the knowledge while we are having snacks in the evening. It was quite amazing trek experience with Vivek and our guides Ramesh Bhai and Subhash were also very good with us and the support which we got from they was really appreciated. On the summit day, some people were about to give up but at that time the guides and the trek leader supported and motivated to complete the summit.
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Keerthi Kumar C
Batch of
February 2020
The Kedarkantha trek trail itself is mesmerizing. Enjoyed every bit of the trek and kudos to the IndiaHikes for organizing such an event where I felt as I am part of the organization, rather than a customer.
The food which was provided was good and especially the Gulab Jamoon and Shahi tukda were mouth-watering.
The safety standards followed was very good. Especially with fitness approval which we have to get a sign off from the trek co-ordinator and health checkups which are done on a daily basis. Fitness is a must for trekkers and is a checkpoint for each and every trekker on the trail which will avoid any serious implications on the trek.
Renting the gear was a good part of the trek and it saved me a lot of money which I utilized for different purposes.
Green trails is a very good initiative which emphasizes not only carry our trash back but also cleaning the trail.
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Sandeep Mishra
Batch of
February 2020
The mountain taught me to give time to yourself. It also showed me that how people are polluting the nature and what can one do to avoid it. There were different people in our group who shared their views which broadened my views on the issues like single-use plastic products and its impact.
How a Tshirt making process consumes plenty of fuel and water was well explained by Janaki - A local woman from Sankri. She also highlighted on waste segregation, alternatives of plastic and educating others from our learning. Each day was a learning in the mountains.
The trek was fantastic and went in good flow. The team India Hikes have their full support and effort to make a trip memorable. I enjoyed that 5 minutes of silence at the summit which will always stay with me.
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Sujay Joshi
Batch of
February 2020
Am very happy with the Trek. It was Joyful, Challenging, Adventurous & served the purpose.
Had a lot of good times in a group & in solitude. I would say i was driven with excitement by mountains on every step.
India Hikes left no stones un-turned when it comes to safety. There is not even a second i felt that I am unsafe or scared.
I rented multiple gears like Walking Stick, Gloves , Down Jacket & Shoes. Everything was at good condition and very comfortable to carry.
I felt really proud of myself to be a part of initiatives and values followed by India Hikes. I felt responsible and went well prepared so when I completed the trek I understood what values it holds to take part in.
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Aarti Borkar
Batch of
February 2020
Mountains are humbling, teaches you lessons that are hard to forget.
For me the biggest lesson was, in life whatever seems high and achievable is going to be very difficult and so very worth of your efforts.
Living in the mountains taught me, how discipline brings more joy in real life.
This Kedarkantha trek was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Absolutely loved it. While ascending, we had taken a different route through khujey and odari, which i guess not other trekking companies take. That was the best part, as we got to see different side of the mountain and a very clean side too. Food and other arrangements were very nice and timely.
A friend advised me to go with Indiahikes for safety reasons only, and boy he was all right! Safety was excellently taken care by the trek leader(LEO) from the condition of safety gears to health heck up at every camp-site thrice a day.
He used to give little dos and don'ts of the camp-site and while on the trek. That proved to be the best help. Overall, i guess safety is one of the values of indiahikes and that should be kept up !
I rented trek pole and waterproof socks. Waterproof socks are a blessing while trekking in snow. Highly recommended.
Our trek leader was simply amazing. He used to have small sessions before dinner which were the best part of the day. I really liked virtual volleyball and the snow-man making competition.
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Krovvidi Venkata SaiRaja SriHarsha
Batch of
February 2020
Mountains teach us alot. How important natural resources are to us. We get to respect nature. They also teach us how minimum is required to live a happy life.
Green trails is the best thing about indiahikes. I involved myself well in it. When it comes to fitness we should have prepared much better.
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Yash Thakur
Batch of
February 2020
Mountains ,trekking , traveling solo ,making new friends some close ones too. This experience for me was new or i can say the best one .the kind of beautiful weather which keeps on changing within seconds ,scenic views were amazing .there's something in mountains nobody can learn untill and unless you pay visit once. Awesome experience.
Great experience on my 1st trek- light snowfall ,small river crossings,etc.the trek leaders were good, the food team was amazing they provided us delicious food in mountains.
Overall I'm going to try again with some new treks solo. Well done Indiahikes
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shubhadeep sanyal
Batch of
February 2020
All the arrangements made by IndiaHikes were in place and the trek went flawlessly. The staff was helpful and very courteous. The trek leader Dauva was very experienced and helpful and trek guides Ramesh and Mangal were an inspiration and managed difficult and tricky situations very well in this snow trek.
The safety maintained in the trek was excellent and due to the experience and cautious nature of the staff, we were able to complete the snow trek without any hiccups or accidents. The equipment provided such as gaiters and microspikes were of very good quality which ensured a smooth trek.
The Fitness regime suggested by IndiaHikes is very apt to enjoy the trek without any physical problems. I have been following physical standards set for the trek and it helped me enjoy the trek without any trouble. The green trails initiative is something that I follow in my life and so it resonates well with my principles.
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Meghal Shetty
Batch of
February 2020
The trek was beyond beautiful - the trails, scenery, white forest was spectacular and gave me more that what i had expected. As a novice trekker, Kedarkantha was a perfect start for me and doing it with IndiaHikes just made the entire experience feel like a breeze. I would also like to highlight that the communication bit was very clear. Right from signing up, Manisha, our trek coordinator, ensured we have all the information we need so that we know what exactly to expect and come fully prepared.
When it came to safety, i was pleasantly surprised how much the team cared for every member in the team. Our trek leader, Dawa, and guides (Mangal ji & Ramesh ji) were very knowledgeable and were trained to handle all kinds of situation. Right from checking our pulse rate & oxy level to ensuring we have had the filling food and are feeling alright, they made us feel like a family. The taught us to trust the gears (gaitors & spikes) which were of very good quality and helped us a lot with the ascent & descent.
I rented the trek pole, shoes, headlamp and my most favorite - the waterproof socks. The quality standard was high and mainly, the products were well maintained and clean. The socks helped me keep my feet safe from getting wet & cold.
Almost all the activities we did together was quite fun. Right from the introduction round & getting to know one another to playing Mafia in our common tent post snacks. My most favorite though, would be the last round table where we all had to share our experiences. It was quite emotional.
I'll just summarize the core points that stood out to me:
Sustainable trek experience
Great team of experienced and skillful trek leaders
Highly safe and top quality trekking gears and equipments
Mouthwatering food
Top notch camping experience
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SOURAV KUMAR BASAK
Batch of
February 2020
The mountains teach us that whatever you achieve in your life, if you want to stand tall keep your feet on the ground no matter what you achieve.
Trek was awesome, couldn't have been better than this, the weather was with us also. The trek leader Dawa and the guides Rameshji and Mangal were like guardians for us over there, they took care of us. The foods were delicious as well as nutritious. The trail which India hikes took i.e. from Kotgaon to Khujey and then to Odari to Summit was really very beautiful.
The safety standards were excellent, from measuring blood pressure, pulse rate, to guiding us how to get through tough trails, safety standards were high. The trek leader and the guides ensured that we were safe throughout our trek. They even carried an oxygen cylinder in case of emergencies.
Indiahikes does force its trekkers to be fit before the trek begins and it is for the good of trekkers only, this is a great initiative by Indiahikes.
The Green Trails initiative is also a great initiative to keep the trails unpolluted and clean. Clean trails look really beautiful.
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madhur chauhan
Batch of
February 2020
There is actually a lot to learn from the mountains and the trip teaches things almost at all steps.
To summarise
1. I felt like a minuscule in front of the might of nature. Teaches to be humble at all times.
2. The life in such weather is difficult. I thank the almighty for all what he has given me.
3. The most important thing such experience teaches is " You get to know a lot about yourself".
The trek was one of the best travel times I have ever spent. Thanks to the Indiahikes team, who were very professional, knew the details of all concerned things in-depth and caring at the same time. All 21 members of the trek reached the summit, due to the continuous encouragement and support from the leader and the support staff.
I rented the trekking poles. Obviously pocket-friendly and did not need to carry till the base camp.
Green trails shows the efforts of Indiahikes to create a clean environment in the trekking areas. No one wants to go trekking and find heaps of garbage from previous trekkers. While everyone keeps complaining about the lack of cleanliness in our country, it is so heartening to find you guys actually doing things for it. I took special care not to miss anything that I can carry back. Great initiative.
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unmesh chakraverty
Batch of
February 2020
The mountain experience was a truly different experience. relaxing, rejuvenating, confidence builder and above all an eye-opener. Not only did it show that how things are taken for granted by us in our modern lives can be a challenge up there but also the importance of team spirit, helping each other and cohesiveness for survival in such difficult conditions in nature.
This was my first experience of a winter trek. it was definitely challenging but the exceptional organisational skills, knowledge of the things to come and the attitude of the entire India hikes team made it a smooth sail. I would say it could not have been better. stating it more objectively I would like to say
Safety and precision were never undermined. Experiencing the wilderness and nature in its purest form was always felt.
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SATYA PRAKASH TIWARI
Batch of
February 2020
Overall, the trek was magnificent
Few highlights:-
1. IH starts it's trek from Kotgaon and not from Sankri. From kotgaon to khujo the trails seemed just untouched by humans. So a thumbs up to IH for beginning trek from kotgaon and therefore keeping our morale high from the start.
2. The dedication of our guides Sanju Pawar, Prahalad Pawar, Aditya Pille. They were more than a guide to us. They took care of everything. They even carried bags of those who felt sick. Kudos to them.
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Srujan G L
Batch of
February 2020
The trek was phenomenal, Words cannot describe the experience I had. No pain No Gain, even though it was painful the summit healed every inch of my body and soul.
The Green trails is an amazing initiative.
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Ashutosh Mahamuni
Batch of
February 2020
Absolutely I loved the way IndiaHikes had organized the trek.
I loved how we had smartly decided the starting point as Sankri.
Never have I ever experienced this kind of safety measures being followed by any trekking community.
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Niranjan G P
Batch of
February 2020
The trek was wonderful, filled with scenic views and the food provided to us was amazing and tasty, also they kept us well-fed throughout the duration of the trek. The trek leaders were amazing, motivating and supportive throughout the trek.
The safety standards were good and just, regular health checkups were good to access the situation and also the safety gear and equipment given to us during the trek were good. Also the campsites were strategically placed in a safer and convenient environment which added to the safety benefit of the trekking group.
I rented out jacket, shoes and Trek poles which helped me financially.
Fitness is utmost priority for any trek and we liked the initial fitness run activity we had to complete for the trek and also Green trails initiative is the best thing a human could do to protect the environment. Keep up the good work.
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SUBHADIP SANYAL
Batch of
February 2020
The trek was just fabulous. I am overwhelmed with our trek team special mention of Aditya, prahlad Bhai & Sanju Bhai and all the kitchen members of khujey & odari. Moreover 23 of the fellow trekkers we have all become a family. Credits to India hikes for creating such an amazing family in the mountains. Really looking forward to trekking again with you guys as soon as I manage holidays. It was really a memory which I will cherish for life because "first time" is always very special.
Every one of us should do something for the environment. Because it's only us who are polluting the environment. So we should try to clean it too for the coming generations and also to protect ecology. Salute to the India hikes members for putting so much effort into it.
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sandeep patel
Batch of
January 2020
Trek was super with guides Aditya and Subhash and we were lucky enough to complete the summit, as two batches previously was cancelled. The last 200 mts of the summit was very hard and with the motivation of our teammates and guide, I reached the summit and it was jannnat.
The safety during the trek was full up to the mark.
The renting of gear and offloading was very useful for us to complete the trek without any difficulties.
Your core values helps us a lot. The activities every evening after tea and snacks, sharing our thoughts getting information from the trek leader.
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jignesh shingala
Batch of
January 2020
Nothing is more beautiful and blissful than nature in this world. The trek tested my physical and mental energy.
The safety protocols were perfect and the guides and team leader taught us to use them perfectly.
I was most inspired by the green trails initiative.
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Viplav Mehta
Batch of
January 2020
Things I learned from the mountains:
1. Take one step at a time.
2. Mountains got me an ego check. They show you your place a number of times.
3. Real growth is out of your comfort zone.
Fitness was quite important . So preparation before trek helped me hike without many stops. Thanks for advising this in advance.
Green trail is a great initiative. Fun is so part of the trek but one must never be evasive of our responsibility towards the nature.
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Parag Sawant
Batch of
January 2020
The trek was excellent. We were amongst the few lucky batches who were able to make it to the summit. The trek leaders and Trek guides were exceptional.
The entire arrangement from IndiaHikes was perfect.
Only one suggestion. I saw some of the fellow trekkers stopping on the trail to click pictures which would make everybody behind them wait too. It would be ideal if a trekker stands aside from the trail to click pictures so as to not block other trekkers.
Safety standards are par excellence. I am a doctor by profession, and when I say the safety standards are really good, it actually means tht you people are really good.
I liked the part where the trek leader asked everyone to share their experience and what they learnt from the trek
I am impressed by your core values. The kind of importance that u people give to fitness is really good. Because it's to make the trek safer for a trekker.
Green trails initiative also a great one. It imbibes a sense of responsibility towards nature in general which we can take back to the cities and continue to work towards.
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Saiabiram G P
Batch of
January 2020
I had taken up this trek because I wanted a break from my 9-6 routine, initially I had planned for this trek during Feb 19, but as we all know, vacation plans have 99% chances of getting cancelled and same did happen. However this time, was able to successfully achieve my vacation plan.
Kedharkantha and The Majestic Himalayas has taught me so much in this very short span of 6 days. Everything looks surreal, the views, the sheer beauty of mother nature. These things had once again taught and made me realize that how small are we as humans in this planet and how much more smaller are our problems.
At this altitude and rough terrain, i do believe that safety comes first and Safety standards of IH is impeccable, kudos to that.
I want to convey my heartfelt thanks to our Trek Leaders and guides - Adi , Meghna , Subash and Subash(Tony). They are the BEST, without them I don’t believe we would have had an memorable trek. These four are just AMAZING.
The stringent fitness policy of IH, this needs a special mention here, it helped me to come out of my laziness and made me shed 13 kgs in 2 months. Without this trek, I would have never been bothered to hit the gym.
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Eram Fatima
Batch of
January 2020
I learnt from the mountains:
1. How to appreciate life and just how blessed we are to be living among such luxuries.
2. How to stop worrying about trivial things and focus on the big picture.
3. How to find reasons to smile even when life may throw a few oddballs towards you.
It was nothing like I had expected and yet it surpassed everything that I did expect. No amount of words or pictures can be enough to prepare you for what you are about to experience in a trek like this. However, given how detailed all the planning and preparation by Indiahikes is, it practically is the best organization I've come across so far be it in terms of organizing or planning or food or even back up plans! There's absolutely nothing that I'd like to change.
I rented almost everything at the base camp and all the gears were in top notch quality.
Akshay is a brilliant trek leader. Right from the first intro and debriefing meeting to ending the trip with his famous mantra, he was so professional. The very first night he made us play an ice breaker activity at the Khujey camp site and we all became friends instantaneously.
He knows how to find the perfect balance between fun and discipline. So I really enjoyed trekking with him.
And not just him, both our guides OP bhaiya and Rajesh bhaiya were always making sure that we had smiles on our faces no matter how difficult things may get, encouraging us, pushing us and even chiding us when needed but never giving up on us. So kudos to all three of them for making sure our experience was amazing.
This is the one thing that I truly appreciated while trekking with Indiahikes. You don't just preach about the importance of preserving nature, you actually make sure that you walk the talk and also encourage everyone else to do so.
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Ganesh B
Batch of
January 2020
No matter how difficult things get push yourself harder and you'll make it no matter what. Just keep up your spirit high and your goals and destination firm... In the all that matters is if you succeeded or you gave up... If you succeed with the efforts and look back you'll be stronger than you were and hungry for more.
We made it to the summit... Our trek was really challenging and wonderful... everything was taken care by our trek leaders they really are a wonderful bunch who made everything possible. A memorable experience to the everyone's dairy...
Few of the challenges we faced were:
Harsh weather conditions.
Opening up new paths.
And upon all of these the whole team trekked together in all conditions that's the best part…
Safety were really another criteria that needs to be credited because that's a critical things to keep a check with and the India hikes team tries to get it on track right from the very beginning i.e. from the day we enroll ourselves on the trek until the very end of the journey wen we bid good bye with a heavy heart on the final day. Checking up the heart rate and bp timely and doing the safety measures in all the required possible ways.
So cheers to such a well organised safe trek being carried out.
There were a lot of activites carried out by the trek leader but the most enjoyed and wonderful of them all personally for me was being the sweeper trek leader that was assigned to me seeing the way i was active and more energetic in the trek which i really carried out well and got rewarded as the spirit of the trek. And other was adding an adjective to our names initially to introduce ourselves and the subsequent person had to remember and call out all the names of the preceding ppl and then introduce himself which really got the bonding among the team from the very initial moment of the trek.
Green trails... It's really a very great initiative being taken by the India hikes team to ensure that the nature isn't harmed by their exploring of the nature in its trek... rather keep the path and surrounding around India hikes team maintain the nature the way it is and enjoy the trek.
And regarding fitness it has only one main motive to either gather up your guts and get them harder and fit to make it on top of summit else stay lazy and unfit sand miss out the best amazing experience of your life.
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vedant bagri
Batch of
January 2020
The most important lesson which I learnt while on the trek was that we are always stronger than we think we are. It is just because of our comfort zones that we restrict ourselves. Once we let go of the comfort zone then the world is ours to conquer.
This trek has really made me realise the value of fitness in our lives. It is of paramount importance to be physically fit. It was really a good move to make the trekkers submit fitness proofs covering a certain distance in the stipulated given time.
To trek with IndiaHikes has been by far one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. The employees literally put their heart and soul into their jobs. It can be clearly seen that it isn't a job for them but something they are passionate about. Kudos to the cooking staff for never making us feel like we're far away from our homes.
The safety standards were excellent. Cut offs were clearly mentioned and were adhered to.
The gears that I rented were - A pair of trekking pole , Poncho and Trekking shoes. Everything was in great condition when it was handed over to me.
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Brian Rebello
Batch of
January 2020
There are many things that I have learnt from the 4-5 days that I have spent for the mountains
1. Respect for time
2. Discipline
3. Appreciate what we have, there are bigger problems to solve than what we think we experience
4. Always respect the Mountain Gods and the Nature and never let yourself be bigger than the weather conditions
5. Life can be lived in a very basic and a simple manner and we do not need our fancy gizmos all the time.
6. Always be humble and kind and helping to other people.
The trek was fantastic, more than I had imagined. This was by far the most amazing trek experience that I had.
I had rented Shoes, Jacket and Trekking Pole which were great and these gears made my life a little easy in the mountains. Also I think renting gears is a great initiative that IndiaHikes has taken as it also helps trekkers to pack light.
Our trekker Vivek Saini, kept us motivated the entire duration of the trek. He shared some amazing stories of the campsite and also told some of his own trekking experience which was great.
I think IndiaHikes apart from running treks, they also ensure that they have impacted a persons life in a positive way even if it is for the smallest bit.
GreenTrails initiative is great in addressing environmental issues and with that bringing in self awareness in trekkers.
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Payal Chauhan
Batch of
January 2020
What an amazing journey it has been. All the nature's beauty lies in mountains. I have learned to keep the mountains clean so that the next generation can see them in as is situation. Our little contribution can help save the environment and global warming.
Day1 - what a mesmerizing view of moon from Kotgaon with snow all around.
Day2 - way to Khujjey - a very long journey of 6 hour ascending but worth the walk. Amazing experience. Amazing guide and team leader Aditya. The war cry at the start of the trek was something to always remember. Ookh Alaila!!!
Day3 - Way to Odari - quite simpler then day 2 ascending. Reached in 4 hours. Amazing breathtaking view.
Day4-amazing walk to Summit. We tried our best
Day5 - Happiest day to descend to see our home. Thanks to the guide to make the trail for us.
Overall - Management was amazing. Right from TL to guide to cooking staff - salute to them. Speechless food. Sweet at the end of the day was something to always wait for.
Indiahikes is extremely safe in terms of health, Trek gears, trail, etc
Gears (microspikes and gaiters) were the one who made us reach our destination safely without falling. Great arrangement
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Priyamvada Singh
Batch of
December 2019
Mountains are calm and wild all at once. No matter the weather conditions, be it heavy rains or snow fall, or a blizzard, they're always ready to take it all, standing upright. From this trek, I've learnt to respect nature more than ever. I've found it to be sacred and my dedication for keeping it clean in every way possible has gone up.
The gradual change in feelings, the turbulence that was felt during the trek cannot be described in words. It's a life changing experience for me. The staff at Indiahikes was amazing, especially the guides and cooks. Please convey my thanks to them. Also, I was really happy to see that the trek leader was 100% committed to saving the environment. She is doing a lot more to keep our planet clean than most of us so far and that was impressive. Overall, the trek was challenging yet left me feeling more humble and fulfilled than ever. Thanks.
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Tanmay Mankad
Batch of
December 2019
Kedarkantha winter trekking with IH was a fantastic experience. Lots of real life practical learning from the mountains. Some of them are as below:
1. Respect for time
2. Discipline
3. Appreciate what we have, there are bigger problems to solve than what we think we experience
4. Mountains are adaptable to all weather conditions and situations, something that inspires me positively to be like them.
Before signing up for this trekking I had researched a lot for doing this trek and being my first one wanted to have the best of the experiences.
Proud and glad to share IH exceeded the expectations in all areas.
I witnessed one of the best trekking experience with IH and definitely it was genuinely professional in all the departments.
Right from taking us to base camp, awareness briefing sessions, handling the trekking team with all the queries , food quality and more importantly campsite location selection , instructors and guides, routes were perfectly planned and executed.
Special mention for Upendra (Upi bhai) Rawat our trek guide along Afreen mam were simply superb in guiding, motivating and helping with the trek and on basecamp too.
Indeed the safety standards were way ahead than nominal and definitely it reflects the passion of team IH in conducting treks and helps us understand how seriously health is looked after
Trekking is conducted by many groups but what differentiates IH is with trekking we are also looking at addressing some core environmental issues and with that bringing in self awareness in individuals.
Green trails is classic example.
Another thing that is top priority for any trek enthusiastic person is to be fit to enjoy the journey of summit climb right from day 1 rather merely complete trekking.
Fitness once again IH scores there on being extremely particular.
I think both these core values make undoubtedly the most preferred trekking unit to chose for.
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Deepti Kiran
Batch of
December 2019
This trek was life changing for me. It taught me how insignificant we are but how invaluable we can be. Right from fitness to mental strength, it was a great learning experience.This first trek will always be the best trek for me.
Everything about the trek was new few for me. Be it the health check, safety, the gears, the tents..etc. I loved every bit of it. I am glad that I trekked with India Hikes. You guys are very professional at every step of the trek. Hats off to our trek leader, Rajarshi, who was humble and patiently handled all of our queries and motivated us with the right spirits which immensely helped few of us reach the summit.
Also, I could immediately compare IH when I saw trekkers from other companies. I really thanked my stars and CEO who recommended India Hikes to me. Well done, guys!!
Safety for me and my family is of utmost importance for any of our trips. IH has maintained it with the right gears and equipment required for the trek. The health check were done in a timely manner and our TL advised relevant rest, food or medication required.
IH has taken care of all my fellow trekkers with atmost care. This shows your professionalism and respect towards each and everyone who comes trekking. IH has put in a lot of thought to save the environment and am proud to be a part of your green trails. I have done my bit :)
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Mohit Pattni
Batch of
December 2019
It was wonderful right from start. Kudos to the entire team for being such well managed and well managing.
I like how the entire programme is focused on providing the best trekking experience while ensuring minimal to no damage on the mountains.
With respect to the safety standards, at no point in time did I feel the team was ill or unprepared for any foreseen situations that could arise.
I am awed by the values at India Hikes and impressed by everyone's adherence to it.
This is what differentiates the best from the others.
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Maithily Pore
Batch of
December 2019
The Green Trails is such a brilliant initiative to leave the mountains better than we found them. Sadly on this trek, we were barely able to collect any waste as everything was covered under snow. But I do appreciate the emphasis that IH put on generating minimum waste. It was always at the back of my mind to not dispose of the waste in the bins provided to us but to carry it back to the city.
I have already mentioned how IndiaHikes Fitness requirements actually made me lose 20 kgs in 6 months.
PS: I am already planning for another trek to get rid of those extra pounds and be fitter to enjoy the more difficult treks.
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Dnyaneshwari Patil
Batch of
December 2019
Green trails are the awesome step taken by IH. While chatting with 'Dhabawala' on this trek, he mentioned IH as 'Kachare wali Company', but even that made us feel proud, cause they were sending all the garbage to IH and keeping the Himalayas clean. That is how Green trails have grown. :)
Adding fitness to core values is the best thing India hikes did. It inspires us to stay fit which makes trekking easier.
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Dnyaneshwari Patil
Batch of
December 2019
Of course, they are good. This is one of the reasons I prefer India hikes for treks. It's good to know if we are fit for trekking in the Himalayas.
Personally, those readings inspire me to put more effort into getting acclimatized to the high altitudes.
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Siddhant Dubey
Batch of
December 2019
Absolutely loved the trek. The journey was superb and exciting. The views were breathtaking and magical.
We got proper care and guidance throughout the journey and would love to travel with Indiahikes again for future treks.
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JAYASIMHA CHILAKAMARRI
Batch of
December 2019
Top in the list will be, When we reach the summit, our leader asked us to make a circle. Then he made us hold hands and asked to close our eyes. The magic begins.
He asked us to remember all the experiences during and prior planning of the trek. Then he asked us to remember our beloved family and friends.
I got goosebumps. BEST IDEA.
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Siddhant Dubey
Batch of
December 2019
Safety was spot on and also the food and warm water provided at such high altitudes were kind and heartwarming.
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Anudeep Reddy
Batch of
December 2019
You guys are the pioneer in safety standards.
I really loved how our BP and Oxygen levels were checked each day, and most importantly, they were documented.
Aditya really checked on all of us at every given point during the trek. He literally spotted when people were uneasy, without them even having to approach him.
The gaiters and the snow spikes were also a huge addition to the safety aspect.
The hygiene was top notch too!
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Refaad Sha
Batch of
December 2019
I absolutely loved everything about the trek . From the day I started training to when I reached back home from trek. Summit day was my favorite part of the trek. The way our team leader and rest of the team pushed us was amazing.
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Cheng Quan (Joshua) Tan
Batch of
December 2019
The trek was very well and professionally organized. As my group was Singaporean, Adi made sure that it was inclusive and spoke only English so we could understand. Adi was generally very patient and encouraging and made the whole difference in making the trek enjoyable. Even as a fairly experienced hiker, wintertime Kedarkantha feels more like a moderate than easy trek.
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Emmanuel Lim
Batch of
December 2019
It was wonderful but challenging. The most difficult part of the trek was getting used to the cold. Fortunately, the transition into a cold environment was made easier with the help of the already set up base camp, hot food, and care of our trek leaders. I felt safer knowing how experienced and respectful our trek leaders were. They took very good care of us which made the trek a lot easier.
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Prateek Kapoor
Batch of
December 2019
Ice Breaking Sessions, after trek stretching sessions, were the best. Helped us in getting to know each of the trekkers and bond with them. The stretching sessions helped in relaxing our bodies after a long trek and making us feel at ease.
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Sachin Nayak
Batch of
December 2019
Humility is my biggest takeaway. We are so privileged and entitled to a lot of creature comforts and being in the mountains makes us realize this. We need to be a lot more humble and content with what we have.
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Hong Ching Leong
Batch of
December 2019
Gratitude and our own mental endurance. It was my first trek and multiday hike. Many things were stripped away from us, that's when we appreciate the little things like accessible water and comfortable beds.
The cold was the real challenge for me. Each night was hard to get uninterrupted rest, but we managed regardless.
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Rohan Kamath
Batch of
March 2019
The trek was excellent. It honestly surpassed all my expectations in every area - be it the sights, the climb or the food. I'd like to mention especially that the kitchen team was brilliant and all the food given to us at all the campsites was amazing. A special shout to our trek leaders Vijeet, Pralad and Guddu who helped us at every turn and it honestly would not have been the same experience without them. I cannot think of any drawbacks and even though this was my first trek and i have no prior experience, I think the organisation was impeccable.
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Rohan Kamath
Batch of
March 2019
The trek leader Vijeet was amazing. He had stories to tell at every turn of the trek. He helped us out a lot and was a huge support to some of us who felt like giving up. Vijeet made us play games at the campsite and also coaxed us into a dance off in the snow which was a lot of fun.
Pralad taught us a few local dance moves which again was very fun. He also introduced us to a kind of warm up dance called zikuza which was one of the highlights of the trek. Pralad also told us many interesting and scary stories about the campsites which were amazing.
Guddu was helpful throughout the trek. He always had a smile on his face and was encouraging throughout. He also had many stories to tell and was fun to be around while trekking.
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Rohan Kamath
Batch of
March 2019
The mountains taught me to adapt to my surroundings. Accustomed to city life and the luxuries that we take for granted (like running water, a soft bed, etc) this trek really taught me to push my boundaries and accept and be thankful for any kind of resources that I was given. It taught me to appreciate that there are forces in work that are much larger than us and we must be grateful for any kind of resources we utilise. Apart from this, the trek also taught me to believe in myself and not give up when faced with adversity.
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Sanjeev Menon
Batch of
March 2019
I dont want to sound philosophical but the trip was enlightening in how life could be so joyful and minimal at the same time. The trek route was picturesque. There were a few lessons learnt as follows.
1. We need to proactively, consistently engage in any effort to clean up mountains
2. Life exists without Mobile Network, TV, Newspaper
3. Water is not unlimited, we should limit its use
Generally time spent on the trek helps me appreciate the things we have rather than the ones we dont.
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Amruta Namjoshi
Batch of
March 2019
Due to my past ill experience with some other trekking group, I was very tense and nervous at the very start. But since the website had all the information laid out crystal clear, I think it prepared me well. I really like the way your website is designed. And all the nervousness eased out when I met the team at Sankari.
Our Trek leader Meghna and our guides Santosh and Amin were helpful and supportive to each one of us at every step. It was evident that every person working there got joy out of it. And I cant appreciate the camp / kitchen staff enough for all the hard work they do in such tough conditions to make our experience a good one.
Absolutely loved the hot fresh food that was always served with love. They even got a gajar halwa cake for my birthday at 8,200 ft. It was surreal. This trek was a birthday gift I got for myself and I think I am going to make it a tradition now. The only downside remains that we could not reach the summit due to weather conditions. Hopefully, I will find myself up there the next time.
PS: your green trails initiative resonates with me. I make art out of discarded plastic bags .. who knows we may collaborate when I am well established as an artist ..!!
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Amruta Namjoshi
Batch of
March 2019
When one travels in the mountains like a tourist, passing by in the comfort of a car or living in a hotel room, the experience is limited to views to die for. The real sense of the majestic scale of mountains can only be experienced by something like this trek..I felt overwhelmed and exhilarated. the challenges we faced up in the mountains made us all come together like a family.
more importantly, the interaction with the camp staff and even some locals was very thought provoking.. it gave an insight into the everyday life of people who stay up in the mountains with limited resources without a hint of grievance. It really made me appreciate the little things that we take for granted back home. There is still alot more I have to learn from the mountains so will keep going back. fingers crossed...
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Oshin Shewaramani
Batch of
March 2019
Trek went off very well!!! Wouldn't be able to finish it without some very important people..
Our treck lead : Mukta, the All time inspiration! She was super fun, and also super helpful all the time!
Our Guides : Subhash and Pradeep, for literally going out of the way and helping us in every way possible!!
Our technical guide : Santosh, for pulling me up whenever I was in doubt about reaching the summit!
Hats off to these saviours, without whom, treck would have not been possible at all!!
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Anshu Bhoyar
Batch of
March 2019
The trek was super fun and very well organized. The entire trekking team was very warm and approachable. They were always smiling and rarely said no to any sort of demands from the trekkers. Food was excellent and copious. The green trails initiative taken by india hikes was also superb and i was very happy to help out. Lastly the best thing about india hikes was their attention to the small things like giving soap and vim at every campsite, regularly refreshing the sawdust stocks in the toilet tent, punctuality in serving food and tea and always making sure that the entire team is being involved and nobody is feeling left out.
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Miloni Mehta
Batch of
March 2019
Trek was awesome. It was an out of the world experience.
Indiahikes team, the camp sites, trek leader, guides, support staff were really helpful and caring. They knew their job perfectly!!
All other arrangements including food, safety and cleanliness were better than expected.
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Rohan Stephen Luke
Batch of
March 2019
The trek was an awesome experience. It was wonderful. India hikes has catered to our needs really well.
The Food was extremely good. We were provided with delicious desert everyday. India hikes has also looked after our health during the trek. The initiative of introducing oxymeter is a good idea.
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Misbah Hararwala
Batch of
March 2019
There were three reasons why I choose to do this trek.
The first one being my birthday. Every year I complain about how I never enjoy my birthday and I'm forced by peer pressure into those noisy bars , getting fully wasted and not remembering any of it. This year I choose to do something different, something for myself.
The second reason was an escape from everything that I hate about the city .
The third was that I had never experienced snow before. (yes I have seen snow but never snowfall and those white blindly landscapes you only see on desktop screen savers) So I had to pick Kedarkantha for that reason. I was also told by a fellow trekker on another trek that I did that the descend down from the summit was an exhilarating slide down the snow so it made my decision even easier.
Did this trek live up to all my expectations ? .... More than I ever imagined!
My first solo trip devoid of all connectivity to my social life, 12 hours away from what I understand as urbanization with 20 absolute strangers which lead to a whole bunch of apprehension. Though it all quickly vaporised , probably in the first couple of hours of meeting everyone. We got along like butter and jam , and the next couple of days our crew trekked together as a family. Obviously this had a lot to do with the people that helped us get there, the organisers , you guys.
Our trek leader, Deep, so friendly and easy going, we initially presumed he was part of the group. Fun was his agenda and he always made sure that everyone was having it besides all the arduous tasks of being a trek leader.
The guides were patient and understood everyone's stamina and capacity. They were happy to make a conversation, always telling us more about the mountains.
The staff was efficient, and never tardy. The food was exactly what we craved to eat and not to mention "my birthday cake" ... damn that was a good carrot cake. ( made it really special) .
So to summarise, I came with the expectation of a quiet birthday in the solitude of the mountains but I left with 20 new friends, great conversations, new perspectives and all the while being awestruck and encapsulated by the beauty of the mountains.
It's going to be hard to match up to my birthday next year.
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Misbah Hararwala
Batch of
March 2019
The one thing that I take back from the mountains is the sense of consciousness that it leaves you with. Be it about the environment , your own body or mind.
It makes you aware of all the little things we take for granted in are consumer-driven lifestyle and the impacts it has on nature and our surroundings; be it buying a plastic bottled water or how we dispose our trash or the amount of things we consume which are packaged in plastic and other non bio degradable things. Where does all of it eventually end up? It's sad that we are the only species that can't contribute positively back to nature. Even the bare little traces of ourselves that we leave in the mountains makes you reflect on our everyday lifestyles.
The act of climbing itself engages both body and mind, you learn your own limitations , your weaknesses and your resilience to reach a goal . All these qualities manifest themselves when you face the magnitude of the mountains.
I gained a sense of spirituality being a not so spiritual person.
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Bhaskar Mukhoty
Batch of
March 2019
The trek was perfect, we were surprised by the extra ordinary quality of food and timely serving. We received care that most of us never expected. Really grateful to the crew members of India Hikes.
One change which is I would strongly recommend is about the food for the staff were often getting finished. Since the trekkers don't get to know how much food is left, crew members often go hungry as they take food after the trekkers. Please ensure that crew members receive complete diet along with the trekkers.
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Rumki Sengupta
Batch of
March 2019
The Trek was wonderful. To be honest, I started with a blank mind, didn't think of what is coming, good or bad, whether I will be able to continue, whether my health will permit, nothing. But it came out to be outstanding experience. Indiahikes has the best of team. Special thanks to Meghna, our trek leader, always there for all of us, Santoshji, Technical Guide Santoshji, Robin as well as the staff in all the camps. Always be grateful to them to boost us, health checkups, helping while climbing or wherever i felt difficulty coming down. I To sum up, I am still living the trek. Thanks to all of you.
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Rumki Sengupta
Batch of
March 2019
on 21st, at Posla camp, in the evening, we had a good session, where we discussed the trek, our experience, our feelings as well life stories of all us. Experiences shared by the Indiahikes team was wonderful. Then again in the base camp at Sankri, we had another session after tea, where all of us shared our thoughts, some even became emotional.
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Bhaskar Mukhoty
Batch of
March 2019
There are stark differences in a city life and the life in nature. We need to stay close to the nature to live a healthy, sustainable life. Minimizing use of gadgets, social networking can help to reduce anxiety, stress and more importantly save us some valuable time, that can instead be devoted to things which we really wanted to do.
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Neekhil Dedhia
Batch of
March 2019
The most important lesson that the mountain has taught me is Adaptation.
The climate in the mountains do change quickly from time to time and the key is to adapt to the changes to enjoy the treks to their full potential. The same rule can be applied to life. we need to adapt and overcome the situations.
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Rumki Sengupta
Batch of
March 2019
To summarize.. its only love. I always loved to be with nature. Since this is my first long trek, I felt it is only love that I felt for the entire world. Himalayas has always been fascinating, but never realized how mesmerizing it can be. Love the nature, love the natural resources that the mountains provide, love for animals and love for people who were totally unknown to me. Respect what people give us, and more so I have learnt to respect food.
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Satish Rao
Batch of
March 2019
At 57, It was impossible to get myself started for this trek. But constant goading from Suhas and follow-ups on my fitness made by 60 day routine to fitness approved a big milestone.
On the trek, everything was well planned from lemon tea, to nutritious snacks/breakfast, to warm-up routines and constant tips from the Guides Rana and Subhash helped us ascend easily.
The tents were very clean and good to camp. The Evening snacks and games in the evening along with innumerable photoshoots gave us some lifelong memories and the desire to come back for more.
The food was also excellent and sincere thanks to the cooks who ensured it was ready as early as 4 AM.
The Early morning sunrise from the mountains, the glistening snow, the snowfall, the sunset and the starlit night-sky made it a wonderful experience.
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Medhavi Gupta
Batch of
March 2019
Amazingly awesome. The food, the team, the people, plannings...everything was just perfect. Loved each and everything about the trek. The support provided by each member of IndiaHikes team, their nature, facilities, the food they prepared at such a high altitude is something I've not stopped praising to my friends and family about. Also the view and the experience was woww. Thankyou IndiaHikes!
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Medhavi Gupta
Batch of
March 2019
The mission started by the IndiaHikes team to make mountains a cleaner and greener place has been continued by us even after coming to our places. Have been trying to reduce the unnecessary waste and packaged food usage we make.
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Shreya Jain
Batch of
March 2019
This was my 2nd experience with Indiahikes and the best one as well. Everything was just perfect..the trek leaders, the staff, trek mates, climatic conditions and everything else were totally outstanding. The trek leader Mihir is one of the most humble and fun people. He made the trek a satisfying one.
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Tinesh Tamilkodi
Batch of
January 2019
Trek was amazing even though it was cut short just after a day of trekking.
The trek leader had looked after our safety and well being very well.
Many thanks!
I also wanted to commend on Ajay (Transport coordinator) great work.
I need to arrange transport from Sankri to Raithal for another trek.
It wasn't as straight forward as there were multiple cancellations and rebookings due to weather changes in those area. Nonetheless, Ajay was there to assist me all the way.
Many thanks again.
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Devanshi Jangla
Batch of
January 2019
It is something that is something difficult to put it words. Everything was just perfect. Our trek leader Mukta, our 2 guides- Manoj and labu bhaiya, the food, the tents, the snow, the trail, everything. This was my first Himalayan trek, and I'm so glad to have done it with you guys.
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Devanshi Jangla
Batch of
January 2019
So there are times during the trek when you start feeling grateful of the small things that you have back in the city but do not really value much- something as basic as sanitation. Also, when you have no network for 7 days, is when you make the most amazing friends and most amazing memories. I'm so glad that I went for this trek. It's been a week today but the hangover is still at it's peak!
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Manas Khatua
Batch of
January 2019
The trek was fantastic. The trail was beautiful. The views were magnificent.
The major contributing factor to this was the new trail by the Indiahikes team. We all loved it.
Our trek leader Guru and trek guides Dev and Sanju were superb.
Guru made sure everything(regarding high altitude) was explained thoroughly to all of us in a light-hearted manner. I also loved the warm-up activities and the games conducted by him.
Dev's words of encouragement echoing in the mountains I will simply never forget. The energy he brought into the team was outstanding. He shared a lot of stories too during dinner time.
Sanju was there right at the end of the group during the trek, making sure everyone reached the campsite safe and sound. One of my friends who was at the end of the group heard him singing and enjoyed it. I missed it though.
These 3 folks are fun to be around and I'd be more than happy to go with them for next treks.
The food served during the trek was delicious. It was too good. The best one was the gajar halwa cake on my birthday. Kudos to the kitchen staff for making such delicious food, those guys truly deserve a raise.
Although we couldn't make the summit because of heavy snowfall, I had an amazing time and I'm sure everyone shares the same feeling.
I made new friends on this trek and hopefully we will be coming back to see what nature looks like from 12500ft.
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Manas Khatua
Batch of
January 2019
This was the first time I went on a high altitude trek and it certainly did teach me a lot of things. Our trek leader Guru taught us the importance of waste management and how to segregate waste.
The other thing that I learnt is to be grateful. I'm at my home right now and on a flip of a switch, I get hot water... on the mountains, it takes time and effort to fill one bucket. I realised this when I was brushing my teeth one morning with ice cold water. Good fun.
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Dr komal Shah
Batch of
December 2018
The trek went fabulously well. We were lucky to have experienced the new route which was exclusive for India hikes and therefore much less crowded but equally beautiful.Awesome food. Great sporty team including young enthusiastic trek leader Himanshu and experienced local guides chamanbhai and Sandeep bhai. Really some of the best days of my life.
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Priyanka Gogri
Batch of
December 2018
The trek was super awesome !!!
Many many thanks to IH team for exploring and coming up with the new trail for Kedarkantha trek. The route from Kothgaon to summit and descend to Sankri made a lot of difference. Really enjoyed all the camp sites. Cherry on the cake was snowfall at Talkhetra :)
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sreevathsa B R
Batch of
December 2018
If there is any word which better than "Awesome!!" You can just replace it .
The New Trail was way wonderful with lots of undisturbed Fora and Fauna. There was NO disturbances from external Sources. The Food was something which I always going to remember even at that high altitude . I Like thanks again all the Kitchen Staff for providing us such wonderful food in that harsh weather condition. The Health Check up (i.e Oxygen Level) was conducted by trek leader everyday with out any miss made many people feel they are of good health . Trek leader was always motivating people which told they can't to make them to achieve the summit
Thanks again for New Trail !!
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sreevathsa B R
Batch of
December 2018
Green Trail !!
I really Like to Appreciate here my Trek Lead Samkit , Anagha , And Jiggnesh (Intern : I don't know his Real name , This is his pet name ) for standing firmly with the Green trail objective of keeping mountain clean and communicating with the fellow trekkers about the problem which are caused by use of the Plastic and Non Bio degradable waste.
And Also i like to tell at this movement , they way they stick to the points are wonderful even after lot of trekkers asks for Bonfire they said NO is NO as it harms the nature . I love there commitment towards keeping mother earth safe.
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Ketan TANK
Batch of
December 2018
Wonderfull life experince on this trek. Trek leader Samkit bhai , guide Prahlad bhai and labbu bhai were perfact combination of SWEET TEA IN NICE CUP. They were available at any time when we need any help. At the end of trek we experinced that they are part of our trek group not as guides. They were supportive, talented , well disciplined, friendly. If possible i wolud like to do my next trek with these leader and guides. The way Samkit bhai and Prahlad bhai cretated bonding amongs trekker from different places was appreciable.
Food at each base camp was fabulous. Food was same as like home food.
At the end , perfact office management with on site execution with proper planning were highly admirable. Definately i wolud like do my next summer trek with INDIA HIKES.
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Nikita Sabnis
Batch of
December 2018
I couldn't have asked for a more well-organized trek! Kudos to the entire team at Indiahikes, both the on-ground team and the people back at the office sending us detailed emails about every little aspect of the trek preparation. This was my first official Himalayan trek and I am so glad I chose to do it with Indiahikes!
Our trek leaders Samkit, Prahlad and Labbu bhaiyya were the best combination of people ever; strict, professional but fun-loving and enthusiastic in the right amounts! They were all extremely encouraging, supportive and cared for each of us. I was travelling all by myself and never once did I feel alone; It literally felt like a family away from home!
It was an absolutely surreal experience! Loved every bit of it! One of the high points of my life!
Lots of cheers to the entire team!
Looking forward to doing every Himalayan trek henceforth with you guys!!
P.S: The food during the entire trek was absolutely delicious! It takes a lot to serve such great quality food at that altitude and temperature conditions!
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Nimai Parekh
Batch of
December 2018
The trek was amazing and it was a fabulous experience. There are no complains with the way indiahikes managed the whole process from the mails to the trek completion. I am sure I will be doing another trek with indiahikes soon.
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Aarthy Janani
Batch of
December 2018
Trekking with Indiahikes is really such a great experience, each and everything has been taken care of and you guys pampered us so well. I had done trek with other hiking community but experience and service you guys provide is the best one. I would definitely plan my treks only with Indiahikes in future.
I was preparing well for the trek but sadly I met with an accident, just a month before my trek. So I was under heavy medication. Antibiotics three times a day for four weeks and I did not get rid of those side effects. I really felt so bad to be the last before one in the group. I will definitely do this trek again with full energy mode.
I don't even have a single negative thing to pin point or give a comment. Everything was so well organized and executed. Right from the ECO bag, waste disposal, food to post trek warm ups.
Love you guys for everything, not even a single day we panicked.
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Shreya Valecha
Batch of
December 2018
I am at a loss of words to express what a wonderful experience it has been. I remember the morning we met all our trek mates and I was extremely happy to see everyone be so humble, full of life and enthusiastic. Then came the time we met our trek leaders and their friendly approach towards us was something that got us comfortable as a whole group in no time. Praladh, Samkit and Labhu have been extremely supportive and had gone out of their way to make us feel comfortable. One of our trek leaders, Praladh made us play some games to break the ice on day one of our trek which was one of the main reasons we all got to know each and everyone who had joined in for this trek even better. Our mid night group jamming sessions and stories are always going to remain very close to my heart. The support and encouragement each and everyone has shown, was commendable, which is also probably why we were all able to achieve the goal of climbing the summit before sunrise.
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Nikita Sabnis
Batch of
December 2018
The stretching exercises and massaging sessions after reaching every campsite! Such a relief for sore muscles and a great mutual bonding experience between all the trekmates!
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Aarthy Janani
Batch of
December 2018
Each and every activity. Trek leaders cared much about our batch collaboration.
Samhith, Prahalad, Laboo and Santosh.
Samhith and Prahalad was so helpful and they both helped us to cross the slippery pace, like a father. We all fell down atleast once while walking on those frozen ice, even the trek leaders but these two guys were so amazing. Each and every step we take were completely under their guidance. They shared their trek experiences, about the places we pass by, pine forests, and on summit day, Prahalad was constantly motivating me to move up and see the sunrise from the summit but sadly I saw it few meters below the summit. He explained about the surrounding himalayan ranges.
Laboo was protecting us from the back, he was the last one in our group. He waited patiently till we take enough pictures whenever we stop by any beautiful scenaries.
Santosh helped us on summit day, he carved us steps on the snow and he as a leader lead the team on summit day.
Samhith and Prahalad made us to interact with the other people by conducting games, throwing snow at each other, dishkoom game, snow war, imaginary volley ball. I'm an introvert, I never thought I would talk with these many people but these guys made it happen. Please convey my gratitude to these guys, missing them a lot now.
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Nikita Sabnis
Batch of
December 2018
I believe this trek has re-taught me the value of Humility in a big way. When you are stripped of all your urban add-ons and are forced to live almost like an animal, you realize where the definition of privilege actually starts! This made me feel very humbled and grateful for the life I have been blessed with back at home.
Secondly, I realized how the mountains remind you that irrespective of your degrees and titles back in your city life, you are essentially an insignificant dot in the universe; this trek made me give up whatever little inflated ego I might have had!
Finally, I realized that anything that you feel is beyond your capabilities is still ENTIRELY POSSIBLE if you have an iron will. It is all about mental fortitude and resilience. I think the mountains and the steep upward climbs on this trek were pretty much a metaphor for life itself; this trek has given me new hope and made me realize that my problems are not bigger than my ability to overcome them!
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pratheeksh eapen
Batch of
December 2018
I've come to the understanding that solo travelling is actually an adventurous option as this was my first solo trip. i got to meet and mingle withe a lot of people and listen to their travel stories.
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Mayank Khare
Batch of
December 2018
Trek experience was more like a summary of life in compressed form.
It teaches us that life/trek has no obligations to go as per our plans/wishes. i.e. execution of trek/life will not get adapted/adjusted to an individual preference rather individuals will have to be adapt quickly to the need of the hour by challenging one's own habits, preferences, comfort zones & physical & mental conditioning. At the end its all about being completely in present, trying to make most of the existing situations and be happy in the moment without worrying too much about the past or future (an ability we have completely lost leading busy city lives).
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Shreya Valecha
Batch of
December 2018
The stillness, yet the strength of the mountains is unbelievable. As I reached the summit, all the effort and tough times I went through while climbing was just forgotten. Living around nature is like you have entered a whole new world, the snow glittering in the moonlight and then shining in the sunlight adds on to the experience all together. I definitely take some wonderful memories back home from my first himalayan trek and it wasn't only the mountains that I learnt from but also the people who joined along, everyone being so humble and supportive.
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Viraj parikh
Batch of
December 2018
The beauty of a trek such as ours does not lie only in the beautiful landscapes and the mind-boggling views but also in quite a lot of other things hidden from the naked eye. If given thought you might realise these things . As far as what I saw it made me realize the importance of a helping and all time active attitude towards everything doesn't matter how important it might be. The more active the mind the stronger is the body and the more helpful the nature the greater is the reception. All good deeds are appreciated though in the long run but definitely someday sometime .
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Pramod Nambiar
Batch of
December 2018
The trek was amazing!! Starting from the daily emails which gave a perfect build up, the interactions with the trek leaders, the guides, the support staff and cooks who introduced themselves at each camp. I admired the professionalism that was reflecting in each and every aspect of the trek.
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Pramod Nambiar
Batch of
December 2018
1. Life is full of fun only when you get out of your comfort zone.
2. Value of the very basic things in life, which is otherwise taken for granted
3. The importance of protecting the environment
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Shashiraj Shanbhag
Batch of
December 2018
I enjoyed the trek. It was easier than I expected and I was able to appreciate more the beauty of the mountains as well as the nature all around.
Kudos to India Hikes team Suhas, Madhu, Pragya, Chaman and Subhash for coordinating this trek. India Hikes does a great job of providing all the information and everything was well communicated and organized.
I was trekking with such a big group after almost 10 years so it was a bit of a challenge for me. Most of the people on the trek were young so at times it was a bit loud for me. There were very few moments of true silence on the trek which made it difficult to hear the sounds of nature - birds, streams, etc. I have been the young and loud person at some time so I understand, it's just that at this stage in life I prefer to have a quiet time in the mountains.
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Shashiraj Shanbhag
Batch of
December 2018
Mountains test you as an individual and has the ability to bring the worst / best in you. I spent almost a week in the mountains with a close friend and it really tested our friendship. There were times when we didn't agree on things and would have preferred to have it our own way, but we made it through and probably came out stronger as individuals as well as friends.
For me this trek with a big group just highlights the need to recognize that we are all different and yet want to achieve the same goal. Connecting with individuals and leveraging each others strengths is the key to success in a big group.
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Balkrishna Patel
Batch of
December 2018
Actually i want to tell many things, to describe everything in details. But in short its amazing experience for me and My whole team on trek.
And one thing Indiahikes have to change is their emailing system. Because the guidance and information given through email is really don't followed by everyone because there are many peoples who do not check their mails daily. so for that i have suggestion of make ""Application of Indiahikes"" this is the best option for information training guidance details and everything. Because normally peoples check their apps daily like whatsapp or instagram.
So the application of Indiahikes is best option for trekkers, trekleaders as well as trek coordinator too.
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Roji joseph Perayil
Batch of
December 2018
The trek went more beautiful than my expectations. Right from the beginning in sankri the villagers were welcoming us.The trek was never felt tiering because the trek leaders kept us engaged. The food that was provided was too good that i have no words to express my love. On the day of summit extremely it snowed and we never thought we would make it to the summit but the trek leaders courage and our spirit made it. Its something to be remembered for a lifetime.
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Balkrishna Patel
Batch of
December 2018
There's so noise in cities,
Mountains taught me that "Peace" is everything. Those natural sounds, views, natural feeling is priceless.
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Roji joseph Perayil
Batch of
December 2018
I really understood how important it is to conserve our mountains and leave it as it is without distroying its glory. The flora fauna and all other creatures create that ecosystem so its our duty to not disturb them while trespassing into their territory. We dont ever conquer a peak we just become humble after witnessing its might.
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Shashank EL
Batch of
November 2018
Full marks to the Trek Leader, The guide and The support staff. I can easily say that the 4 days that we spend trekking were the best 4 days of my life.
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Rajesh Chandra
Batch of
November 2018
Without any expectations and inhibitions, and yet with trust in IH team, the trek turned out to be a lifetime memory to be cherished forever.
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AVIJIT DAS
Batch of
November 2018
It was a memorable trek where all the co-trekkers helped each other. The support staff were just outstanding! I got maximum support from our Trek leader Tannoy, Guide Chamanbhai and co-guide Saurav Bhai.i
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Prajakta Nagulpelli
Batch of
November 2018
On the 1st day when we reached Sankri, right when we were getting down out of our vehicles, Tanmay was there to shake hands and greet us. I never realized it before this that such a small gesture could ever have such a big leverage in making me feel welcomed and safe.Tanmay's method of instruction were very practical and theoretical. He always explained the rationale behind every small task or instruction. This helped me gain a lot of clarity in terms of what is expected from of me and why. Tanmay always went out of the way to tell us about things remotely related to the trek like, fitness tips, attitude towards trek and trekmates, how to care for trekking gear, how to tie shoe laces and use a high ankle shoes like loafers, etc. The trek was very high endurance for me as I never achieved my fitness goals. Ofcourse Tanmay recognized it immediately looking at my pace. However, he never discouraged me or made me feel insecure. He was always there for me to boast me up. On the day of the summit, he made a sequence and made me lead the team of 15 members. All of them were behind me trailing the hike. Because he made me hike in the beginning of the sequence, I could push myself for the summit in the given time. Or else I would have either given up long before summit or would never have reached the summit before time. So I dont know if all trek leaders follow a sequence and keep low performers at the beginning or not, but the only reason why I could make it to the summit in time was because Tanmay worked miracle with the sequence and put me 1st on it. When I reached the summit, again he was there to greet and congratulate me on reaching the summit. I loved everything about the trek. The part of certificate distribution on the last day took me totally by surprise because Indiahikes made sure by way of the certificate distribution that we believe and celebrate that, making to the summit was an achievement after all. To make it more memorable, Tanmay remembered each and every person's traits that he noticed from the whole trek and made an introductory welcome speech for each and every person before awarding the certificate. I was very touched by all the description be gave about me because it was all very true and spot on.
Tanmay was a motivator.
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Vinod Ramteke
Batch of
November 2018
There are few things which makes the trek beautiful and successful. And those are, an experienced and capable trek leader, good bunch of support staff and a group of wonderful co trekkers. We were fortunate that we got the combination of all these. Special thanks to Tanmay! Being just 25 in age, he shows a great maturity, compassion and experience not only about mountains but people as well. He has positive attitude and he also made sure that no one gets bored by sharing intriguing stories and with his games. He was very well equipped to manage any kind of situation in entire journey.
I enjoyed each and every bit of this trek, whether it’s food, getting up early, trekking together with cotrekkers, with snow, without snow, singing along the way, the 70 degree ascend, the summit, the beautiful view of so many peaks in Himalayan range. It was a dream come true for me, as I wanted to enjoy snow in India.
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Prajakta Nagulpelli
Batch of
November 2018
1. Ice-breaking activity of Memory Game for Introduction of Members.
2. Mafia
3. Sharing traveling experiences
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Rajesh Chandra
Batch of
November 2018
Life is to be enjoyed one step at a time.
The present moment is all we have to live in.
The challenge is not to outdo others, but to undo our own limitations.
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AVIJIT DAS
Batch of
November 2018
I am 59 years old! From this trek I learned the lesson that I have to work on my knees seriously! While ascending I had hardly any issues than while descending....
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Prajakta Nagulpelli
Batch of
November 2018
I learned from my experience on the mountains a simple lesson of 'life must go on'!
After tackling depression for years through innumerable therapy sessions, I have learnt that the best therapy that I could have possibly ever healed me was making it to the summit. In the process I have let gone innumerable reservations and insecurities about myself that was weighing me down all along.
Hopefully, I will henceforth live my life with a light heart.
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Vinod Ramteke
Batch of
November 2018
Well, this was my first time of trekking in the Himalayas. When I reflect back on my trek then I realize it was a wonderful journey throughout, and it was very true in itself when they say “ journey is interesting than the destination “. I learned to survive in the extreme conditions, I learned that the human body can stretch the limits to adjust in the given situation. I learned to live without any luxuries of this world.
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Ansh Deep Ralh
Batch of
November 2018
The trek went very well, as expected. Kedarkantha was beautiful at this time of the year, and the views from the summit were breath-taking. Our trek leader, Madhu, was a highly knowledgeable, experienced, accessible and caring guy, and ensured that all of us gave our best during the trek. The patience and perseverance shown by him in taking even the last member to the summit need to be applauded. The food deserves a special mention, as it was really nice, and always served warm.
All in all a beautiful trek managed well by Indiahikes team.
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Ansh Deep Ralh
Batch of
November 2018
The games, conducted at regular intervals was very important for breaking ice amongst all the group members, and as such, was the most important component, which made the trek enjoyable.
5 days into my wedding, I asked Aayushi how we’re going to improvise on our big european honeymoon plans all thanks to the COVID scare. The surprising answer was “I wanna do something adventurous, can we go on a trek?”
I am a middle-aged working mother. I grew up in the southern part of India. I would spend every holiday, during my childhood near the beaches and as I grew up that is where is found solace.
This blogpost of Kedarkantha just came in and our jaws dropped! Whether you have done the trek already or not, you will definitely want to be there again. Take a look.
This detailed travel blog is almost like a guide! A must read for anybody planning to do the Kedarkantha trek. Right from the fitness screening, upto Kempti falls, the Kedarkantha summit, and back to Sankri this is a brilliant blog.
When Manjari set off on the Kedarkantha trek, she wasn't worried about the summit climb. She had another problem - spending six days with strangers. Read her story here.
Meet Aditya, the six-year-old that made it to the Kedarkantha summit. We speak to his parents and get some tips on how to prepare children for Himalayan treks.
Here is a 12-year-old's account of trekking to Kedarkantha. Right from making a camp fire, to eating maggi for breakfast, to collecting snow in a bottle for his younger brother, he loved every experience.
Neha Pant did the Kedarkantha trek with Indiahikes in December 2016 and witnessed the season's first snowfall. She speaks to us directly from the summit. Take a look!
"Exhilarating! Breathtaking ! Absolutely Fantastic!
Words fall short to describe the 4 days of trek to Kedarkantha summit", it is true. Words don't always describe how beautiful the mountains are. Read on to see Anjali's attempt.
After seeing several pictures of the Himalayas, Naved wanted to set out on an adventure of his own. He set out on the Kedarkantha Trek. Read on to see how his trek went.
"An inconvenient truth is that we are robbing this planet to feed our insatiable thirst for a luxurious lifestyle. In a few decades, the currently unborn generation will look back at us and shake their heads, wondering how we could have been so irresponsible, so venal, and so morally short-sighted (sic)", read more to see how Shruthi's trek went.
In our years of experience as a trekking organisation, we have observed that adults imbibe lessons from the outdoors on a daily basis. Children are much more receptive to the world in their growing years. It is the perfect time to inculcate valuable lessons from trekking which will stay with them throughout their life.
On a family trek, not only are you exposing your child to trekking at a young age but you are also deepening your bond as a family. Trekking facilitates this sense of heightened bond as well their own personal growth.
Most families that trek together work towards staying fitter and healthier. Photo by Manjari Singh
Kedarkantha is right up there as one of the best treks for children.It’s a trek that comes with a huge sense of achievement upon climbing the summit at 12,500 ft! The bonus is that it covers short distances everyday and you’re at the next campsite before lunch!
Family treks will have only families with their children of age limit 8 to 17. Children of age 13-17 can also join this trek without their parents.Further we also have scholarships for children trekking as part of the family treks. For 8 -12 year olds 50 % scholarship, and for 12-17 year olds a 30% scholarship.
Parents have the support and comfort of having other parents in the same group. Children will trek and be engaged in activities along with other children. This will encourage them to form meaningful bonds of friendship.
On the first day, we will organise the children into teams. They will be responsible for certain camp related activities and will switch roles every other day.
Children will be split into four teams with an important camp responsibility role.
Here’s a peek into what the teams will do:
The Camp set-up team oversees pitching of tents. They make sure pitching and dismantling is done properly. They also help those who need assistance.
The Green Trails team ensures that everyone are engaged with keeping the trails and campsites clean. They oversee waste segregation. They see to it that the toilets and washing areas are set up and clean.
The Cooking team assists the cook and helps in serving all meals. They ensure that all eat well and there is no wastage.
The Trek Leader Assistants team assists the Trek Leader in keeping discipline with regard to timing. They will also aid those who are struggling or need any help.
Along with this there will also be co-operative games, star gazing on clear nights, story time, wilderness survival tips and knowledge sharing sessions.
Reflections at the end of each day will allow children to contemplate their learnings and experiences of the day. It’s a time of introspection and gratitude.
What Scholarships we provide
We are offering a scholarship to all children trekking with us on the exclusive family batches.
8 – 12 year olds – 50% scholarship
13 – 17 year olds – 30% scholarship
You can follow these steps to avail them:
Step 1: Click on the date that suits you on the selected trek page.
Step 2: Start the registration process. You will require unique emails IDs for all participants, including the children.
Step 3: For the scholarship – before making the payment, send an email with a proof-of-age of your child to [email protected] Any id card with the Date Of Birth will do.
Note: Mention the subject line as “Proof of age for (selected trek).”
Step 4: Our Trek Coordinator will get back to you within 24 hours with a voucher for your child.
Step 5: Make the payment once you get a thumbs up from the Trek Coordinator.
Will My Child Be Safe on trek?
We understand that trekking with your child may cause you to worry about their safety. All our past family trekkers however have always found our treks to be safe.
Here are some of the commonly asked questions we receive from parents.
– Who will ensure safety on the trek?
Our Trek Leaders are certified Wilderness First Responders. They have been trained in wilderness survival and emergency medical aid. They are capable of taking care of any emergency on a trek.
Our staff is constantly in touch with each other though radio communication to ensure that all the children and safe and sound.
– What safety gear do you carry?
We carry fully stocked high altitude first aid kits, oxygen cylinders, ropes and stretchers. In addition to this these treks have easily accessible exit routes for any emergency evacuation. Click on this link to watch a video about what equipment we use.
– How do I prepare my children for a Himalayan Trek?
In 2018 alone, we have taken 943 children below 18 years of age on our Himalayan treks. This is not counting the 1000+ school students we have taken on local and Himalayan treks.
Children are excited to get certificates at the end of the trek from our Trek Leader.
There is no doubt that children naturally learn more in the outdoors. The joyful memories created and the natural learning experienced can last a lifetime!
The group is full, but cancellations are likely to happen. We have 5 waitlist slots for every group. You may register for the group. Waitlist slots confirmation chances are high if booked more than 30 days in advance.
Last 'x' slots:
Indicates the number of slots available in a group.
FULL:
Indicates the group is full. No further slots are likely.
Temp. Closed:
We are not accepting fresh registrations for these groups because of Omicron.
Dates not suiting you?Click here to see other similar treks.
Hi Sanjay, this depends on when you are planning to go. If it is in winter months, we wouldn’t recommend it. It’s going to be too cold, and will become more of a struggle than an enjoyable experience. If it is any time after March, then it should be alright.
Just keep in mind that in case she cannot make it past a couple of campsites, at least one family member will have to remain with her and come back to the base camp. Even though it’s an easy-moderate trek, it is in comparison to other Himalayan treks.
Frankly, Dayara Bugyal would be a better option for you. The gradient is gentler than Kedarkantha and would be more suited for a 6 year old. You can take a look at the trek here – https://www.indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/
Hi Nikhil, this batch is currently full. We have only waitlist slots left. I would suggest choosing another trek on the same date or perhaps another date for the same trek. Banking on the waitlist is a bit risky because you’ll have to wait for cancellations to come in.
We have a few open slots for the December 13th batch to Dayara Bugyal. Why don’t you consider that? It’s a beautiful trek, similar duration adn altitude as well. It’s less crowded, which is a big bonus in winter. Take a look at the dates here – https://www.indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/#available-dates-calendar
Is it possible to start the trek on 29th Dec 2020 instead of 27th..
As trek is 6 days long..I don’t want the new year day to be spent going back to my State..instead I wanted to trek the submit on 1 jan(and that will only happen if we starts our trek on 29th Dec 2020).
Is it possible?
#i am ready to do pre booking for 29 th Dec and my two friends will also join me on this trek.
Hi Anirudh, we have good news for you! We have opened up a batch on December 29th. We seem to have overlooked the New Year dates when trekkers would want to go, thank you for bringing it to our notice. 🙂 You and your friends can now sign up. Just click on the date and hit the green button. It will take you to our registration page. Let us know if you need help with anything else.
Hi Faizal, I wouldn’t recommend any Himalayan trek for a child in January, frankly. January is peak winter, which becomes intolerable for many adults too. Temperatures drop as low as -10 and -15 degrees. If you’re taking your 7 year old son, Kedarkantha is a good option, but time it in April or May. In April, there’s still ample snow for your son to see and play in snow, but the temperatures are a lot more friendly for children. (Even in April, the temperature drops to 3 or 4 degrees at night, but you can manage that with 4 layers for the child.)
Hi Sudhur, mid to end of December is definitely a better time for more chances of snowfall. It depends a lot on your luck, but the later in DEcember, the higher the chances!
Hi, I am confused about what all documents we need to take for the trek. Do we also need to register for E-pass. And what about the covid test, if someone who has not been quarantined do they also need to get tested before for the trek. As test itself is pretty expensive?
Hi Ngawang! The Gaumukh Tapovan trek remains closed in winter because the trail accumulates too much snow and most of the trail remains inaccessible. There’s a very small window to do the trek and that is in May-June and mid-September to mid-October.
Hi Malini, it’s wonderful that you want to go on a Himalayan trek. 🙂 If you’re trekking in January, I hope you know that it’s going to be very cold, and the temperatures dip to around -7 and -8 degrees on all treks. There will be a lot of snow as well. Even easy treks become fairly tough because of these conditions. Out of all the treks, the easiest and a very picturesque one would be the Dayara Bugyal trek.
Hi Ayush, if you are trekking with us, we will organise transport from Dehradun to Sankri. You will have to meet the team at Dehradun. If you are trekking on your own, you will find how to reach Sankri here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa-NAFlpCJo
Hi Kanika, that’s a prime date and we ran out of slots almost immediately! Would the dates around that suit you? We have dates on 25th, 26th and 27th available for a couple of our winter treks. They’re as fantastic as Kedarkantha.
Dayara is something I’d highly recommend – https://indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/
Deoriatal as well – https://indiahikes.com/deoriatal-chandrashila-trek/
Last time, Brahmatal trek, all guys and girls were put in separate tents. Now current scenario of Covid situation, can married couples stay in same tent? This is as safety measure. We are planning for Kedarkanta trek during Feb 2021
As per the n ew covid cancellation rule if i book my trek for february 2021 before 31st december 2021 and cancel anytime later…. it will stand for 0% cancellation chages even if it is last minute am i right?
Hi Sonal, that is correct. You can sign up for a trek any time in future, as long as you book it before Dec 31st, and our special COVID cancellation policy will apply — there will be no cancellation charges except a 4% transaction charge. You will get a full refund outside that.
Hi Sonal, for any trekker, we expect a certain level of fitness to be able to do the trek. You’ll have to present a fitness proof to our team, where you’re able to run 5 km in around 40 minutes. The trek’s difficulty demands this level of fitness. Despite your BMI, if you can present such a fitness proof, you’ll be allowed on the trek.
Hi Alpesh, the maximum number of trekkers we take in a group is 18. There’s no minimum size. Even if there are just two trekkers, we’ll take them. But most of our groups run full, so expect to see 18 trekkers.
Hi Hemant, yes, you can absolutely join us solo. Many solo trekkers join our teams and have wonderful experiences. They end up meeting like-minded people on the trek and don’t feel like they have come alone on the trek any more.
Our pre-trek experience team ensures that you know your entire team well much before you actually head out on the trek. So don’t worry about it! 🙂
Hi, I’m interested in doing this trek as a family trek..I think the dates are in early may. but I’m about confused about the fitness requirements for kids. Do they too have to be able to run a 5k in 40 minutes? My sons are 9 and 11. Do let me know… they would love the trek especially since it may have some snow… (even in may?)
Hi Debbie, for children, we don’t expect them to run 5 km. But they should be able to cover slightly shorter distances of around 3.5 km or 4 km. That will really help prepare them for what the Kedarkantha trek demands. It is a summit trek after all and requires that amount of fitness. Having said that, May is a really nice time to trek with your family. The weather is on your side and children will love it. We have taken many kids, much younger (as young as 7) on this trek in the past. So you can go ahead and sign up! 🙂
I have done Kedarkantha trek 2 years ago wit IH. I want to do it again with my wife. I remember there being a policy that one can repeat a trek for free. Please share details regarding this. If yes, what’s the process?
Hi Siddharth, that is correct. You can repeat the trek, you won’t have to pay us for it. 🙂 Just write to [email protected] with your details — when you plan to trek, the date, and we’ll guide you through the process.
I am planning for trek in December 1st week. can we see the snow that time ? i have wheezing issue, it will be problem for me to trek in winter ? could you please let me know which time would be best to trek for Kedarkantha. i wish to see the snow ( it is my first Himalayan trek).
Hi Anu, Yes you usually start seeing snow from mid-December. I would advice you to consult with your doctor once before registering. In our experience, it shouldn’t be a problem. You may check this link for some perspective on trekking with respiratory issues like asthma https://indiahikes.com/high-altitude-trekking-asthma/
We do run the trek in the month of April. However, it’s a bit early to open registrations. You can check the website around the first week of February for the dates in April.
Kedarkantha is a trek which receives snow fall quite early compared to the other treks. Highly possible that there would be snow during the second week of December but this is something we cannot guarantee. *fingerscrossed*
Hi Arif, there is no network on the trail. At the base camp (only at Gaichwan Gaon), there’s Jio network, but not after the basecamp. Bsnl doesn’t work there.
We're glad to see your interest in our Exclusive Family Treks. Unfortunately, we are not running any Family Batches now. But stay clued into this space as we will come up with Family Batches soon.
Any campsite above 11,000 ft poses a risk of AMS. On the Kedarkantha trek, the Kedarkantha Base camp is at 11,250 ft. It is the only campsite on this trek where you could be affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. From here and while going up to the summit is when you should watch out for symptoms. 
Upto 12,250 ft
9,950
6 days
Moderate
Can we take our 6 years daughter along.
she is fit and swimmer
Hi Sanjay, this depends on when you are planning to go. If it is in winter months, we wouldn’t recommend it. It’s going to be too cold, and will become more of a struggle than an enjoyable experience. If it is any time after March, then it should be alright.
Just keep in mind that in case she cannot make it past a couple of campsites, at least one family member will have to remain with her and come back to the base camp. Even though it’s an easy-moderate trek, it is in comparison to other Himalayan treks.
Frankly, Dayara Bugyal would be a better option for you. The gradient is gentler than Kedarkantha and would be more suited for a 6 year old. You can take a look at the trek here – https://www.indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/
Hi
I am looking for 13 Dec slot for 2 persons – can you confirm if that is available?
Hi Nikhil, this batch is currently full. We have only waitlist slots left. I would suggest choosing another trek on the same date or perhaps another date for the same trek. Banking on the waitlist is a bit risky because you’ll have to wait for cancellations to come in.
We have a few open slots for the December 13th batch to Dayara Bugyal. Why don’t you consider that? It’s a beautiful trek, similar duration adn altitude as well. It’s less crowded, which is a big bonus in winter. Take a look at the dates here – https://www.indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/#available-dates-calendar
Want start the firt trek with Kedarkantha.
Hope everything will OK.
We’re looking To book the the April 3rd family trek. My son wants to see some snow. So wondering if there’ll be some at the summit?
Hi Amit, there will be snow all the way to the end of April. So you can go ahead and take your son, he’ll surely see snow! 🙂
Very beautiful trek .
Dreaming from now onwards to go for the trek.
Is it possible to start the trek on 29th Dec 2020 instead of 27th..
As trek is 6 days long..I don’t want the new year day to be spent going back to my State..instead I wanted to trek the submit on 1 jan(and that will only happen if we starts our trek on 29th Dec 2020).
Is it possible?
#i am ready to do pre booking for 29 th Dec and my two friends will also join me on this trek.
Hi Anirudh, we have good news for you! We have opened up a batch on December 29th. We seem to have overlooked the New Year dates when trekkers would want to go, thank you for bringing it to our notice. 🙂 You and your friends can now sign up. Just click on the date and hit the green button. It will take you to our registration page. Let us know if you need help with anything else.
What are your arrangements for this year 2020 in aspect of Covid-19 pandemic? Will it be safe to travel?
Hi Pulkit, this is our latest update on when we could think of trekking again in light of COVID. Read it here – https://indiahikes.com/july-15-covid-update-trekking-tourism/
Will there be any discount on Trek Fee, if I book for with a small group(3-4 members) ?
Swathi mam
Big fan
Big fan
Hi Swati, can i take my 7 year old boy to kedarkantha in early January? or any other trek in January recommended for him.
Hi Faizal, I wouldn’t recommend any Himalayan trek for a child in January, frankly. January is peak winter, which becomes intolerable for many adults too. Temperatures drop as low as -10 and -15 degrees. If you’re taking your 7 year old son, Kedarkantha is a good option, but time it in April or May. In April, there’s still ample snow for your son to see and play in snow, but the temperatures are a lot more friendly for children. (Even in April, the temperature drops to 3 or 4 degrees at night, but you can manage that with 4 layers for the child.)
For booking any trip , is there compulsion of paying whole amount or token amount is sufficient
Hi Bhushan, you need to make the full payment to register and confirm your slot, we don’t accept part-payment.
trip mein hindi language mein conversation hota hai kya
Of course. Trek Leaders ke briefing English mein hota hai, lekin almost sab log Hindi bol sakte hai. 🙂
I’m planning to go for trek to Kedarkantha this December. When should I go early December or mid December? I want to see snowfall.
Hi Sudhur, mid to end of December is definitely a better time for more chances of snowfall. It depends a lot on your luck, but the later in DEcember, the higher the chances!
I want to book for month of January. How much cost need for this trek?
Hi Ayan, the Kedarkantha trek costs Rs 9,750 + 5% GST. This includes everything from the base camp back to the base camp. Click here to see the inclusions and exclusions – https://indiahikes.com/kedarkantha-trek/#trek-fee-inclusions-and-exculsions
Mam can bring my bike to sankri in December and is it safe to park my bike there and leave for trek?
Hi Raman, yes it is safe to leave you bike and go on the trek and come back. 🙂
Is the trek on in december? which dates Are available?
Hi Vaishali, the trek is indeed on in December. You’ll find the dates in our calendar here – https://indiahikes.com/kedarkantha-trek/#available-dates-calendar
Hi, I am confused about what all documents we need to take for the trek. Do we also need to register for E-pass. And what about the covid test, if someone who has not been quarantined do they also need to get tested before for the trek. As test itself is pretty expensive?
Hi Anjali, looks like you haven’t gone through out Uttarakhand travel guide yet. This has all the info you need to travel to Uttarakhand during COVID times, including the documents and the COVID test. HEre’s the guide – https://indiahikes.com/how-to-travel-safely-to-uttarakhand-during-covid-times/
Do you accept payments through credit card?
Hi Pragati, yes we do. We have a good payment gateway that accepts credit cards, debit cards and net banking.
IH believes in perfection and all treks show complete details to satisfy all possible Qs.May other s also learn from the IH.
Hi,
Do you organize a trek to Gaimukh and Tapavan in winter?
Hi Ngawang! The Gaumukh Tapovan trek remains closed in winter because the trail accumulates too much snow and most of the trail remains inaccessible. There’s a very small window to do the trek and that is in May-June and mid-September to mid-October.
I am a 58 year old single woman keen to go for a easy trek. Please let me know if there are possible dates between 1st to 10th if January
Hi Malini, it’s wonderful that you want to go on a Himalayan trek. 🙂 If you’re trekking in January, I hope you know that it’s going to be very cold, and the temperatures dip to around -7 and -8 degrees on all treks. There will be a lot of snow as well. Even easy treks become fairly tough because of these conditions. Out of all the treks, the easiest and a very picturesque one would be the Dayara Bugyal trek.
You can take a look at the trek details here – https://indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/ (I’m not sure if these dates would suit you)
Another really beautiful trek is the Kedarkantha trek. You’ll find the dates and details here – https://indiahikes.com/kedarkantha-trek/#available-dates-calendar
Hii how can we reach dehradun to sankri can you pick up from dehradun an take us to sankri
Hi Ayush, if you are trekking with us, we will organise transport from Dehradun to Sankri. You will have to meet the team at Dehradun. If you are trekking on your own, you will find how to reach Sankri here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa-NAFlpCJo
I want to do kedarkantha trek in winter but I don’t want the trail to be blocked. Please suggest the time when it will not be peak winter.
Hi Dhaman, the last week of December would be ideal for that! The trail will surely not be blocked! 🙂
Hi. In your comments i read that a new batch has opened on 29th dec. Can you Please let me know of there is a slot available for that date.
Hi Kanika, that’s a prime date and we ran out of slots almost immediately! Would the dates around that suit you? We have dates on 25th, 26th and 27th available for a couple of our winter treks. They’re as fantastic as Kedarkantha.
Dayara is something I’d highly recommend – https://indiahikes.com/dayara-bugyal-trek/
Deoriatal as well – https://indiahikes.com/deoriatal-chandrashila-trek/
Last time, Brahmatal trek, all guys and girls were put in separate tents. Now current scenario of Covid situation, can married couples stay in same tent? This is as safety measure. We are planning for Kedarkanta trek during Feb 2021
Hi Vani, yes, married couples can stay together in a tent. We have only two people in a tent during this pandemic.
Hey, I am not familiar with any Indian languages, so will there be people to talk only in English?
Of course! Our team Converses with Trekker in English and not in any regional language.
As per the n ew covid cancellation rule if i book my trek for february 2021 before 31st december 2021 and cancel anytime later…. it will stand for 0% cancellation chages even if it is last minute am i right?
Hi Sonal, that is correct. You can sign up for a trek any time in future, as long as you book it before Dec 31st, and our special COVID cancellation policy will apply — there will be no cancellation charges except a 4% transaction charge. You will get a full refund outside that.
if my bmi is 31 will i be not allowed for the trek?
Hi Sonal, for any trekker, we expect a certain level of fitness to be able to do the trek. You’ll have to present a fitness proof to our team, where you’re able to run 5 km in around 40 minutes. The trek’s difficulty demands this level of fitness. Despite your BMI, if you can present such a fitness proof, you’ll be allowed on the trek.
We are two friends pickup the cab 19th Dec. 20 library chock degrading.
Thanks &Regards
Sorry, mussourie
Cab costs approximately Rs.5,500 per vehicle.
This is included in the Trek Fee or this should be paid at the time of boarding the cab ??
It is not included in the trek fee. This cost is shared by trekkers, and they pay the driver directly. It comes up to Rs 1,100 per person one way.
I want to get the itinerary for Kedarkantha for the month of June.
Hi Heena, during June we only have family groups available on Kedarkantha trek. If you are going with your family then here’s the link – https://indiahikes.com/kedarkantha-trek/#short-itinerary. If you want to go on a solo trek during June, then I recommend you check the Bhrigu Lake trek – https://indiahikes.com/bhrigu-lake/
group size
Hi Alpesh, the maximum number of trekkers we take in a group is 18. There’s no minimum size. Even if there are just two trekkers, we’ll take them. But most of our groups run full, so expect to see 18 trekkers.
Hello swathi,
If I am alone can I trek for kedarkantha in january.
Hi Hemant, yes, you can absolutely join us solo. Many solo trekkers join our teams and have wonderful experiences. They end up meeting like-minded people on the trek and don’t feel like they have come alone on the trek any more.
Our pre-trek experience team ensures that you know your entire team well much before you actually head out on the trek. So don’t worry about it! 🙂
Hi, I’m interested in doing this trek as a family trek..I think the dates are in early may. but I’m about confused about the fitness requirements for kids. Do they too have to be able to run a 5k in 40 minutes? My sons are 9 and 11. Do let me know… they would love the trek especially since it may have some snow… (even in may?)
Hi Debbie, for children, we don’t expect them to run 5 km. But they should be able to cover slightly shorter distances of around 3.5 km or 4 km. That will really help prepare them for what the Kedarkantha trek demands. It is a summit trek after all and requires that amount of fitness. Having said that, May is a really nice time to trek with your family. The weather is on your side and children will love it. We have taken many kids, much younger (as young as 7) on this trek in the past. So you can go ahead and sign up! 🙂
Hello Guys,
I have done Kedarkantha trek 2 years ago wit IH. I want to do it again with my wife. I remember there being a policy that one can repeat a trek for free. Please share details regarding this. If yes, what’s the process?
Hi Siddharth, that is correct. You can repeat the trek, you won’t have to pay us for it. 🙂 Just write to [email protected] with your details — when you plan to trek, the date, and we’ll guide you through the process.
Hi,
Just wanted to confirm if we can leave a suitcase at the base camp (kedarkantha trek) with some of our stuff to pick up after the trek?
Hi Niharika, yes you can do that. We’ll keep it safe. Just don’t leave very valuable things like laptops / jewellery.
We are planning to come in mid March, will there be snow?
Hi Kahaan there will definitely be a lot of snow in mid-March. This snow stays all the way till the end of April! So you’ll surely see snow.
Hi Team,
I am planning for trek in December 1st week. can we see the snow that time ? i have wheezing issue, it will be problem for me to trek in winter ? could you please let me know which time would be best to trek for Kedarkantha. i wish to see the snow ( it is my first Himalayan trek).
Hi Anu, Yes you usually start seeing snow from mid-December. I would advice you to consult with your doctor once before registering. In our experience, it shouldn’t be a problem. You may check this link for some perspective on trekking with respiratory issues like asthma https://indiahikes.com/high-altitude-trekking-asthma/
Will Jain food be available for this trek?
Yes, we can make it available. Once you register for the trek, just tell your Experience Coordinator about it. 🙂
Hey Swati,
Could I know if there are chances of a kedarkantha batch opening on 17 December?
Hi Rutuja,
Yes we do have a team on the 17th December. You can visit this link and look for the date that suits you https://indiahikes.com/kedarkantha-trek/
Hie looking for dates in April
Hi Dhawan,
We do run the trek in the month of April. However, it’s a bit early to open registrations. You can check the website around the first week of February for the dates in April.
Do we have snow in 2nd week of December?
Hey Deep,
Kedarkantha is a trek which receives snow fall quite early compared to the other treks. Highly possible that there would be snow during the second week of December but this is something we cannot guarantee. *fingerscrossed*
Which period is best period to plan Kedarnath trek? Need snow also.
Hi Vikas,
Post December would be a good time to experience snow on this trek. However, December and January are usually busy months on this trail.
I have booked kedarkhandha trek on 1st Jan 2021. can I know the network coverage for Bsnl during the trek ?
Hi Arif, there is no network on the trail. At the base camp (only at Gaichwan Gaon), there’s Jio network, but not after the basecamp. Bsnl doesn’t work there.
Hi
Kindly inform whether IH would be running this trek in the month of May.
Regards
Sunil