Sonamarg to Naranag, with Srinagar either side
Kashmir Great Lakes trek
Seven alpine lakes, three passes and about 70 km of trail from Sonamarg to Naranag. We build in a buffer day at Gangbal and finish with a houseboat night.
Kashmir circuit with a spare day
The four classic stops in a sensible order, plus one day in Pahalgam with nothing booked. Use it for Aru, a long river walk or a lie-in.
Classic 6 nights, 7 days Srinagar, Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam
Duration6 nights, 7 days
Best timeApril to November
Start and finishStarts and ends at Srinagar airport
Price from
₹26,499per person
About this trip
This is the trip for a first visit. It covers Srinagar, Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam without turning every day into a car journey. The long drives happen in the mornings, and the order follows the roads rather than a brochure.
The difference is the spare day near the end. Most itineraries fill every slot. We leave one day in Pahalgam open, because that is usually when people want to go back somewhere they liked, walk further up a side valley or simply sit by the Lidder. If wind shuts the Gondola on your Gulmarg day, the spare day also gives us room to move things around.
Highlights
- A night on a Dal Lake houseboat and an evening shikara
- Thajiwas glacier from the Sonamarg meadow
- Both Gondola stages in Gulmarg, wind permitting
- Pampore saffron fields and the Avantipora ruins on the way to Pahalgam
- Betaab Valley in the quiet late afternoon
- A free day in Pahalgam to use however you like
Day by day
Day 1: Land in Srinagar
Pickup at the airport and a short drive to your houseboat. Evening shikara on Dal as the lights come on along the Boulevard.
Houseboat, Dal LakeDay 2: Srinagar on foot and by garden
Morning walk through the old city to Shah-e-Hamadan and Jamia Masjid. Afternoon at Nishat and Shalimar, then Pari Mahal for sunset.
Hotel, SrinagarDay 3: Sonamarg day out
Leave by half past seven to beat the traffic up the Sindh valley. Walk or ride to Thajiwas glacier, and take a local taxi towards Zoji La if it is open.
Hotel, SrinagarDay 4: Gulmarg
About 90 minutes to Gulmarg. Gondola to Kongdori in the morning before the wind picks up, then the second stage to Apharwat if it is running.
Hotel, GulmargDay 5: Across the valley to Pahalgam
About four hours, broken at the Pampore saffron fields and the ninth-century temple at Avantipora. Betaab Valley late in the day, once the day visitors leave.
Hotel, PahalgamDay 6: The spare day
Nothing is booked, so take a union taxi up to Aru or Chandanwari, follow the river on foot or sleep in. We suggest options the evening before.
Hotel, PahalgamDay 7: Fly home
Drive back to Srinagar airport, about three hours, timed around your flight.
What the price covers
Included
- 6 nights in 3-star hotels and one houseboat, twin sharing
- Breakfast and dinner every day
- Private cab with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
- Airport pickup and drop at Srinagar
- One shikara ride on Dal Lake
- Tolls, parking and driver allowances
Not included
- Flights or trains to Srinagar
- Gondola tickets and pony rides
- Local union taxis in Sonamarg and Pahalgam
- Lunches, drinks and entry fees
- Personal costs such as laundry and tips
Changes and cancellations follow our cancellation policy.
Good to know
- Pace and fitness
- Easy to moderate. Two longer drives, and a spare day to recover.
- When to go
- April to November. Exact dates shift a little each year with snow and road openings, so we confirm before you book.
- Make it yours
- Dates, stays, nights and stops can all be changed. Ask and we send a revised plan and price.
Questions about this trip
Why is there a spare day?
Because mountain weather and tired legs both need room. If wind stops the Gondola or a road is blocked, the spare day lets us shift plans without dropping a place.
Can we stay a night in Sonamarg instead of a day trip?
Yes. We can swap one Srinagar night for Sonamarg, which gets you to Thajiwas early before the day visitors arrive. The price changes a little.
Does this suit children and older parents?
Yes. Walks are optional, ponies are available in Sonamarg and Gulmarg, and we break the Gulmarg to Pahalgam drive with as many stops as you need.
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