Auden's Col Trek
Uttarkashi, Tehri Garhwal and Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
5,490 mhighest point- Max altitude
- 5,490 m
- Days
- 15 days
- Distance
- 85 km
- Difficulty
- Challenging
A technical glacier pass, not a hiking trail: the 5,490 m col is climbed on steep snow and ice, the descent onto the heavily crevassed Khatling Glacier needs ropes, harnesses and crampons, and the route stays above 4,000 m for days with a second pass (Mayali, about 5,000 m) before Kedarnath. Operators ask for prior high-altitude trekking experience.
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Gangotri
430 m → 3,415 m
Day 2
Gangotri → Gangotri (acclimatisation day)
3,415 m → 3,415 m
Day 3
Gangotri → Nala Camp
3,415 m → 3,760 m
Day 4
Nala Camp → Rudugaira Base Camp
3,760 m → 4,350 m
Day 5
Rudugaira Base Camp → Rudugaira Base Camp (acclimatisation day)
4,350 m → 4,350 m
Day 6
Rudugaira Base Camp → Auden's Col Base Camp (via Gangotri Base Camp)
4,350 m → 4,720 m
Day 7 · highest point
Auden's Col Base Camp → Khatling Glacier Camp (via Auden's Col)
4,720 m → 5,490 m → 5,000 m
Day 8
Khatling Glacier Camp → Zero Point
5,000 m → 3,870 m
Day 9
Zero Point → Zero Point (rest day)
3,870 m → 3,870 m
Day 10
Zero Point → Chowki
3,870 m → 3,580 m
Day 11
Chowki → Masar Tal
3,580 m → 3,675 m
Day 12
Masar Tal → Vasuki Tal (via Mayali Pass)
3,675 m → 5,000 m → 4,135 m
Day 13
Vasuki Tal → Kedarnath
4,135 m → 3,590 m
Day 14
Kedarnath → Gaurikund
3,590 m → 1,985 m
Day 15
Gaurikund → Dehradun
1,985 m → 430 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Gangotri
at 3,415 mLoading forecast…
High point · Auden's Col
at 5,490 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Gangotri
- Nearest railway
- Dehradun (Rishikesh and Haridwar also work)
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun to Gangotri (about 240 km via Uttarkashi and Harsil) at the start; Gaurikund to Dehradun or Rishikesh (about 250 km via Rudraprayag) at the end
- Drive
- About 9 h from Dehradun
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹60,000–1,00,000
With an operator
₹90,000–1,35,000
Per person, ex-Dehradun (Gangotri start, Gaurikund finish). Guided prices published October 2026: Himalayan Dream Treks ₹90,000 + 5% GST for Indians (₹1,50,000 for foreigners), excluding Dehradun-Gangotri and Gaurikund-Dehradun transport; Great Adventure ₹93,499 for 14 days with Rishikesh pickup; Bikat Adventures ₹1,25,000 + 5% GST for 2027 batches, with shared Sumo or Tempo transport paid extra. Raacho Trekkers runs a longer three-pass variant (via Kedartal and Patangini Dhar) from ₹55,000. Self-guided is an estimate for a small group hiring a qualified local guide with rope and glacier gear, a cook and porters for about 12 trekking days, plus tents, food, park fees and the two long drives; crossing without an experienced guide is not advisable.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 35
Nights near 5,490 m can drop close to freezing even in summer. Pack one more warm layer than you think.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Mobile network ends after Gangotri; there is no signal on the trek until Kedarnath. Operators carry satellite phones.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi (cash can run short; withdraw in Dehradun)
- Nearest hospital
- District hospital in Uttarkashi on the Gangotri side; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases. From the glacier the only way out is a carry-down by porters or a helicopter evacuation.
- Water
- Glacial streams and snowmelt at every camp, and lakes at Masar Tal and Vasuki Tal; filter or treat all water.
Highlights
- Crossing Auden's Col (5,490 m), the pass between the Gangotri and Jogin massifs that J.B. Auden of the Geological Survey of India found in 1935
- Walking down the length of the Khatling Glacier into the remote upper Bhilangna valley
- A true traverse from Gangotri, source of the Bhagirathi, to Kedarnath, crossing a second pass at Mayali
- Camps at the high lakes of Masar Tal and the Vasuki Tal above Kedarnath (a different lake from the Vasuki Tal near Gangotri) before descending to the Kedarnath temple
Risks
- Hidden crevasses on the col and the Khatling Glacier: rope up behind a guide; operators say the descent is trickier than the climb.
- The pass day is 10-12 hours on snow and ice at 5,000-5,490 m; weather turns fast and a reserve day is essential. In October 2022 an avalanche on nearby Draupadi ka Danda II, in the same Gangotri region, killed trainee mountaineers.
- Long stretch with no network and no road access between Gangotri and Kedarnath; evacuation from the glacier is slow.
- Monsoon (July-August) brings rain, low cloud and swollen streams on the Bhilangna side; most operators avoid it.
- Rapid gain to over 4,700 m; acclimatisation days at Gangotri and Rudugaira are needed.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Auden's Col trek?
It is one of the hardest trekking passes in Garhwal. The 5,490 m col involves steep snow and ice, and the Khatling Glacier below it is crevassed, so ropes, crampons and a guide are needed. Operators rate it difficult (Bikat: BRS 6) and want prior high-altitude trekking experience.
Do I need mountaineering training for Auden's Col?
Formal mountaineering training is not demanded by operators, but they strongly recommend previous difficult high-altitude treks and experience on snow. You must be comfortable walking roped on a glacier in crampons.
When is the best time for Auden's Col?
Late May to June and September to mid-October. Gangotri National Park is closed from 30 November to 31 March, monsoon rain makes July and August risky, and snow usually arrives from mid-October.
How many days does the Gangotri to Kedarnath trek via Auden's Col take?
Operators run 14 to 16 days from Dehradun or Rishikesh, including two acclimatisation days, a rest day after the glacier and often a reserve day. The walking distance is about 75-95 km, ending at Kedarnath and Gaurikund.
Is there mobile network or an ATM on the route?
No. Network ends after Gangotri and only returns at Kedarnath. The last ATM is at Uttarkashi, so carry cash from Dehradun.
Do I need a permit for Auden's Col?
Yes. The trek starts in Gangotri National Park, which needs an entry permit from the park office (Uttarkashi or Gangotri forest office or the online portal). Guided groups include permits in the price. We could not find a current official fee for this route, so check with the Gangotri National Park office before you go.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: Uttarkashi, Tehri Garhwal and RudraprayagUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- District hospital in Uttarkashi on the Gangotri side; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases. From the glacier the only way out is a carry-down by porters or a helicopter evacuation.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi (cash can run short; withdraw in Dehradun)
- Phone network
- Mobile network ends after Gangotri; there is no signal on the trek until Kedarnath. Operators carry satellite phones.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Auden's Col
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Auden's Col Expedition — Bikat Adventures
- Auden's Col Trek with Mayali Pass — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Auden's Col Expedition (5,490 M) — Great Adventure
- Auden's Col & Mayali Pass Trek (Across Khatling Glacier) — Raacho Trekkers
- Auden's Col — Wikipedia
- Gangotri National Park Reopens For Trek: Date, Permits, And What Travellers Need To Know — Outlook Traveller
- Gangotri National Park and Gartang Valley Close for Winter After Record-Breaking Season — Modern Campground
Photos: Arpit Rawat, CC0
