Day 1: 270 km drive from Dehradun to Gangotri (10100 ft)

Early in the morning, we’ll take a taxi from Dehradun to Gangotri. Breakfast will be served shortly. Gangotri is approximately 290 kilometers from Dehradun and takes approximately 7-8 hours to reach. The road leading to Uttarkashi is in good shape. The path to Gangotri passes through a steep gorge after Uttarkashi. Stay in a guesthouse for the night on a twin/triple sharing basis.

Day 2: Rest and acclimatization at Gangotri (10100 ft)

After driving up to 10000 ft, we’ll spend the day at Gangotri and take an acclimatization walk to Gaumukh or Bhoj Kharak. In Gangotri, spend the night.

Day 3: Gangotri to Nala Camp (12335 ft) – 7 km 

From Gangotri, we’ll walk southwest about 2 km down the main valley before turning east into the Rudugaira valley. The path steadily ascends the valley through dense oak and birch forests from here. After a while, we cross the nallah and head to the valley’s right (true left). We’re entering meadows and grazing grounds as the tree line starts to disappear. We’ll set up camp next to the nallah in a small flat bowl.

Day 4: 4 km from Nala Camp to Rudugaira Camp (14800 ft).

The walk to Rudugaira Base Camp today is short but steep and unbroken. The path ascends to the upper grazing grounds as it moves away from the nallah. We’ll cross a few small streams before ascending a steep spur to Rudugaira Base Camp. The Gangotri and Jogin groups are visible from today’s camp. Rudugaira Base Camp is where you’ll spend the night.

Day 5: Rest at Rudugaira Base Camp & acclimatize your body (14800 ft)

We’ll take a rest day at Rudugaira Base Camp after climbing nearly 5000 feet in the last two days. We’ll ascend to Rudugaira peak for an acclimatization walk throughout the day. We’ll be able to see the notch in the ridge that is Auden’s Col once we’ve climbed a few hundred meters higher. Rudugaira Base Camp is where you’ll spend the night.

Day 6: 7 km from Rudugaira Base Camp to Auden’s Col Base Camp (16000 feet) via Gangotri Base Camp

We’ll leave the valley slopes and begin climbing moraine after a short walk from Rudugaira Base Camp. We arrive at Gangotri Base Camp after ascending two small moraine ridges and descending a short distance. The climb to Auden’s Col Base Camp is slow and undulating from here. Sukha Tal, a stunning azure lake concealed in a moraine bowl, will be passed along the way. Base Camp is located on a small flat moraine patch. The gully leading to Auden’s Col can be seen from here. Auden’s Col Base Camp is where you’ll spend the night.

Day 7: 5 kilometers from Auden’s Col Base Camp to Khatling Glacier Camp (16800 ft) via Auden’s Col (18000 ft)

Today is our crossing of Auden’s Col. The ascent starts with a short section of moraine before arriving at the glacier. We’ll slowly make our way up the glacier, with the Gangotri and Jogin peaks looming on either side. We’ll rope up and start climbing the 30°-50° slope straight up the gully as soon as we hit a flat spot on the glacier, which is often used as a high camp. For a fairly fit and well-acclimatized party, the climb should take about 3 hours. The descent from the col is down a 70° snow-ice gully that is steep and narrow.

Day 8: 10 km from Khatling Glacier Camp to Zero Point (12700 ft)

The trek today is one of the most challenging and time-consuming of the expedition. We will enter the moraine after walking another 2 kilometers down the glacier. There are no carins or numbered paths from here to the glacier’s snout. The trail is made up of loose gravel and scree that is traversed over steep, often exposed black ice. We’ll abandon the glacier just before the snout, descending to a small stream on the valley’s right (true right), and climbing up the valley slopes. After a short climb, you’ll come to an existing trail, which you can follow down to the campsite at the Khatling glacier’s snout.

Day 9: Day of Rest

We’ll take a rest day at our Zero Point camp after the long descent of the Khatling glacier.

Day 10: 7 km from Waterfall Camp/Zero Point to Chowki (11750 ft)

Our path will begin down the river valley. We will arrive at a meadow after a 3-kilometer walk. We’ll take a break in the meadow before continuing on our way to Chowki. Chowki’s campsite is about 4 kilometers from the meadow. Chowki is a pleasant camping spot with a grassy surface. Camps are where you can spend the night.

Day 11: 8 km from Chowki to Masar Tal (14960 ft)

We’ll start by climbing a steep section with views of Thalay Sagar before crossing a ridge above the valley. As we enter the lovely Masar Tal, the direction is clearly marked. We’ll pitch our tents near the scenic lake once we arrive at the campsite.

Day 12: Masar Tal (14435 ft) to Vasuki Tal (14435 ft) – 12 km via Mayali Pass (16900 ft)

The trail to Masar top starts with a steep climb over boulders on a steep ridge. The road then gradually descends before ascending the glacier to the top of Mayali Pass. The descent from Mayali Pass is steep, close to Auden’s Col on the Khatling side, and may necessitate the use of a fixed rope and rappelling. Continue descending until you reach Vasuki.

Day 13: Vasuki Tal to Kedarnath (11800 ft) is a 7-kilometer trek.

Today, we will begin our journey to Kedarnath, a well-known pilgrimage site. Vasuki Tal is 7 km from Kedarnath, and it takes 3-4 hours to get there. The temple is one of India’s twelve jyotirlingas and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the evening, after we arrive, we will go to the temple. Staying in a hotel in Kedarnath for the night.

Day 14: 14 km from Kedarnath to Gaurikund (6530 ft)

We will descend 14 kilometers to the Gaurikund through a well-maintained road. In Gaurikund, spend the night in a guest house.

Day 15: Drive from Gaurikund to Dehradun is 252 kilometers.

We’ll board a bus bound for Dehradun. The road to Dehradun follows the Ganges River. From Dehradun, take an overnight bus to Delhi.