Srinagar, Wular Lake, Razdan Pass, Dawar and Tulail
Gurez valley road trip
Five hours north over the Razdan Pass to a valley of log houses and the Kishanganga river. Four nights up there, including a full day in Tulail.
Gurez valley
Log villages on the Kishanganga, over the Razdan Pass from Bandipora.
2,400 m June to October
AltitudeAbout 2,400 m at Dawar
From SrinagarAbout 125 km, 5 to 6 hours
Best monthsJune to October
Our trips here1 trip
Why go to Gurez
Gurez is a long, narrow valley north of Bandipora, cut off for much of the winter when snow closes the Razdan Pass. The road climbs from the shore of Wular past Tragbal and over the pass at about 3,300 m, then drops to the Kishanganga, which runs clear and fast between steep slopes.
Dawar is the main village, overlooked by the pyramid-shaped Habba Khatoon peak, which takes its name from Habba Khatoon, the poet and queen of sixteenth-century Kashmir. The people are Dards who speak Shina, and many houses are still built of logs and timber. Tulail, further east, sees even fewer visitors.
What to see
- The drive over the Razdan Pass
- Dawar and Habba Khatoon peak
- A day in the Tulail valley
- Homestays in log-built houses
- Wular Lake on the way in
Local tip
Bring original photo ID for the checkpoints. Foreign nationals need prior permission, so check with us before planning Gurez.
Our trips that include Gurez
Each one has a full day-by-day plan, and every one can be changed.
What to do around Gurez
Season, timing and where each one happens. We arrange guides, permits and tickets.
Rivers and lakesTrout fishing
Brown trout in the Lidder, the Sindh and the streams of Gurez. You need a licence from the Fisheries Department, which we arrange along with a local guide.
- Where
- Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gurez
- When
- April to September
- Time
- Half day
Camping and photographyMeadow camping
One or two nights in tents at Aru, Lidderwat or beside the river in Gurez, with a cook, a fire and nobody else around. No trekking experience needed.
- Where
- Aru, Lidderwat and Gurez
- When
- June to September
- Time
- 1 to 2 nights
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