Best Adventure and Tour Company

Trip Overview

Start –  Dehradun

Finish – Dehradun 

Destination – Kedar tal, a glacial lake 17 kms north of Gangotri

Theme – Trekking

Duration –5 nights 6 days.

Category – #trekking  #adventure #camping 

Style – #original  #diy #fixeddeparture

Trip Summary

“Mountains are not Stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.”

Anatoli Boukreev

Kedartal (also known as Shiva’s lake) is an emerald green colored glacial lake situated at an altitude of 4,750 meters (15,580 ft) in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas in India. The lake is fed by the snowfall over Thalay Sagar (6,904 m), Meru (6,672 m), Bhrigpanth (6,772 m) and other surrounding peaks, and is the source of Kedar Ganga, which in Hindu mythology is considered to be Shiva‘s contribution to Bhagirathi(a source-stream of the Gages).

Kedartal, at a distance of 17 km from Gangotri, is one of the toughest and exclusive trekking destinations. Starting from Gangotri the route involves a steep rocky climb along the narrow Kedar Ganga gorge en route to Bhoj Kharak, 8 km away. From there it is 4 km to the next available camping site of Kedar Kharak, and a further 5 km to Kedartal. The route passes through scenic Himalayan birch forests, but is made hazardous in places by falling rocks, high altitude and segments of steep ascent.

Legends say that the bark of birch trees were used in writing puranas and vedas in Hindu mythology.

During the trek, one can encounter blue sheeps, snow leopard and other carnivores making it one of the most difficult treks in the wilderness.

Why you will love this trip?

  • One of the  toughest and exclusive treks only meant for trained trekkers. 
  • Transportation, accommodation and meals  included.
  • Experienced local guides making your way to the lake covering the most dangerous parts of the trek.
  • A lot of wildlife to be encountered during the trek.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip is mostly suitable for experienced trekkers who have an experience of trekking to atleast 13k -14k feet.
  • The trip involves steep ascents of trekking. It is recommended to prepare for strength and endurance  at least one month before a trek.
  • Try to pack accordingly and try to make your luggage as light as you can. There will be porters, but it is recommended that you carry your own backpack.
  • Keep the clothes considering the weather.
  • Before taking any adventure activity, please mention if you are pregnant, have heart related disease.

Itinerary

Reach Dehradun early morning by taking overnight volvo/train from New Delhi. We start our day 1 from Dehradun after having morning tea at a cab stand. Enroute Gangotri, we stop at various locations to have breakfast and lunch. By evening, we reach Gangotri after crossing the beautiful apple village Harsil and also Bhaironghati, famous for its gorges. 

We attend the evening Ganga aarti at Gangotri temple. We do the  final checking of our backpacks and other important equipment required for the trek.

After dinner, stay at the hotel.

After having early breakfast, we leave Gangotri for Bhojkharak. The trail passes through Bhoj (Birch) trees. In ancient India, the bark of birch trees was used in writing many sacred texts.

We set up our camp after crossing spider wall. After setting up kitchen tent, we prepare tea, soup and other snacks and dinner for the day. Meanwhile, we take a walk nearby camp and take photographs of snow laden peaks. After dinner, stay at the camp.

Although easy for 1st km, the trek to Kedar Kharak is mixed with rough trails, steep portions, sighting of blue sheep, etc. Kedar Kharak is our 2nd base camp site on the meadow. The meadow offers mesmerizing sights of Garhwal Himalayan peaks such as Bhrigupanth, Thalay Sagar, etc.

After dinner, stay at the camp.

The trail to Kedar taal is through rocky mountains with cairns assisting in finding the right trail to the lake. The trail is 5 km and generally takes 2-2.5 hours to reach the trail. The view of Kedar tal surely negates all the aches and pains of the body. After dinner, stay at the camp.

After breakfast, we leave Kedar tal and start our descent to Gangotri. Packed lunch on the way to Gangotri. We reach Gangotri by evening. Night stay in Gangotri.

After breakfast, we leave for Dehradun. We reach Dehradun by evening. Take evening / night volvo/train to New Delhi.

Inclusions

Meals

Breakfast - 5 Breakfast (2 in Gangotri and 3 while at the trek)
Dinner - 5 Dinner (2 in Gangotri and 3 while at the trek)
Lunch - 4 Lunch (on the trek)
Bonfire during the trek

Transport - Dehradun - Gangotri - Dehradun

Sedan cab - 2 to 3 people
Suv cab - 4-5 people
Tempo traveler - 8 people

Accomodation

2 nights in hotel in Gangotri
3 nights in alpine style camp during the camp.

Activities

Trekking to Kedar tal

GST

Add on activities (Chargeable)

1. Single sharing camp while on the trek.
2. Jeep safari to Nelong valley.

Exclusions

  1. Meals not mentioned in inclusions.
  2. Transport that is not mentioned in inclusions.
  3. Any porter charges.
  4. Any entry fees to wildlife/ trek  region.
  5. Any expense of personal nature packaged drinking water/ phone calls/ laundry/camera, etc.
  6. Any kind of travel insurance.
  7. Costs arising due to force majeure.
  8. Anything which is not mentioned in the inclusions.

Essential Trip Information

Things to do in this trip? What weather you can expect during the trip? What are the best months to visit? What to pack and what not to?

Things to do during this trip – 

  1. Trek to Kedar tal.
  2. Visit to Gangotri temple
  3. Visit the Bhaironghati gorges.
  4. Taking a dip into river Bhagirathi.
  5. Visiting apple orchards in Harsil village.

Best time to go –

  • Mid of May to June 1st week, Mid of September to 1st week of October – This is a very short window to carry on the trek. The trails are free of snow . The flora is blooming.Clear campsites to pitch the tents.
  • Rest all months –  not advisable to trek as it is difficult to trek on snow at higher heights. Trails are not clear due to snow.

Weather –

  • May, June, September and October – mornings and evenings are cool, day temperature are pleasant, nights are very cold
  • November to April  – Full of snow
  • July and August – Heavy rainfall, local landslides, not advisable to trek.

How to reach Gangotri –

  • By road – Dehradun to Gangotri is around 290 km. Self driving vehicles, cabs, Public transport  take 9 hours to reach the Gangotri. The road is a national highway. Some stretches of this section are busy due to char dham yatra.

Other places nearby which can be done in one day  –

  • Gangotri temple – Temple can be reached by foot. Morning and evening arti’s are spectacular.
  • Harsil – An Apple orchard village. Also famous for shooting of bollywood films.
  • Dharali – 7 lakes trek can be done in a day.

Packing

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the places you are visiting and when you are traveling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travelers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip without having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.

You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, swimming suit, hiking shoes and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:

INDICAFILA ULTIMATE PACKING LIST

Due to the diversity and breadth of our trips, our ultimate packing list should be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list to suit every trip.

What you bring will vary according to the trip style you’ve chosen, the places you’re visiting and the time of year and the weather when you’re traveling. Please check the Essential Trip Information of your chosen trip, which will detail any specific requirements for your trip and is tailored to suit your needs. It will also cover the type and size of luggage that can be taken, as for some trips there may be certain weight (ie. for trips with included flights) or size (ie. for trips using safari vehicles) restrictions for your luggage. Some packing guides for some of our most popular destinations are also listed at the bottom of this page.

If you have any questions about what to pack, please get in touch with our customer service team.

Travel documents

  • Passport/ country specific id card
  • Visas if required
  • Travel insurance policy if taken
  • 24 hr emergency travel insurance contact and policy number
  • Flight/ train/bus  e-tickets 
  • Your travel itinerary
  • Photocopies of important documents
  • A print out of your trip’s Essential Trip Information
  • Spare passport photos
  • Youth/student/seniors cards for travel discounts
  • International driving licence if needed
  • Diving licence if needed
  • Cash/credit cards
  • 2500 INR contingency fund in cash
  • Money belt or pouch

Luggage

On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage. Most travellers use a small, wheeled suitcase although the type of luggage most suitable will vary depending on your trip and destination. Please refer to the packing section of your Essential Trip Information for any specific luggage requirements. You will also need a daypack/bag to use during the day.

  • Main luggage
  • Daypack
  • Padlocks & keys

Personal items

  • First aid kit
  • Personal medication/prescriptions
  • Glasses & sunglasses
  • Contact lenses and solution
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Insect repellent
  • Antihistamine/insect bite cream
  • Antibacterial gel/wipes
  • Motion sickness tablets
  • Travel vaccination certificates
  • Aspirin and/or paracetamol
  • Rehydration powder
  • Anti-diarrhoea pills
  • Toiletries
  • sanitary pads
  • Travel hair dryer
  • Shaving equipment
  • Small travel towel
  • Small sewing kit and safety pins
  • Consult your doctor for detailed advice on any medications

Travel accessories

  • Electrical adapter 
  • Camera and equipment
  • Spare batteries/charger
  • Phone
  • Portable games/playing cards
  • Something to read
  • Water bottle
  • Pen/paper/diary
  • Travel pillow
  • Cloth/reusable shopping bags
  • Torch/flashlight
  • Water purification method
  • Photos or postcards of your home country/family/pets to share with locals
  • Binoculars
  • DVT socks

Clothing

Please check your Essential Trip Information for details on appropriate clothing for your itinerary and destination. On some trips access to laundries may be limited so you may need to plan to hand wash your own clothes while on trip. For longer trips we recommend you choose clothing that is easy to wash and fast drying.

  • Sun hat
  • Windproof jacket
  • Long-/short-sleeved shirts
  • Jeans/trousers/shorts/skirts
  • Socks/underwear
  • Flip-flops
  • Sleepwear

Cold weather

  • Thermal underwear or base layers
  • Warm hat
  • Gloves
  • Hand warmers  
  • Waterproof boots
  • Warm socks
  • Scarf

Swimming

  • Swimwear
  • Beach towel
  • Reef shoes
  • Reef-safe sunscreen

Wet weather

  • Raincoat/waterproof jacket
  • Umbrella
  • Waterproof bags for rain protection
  • Waterproof trousers

Walking or hiking

  • Walking/trekking shoes
  • Trekking/leech socks
  • Hiking poles/walking sticks

Camping

  • Inner sleep sheet
  • Travel pillow
  • Camping mattress
  • Sleeping bag
  • Head torch/lamp