Jogin Base Camp Trek
Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
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- Max altitude
- 4,900 m
- Days
- 6 days
- Distance
- 41 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
A fast climb from about 3,050 m at Gangotri to Kedartal (about 4,750 m) and on to the Jogin advance base camp at about 4,900 m, with the exposed 'spider wall' section before Bhoj Kharak, rockfall gullies on the way to Kedar Kharak, a loose moraine ridge below Kedartal and a long 18-20 km descent. The Kedar Bamak glacier beside the camp has hidden crevasses. Indiahikes rates it difficult and says it is mostly done by expedition teams.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Gangotri
640 m → 3,048 m
Day 2
Gangotri → Bhoj Kharak
3,048 m → 3,780 m
Day 3
Bhoj Kharak → Kedar Kharak
3,780 m → 4,280 m
Day 4 · highest point
Kedar Kharak → Kedartal (via Jogin Advance Base Camp)
4,280 m → 4,900 m → 4,750 m
Day 5
Kedartal → Gangotri
4,750 m → 3,048 m
Day 6
Gangotri → Dehradun
3,048 m → 640 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 3,048 mLoading forecast…
High point · Jogin Advance Base Camp (Kedar Bamak moraine, about 3 km beyond Kedartal)
at 4,900 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
- Nearest airport
- Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
- By road
- Dehradun (about 240-260 km via Uttarkashi and Harsil); Rishikesh (about 234-270 km via Uttarkashi; early-morning buses and shared taxis)
- 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
₹12,000–20,000
With an operator
₹18,300–27,000
Per person, ex-Dehradun. Only one operator publishes a package that includes the Jogin advance base camp: Thrillophilia's 6-day Kedartal trek, which visits Jogin ABC on Day 4, listed at ₹18,300 (marked down from ₹22,125) when checked in October 2026. Plain Kedartal packages on the same trail cost ₹18,000 + 5% GST (Bikat Adventures, ex-Gangotri) to ₹25,000 (Himalayan Dream Treks, ex-Dehradun); expect to ask for, and pay for, the extra ABC day. Self-guided is an estimate: shared jeep or bus Dehradun-Gangotri and back, two guesthouse nights in Gangotri, the Gangotri National Park permit, and a local guide and porter for four days with tent, stove and food.
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 4,900 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
- BSNL and Airtel work in Gangotri; there is no mobile signal beyond Gangotri.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi, about 100 km before Gangotri; carry cash from Dehradun.
- Nearest hospital
- Uttarkashi district hospital for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- Streams near Bhoj Kharak and at Kedar Kharak meadow, then Kedartal lake and glacier melt near the advance base camp. Indiahikes notes that after the stream below Kedar Kharak the next reliable water is at Kedar Kharak itself. There are no shops after Gangotri; boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- The emerald glacial lake of Kedartal under the pyramid of Thalay Sagar, passed on the way to the advance base camp
- A 180-degree view from the Jogin advance base camp: the Manda peaks, Bhrigupanth, Thalay Sagar and its ridge running to the Jogin group
- The Kedar Bamak glacier filling the basin between the camp and the peaks, with its ice walls used by expeditions for training
- Bharal (blue sheep) herds grazing on the Kedar Kharak meadow, with Thalay Sagar and Bhrigupanth above the camp
Risks
- Very fast gain from about 3,050 m to 4,900 m in three trekking days: acute mountain sickness is a real risk. Spend a night in Uttarkashi or Gangotri first, add a rest day at Kedartal if anyone struggles, and descend at the first serious symptoms.
- The 'spider wall' before Bhoj Kharak is a narrow ledge on a steep slope with space for a single foot; a rope may be needed for less experienced trekkers.
- Rockfall and loose sand in the gully before Kedar Kharak, where stones fall constantly; cross quickly and one at a time.
- The Kedar Bamak glacier beside the trail and the camp has hidden crevasses: stay on the moraine and do not go onto the ice or above the camp without mountaineering gear and a qualified guide.
- July-August monsoon brings landslides and cloudbursts, and operators advise against the trek then; snow can cover the moraine ridge below Kedartal into June and from late October.
Know before you go
Questions
Where exactly is the Jogin base camp?
Expeditions to the Jogin peaks use Kedartal (about 4,750 m) as their base camp. The Jogin advance base camp is about 3 km further on, along the moraine of the Kedar Bamak glacier towards Thalay Sagar, at a little over 16,000 ft (about 4,900 m). Indiahikes says the walk from Kedartal to the advance base camp gains less than about 200 m.
How many days does the Jogin base camp trek take?
About six days from Dehradun: a drive to Gangotri, three trekking days up the Kedar Ganga valley via Bhoj Kharak and Kedar Kharak to Kedartal and the advance base camp, a long descent to Gangotri, and the drive back. Indiahikes adds a rest day at Gangotri at the start, and an extra night at Kedartal is wise for acclimatisation.
Can I go beyond the Jogin advance base camp?
Only as part of a climbing expedition. Indiahikes says you can climb the ridge above the camp to about 16,700 ft for a view of Jogin III, I and II, but any exploration above that needs proper mountaineering equipment. Expeditions to the Jogin peaks also need permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
When is the best time for the Jogin base camp trek?
May to mid-June and mid-September to October. Gangotri National Park is closed to visitors from 30 November to 31 March, and July-August is the monsoon, with landslides on the Kedar Ganga trail.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. The route lies inside Gangotri National Park, and the Uttarakhand Forest Department issues entry permits at the forest office in Gangotri or through the district forest office in Uttarkashi. Guided packages include it. We could not confirm the current official fee, so check at the forest office.
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: UttarkashiUttarakhand
- Nearest hospital
- Uttarkashi district hospital for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi, about 100 km before Gangotri; carry cash from Dehradun.
- Phone network
- BSNL and Airtel work in Gangotri; there is no mobile signal beyond Gangotri.
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 Jogin Base Camp
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- The Complete Guide to Mt. Jogin Advance Base Camp Trek — Indiahikes
- Kedartal Trek, Uttarakhand (6D/5N, with Jogin Advance Base Camp) — Thrillophilia
- Mt: Jogin lll Expedition (6,116 M) — Great Adventure
- 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: Kailas98, CC BY-SA 3.0; Peter Andersen, CC BY-SA 3.0; Arunsingh, CC BY-SA 3.0
