- Max altitude
- 4,750 m
- Days
- 7 days
- Distance
- 34 km
- Difficulty
- Difficult
A fast gain from about 3,100 m at Gangotri to 4,750 m in three trekking days, a steep rocky climb up the narrow Kedar Ganga gorge with rockfall in places, hard boulder ground below the lake, and a long 12-15 km descent day. Operators ask for at least one earlier high-altitude trek.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1
Dehradun → Gangotri
640 m → 3,100 m
Day 2
Gangotri → Gangotri (acclimatisation day)
3,100 m → 3,100 m
Day 3
Gangotri → Bhoj Kharak
3,100 m → 3,780 m
Day 4
Bhoj Kharak → Kedar Kharak
3,780 m → 4,300 m
Day 5 · highest point
Kedar Kharak → Kedar Kharak (via Kedartal)
4,300 m → 4,750 m → 4,300 m
Day 6
Kedar Kharak → Gangotri
4,300 m → 3,100 m
Day 7
Gangotri → Dehradun
3,100 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 3,100 mLoading forecast…
High point · Kedartal lake
at 4,750 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 245 km via Uttarkashi and Harsil)
- 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
₹10,000–18,000
With an operator
₹19,000–26,500
Per person, ex-Dehradun. Guided prices published October 2026: Bikat Adventures ₹18,000 + 5% GST ex-Gangotri (shared Dehradun-Gangotri transport paid extra); Himalayan Dream Treks ₹25,000 + 5% GST ex-Dehradun. Both include the Gangotri National Park forest permit and camping fees. Self-guided is an estimate: shared jeep or bus Dehradun-Gangotri and back, two or three guesthouse nights in Gangotri, the park permit, a local guide and porter, and tent, stove and food for four nights.
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 34
Nights near 4,750 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 and no charging points on the trail.
- Last ATM
- Uttarkashi, about 100 km before Gangotri; carry cash from Dehradun as Uttarkashi ATMs can run dry
- Nearest hospital
- Uttarkashi district hospital for first care; AIIMS Rishikesh for serious cases
- Water
- The trail follows the Kedar Ganga stream, which flows out of the lake; side streams are found near Bhoj Kharak and Kedar Kharak. There are no shops after Gangotri. Boil or treat all water.
Highlights
- Kedartal, a glacial lake at about 4,750 m below the sheer pyramid of Thalay Sagar (6,904 m), with Meru and Bhrigupanth close by
- A sacred lake known as Shiva's lake: the Kedar Ganga that flows from it is held to be Lord Shiva's offering to the Bhagirathi, a source-stream of the Ganga
- Starts at the Gangotri temple town and climbs through Himalayan birch forest at Bhoj Kharak
- High camp at the Kedar Kharak meadow, above the tree line, with sunrise on the peaks to the east
Risks
- Rapid gain to 4,750 m: acute mountain sickness is a real risk, so spend an acclimatisation day at Gangotri and descend at the first serious symptoms.
- The Kedar Ganga gorge has steep, narrow sections with falling rocks; move through them quickly, one at a time, and avoid them after heavy rain.
- Monsoon (July-August) brings landslides and mud, and the Dehradun-Gangotri road can be blocked for days.
- From late October snow and avalanche risk close in; the lake area is often snowbound until May.
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Kedartal trek?
It is a difficult high-altitude trek, not a beginner's one. Operators rate it moderate-to-difficult or challenging and ask for at least one earlier high-altitude trek, because it climbs from about 3,100 m to 4,750 m in three trekking days through a steep, rocky gorge.
What is the best time for Kedartal?
Mid-May to June and mid-September to October. July and August bring monsoon landslides, and from late October the route is under snow. Gangotri National Park itself is closed from 30 November to 31 March.
Do I need a permit for Kedartal?
Yes. Kedartal lies inside Gangotri National Park, and entry needs a permit from the Uttarakhand Forest Department, issued at the forest offices in Uttarkashi or Gangotri or online. Guided groups include it in their price. We could not find an official, dated fee schedule, so check the current fee at the Gangotri forest office.
How far is Kedartal from Gangotri?
About 17 km one way: roughly 8 km to Bhoj Kharak, 4 km to Kedar Kharak and 5 km on to the lake. The round trip is about 32-38 km depending on the operator.
Is there mobile network on the Kedartal trek?
BSNL and Airtel work in Gangotri, but there is no signal beyond it. The nearest ATMs are in Uttarkashi, about 100 km before Gangotri, so carry cash.
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 as Uttarkashi ATMs can run dry
- Phone network
- BSNL and Airtel work in Gangotri; there is no mobile signal beyond Gangotri and no charging points on the trail.
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 Kedartal
No questions yet. Ask something and trekkers who have done it can answer.
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Kedartal — Wikipedia
- Kedartal Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Kedartal Lake Trek — Himalaya Shelter
- Kedartal Trek 2026 - Itinerary, Dates, Cost, Best Time, Package, Guides — Himalayan Dream Treks
- Gangotri National Park Reopens For Trek: Date, Permits, And What Travellers Need To Know — Outlook Traveller
- Gangotri National Park — Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) (official)
Photos: Kailas98, CC BY-SA 3.0; Ravi Pandey, CC BY-SA 4.0; Peter Andersen, CC BY-SA 3.0; Arunsingh, CC BY-SA 3.0
