Kareri Lake Trek with Camping

The last ATMs can be found in Dharamshala or McLeodganj. Travellers beyond that are advised to carry an adequate amount of cash.

This is a relatively easy trek, great even for first-timers. Thus, children above the age of 14 can also accompany. However, children below the age of 16 must be under parental supervision while undertaking the Kareri Lake Trek.

Spring, i.e., April - May, is the best time to visit the Kareri lake, as this is the season when the Himalayan flora is in full bloom. If you are looking to trek beyond the lake into the Himalayas, like to Minkiani pass or Baleni Pass, the weather during the summer months of June-July are ideal. If you are on a religious pilgrimage or looking to visit the temple as the main attraction, then August is the month for the Kareri Lake trek. Heavy winters are only for the experienced trekkers. This is the weather when sightings of wild animals like leopards are high, and thus first-timers are advised against it.

Definitely! You are invited to chalk out an independent plan at your convenient time frame for any number of people for a trek to Kareri Lake. Cost for private trip is fixed on the basis of group size, trek area, duration and trek style.

While Dharamshala has adequate internet and network facilities, the connectivity starts declining as you go higher. As you trek towards Kareri Village, from Dharamkot, the connection becomes almost non-existent. It is best that you inform anxious relatives before you start for the Kareri Lake Trek.

The Kareri Lake trek is ideal for group travellers. It is becoming increasingly popular as a weekend trek for the youth, travelling as a group of friends. The trek is gaining even more popularity, taking into account the fact that the trek is of an easy grade and can be undertaken by children, youngsters and adults alike.

Yes. The Kareri Lake trek strikes an ideal balance between thrilling and easy going. Even children can accompany you on this trek. However, children below 16 must be accompanied by parental supervision.

The trek is steep in certain areas, so bringing infants is strictly advised against for this trek. However, children between the ages of 9-16 can come under parental supervision.

The Kareri Lake trek has been marked as an easy to moderate trek. While the trek gradient maintains a gentle incline and decline throughout, it can get steep in parts. However, it is to be noted that the steep parts mostly have steps cut into the rocks for convenience. Moreover, the short duration of three days for the trek and the total distance covered being around 27 km, the trek is reasonable for a first-time trekker as well!

The Kareri Lake, or the Kareri Dal as the locals pronounce it, is perched at a height of about 3300 meters. It is located approximately 9 km away from Dharamshala, in the Kangra district of the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh.

Spring is the best time to take this trek, especially if you wish to see the flora and fauna of the area in full bloom. It is best to avoid the trek during the monsoon season as the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, where the lake is located, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the state. The route to Kareri Lake can get slippery and dangerous in monsoonal weather and can lead to accidents.

The last stop with food along the Kareri Lake trek will be Kareri Village. Beyond that, you will only have your packed lunch to rely on. It is best to be prepared and carry ready-to-eat food with you, especially with high sugar content for energy like candies, energy bars, chikki, etc.!

Acute Mountain Sickness occurs at high elevations due to lack of oxygen. To protect yourself from this syndrome, it is advisable that you take your time acclimatizing yourself, especially during the hike to Kareri Lake from Kareri Village.

This backpackers’ adventure begins in Dharamkot. To reach Dharamkot, you can easily take an overnight bus from Delhi to McLeodganj, from where Dharamkot is only 2 km away, a distance which can easily be covered by a mere 30-minute walk. Buses, taxis, and autorickshaws also ply the distance frequently. You can fly to the Dharamshala airport, and from there catch a bus or take a taxi to Dharamkot. The nearest railway head is in Pathankot, which is about 90 km away. From there as well, a taxi willing to take you to Dharamkot can be found easily.

• The trek involves ascending up gentler and steeper slopes. However, the distances covered during the Kareri Lake trek are long and will take the major part of the day. In such circumstances, you must plan ahead and start exercising to get your body in the required state of physical fitness. Doing yoga and following a healthy diet chart are also good ideas. 
• Be prepared for heavy downpours in case you are undertaking the Kareri Lake trek near the monsoons. Carry a raincoat and a windcheater to prevent the water from seeping through!
• If you are a first-time trekker, you would be apt to acquire the requisite camping gear like trekking poles and trekking shoes. The poles really help you get the weight off of your legs and keep you going even in the steepest of routes. 
• Use your vacation days wisely and keep an extra day in hand as unpredictable weather conditions can often cause delays in the schedule, eg. landslides, which are frequent in the Kareri Lake region, following heavy rain. This leads to the destruction of the roads and traffic jams!
• It is always advised to offload your backpack at the base camp or base village and carry only the essentials with you to the top at Kareri Lake. Keep your baggage to a minimum, otherwise, your body will start rebelling within the very first hour of the trek. 
• When you halt anywhere in the mountains, make your trip worth the effort and explore every nook and cranny of the area. During the Kareri Lake, don’t forget to go sightseeing in Kareri Village, Dharamshala, and McLeodganj.

A trek to Kareri Lake takes its participants in the path of nature’s best - the dense forests consisting of huge pine and oak trees, the green moss covering the boulders around which the streams meander their way, and the spurts of wildflowers shooting out here and there. The lake itself offers to the takers a stunning view of the Dhauladhars, reflected in its surface. The flora during the trek changes with gain in height. It starts with forests of pine and broadleaf, and slowly transitions into grasslands, with patches of deodars and pine. You will also come across small waterfalls and a bubbling stream, which follows you along most of the way. If we were to map the gradient of the trek, it would become apparent that while the trek starts with a slow, gentle incline, it gets steeper, as you progress further the trek gets steeper in paths, however, a lot of the steep parts have steps cut into the rocks for convenience. The total distance covered during the trek is 27 km - one side - and the duration of the trek is short at 3 days. Therefore, the Kareri Lake trek is considered to be a relatively easy one, great for first-timers.