This guide is about the Kareri Lake Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: The Kareri Lake trek is 26 km on foot over 3 days: 6 km from Kareri village to Reoti camp, 14 km to the lake and back, and 6 km down. One way, the lake is about 13 km from Kareri village and 38 km from Dharamshala, 25 km of it by road. It sits at 2,930 m (9,613 ft).
This guide is for trekkers working out how far they will walk to Kareri Lake and how high they will climb. All distances, heights and times below come from our Kareri Lake itinerary, which starts and ends at Kareri village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
How many km is the Kareri Lake trek, day by day?
Our itinerary splits the 26 km into three walking days, with two nights at Reoti (also called Liyoti) and the lake as a day walk from camp.
| Day | Stretch | Distance | Walking time | Height change | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dharamshala ISBT to Kareri village by road, then Kareri village to Reoti on foot | 25 km drive, 6 km walk | 1.5–2 hrs drive, 4–5 hrs walk | 1,800 m to 2,450 m (about 650 m up) | Tent at Reoti |
| Day 2 | Reoti to Kareri Lake and back to Reoti | 14 km | 7–8 hrs | 2,450 m to 2,930 m (about 480 m up, then the same down) | Tent at Reoti |
| Day 3 | Reoti to Kareri village on foot, then the drive to Dharamshala | 6 km walk, 25 km drive | 3–4 hrs walk, 1.5–2 hrs drive | 2,450 m to 1,800 m | Home or Dharamshala (not included) |
That is 6 + 14 + 6 = 26 km. Day 2 is the longest and the hardest day, because it climbs to the lake and comes all the way back to camp by late afternoon.
How far is Kareri Lake from Kareri village and from Dharamshala?
| From | To | Distance | How it is covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dharamshala ISBT | Kareri village | 25 km | Road, 1.5–2 hrs |
| Kareri village | Reoti | 6 km | Trail, 4–5 hrs |
| Reoti | Kareri Lake | About 7 km (half of the 14 km round trip) | Trail |
| Kareri village | Kareri Lake | About 13 km one way | Trail |
| Dharamshala ISBT | Kareri Lake | About 38 km one way | 25 km road + about 13 km trail |
| Delhi (ISBT Kashmere Gate or Majnu ka Tilla) | Dharamshala | About 500 km | Overnight bus, 12–13 hrs |
The 13 km and 38 km figures are our own sums of the itinerary distances. You will see other numbers online because writers start from different villages. The Kangra district administration's Kareri Lake page, for example, describes a start from Ghera village and puts Ghera 20 km from the lake. Our route uses the road to Kareri village and starts walking from there.
What is the height of Kareri Lake?
Our trek page gives Kareri Lake as 2,930 m, which is 9,613 ft. The Kangra district page gives the lake surface as 2,934 m, so you will see both figures. Either way, it is the highest point of the trek.
| Point | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Climb from the previous point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kareri village (trailhead) | 1,800 | 5,905 | – |
| Reoti campsite | 2,450 | 8,038 | About 650 m |
| Kareri Lake | 2,930 | 9,613 | About 480 m |
From the trailhead to the shore you climb about 1,130 m in total, and you come down the same 1,130 m on Days 2 and 3.
What is the trail like on each stretch?
Kareri village to Reoti (6 km)
The trail climbs through pine, oak and rhododendron forest beside the Nyund stream, with rough stone steps on the steep sections and small bridges over side streams. You pass springs and a waterfall partway up. About 4–5 hours in, a metal bridge takes you across the stream, and the Reoti campsite is about 10 minutes beyond it.
Reoti to Kareri Lake and back (14 km)
The first half is a gradual climb along the stream. Around the halfway mark the trail moves onto granite slabs and boulder steps, and you pass Gaddi shepherd huts on the upper half. The granite slabs are slippery when wet or icy; when there is snow or ice in April or late November, we hand out microspikes and gaiters. Lunch is at the lake. A small Shiva-Shakti temple stands on a rise above the shore. The lake is a shallow, clear pool of snowmelt fed from Minkiani peak; the Kangra district page also says it is fed by snowmelt from the Dhauladhar range and drains out as the Nyund stream. The group is back at Reoti by late afternoon.
Reoti to Kareri village (6 km)
Day 3 retraces the Day 1 trail, all downhill from 2,450 m to 1,800 m, over the same rough stone steps. Trekking poles help here, and our Free Trekking Gear kit includes them.
A note on Minkiani Pass: it is about 4,250 m and is reached by a trail past the lake towards the Chamba side. It is not part of our three-day trek, so it adds nothing to the 26 km.
How long does the Kareri Lake trek take?
Pickup is at Dharamshala ISBT (the main bus stand) at 10:00 AM on Day 1, and the cab is expected back at the ISBT between 5:30 and 6:30 PM on Day 3. The walking time adds up to 14–17 hours across the three days: 4–5 hours, 7–8 hours and 3–4 hours.
Many searches ask whether the lake can be done in one day. From Kareri village it is about 13 km each way, which makes 26 km with about 1,130 m of climbing and the same coming down, in a single day. Our itinerary splits it so that the longest day is 14 km, with a night at Reoti before and after.
When can you trek to Kareri Lake?
Our trek page gives the season as April to June and September to November. We do not run the trek in July and August (monsoon) or from December to March, when the lake is frozen and the upper trail is under snow; the Kangra district page also says the lake stays frozen from early December to March or April. In April, ice can still lie along the shore, and snow is possible in April and late November.
Batches listed on the trek page right now:
- October 2026: 24–26 October and 31 October–2 November
- November 2026: starting 7, 14, 21 and 28 November
- April 2027: starting 3, 10, 17 and 24 April
- May 2027: starting 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 May
- June 2027: starting 5, 12, 19 and 26 June
- September 2027: starting 4, 11, 18 and 25 September
Booking for any batch closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before it starts. Each batch takes a maximum of 20 trekkers, with one leader or guide for each 8.
What does the Kareri Lake trek cost?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Trek fee (Kareri village to Kareri village) | ₹5,300 + 5% GST = ₹5,565 |
| EMI | The trek page shows EMI from ₹273 a month |
| Free Trekking Gear (Decathlon trekking shoes, −10°C jacket, trekking poles, gaiters, microspikes) | ₹3,000 refundable deposit + ₹200 washing charge (+ GST) |
| Backpack offloading (optional, max 9 kg, no suitcases or duffel bags) | ₹1,000 + GST for the trek |
| Single tent (optional) | ₹2,000 + GST per tent for the trek |
| Cab Dharamshala–Kareri village and back | Not included; fare confirmed by your trek coordinator |
Transport is not included in the trek fee: we help the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver and split among trekkers. The fee covers two nights in 3-person tents at Reoti (men and women in separate tents), sleeping bags rated to −20°C and mats, vegetarian meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 lunch, permits and camping fees, and a trek leader, local guide, cook and support staff.
If your plans change: 30 or more days before departure you get a 70% refund; at 15–29 days, 50%; at 8–14 days, no cash refund. At any point up to 8 days before departure you can take a 100% TrekCash voucher (valid one year), one free reschedule or a transfer to another trekker instead of the cash refund. At 7 days or less, or a no-show, there is no refund.
What should you know and carry before you walk?
- Dharamshala is the last ATM. Carry cash in small notes, because cards are not accepted on the trail.
- Jio, Airtel and BSNL work in Dharamshala. BSNL is sparse on the trail, and there is little or no signal at Reoti or at the lake.
- Carry two 1-litre bottles and refill from springs on the trail, and a headlamp for the evenings at camp.
- Bring an original government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence or voter ID), a medical certificate signed by a doctor and the signed disclaimer form. Trekkers over 60 also need a doctor's fitness certificate, and an ECG or TMT report is recommended.
- Travel insurance is mandatory and not included. It must cover high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation.
- The minimum age is 9, for children who already walk regularly, and anyone under 18 comes with a parent or guardian. Your trek leader checks SpO2 and pulse each day.
See Kareri Lake dates and book | Treks in November | Rent or buy trekking gear? | Preparing for your first Himalayan trek
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kareri Lake trek difficult for a beginner?
It is graded easy to moderate, and a reasonably fit beginner can do it. The test is Day 2, which climbs about 480 m to the lake and returns to camp in 7–8 hours. Four to six weeks of training before the trek is recommended.
How do I reach Dharamshala from Delhi for the Kareri Lake trek?
Overnight buses run from Delhi's ISBT Kashmere Gate and Majnu ka Tilla, about 500 km and 12–13 hours; our trek page recommends HRTC (Himachal government) buses. From Chandigarh the bus takes about 7 hours.
Can I trek to Kareri Lake in December or January?
No. Our last batch of 2026 starts on 28 November and the 2027 season opens on 3 April; in between, the lake freezes and snow covers the upper trail, so we run no batches.
Is the Kareri Lake trek suitable for solo trekkers?
Yes. Our trek page lists it for solo trekkers and working groups looking for a short Himalayan trek. You share a 3-person tent with trekkers of the same gender, or you can book a single tent for ₹2,000 + GST.
What is the nearest airport and railway station for Kareri Lake?
Kangra Airport at Gaggal is about 13 km, or 30–40 minutes, from Dharamshala. Pathankot is the nearest practical railway station, about 85–90 km and roughly 3 hours by road from Dharamshala.
