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.
Tarsar Marsar trek from Aru
A shorter high-lake trek that starts 12 km above Pahalgam. Camp on the shore of Tarsar, cross into Sundarsar and look down on Marsar, all in about 48 km.
Trek 6 nights, 7 days Aru, Lidderwat, Tarsar and Sundarsar
Duration6 nights, 7 days
Best timeJuly to mid-September
Start and finishStarts and ends in Srinagar
Price from
₹19,999per person
About this trip
Tarsar Marsar is the trek we suggest to people who want the high Kashmir lakes but have a week rather than nine days. It starts at Aru, above Pahalgam, and follows the river up through Lidderwat and Shekwas to Tarsar, a long blue lake under steep green walls.
The gradients are kinder than on the Great Lakes and the camps are closer together, so it suits fit first-timers. The high point is a pass a little under 4,000 m above Tarsar, which drops into the Sundarsar bowl. From the ridge beyond, Marsar lies below you, often with cloud drifting across it. We do not descend to Marsar itself. The slope is steep and the view from above is the better one.
Highlights
- Aru, a quiet village at about 2,400 m above Pahalgam
- The Lidderwat meadow where two streams meet
- A night on the shore of Tarsar at about 3,800 m
- The pass into Sundarsar, a little under 4,000 m
- The view down to Marsar lake
- Shepherd camps and grazing flocks most of the way up
Day by day
Day 1: Srinagar to Aru
About three hours by road up the Lidder valley to Aru. Short evening walk around the village and a kit check.
Camp, AruDay 2: Aru to Lidderwat
Through pine forest and along the river to the Lidderwat meadow at about 2,800 m. About 10 km.
Camp, LidderwatDay 3: Lidderwat to Shekwas
A shorter climb through birch and open grassland to Shekwas at about 3,350 m. About 6 km.
Camp, ShekwasDay 4: Shekwas to Tarsar
Up the valley to the shore of Tarsar at about 3,800 m. About 5 km, with the whole afternoon by the lake.
Camp, TarsarDay 5: Over the pass to Sundarsar
Climb the pass above Tarsar, then drop into the Sundarsar bowl. In the afternoon, walk up to the ridge for the view of Marsar.
Camp, SundarsarDay 6: Back down the valley
A long, mostly downhill day through the meadows to Lidderwat.
Camp, LidderwatDay 7: Out to Aru and Srinagar
Walk out to Aru, about 10 km, and drive back to Srinagar by evening.
What the price covers
Included
- Pickup and drop in Srinagar by private cab
- Trek leader, cook, helpers and ponies for group loads
- Twin-share tents, sleeping bags, mats and a dining tent
- All vegetarian meals from day 1 dinner to day 7 lunch
- First aid kit, oxygen and pulse oximeter
- Forest and camping fees
Not included
- Flights to Srinagar
- A personal pony or porter for your bag
- Your own trekking gear
- Travel insurance that covers trekking
- Hotel nights in Srinagar before or after
Good to know
- Pace and fitness
- Moderate. Four to six hours on foot most days and one pass near 4,000 m. Fine for fit beginners who train for a month beforehand.
- When to go
- July to mid-September. 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
Is Tarsar Marsar good for a first trek?
It is one of the better first high-altitude treks in Kashmir, as long as you train. Daily distances are short, but you sleep at around 3,800 m for two nights.
Do we get to the shore of Marsar?
No. You see it from the ridge above Sundarsar, which is the classic view. Reaching the water needs a steep extra descent that we leave out for safety.
Can we add a few days in Pahalgam?
Yes. Many people add two nights in Pahalgam or Srinagar after the trek to rest. We price that separately.
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