Day 1 begins at 6:30 am when you leave Dehradun and reach Kotgaon at 5:30 pm. It is a long, and scenic drive. Kotgaon consists of a few dhabas, and a GMVN building slightly up the road from the rest of the village. Most trekkers reach Kotgaon in the evening. This offers them the time to look at the sun setting over the Greater Himalayan mountain ranges. It is absolutely stunning. The peaks of Swargarohini shimmer in the evening sun, standing tall over the ridges beyond Kotgaon.

Begin the trek by taking the tar road leading out of Sankri until you reach Sol, an extension of the Sankri village. Once you cross Sol, the road takes a wide curve. After trekking for about 7-8 minutes, look to your right, you should be able to find a trail that climbs sharply, it is next to a stream. This is the trail that leads to Kedarkantha.

The trail out of Juda Ka Talab is clearly visible. It rises to a ridge at the edge of the lake. Once you reach the ridge, take a sharp left turn to enter the dense pine forest and climb higher. This setting is strikingly beautiful. And a perfect place to take a break, and take in the stunning sights in front of you. From this point on, the trek to the Kedarkantha Base Camp is less than a 1000 ft away. Resume your climb on the same path, under the shade of the oaks. The trail opens out to a large clearing on the northern edge where this another shepherd’s hut. Here, don’t forget to turn around and look behind you. Your first awe-inspiring 180-degree view of the magnificent snow peaks that surround the beautiful Kedarkantha Summit. Note: The cold in the open is intense and it often gets windy. Carry enough woolen wear to protect you from the elements.

The Kedarkantha peak is visible from the KK Base. There are many trails that reach the top. The best route is to follow the northern ridge of the Kedarkantha summit. And climb up on a series of switchbacks to reach the Kedarkantha summit. It takes an hour to reach the summit from the Kedarkantha base campsite. You know you have reached the Kedarkantha summit when you see an arrangement of stones with a Trishul in between, pointing to the sky. Note: Depending on the amount of snow, many trekkers prefer to climb Kedarkantha from the southern ridge and descend by the northern side. The snow is less on the southern ridge and makes climbing easier. Both routes take approximately the same time, so choose a route depending on the snow. Get back to your Kedarkantha base camp site by noon, and not later than that. After a quick lunch,wrap your camp and begin your descent to Hargaon.

From the clearing at Hargaon the trail to Sankri is clearly marked by stones. Continue your descend through the pines in a series of switchbacks, until you find a stream flowing on your left. This is a good spot to fill up water. From here, the trail evens out and gradually descends through the pine forest to arrive at a ridge. From the ridge, make sure to take in the beautiful views – the vast and open Har-ki-Dun valley. Continue your descend. You will soon be greeted by an apple orchard, and some potato and cauliflower farms. Here also notice the farmers’ huts on the right, that stand out in the beautiful skyline.

The drive back to Dehradun takes you through lovely pine forests, and goes side by side with the Tons river. It is a a scenic 8 hour drive. Try to get the window seat on the right for a beautiful view. You should stop for lunch somewhere close to Kempty Falls.Expect to reach Dehradun by 8pm.