This guide is about the Kedarkantha Trek — dates, price, day-by-day itinerary and booking are on the trek page.
Quick answer: To choose a company for the Kedarkantha trek, compare these points: what the fee covers, whether shoes and a jacket are included, how many times a day SpO2 is checked, the emergency kit, the trekker-to-leader ratio, cancellation terms, EMI and a luggage store in Sankri. A Trekkaro batch includes Free Trekking Gear and an oxygen cylinder and stretcher with the group.
What should you check before you book the Kedarkantha trek?
The Kedarkantha Trek is 5 days from Sankri, with a summit at 3,810 m (12,500 ft) and snow on the whole trail from December. Every company's batch climbs the same mountain, so the difference lies in what comes with the batch. Put these questions to any company you are considering, and read the answers on its trek page rather than in an advert.
| What to check | Why it matters | With Trekkaro |
|---|---|---|
| Does the fee include trekking shoes, a jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes? | Without them you rent or buy a kit before the drive to Sankri, and from December snow covers the trail from the forest above Sankri to the summit. | Free Trekking Gear: Decathlon trekking shoes, a jacket rated to -10°C, poles, gaiters and microspikes. No rental fee, a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge. Buying the kit costs about ₹13,395. |
| How many times a day is SpO2 checked? | Without regular readings, early altitude sickness can go unnoticed before summit day. | SpO2, pulse and blood pressure twice a day at every campsite. |
| What emergency kit travels with the batch? | Without oxygen and a stretcher on the trail, a sick trekker waits for help from the road head. | One portable oxygen cylinder, one stretcher, a complete first-aid kit and HF radios with every batch. |
| How many trekkers per trek leader or guide? | With too few leaders, a slow or unwell trekker on summit day gets less attention. | Up to 20 trekkers per batch, with one trek leader or guide for every 8. |
| What does the fee include? | Without a clear list, permits, meals or the Sankri stay become extra charges. | ₹9,000 per person plus 5% GST (₹9,450 with GST), covering the items in the next section. |
| What happens if you cancel? | Without clear terms you can lose the whole fee if plans change. | 70% back at 30 or more days, 50% at 15 to 29 days, or a 100% TrekCash voucher, reschedule or transfer up to 8 days before. |
| Can you pay in parts? | Without EMI, the full fee is due at booking. | EMI starts at ₹463 a month. |
| Is the Sankri guesthouse night in the fee? | Without it you book and pay for Day 1 yourself after an 8 to 9 hour drive. | Yes, a guesthouse in Sankri on Day 1, triple sharing. |
| Where do your extra bags stay? | Without a store you carry your travel bag up the mountain or pay to keep it. | A free store in Sankri, kept at your own risk. |
The sections below go through the points where Kedarkantha batches differ most.
What does the Kedarkantha fee cover, and what is extra?
A fee is only comparable once you know what sits inside it. Here is what Trekkaro's Kedarkantha fee includes and what you pay separately.
| Included in the fee | Paid separately |
|---|---|
| Day 1 guesthouse in Sankri, triple sharing | The shared cab from Dehradun to Sankri and back |
| Tents at the campsites on Days 2 to 4, shared by three, men and women in separate tents | Travel to and from Dehradun, and any hotel there |
| -20°C sleeping bags and sleeping pads | Meals on the drive between Dehradun and Sankri |
| Pure vegetarian meals from Day 1 dinner to Day 5 breakfast | Travel insurance, which is mandatory |
| Govind Pashu Vihar National Park permits and forest checkpost fees | Optional backpack offloading and a single tent |
| Trek leader and guide, kitchen staff, camp helpers, and mules or porters for group equipment | Tips, calls and extra snacks |
| Free Trekking Gear and a completion certificate | The gear deposit (refundable) and washing charge |
The cab is the biggest extra. Sankri is about 200 km from Dehradun, 8 to 9 hours by road each way. We help the group book shared cabs at ₹1,000 per person each way, paid directly to the driver. With the fee and the return cab, Kedarkantha comes to ₹11,450 per person, before the refundable deposit and the washing charge. Our Kedarkantha cost guide breaks the budget down further. Live batch dates and fees are on the Kedarkantha Trek page.
How is safety handled on summit day?
Summit day is the test of any Kedarkantha batch. It is the longest day of the trek, about 9 km in 8 to 9 hours: up from base camp at 3,429 m to the 3,810 m summit, then down to the Juda Ka Talab camp at 2,773 m. The climb to the top is the hardest stretch of the trek, so the readings taken at base camp the evening before matter.
On a Trekkaro batch, SpO2, pulse and blood pressure are checked twice a day at every campsite, base camp included. No doctor joins the trek. Trekkaro's trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid, carry a complete first-aid kit and lead with local guides who know the route. One portable oxygen cylinder and one stretcher travel with every batch, and the team talks on HF radios, because there is no mobile signal on the trail after Sankri.
Ropes are not needed on Kedarkantha. The grip on the snow comes from microspikes and gaiters, which are part of the Free Trekking Gear. Keep your cap on at the summit, even for photos. For the full safety picture, see our guide to whether Kedarkantha is safe.
How big is a Kedarkantha batch?
Ask every company how big the batch is and how many leaders walk with it. On Trekkaro's Kedarkantha trek a batch takes up to 20 trekkers, with one trek leader or guide for every 8.
In camp, tents are shared by three, and men and women sleep in separate tents. The mess tent gives hot water at every camp, so bring reusable bottles, one of them insulated, and leave plastic bottles at home.
What happens if you cancel or cannot go?
Read the cancellation table before you pay. These are Trekkaro's terms for Kedarkantha.
| When you cancel | Cash refund | Instead of cash |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days or more before departure | 70% | A 100% TrekCash voucher valid 1 year, one free reschedule or a transfer |
| 15 to 29 days before | 50% | The same voucher, reschedule or transfer |
| 8 to 14 days before | None | The same voucher, reschedule or transfer |
| 7 days or less, or a no-show | None | Nothing |
Cash refunds are processed within 10 working days of approval, to the original payment method. If you cancel before the trek starts, the gear deposit and the washing charge are refunded in full.
What paperwork does a Kedarkantha company ask for?
Expect to be asked for these papers. On Trekkaro's batch, every trekker brings a medical certificate signed by a doctor (the form is in My Bookings). Travel insurance is mandatory and not included, and it must cover high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation. The minimum age is 8, and trekkers under 18 come with a parent or guardian.
Online booking for a batch closes at 5 PM (India time) the day before it starts. Trekkaro runs Kedarkantha from September to April; see the trek page for live batch dates. Before you travel, check the Uttarkashi district forecast on the India Meteorological Department's Dehradun centre. The full kit list is on our Free Trekking Gear page.
See Kedarkantha Trek dates and book | How to reach Sankri | Kedarkantha packing list
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for when choosing a company for the Kedarkantha trek?
Start with whether the fee includes the Sankri guesthouse night, Govind Pashu Vihar permits and Free Trekking Gear. Then check SpO2 checks at every campsite, an oxygen cylinder and stretcher, a 1:8 ratio, refunds, EMI and a luggage store in Sankri.
Is transport from Dehradun included in the Kedarkantha trek fee?
No. The Dehradun to Sankri drive, about 200 km and 8 to 9 hours, is not in the fee. Trekkaro helps the group book shared cabs, paid directly to the driver.
Do I need to buy shoes and a jacket for Kedarkantha?
No. Kedarkantha includes Trekkaro's Free Trekking Gear: Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, poles, gaiters and microspikes. You pay a refundable deposit and a washing charge, not a rental fee.
Does a doctor go on the Kedarkantha trek?
No doctor joins the trek. Trekkaro's trek leaders are trained in wilderness first aid, check SpO2 twice a day at every campsite and carry an oxygen cylinder and a stretcher with the batch.
Can I leave extra luggage in Sankri?
Yes. Bags you do not need on the trail stay free of charge in Trekkaro's store in Sankri. They are kept at your own risk, so keep valuables with you.
