travel itinerary for kashmir

Footsteps and Journeys

Best travel itineraries for unforgettable experiences around the globe

Paradise on Earth – The comprehensive 7 Day Kashmir Itinerary

The first time I visited Kashmir, I was a bit awestruck. The only thing running through my head was why I had not visited Kashmir earlier. If it was ever possible to fall in love with a place, Kashmir in India is as close as it gets. Often referred to as “Paradise on Earth” due to its stunning natural beauty, with its snow-capped mountains, picturesque valleys, and serene lakes. Read on for a 5 day Kashmir Itinerary that makes sure you get the best out of the magnificent beauty the region has to offer.

Highlights of this 7-day Kashmir Itinerary

Click on the links below if you are looking at specific information or read the blog for the full day-by-day itinerary..

Day 1 of your Kashmir Itinerary: Arrival in Srinagar

• Arrive at Srinagar International Airport and transfer to your hotel or houseboat on Dal Lake.
• Spend the day exploring the beautiful gardens of Srinagar, including Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi. These meticulously designed gardens feature terraced lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, fountains, and captivating views of the surrounding mountains.
• Explore Pari Mahal, a historic garden located atop Zabarwan Mountain Range. This terraced garden offers stunning views of the city and the Dal Lake. It is also a great spot to witness the sparkling city lights at night.
• Take a serene shikara boat ride on Dal Lake and witness the stunning sunset over the water. Explore its floating gardens, intricate houseboats, and charming floating markets. Most people go for the short tour of Dal Lake, however I believe if you truly want to be captivated by the Dal, take a rowboat to Char Chinar. It’s a small island in the middle of the lake. The rowboats taking around 3 hours to and from the island but it’s well worth the peaceful and beautiful journey. If you time it just right, on the way back, as the shikara head home and dusk settles in on the Dal Lake, the lights come on for an enchanting evening spectacle.

Day 2: Srinagar

Visit the enchanting Hazratbal Shrine , a significant Muslim shrine located on the banks of Dal Lake. Explore the bustling local markets of Srinagar, such as Lal Chowk or Badshah Chowk, where you can shop for authentic Kashmiri handicrafts and souvenirs.

Take a stroll through the bustling streets of Srinagar’s Old City . Visit the historic Jama Masjid, marvel at the intricate woodwork and architecture of the Shah Hamadan Mosque, and explore the vibrant local markets known for their Kashmiri handicrafts and traditional products.

Visit the Shankaracharya Temple , situated atop Shankaracharya Hill. This ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, offers panoramic views of the cityscape and the picturesque Dal Lake.

Srinagar is renowned for its exquisite handicrafts. Explore the local markets such as Lal Chowk and Badshah Chowk , and shop for intricately woven carpets, Pashmina shawls, embroidered textiles, copperware, and traditional Kashmiri jewellery.

Apart from Dal Lake, take a leisurely shikara ride on other beautiful lakes in Srinagar, such as Nigeen Lake and Manasbal Lake . Enjoy the tranquility, soak in the scenic beauty, and witness the unique way of life along the lakeshores.

Day 3: Gulmarg 

The best place to see snow before the winter months, take a day trip to Gulmarg , a popular hill station known for its picturesque landscapes and adventure activities. Gulmarg is a popular hill station located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) away from Srinagar in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, snow-capped peaks, and adventure activities.

Here are some of the best things to do in Gulmarg:

• Gondola Ride: Experience the world’s second-highest operating cable car, known as the Gulmarg Gondola. The ride consists of two phases—Phase 1 takes you to Kongdori, while Phase 2 goes up to Apharwat Peak. Enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys during the ride.
• Skiing and Snowboarding: Gulmarg is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. It offers excellent skiing and snowboarding opportunities on its pristine slopes, which are covered in deep powder snow during the winter season (usually from December to March). There are ski resorts and training centers that cater to beginners as well as experienced skiers.
• Snowshoeing and Snow Biking: Explore the scenic beauty of Gulmarg’s winter wonderland by going snowshoeing or snow biking. These activities allow you to venture into the snow-covered forests and meadows while enjoying the serene surroundings.

If you have an extra day in hand and are staying in Gulmarg, these places near Gulmarg are well worth a visit.

• Khilanmarg: Take a short trek or a pony ride to Khilanmarg, a picturesque meadow located at an altitude of 2,730 meters (8,957 feet) above sea level. It offers breathtaking views of the Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world.
• Alpather Lake: Visit Alpather Lake, a beautiful high-altitude lake situated at the foot of the Apharwat Peak. The lake remains frozen during most of the year, except for a few summer months when it melts and creates a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
• Strawberry Valley: Explore the Strawberry Valley, known for its lush green meadows, beautiful flowers, and strawberry cultivation. Enjoy the fresh air and serene surroundings while taking a leisurely walk or picnic in this scenic valley.

Return to Srinagar after dark.

Day 4 and 5: Sonamarg 

Sonamarg, also known as the “Meadow of Gold,” is a breathtaking hill station located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Surrounded by majestic glaciers, serene lakes, and snow-capped mountains, Sonmarg offers stunning natural beauty and a range of activities for visitors. The road from Srinagar to Sonamarg is filled with wonderful views and pitstops.

Here are some of the highlights of Sonamarg

• Thajiwas Glacier: Take a pony ride or trek to the Thajiwas Glacier, situated around 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Sonmarg. The glacier offers mesmerizing views of snow-covered peaks, sparkling streams, and lush green meadows. It’s a great spot for enjoying the scenic beauty and engaging in activities like snowboarding and sledging during the winter months.
• Nilagrad River: Visit the Nilagrad River, known for its reddish water, which is believed to have curative properties. Many visitors take a dip in the river, particularly on Sundays, as it is considered auspicious.
• Zoji La Pass: Take a scenic drive through the Zoji La Pass, one of the highest mountain passes in India. Located at an altitude of around 3,528 meters (11,575 feet), the pass offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and is a gateway to the Ladakh region.
• Krishnasar Lake: Venture on a trek to Krishnasar Lake, a beautiful alpine lake situated at an altitude of approximately 3,801 meters (12,470 feet). Surrounded by snow-clad peaks and lush meadows, the lake is known for its crystal-clear water and tranquil atmosphere.
• Baltal: Explore Baltal, a picturesque camping ground and base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage. Located around 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from Sonmarg, Baltal offers scenic beauty and serves as a starting point for the trek to the Amarnath Cave.
• Adventure Activities: Engage in thrilling adventure activities in Sonmarg, such as white-water rafting on the Sind River. The river is known for its rapids and offers exciting rafting experiences, especially during the summer months.
• Trekking and Camping: Sonmarg serves as a base for various trekking expeditions in the region, including the famous trek to the Kolahoi Glacier. Camping enthusiasts can also set up their camps in the picturesque meadows and enjoy a night under the starry sky.
• Local Culture and Cuisine: Immerse yourself in the local culture of Sonmarg by interacting with the friendly locals and experiencing their traditional way of life. Don’t miss the opportunity to savor the local Kashmiri cuisine, including traditional dishes like Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and Kashmiri Pulao.

Sonamarg offers a serene and picturesque escape for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. Its stunning landscapes, tranquil lakes, and thrilling activities make it a must-visit destination in Jammu and Kashmir.

Day 6 and 7: Pahalgam

Depart for Pahalgam, a scenic town surrounded by lush greenery, rivers, and snow-capped mountains. Two days can be easily spent in Pahalgam if you like to walk around. Known for its natural beauty and serene surroundings, Pahalgam offers a range of activities and attractions for visitors. Here are some of the highlights of Pahalgam including the gorgeous Betaab Valley and Aru Valley.

• Betaab Valley: Explore the picturesque Betaab Valley, named after the Bollywood movie “Betaab” that was shot here. The valley is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green meadows, and the gushing Lidder River. Enjoy leisurely walks, picnics, or horse riding in this breathtaking setting.
• Aru Valley: Visit the charming Aru Valley, located a few kilometers from Pahalgam. It is known for its lush meadows, crystal-clear streams, and scenic landscapes. Take a pony ride, go trekking, or simply relax and soak in the tranquil ambiance.
• Lidder River: Spend some time by the banks of the Lidder River, which flows through Pahalgam. Enjoy peaceful walks along the river, indulge in fishing, or go for a thrilling white-water rafting adventure during the summer months.
• Chandanwari: Take a trip to Chandanwari, the starting point of the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage. Located around 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Pahalgam, Chandanwari offers stunning views of the snow-clad mountains and serves as the base camp for the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave.
• Baisaran: Visit Baisaran, also known as the “Mini Switzerland of Kashmir.” This vast meadow offers panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and is surrounded by thick pine forests. You can reach Baisaran by a short pony ride or a trek from Pahalgam.
• Sheshnag Lake: Embark on a trek to the beautiful Sheshnag Lake, located at an altitude of approximately 3,574 meters (11,726 feet). The lake is surrounded by snow-covered peaks and is considered sacred by Hindu pilgrims visiting the Amarnath Cave.
• Local Culture and Handicrafts: Immerse yourself in the local culture by interacting with the friendly locals and exploring the local markets. Pahalgam is known for its Kashmiri handicrafts, including Pashmina shawls, carpets, and wooden artifacts. Take the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and experience the region’s rich artistic heritage.

Please note that the itinerary may vary depending on your interests, preferences, and the weather conditions during your visit. It’s also essential to check the current situation and any necessary permits or travel advisories before planning your trip to Kashmir.

Golfing in Kashmir

An interesting side note, Gulmarg is home to the highest green golf course in the world, the Gulmarg Golf Club. The picturesque 18-hole golf course is surrounded by lush greenery and offers stunning views of the snow-capped peaks. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round of golf in this unique setting. Pahalgam is home to the Pahalgam Golf Course, a beautiful 18-hole golf course situated at an elevation of 2,400 meters (7,874 feet). Enjoy a round of golf while being surrounded by picturesque landscapes.

Kashmiri cuisine is known for its rich flavors, aromatic spices, and unique cooking techniques.

Here are some delicious dishes that you should try when visiting Kashmir

• Rogan Josh: A signature Kashmiri dish, Rogan Josh is a flavorful lamb curry cooked with a blend of aromatic spices like Kashmiri red chili, ginger, and fennel. The slow cooking process ensures that the meat is tender and infused with the flavors of the spices.
• Yakhni: Yakhni is a traditional Kashmiri yogurt-based curry, usually made with chicken or lamb. It has a creamy texture and is delicately flavored with spices like fennel, ginger, and cardamom. Yakhni is often served with steamed rice or Kashmiri pulao.
• Kashmiri Pulao: This fragrant rice dish is cooked with aromatic spices, saffron, and dried fruits like raisins and almonds. It has a sweet and savory flavor profile and is often served with yogurt or raita.
• Gushtaba: Gushtaba is a classic Kashmiri dish made from minced mutton balls cooked in a rich yogurt-based gravy. It is delicately spiced with flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. This dish is usually reserved for special occasions and is served with steamed rice or naan.
• Modur Pulao: Modur Pulao is a sweet saffron-flavored rice dish cooked with ghee (clarified butter) and a variety of dry fruits like almonds, cashews, and raisins. It is a popular dish during festive occasions in Kashmir.
• Kashmiri Kebabs: Kashmiri cuisine offers a variety of kebabs, including Seekh Kebabs (minced meat skewers) and Tabak Maaz (fried lamb ribs). These kebabs are marinated with a blend of aromatic spices and are known for their rich and smoky flavors.
• Dum Aloo: Dum Aloo is a popular vegetarian dish in Kashmir made with baby potatoes cooked in a spiced yogurt-based gravy. It has a rich and creamy texture and is often served with naan or rice.
• Kashmiri Tea (Kahwa): End your meal with a cup of Kashmiri Tea, also known as Kahwa. It is a traditional Kashmiri green tea infused with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and almonds. Kahwa is known for its soothing and refreshing properties.

When visiting Kashmir, don’t forget to try these delectable dishes to truly experience the flavors of the region. The cuisine of Kashmir is a delightful blend of unique spices and traditional cooking methods, making it a memorable culinary experience.

Kashmir offers a variety of dining options, ranging from local street food stalls to upscale restaurants.

Here are some popular places to eat in Kashmir

• Ahdoos Restaurant (Srinagar): Ahdoos is a well-known restaurant in Srinagar that serves traditional Kashmiri cuisine. It offers a range of authentic dishes, including Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and Kashmiri Pulao. The restaurant has a cozy ambiance and is popular among both locals and tourists.
• Shamyana Restaurant (Srinagar): Shamyana is a popular restaurant located in the heart of Srinagar. It offers a diverse menu featuring Indian, Kashmiri, and Continental dishes. The restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere and a rooftop seating area with beautiful views of the city.
• Mughal Darbar (Srinagar): Mughal Darbar is a renowned restaurant chain in Kashmir, with multiple outlets in Srinagar. It specializes in Mughlai cuisine and offers a wide range of dishes, including kebabs, biryanis, and curries. The restaurant is known for its flavorful food and excellent service.
• Stream Restaurant (Pahalgam): Stream Restaurant is a popular dining option in Pahalgam, offering a serene ambiance along with delicious food. It serves a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Chinese, and Continental dishes. The restaurant is situated by the Lidder River, providing a picturesque setting for a meal.
• Highland Park (Gulmarg): Highland Park is a well-known restaurant in Gulmarg that offers a range of cuisines, including Indian, Continental, and Chinese. It is located near the Gulmarg Golf Course and provides a cozy atmosphere to enjoy a meal after exploring the beautiful surroundings.
• Café Chinar (Srinagar): Café Chinar is a popular café in Srinagar, known for its relaxed ambiance and delicious food. It offers a variety of dishes, including sandwiches, pizzas, and Kashmiri specialties. The café also serves a selection of teas and coffees.
• Krishna Vaishno Dhaba (Sonmarg): Krishna Vaishno Dhaba is a popular vegetarian restaurant located in Sonmarg. It serves a variety of vegetarian dishes, including North Indian, South Indian, and Chinese cuisine. The restaurant is known for its affordable prices and friendly service.

Apart from these specific establishments, exploring local markets and street food stalls in Kashmir can also be a delightful culinary experience. You can try traditional snacks like Kashmiri kebabs, samosas, and street-side tea stalls offering Kashmiri Kahwa.

Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, offers a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences.

Here are some of the best areas to stay in Srinagar

• Dal Lake: Staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake is a unique and iconic experience in Srinagar. These houseboats offer a tranquil and picturesque setting, surrounded by the serene waters of the lake. You can enjoy the beautiful views, experience the local culture, and relax in the comfortable and well-appointed houseboats.
• Nigeen Lake: Nigeen Lake is another popular location for staying in houseboats. It is relatively quieter than Dal Lake, offering a more peaceful and serene ambiance. Staying on a houseboat on Nigeen Lake provides a serene escape and a chance to enjoy the beauty of nature.
• Boulevard Road: Boulevard Road runs along the banks of Dal Lake and is dotted with several hotels and guesthouses. Staying along this road provides easy access to the attractions around Dal Lake, including the Mughal Gardens and Shalimar Bagh. The area offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget guesthouses.
• Rajbagh: Rajbagh is a residential area located close to the city center of Srinagar. It is known for its beautiful gardens and tree-lined streets. Rajbagh offers a peaceful and convenient location for accommodation, with several hotels and guesthouses available.

Stay in Gulmarg

Khyber (Gulmarg) – The Khyber, Gulmarg is extremely popular for overnight stays in Gulmarg. Considered the premier property of the area, it is heavy on the pocket and light on the heart. If you have the budget, you should definitely consider staying here one night. 

Pahalgam offers a range of hotels and resorts that provide comfortable accommodations and stunning views of the surrounding landscapes.

Here are some of the best hotels in Pahalgam

• The Lalit Grand Palace: Located amidst the picturesque Himalayan ranges, The LaLiT Grand Palace is a luxury hotel that offers a regal experience. The hotel features elegant rooms, fine dining restaurants, a spa, and beautiful gardens.
• WelcomHotel Pine-n-Peak: Nestled in the lap of nature, WelcomHotel Pine-n-Peak offers luxurious accommodations with breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains. The hotel provides well-appointed rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a spa, and recreational activities.
• Grand Mumtaz Resort: Grand Mumtaz Resort is a popular choice in Pahalgam, offering comfortable rooms and modern amenities. The resort features a multi-cuisine restaurant, a garden, and a terrace with panoramic views of the mountains.
• Hotel Heevan Pahalgam: Situated amidst lush greenery, Hotel Heevan Pahalgam provides comfortable accommodations with a touch of traditional Kashmiri architecture. The hotel offers well-furnished rooms, a restaurant, and a scenic garden.
• Hotel Mount View: Hotel Mount View is a well-known property in Pahalgam, offering comfortable rooms with mountain views. The hotel features a multi-cuisine restaurant, a garden, and a terrace overlooking the picturesque valley.
• Paradise Inn: Paradise Inn is a budget-friendly hotel located close to the main market area of Pahalgam. The hotel offers cozy rooms, a restaurant serving local and international cuisine, and friendly hospitality.

Please note that the availability of hotels and their facilities may vary, and it’s always recommended to check for the latest information and reviews before making a booking.

The best time to visit Kashmir

During the months of April to October when the weather is pleasant, the natural beauty of the region is at its peak. Here’s a breakdown of the seasons and their characteristics:

• Spring (April to June) : Spring is a beautiful time to visit Kashmir as the weather starts to warm up, and the flowers and orchards are in full bloom. The temperatures range from 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F), making it comfortable for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
• Summer (July to September): Summers in Kashmir are mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F). It is the peak tourist season, and the region attracts visitors with its cool climate and scenic beauty. However, it’s worth noting that the summer months can sometimes experience rainfall.
• Autumn (October to November): Autumn in Kashmir is known for its vibrant colors as the leaves of the trees change to golden hues. The temperatures start to cool down, ranging from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F). The autumn season offers a tranquil and picturesque atmosphere.
• Winter (December to March): Winter in Kashmir is characterized by cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, especially in the higher altitude areas like Gulmarg and Sonmarg. The temperatures can drop below freezing, and the region is popular for winter sports like skiing. It’s a great time to visit if you enjoy snow and winter activities.

It’s important to note that the climate in Kashmir can vary depending on the altitude and location. The region is also prone to political and security-related situations, so it’s advisable to stay updated on the current situation and follow any travel advisories issued by the local authorities.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Kashmir depends on your preferences and the experiences you are seeking. Each season offers its own unique charm and attractions, so plan your visit accordingly to make the most of your trip.

Looking for more beautiful places and holiday destinations in India? Check out the beautiful beaches of Goa or the Andaman Islands.

Share this:

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Discover more from Footsteps and Journeys

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Best Itinerary for Kashmir Trip – How to Plan your Itinerary

In this post, I will share a few examples of an itinerary for Kashmir trip. It is one of the most common questions I get asked by people wanted to visit Kashmir. So hopefully, the information below can be of some help.

Your final itinerary will depend on the time you have in hand and the places that you want to visit. Keeping that in mind, I will break down the travel plans based on the number of days. For each segment, I will provide a few different examples and you can pick the one that you like.

If none of these itineraries suit your plan, or if you already had one in mind and had a few questions, you can contact me on Instagram  and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider  subscribing to my YouTube channel  and asking a question there.

For other details on visiting Kashmir like places to visit, things to do, public transport, where to stay, etc, you can also take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – A Complete Travel Guide .

Quick Navigation

Minimum Time Needed for Kashmir Trip

So how long do you need to visit Kashmir? This really depends on your mode of travel but a minimum of 4 days in Kashmir is what I will recommend.

If you have more time then you will be able to explore better but you should at least have 4 days in hand between your arrival and departure from Srinagar.

The itineraries I am suggesting below assume that you have arrived in Srinagar, either by road or by flight. Day 1 hence will be Srinagar.

If you were traveling by road, the time you spend traveling to Kashmir and then the journey back home will need to be added to the travel plan.

2 Days Trip to Kashmir

Can you plan a 2 days trip to Kashmir? Is it possible to visit Kashmir over the weekend? The answer to this question is a yes but I will not recommend it at all. A 2 days trip means that you just touched Kashmir and returned home.

But if you still want to do it, below is how the journey can be planned.

• Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar. See the Mughal Gardens, go for a Shikara ride, see the sunset from Pari Mahal , and stay for the night in Srinagar.
• Day 2: On this day, depending on your preference, you can go for a day trip to either Gulmarg, Sonamarg, or Pahalgam. You will return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 3: Catch an early morning flight home

This is the best way that this trip can be planned. If you were thinking that you will return home on Day 2 itself, then you must give up the idea of visiting Kashmir. Plan another time when you can add more days to the trip.

3 Days Itinerary for Kashmir

Now let us take a look at the itinerary if you are able to throw in one more day. It will give you a little more time and you will be able to add a couple of other places to your travel plan.

• Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar
• Day 2: On this day, you can go for a day-long drive to Gulmarg. Enjoy the Gondola ride, spend some time visiting the local attractions, and return to Srinagar by evening.
• Day 3: In a similar manner, go for a day trip to Sonamarg. See the Thajiwas Glacier , Zojila Pass, and Zero Point, and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Alternatively, you can also go for a day trip to Pahalgam. See Betaab Valley, Chandanwari, and Aru Valley, and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 4: Fly Out

An important thing to remember is that a trip for 2 or 3 days by public transport will be extremely difficult. The best option is to travel by your self-owned vehicle. If not, then you should either hire a taxi or rent a bike in Srinagar .

Itinerary for Kashmir for 4 Days

Let us now take a look at a few more examples of how this journey can be planned if you had 4 days to spend in Kashmir. This is the minimum time that I recommend and it really widens your sightseeing choices.

• Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar. Local sightseeing and night stay in Srinagar.
• Day 2: Day Trip to Gulmarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 3: Day Trip to Sonamarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 4: Day trip to Pahalgam. Return to Srinagar by the evening. You can also choose to stay in Pahalgam if your flight the next day was a little later in the day. Spend the night in Pahalgam and go straight to the airport the next day.
• Day 5: Fly Out

If you have already been to popular tourist spots before and want your trip to cover more offbeat destinations, you can plan the trip like this.

• Day 2: Srinagar to Yusmarg. Night stay in Yusmarg .
• Day 3: Srinagar to Doodhpathri. Night stay in Doodhpathri.
• Day 4: Srinagar to Aharbal Waterfall. Spend the latter half of the day in Srinagar.

Itinerary for Kashmir for 5 Days

Below is an example of how this trip can be planned if you had a total of 5 days in hand.

• Day 2: Srinagar to Gulmarg. Night stay in Gulmarg. You can also visit Drang waterfall on the way.
• Day 3: Gulmarg to Doodhpathri . Spend some time in Doodhpathri and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 4: Srinagar to Aharbal Waterfall and then continue to Pahalgam. Night stay in Pahalgam.
• Day 5: Spend the day in Pahalgam visiting the local places. You can also trek to Baisaran Hills if you wanted to go on a short trek. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 6: Fly Out

Itinerary for Kashmir for 6 Days

If you had a total of 6 days to spend in Kashmir, below is how this trip can be planned.

• Day 3: Gulmarg to Doodhpathri. Spend some time in Doodhpathri and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 4: Srinagar to Aharbal Waterfall and then continue to Pahalgam . Night stay in Pahalgam.
• Day 6: Day trip to Sonamarg
• Day 7: Fly Out

Another way to plan the trip can be like this.

• Day 2: Day trip to Gulmarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 3: Day trip to Sonamarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 4: Day trip to Pahalgam. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 5: Srinagar to Gurez Valley . Night stay in Dawar
• Day 6: Dawar to Srinagar

Itinerary for Kashmir for 7 Days

Below are a few examples of how the trip can be planned if you had 7 days in hand.

• Day 2: Srinagar to Gulmarg. Night stay in Gulmarg. You can also visit the Drang waterfall on the way.
• Day 7: Day trip to Yusmarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening on both days 6 and 7.
• Day 8: Fly Out

Another way to plan the trip can be like the one mentioned below.

• Day 5: Srinagar to Gurez Valley. Night stay in Dawar
• Day 6: Dawar to Chakwali road trip. Return to Dawar by the evening.
• Day 7: Gurez Valley to Srinagar

Itinerary for Kashmir for 8 Days

Let us now take a look at a couple of examples on an itinerary for Kashmir if you had 8 days to spend in Kashmir and will fly out on Day 9.

• Day 3: Go for a Gondola ride in the morning. You can also rent a local cab and drive all the way to Bota Pathri. Stay for the night in Gulmarg.
• Day 4: Gulmarg to Doodhpathri. Spend some time in Doodhpathri and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 5: Srinagar to Aharbal Waterfall and then continue to Pahalgam. Night stay in Pahalgam.
• Day 6: Spend the day in Pahalgam visiting the local places. You can also trek to Baisaran Hills if you wanted to go on a short trek. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 7: Day trip to Sonamarg
• Day 8: Day trip to Yusmarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening on both days 7 and 8.
• Day 9: Fly Out
• Day 2: Srinagar to Yusmarg. Night stay in Yusmarg.
• Day 3: Yusmarg to Doodhpathri. Night stay in Doodhpathri.
• Day 4: Doodhpathri to Gulmarg. Night stay in Gulmarg.
• Day 5: Gulmarg to Srinagar and continue to Gurez Valley. Night stay in Dawar.
• Day 6: Dawar to Chakwali road trip.
• Day 7: Dawar to Srinagar and continue to Sonamarg. Night stay in Sonamarg.
• Day 8: Sonamarg to Srinagar.

Itinerary for Kashmir for 9 Days

Mentioned below is how this trip can be planned for a total of 9 days in Kashmir and a return flight on Day 10.

• Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar. Go straight to Gulmarg and stay there for the night.
• Day 2: Local sightseeing in Gulmarg. Enjoy the Gondola ride.
• Day 3: Gulmarg to Doodhpathri to Srinagar. Night stay in Srinagar
• Day 4: Day trip to Aharbal waterfall. You can also go all the way to Peer ki Gali Pass on Mughal road
• Day 5: Day trip to Yusmarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 6: Srinagar to Gurez Valley. Night stay in Dawar
• Day 7: Dawar to Chakwali to Dawar
• Day 8: Return to Srinagar and go straight to Sonamarg. Night stay in Sonamarg
• Day 9: Spend the day in Sonamarg and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 10: Fly Out

Another way to plan the trip can be like the one mentioned below. This focuses more on the popular tourist attractions in Kashmir.

• Day 4: Srinagar to Sonamarg day trip. Start early, see Thajiwas Glacier or Zojila Pass and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 5: Srinagar to Pahalgam
• Day 6: Spend the day in Pahalgam. See Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, and Chandanwari, and trek to Baisaran Hills. You can break this sightseeing between days 5 and 6.
• Day 7: Pahalgam to Srinagar
• Day 8: Day trip to Yusmarg. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 9: Day trip to Aharbal waterfall. You can also go to Peer ki Gali Pass on Mughal road.

Itinerary for Kashmir for 10 Days

Last but not least, mentioned below is how this trip can be planned for a total of 10 days.

• Day 3: Srinagar to Sonamarg. Go all the way to Zojila Pass and return to Sonamarg to spend the night.
• Day 4: Trek to Thajiwas Glacier in the morning. Have lunch in Sonamarg and return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 6: Spend the day in Pahalgam. See Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Chandanwari, trek to Baisaran Hills, and spend the night in Pahalgam. You can break this sightseeing between days 5 and 6.
• Day 7: Pahalgam to Srinagar. You can also visit Aharbal Waterfall on the way back.
• Day 8: Srinagar to Gurez Valley. Night stay in Dawar
• Day 9: Gurez Valley to Srinagar. Night stay in Srinagar
• Day 10: Day trip to Yusmarg
• Day 11: Fly Out

Srinagar Gulmarg Pahalgam Sonmarg Itinerary

If you want your trip to be limited to just the popular destinations and want to explore those properly, below is how the trip can be planned.

• Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar. Local sightseeing and night stay
• Day 2: Srinagar to Gulmarg. Local sightseeing in Gulmarg. Enjoy the Gondola ride.
• Day 2: Gulmarg to Doodhpathri to Srinagar. Night stay in Srinagar
• Day 3: Srinagar to Sonamarg. Start early, go all the way to Zojila Pass, and return to Sonamarg by the evening.

Srinagar Gulmarg Pahalgam Itinerary

If you do not want to include Sonamarg in the travel plan then remove those days and shorten the itinerary.

• Day 3: Srinagar to Pahalgam
• Day 4: Spend the day in Pahalgam. See Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Chandanwari, trek to Baisaran Hills, and spend the night in Pahalgam. You can break this sightseeing between days 5 and 6.
• Day 5: Pahalgam to Srinagar

Itinerary for Kashmir Trip in Winter

Now let us briefly take a look at how the journey can be planned if wanted to visit Kashmir in the winter season. Places like Sonamarg, Gurez, Doodhpathri, and Yusmarg remain accessible at this time.

Also, if you are visiting Kashmir in the winter season, I am assuming that you want to see snow and hopefully catch snowfall as well. For that, Gulmarg and Pahalgam are the best places.

The itinerary can be planned like this.

• Day 2: Srinagar to Gulmarg. Spend the day walking around and enjoying the views and the snow.
• Day 3: Early morning Gondola ride. Return to Srinagar by the evening.
• Day 4: Srinagar to Pahalgam
• Day 5: Spend the day in Pahalgam. Betaab Valley will remain accessible but you may not be able to go to Chandanwari and Aru Valley, depending on the snow on the road.
• Day 6: Return to Srinagar. If you were short on time, you can return on Day 5 itself, in the evening.

I am not saying that these itineraries are the best ones or perfect. But the information below should be able to give you an idea of how the journey can be planned.

You can pick either of these travel plans and modify it in any way that you like. If you need my input, I will be happy to suggest changes.

Bangus Valley / Lolab Valley / Tangdhar / Teetwal / Keran

Let us also take a look at some offbeat destinations in the Kupwara District. These are the names that I mentioned in the header. Tourism in this area has just started and not a lot of people come in this direction. This is what you can truly call offbeat Kashmir.

To explore this region, you will need at least 4 to 5 days. This will be in addition to the days you spend exploring the popular destinations listed above. The itinerary can be planned in the following manner.

• Srinagar to Lolab Valley – Day 1
• Explore Lolab Valley and reach Chowkibal Rest House – Day 2
• Chowkibal to Bangus Valley to Chowkibal – Day 3
• Day trip to Keran Village. Return to Chowkibal – Day 4
• Chowkibal to Srinagar – Day 5

Another way to plan this journey can be as mentioned below.

• Lolab Valley to Sadhna Pass to Tangdhar – Day 2
• Day Trip to Teetwal and return to Tangdhar – Day 3
• Tangdhar to Bangus Valley to Chowkibal – Day 4
• Day trip to Keran Village. Return to Chowkibal – Day 5
• Chowkibal to Srinagar – Day 6

I hope the information above on planning your itinerary for Kashmir trip was of help. If you have any questions, you can  contact me on Instagram  and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider  subscribing to my YouTube channel  and asking a question there.

Vargis.Khan

Not much to write about me really except for that I love to travel around whenever I can and to wherever I can. This blog is just a small attempt to share my travel experiences with the world. Hope you like it !!!

Related Articles

How to plan a trip to kashmir –..., zojila pass road status and condition 2024 –..., srinagar taxi rates 2024 – 2025 – updated..., 13 comments.

Hi, Ur vlogs r so informative . I m a solo female traveler planning to visit in May. Can u please guide me with the itinerary. Is it possible to include Gurez, Yusmarg, Chandwari, Aru, Aharbal waterfalls, Bangus all in one trip?

information about taxi. if can have stay and Srinagar. then what will be tax cost. total. plus change of taxi in some destination. guide cost. planned air book for 15th (in Srinagar) to 21 (checkout flight)

Hi Vargis Bhai, The posts are so helpful. I planned my trip inspired by your suggested itinerary as below. Kindly let me know if I have planned right. Also, I have spoken to 2-3 car rentals who are telling me day 2 and day 6 is not possible. Kindly help me with your suggestion and some car contact.

Day 1 (30 Mar): Bagdogra to Srinagar (evening) night stay in Houseboat Day 2 & 3 (31 Mar & 1 Apr): ( 4.30 hrs ) Srinagar to Aharbal Waterfall and then continue to Pahalgam. Night stay in Pahalgam for 2 days. Day 4 (2 Apr): Pahalgam to Gulmarg. Night stay in Gulmarg. (3.30 hrs) Day 5 (3 Apr): Gulmarg to Sonmarg (3.30 hrs). Visit the Drang waterfall on the way Day 6 (4 Apr): Sonmarg to Srinagar (2 hrs)—-local (Hotel stay)……..(On the way visit Doodhpathri) Day 7 (5 Apr): Srinagar to Yusmarg (1.40 hrs) to Srinagar hotel Day 8 (6 Apr): Srinagar local and late evening fly out

Hi Abhishek – The itinerary is doable. The cab drivers do not agree to this because they expect you to break this in two different days. They would want to charge you for Sonamarg to Srinagar and then separately for Doodhpathri. The same is the case with Aharbal as well.

Hello Vargis Bhai… I Plan to do Kashmir in Jan 2023, and Yes, seeing a snowfall being one of the of the Objective.. Need your guidance… Firstly,… which week of January can I see a snow fall say in Srinagar itself.. My Trip would be mostly of 8 days…. If you could please give a suggestive Itinerary .. Apart from the regular tourist Places like Pahalgam .. Sonmarg, Gulmarg etc,,, could you also please suggest some Off beat places which can be accessible during that period of time… Thank you…

Hi Nilesh Bhai – The entire month of January is one of snow so you can plan any week that suits you the best. Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg are the places that will be easiest to reach and explore. Even Sonamarg may remain closed. Those are the places you should keep in your itinerary

And yeah have to fit in Doodhpatri, Aharbal Waterfalls as well

You can travel like this Bhai

1 – Srinagar arrival and sightseeing 2 – Srinagar to Pahalgam 3 – Pahalgam to Gumlarg 4 – Gulmarg to Srinagar while visiting Doodhpathri on the way 5 – Srinagar to Dawar (Gurez) 6 – Dawar 7 – Dawar to Srinagar – Evening sightseeing in Srinagar 8 – Srinagar to Sonamarg day trip 9 – Srinagar to Kupwara – Visit Lolab Valley 10 – Bangus Valley 11 – Srinagar Sightseeing 12 – Fly Out

Thanks a ton Bhai… Highly appreciate your help ….

You are welcome Bhai !!!

Always a pleasure reading your posts! Always will remain a big fan of your work. Have planned Spiti /Ladakh purely based on your website. I am planning Kashmir next late September early October kinds with my family of 3 (2 adults 1 5year old) and I want to cover Valleys of Kupwara (Lolab, Bangus etc), Gurez Valley, Pahalgam, Sonamarg/Gulmarg and of course Srinagar. Can you kindly assist how to fit in all this in a 10 or 11 day itinerary?. Thanks in advance

How will you be traveling around Vivek? Private taxi or your own vehicle?

Hi Vargis Bhai, I will be entering via flights and then private taxi either point to point or for the entire trip. Thanks in advance.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The Revolving Compass

To share our love for travel….countless soul enriching experiences

Our 9 days Kashmir trip itinerary with family

“Kashmir is not just a place, It is an emotion that everyone wants to experience!!!!”

“You have got Kashmir and Himalayas. You are the richest when it comes to natural beauty!” – While we were playing in the snow at Mount Titlis on our trip to Switzerland, our guide remarked vividly. Years later, I can now comprehend the statement completely. As I relive every moment of our 9 days trip to Kashmir . After hearing, reading and witnessing the beauty of Kashmir through books, media and our own parents, we waited for years to finally be able to experience this “heaven on earth”. There is for sure, that every Indian wants to visit this paradise at least once in his lifetime. We have compiled this complete guide for a trip to Kashmir that will help you plan your trip to Kashmir in a smooth, hassle free manner. And here we bring to you our 9 days Kashmir trip itinerary with family.

This Kashmir trip itinerary for family is based on the trip to Kashmir that we took with our family in April, 2022. It can vary for others based on their requirement. So, we will provide some alternate itineraries towards the end of the post. To get the details of how to make the hotel bookings in Kashmir, how to book a cab in Kashmir, where to stay in Kashmir, what to eat in Kashmir, how to go shopping in Kashmir and even general tourist scams in Kashmir, read our upcoming comprehensive Kashmir travel guide. Either you can follow this same itinerary on your own. Or, you can book your Kashmir trip via ekashmirtourism.com 

Table of Contents

Day 1 : Arrival in Srinagar

We took a flight to Srinagar from Bangalore. It was a connecting flight. As there was no suitable budget direct flights from Bangalore to Srinagar operating at this point. We had a flight from Bangalore to Delhi and then another flight from Delhi to Srinagar. We reached Srinagar early in the morning, around 8:00am. The April-June time frame is peak tourist season in Kashmir. So, the influx of tourist is high. There was a huge queue at the airport exit, after navigating it we took a cab to our hotel, Walisons Hotel, Srinagar .

Related read : Is it safe to visit Kashmir now ?

Since we had a night flight, and we arrived early at our hotel, our rooms were not ready. So, we headed straight to the Tulip Gardens near Dal Lake . Since, the Tulips were in full bloom at this point, we didn’t want the chance to miss witnessing them in full bloom. We dropped our luggage at the hotel. And then requested the driver who dropped us from airport to hotel to take us to the Tulip Gardens. By 8:30am, we reached the gardens. There was no queue at the ticket counter and no rush inside.

We thoroughly enjoyed the gardens. And then by 10:00am, we headed back to the Tulip Garden parking lot. Where we had our late breakfast.

While visiting the Tulip Gardens of Kashmir, I couldn’t help but draw a comparison in my mind with the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens of Netherlands which I had visited on my trip to Europe, from Amsterdam. Each one has it’s own surreal beauty. And I couldn’t really tell which one is better than the other. So, I will say, visit both ! (I am always greedy when it comes to travel :D)

After spending considerable time witnessing the tulips and having some picture perfect instagram moments with them, we returned back to our hotel. This time, our rooms were ready. We shifted to the rooms to catch up on some much needed sleep. And retired to bed after an early dinner later.

Note: You can also arrive in Srinagar by road from Jammu. Jammu is well connected with rest of India through road and rail network.

Day 2 : Places to visit in Srinagar

Today, post breakfast, we started our exploration of Srinagar – our one day of sightseeing in Srinagar . From this day onwards we had booked a dedicated cab till the end of our journey.

The first site we visited was Pari Mahal. It is a beautiful garden around a 7 storied building. But the best part is the views of Srinagar, Dal Lake and the surrounding mountains that you get from the garden. Take a virtual tour of Pari Mahal with us in this vlog :

Next we headed to the Mughal Gardens of Srinagar. We visited Chash-me-Shahi Garden and Nishat Bagh. Although there are other gardens also in Srinagar including Shalimar Garden, after visiting 2 mughal gardens of Srinagar, we felt we had enough 🙂 . Since, all these gardens look alike beyond a point.

So, next around 4:00pm, we headed for Shikara ride. After much hassle and bargaining, we and the shikara owners came to an agreement. And finally we had a 2.5 hrs Shikara ride on the Dal Lake . Which included visiting all the famous spots around the lake, stopping for tea and snacks and finally visiting the shops on the bank of the Dal Lake.

Watch our vlog on our Dal Lake Shikara ride here .

Day 3 : Srinagar to Pahalgam Transfer

Today, post breakfast, we traveled from Srinagar to Pahalgam . We reached our hotel in Pahalgam, the Oswal Cottage , by afternoon. And had lunch. Post this, we enjoyed the beautiful sceneries around. And just relaxed. However, some of our friends headed to explore Bisaran Valley. It takes around 3 hours for the complete round trip. Although Bisaran Valley is only 6km from where we stayed. But the terrain is rough. And only accessible through a horse ride. Since we were with kids and moreover our younger one hates any animal interactions, so, we didn’t go. Although if you are not constrained like us, I will highly recommend visiting the Bisaran Valley. Because it is very beautiful.

Day 4: Pahalgam to Aru Valley, Betab Valley and Chandwari

Today we has another action packed day in our Kashmir trip itinerary with kids. As, we spent the day visiting Aru Valley, Betab Valley and Chandwari from Pahalgam . These are the most famous and beautiful valleys around Pahalgam. Which have completely different charms in different seasons.

When we arrived here in April, the spring was in full bloom and the valley was on the verse of welcoming summer. Green meadows spread in front of the snow clapped mountain peaks reminded me of some of the beautiful scenes we had encountered in Tuscany while doing day trips from Florence when we spent almost a week in Italy.

Day 5: Pahalgam to Gulmarg Transfer

Today, post breakfast, we started for Gulmarg from Pahalgam. Watch our road trip experience from Pahalgam to Gulmarg on this vlog . Actually, Gulmarg is the most famous ski resort destination in Asia and India. By the time we booked our accommodation, almost everything in Gulmarg was either full or exorbitantly charged. So, we booked our stay at Hotel Pineview in Tangmarg which is almost 10km before Gulmarg. Nevertheless, we reached here by noon.We had our lunch on the way. After reaching Tangmarg, our driver connected us with a guide who was going to accompany us to the Gondola ride.

The guide further took us to a shop where we hired shoes, jackets and bought gloves and caps for all of us to be used the next day. Also, we rented a vehicle to take us till the Gondola. Since our regular cab drivers prefered to return back to Srinagar. The shoes were to be packed and placed in the car the next morning. So, booking them in advance really saved our time.

Day 6: Gulmarg Gondola Ride

Finally arrived that day of our Kashmir Trip itinerary with family which the kids were waiting for since day 1 – the day of Gondola Ride in Gulmarg . Today, we woke up really early in the morning. And started around 8:00am from our hotel in Tangmarg for the Gulmarg Gondola point. We had pre-booked our Gondola ride online through this government site. Also, we had booked for both phase 1  and phase 2  . Since when we reached here, the snow in phase 1 had reduced a lot. After arriving at the parking for Gulmarg Gondola, we walked to the Gondola and reached there just in time, around 8:30am. Still there was already a huge winding queue. And it was only at 10:30 that we reached the Gondola cable car.

As we sat into the Gondola and started our journey up the mountains, I couldn’t help recall the same experience scaling the heights of Mount Titlis on a day trip from Lucerne with Aashi. Who was precisely the same age at that time as Ishi is now. And once we reached the top, we had a gala time playing in the snow. The memories are as fresh as if it happened yesterday. I guess that’s why we need to spend more on experiences and less on material things.

We reached phase 1 in around 10 mins. But we decided to go to Phase 2 first. Because this year, the summer started early and there was not much snow in phase 1 left. So we went to Phase 2. However, the weather soon turned our plans upside down. It started with a snowfall and then turned into a snow storm. I and my friend decided to return back to the Gondola station with the kids. As the temperature dropped to -5 degrees and the kids started to feel cold. However Abhishek and 2 other friends decided to take the plunge and enjoy snow activities.

Day 7: Gulmarg to Srinagar Transfer

After having a gala day at the Gulmarg Gondola, we started back for Srinagar from Gulmarg on the 7th day of our 9 days Kashmir Trip Itinerary with kids. We started post breakfast from our hotel in Tangmarg, Hotel Pineview . And reached our houseboat, Chicago Group of Houseboats in Srinagar by lunch time. Yes, today we were going to experience staying on a houseboat in Srinagar . The access to the houseboat was through a short Shikara ride from ghat no 9 on Dal Lake. After reaching the houseboat and dumping our luggage, we again took another shikara to return back to the main road for lunch. Since lunch was not provided on the Shikara. After having lunch, we just relaxed in our houseboat in Srinagar. And prepared for the next day when we planned to have a day trip .

Day 8: Srinagar to Doodhpathri day trip

On the second last day of our 9 days Kashmir trip itinerary with family, we embarked on a day trip to Doodhpathri from Srinagar. Although for the past 2-3 days we were having a tussle to select between Sonmarg and Doodhpathri.

Sonmarg is yet another winter destinations in Srinagar. It witnesses a lot of snowfall in the winters. So much so that you can only travel here with special chained vehicles that can navigate snow. However, the snow cover had reduced when we visited here in mid-April. But the temperature was still very low here.

Doodhpathri on the other hand is a lush green meadow. It was not that chilling cold, not that crowded and touristy also. So, finally we picked Doodhpathri over Sonmarg. And then had a wonderful day basking in the sun in one of the most beautiful valleys of Kashmir.

Day 9: Flight back from Srinagar

Finally came the day to say goodbye to Kashmir. We boarded our morning flight from Srinagar and embarked on our way back home. With memories of a lifetime. However, we want to come back to Kashmir. This time in the winter season. To witness the completely transformed landscape of Kashmir. And the winter wonderland that it is called. Hope that materialises soon.

Alternate Kashmir trip itinerary with family

The 9 days Kashmir trip itinerary with kids that we did was a really relaxed one. Since we were traveling with little kids, we didn’t want to overexert ourselves. But, if you are pressed by time on your Kashmir trip itinerary with family, or want to cover alternate things, here are some alternate Kashmir trip itinerary with family options for you. Some of these are aggressive on timelines, you can opt them when traveling solo, with friends or backpacking.

Kashmir Trip Itinerary Option 1 : 5 days trip to Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg

• Arrive in Srinagar in the morning. Get an early checkin at your hotel if possible. If not, at least dump your luggage. And head to the Tulip Gardens. Spend couple of hours here. Have lunch. And post lunch take a Sikara ride on the Dal Lake. Stay near Dal Lake if possible.
• Srinagar to Pahalgam day trip. Start early in the morning by 7:00am, reach Pahalgam by 9:30am. From here, take a day trip to explore Aru Valley, Betab Valley and Chandanwari. Return to Srinagar by 6:30 or 7:00pm in the evening
• Srinagar to Gulmarg day trip. Today, go straight to the Gulmarg Gondola from Srinagar. Pre book the gondola ride tickets. Reach here by 10:00am. And then enjoy the snow activities in Gulmarg. For a complete detail of how to book the Gondola and how to enjoy your day in Gulmarg, read this post.
• Do a day trip from Srinagar to Sonmarg today.
• Spend half the day sightseeing in Srinagar. Visit some of the famous gardens, Pari Mahal and some other attractions. Post noon, checkout from your hotel and start back home.

While staying all 5 nights in Srinagar, you can spend a couple on a houseboat – a different kind of experience.

Kashmir Trip Itinerary Option 2 : 3 days visiting Pahalgam and Gulmarg

If you are really pressed by time, I will suggest, skip Srinagar. And head straight to Pahalgam and Gulmarg. Do a day trip to each of these from Srinagar. And then head back to your home on the third day. Of course, you will miss the Sikara ride on the Dal lake and the other attractions that Srinagar has got to offer. But then you have to make a choice when you are that limited by time.

Kashmir Trip Itinerary Option 3 : Srinagar, Pahalgam, Kargil and Ladakh

This is a very different itinerary than the rest two I proposed above. If you are visiting Kashmir in summer months, like June, there is not much of snow to enjoy. So, you can altogether avoid the snow destinations like Sonmarg or Gulmarg. Spend the first couple of days in Srinagar enjoying the local sites. And then do a day trip to Pahalgam from Srinagar on the third day. On the fourth day head to Kargil. And from there, embark on a trip to Ladakh for the next 5 days!! Making the most of your time in Kashmir. And combining two most exotic destinations of India into one single trip!!

PS: Some of our links are affiliated, this means we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product by clicking those links. However, this will have no extra cost for you.

38 thoughts on “Our 9 days Kashmir trip itinerary with family”

Nice Blog…. This is really amazing. Great information.

Join us on a captivating 9-day journey through Kashmir with our family-friendly itinerary, carefully crafted to ensure an unforgettable experience for all. From leisurely shikara rides on Dal Lake to thrilling adventures in the mountains, discover the beauty and charm of Kashmir while creating cherished memories with your loved ones.

Your Kashmir trip itinerary is incredibly detailed and inspiring! It’s evident you put a lot of thought and effort into crafting a well-balanced mix of must-visit destinations and offbeat experiences. Your personalized insights make it an invaluable resource for families planning their own unforgettable Kashmir adventure.

Thank you so much!

The 9-day Kashmir trip itinerary shared by you offers a comprehensive exploration of the region’s beauty, culture, and adventure. From iconic destinations like Srinagar and Gulmarg to off-the-beaten-path gems, it provides a well-balanced mix of experiences for families, making it an inspiring guide for planning a memorable Kashmir vacation.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

A 8-Day Kashmir Travel Itinerary - Enthralling Trip with Srinagar Houseboat Stay

Srinagar(2N) → Gulmarg(2N) → Pahalgam(1N) → Srinagar(2N) → Sonamarg (0N) Budget: INR 34,000* per adult onwards Trip Highlights Stay at a houseboat in Srinagar Experience the highest golf course in the world in Gulmarg Take a Gondola ride from Gulmarg to Khalinmarg for stunning views Visit Saffron fields and Avantipur ruins en route to Pahalgam Enjoy a horse ride to Thajiwas Glacier in Sonmarg Explore the Mughal Gardens and enjoy a Shikara ride in Dal Lake

7 Nights 8 Days Kashmir Travel Itinerary

Shopping in srinagar, meals & inclusions .

• Enjoy a curated culinary experience with meals on MAP basis in Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam.
• Traverse the region in comfort with transfers and sightseeing by Non AC vehicles.
• Luxuriate in deluxe accommodations at every destination.
• Soak in the beauty of Dal Lake with a complimentary Shikara ride.
• Benefit from the expertise of an English-speaking professional guide during group activities.
• Indulge in a traditional Kashmiri welcome with a complimentary serving of Kashmiri Kehwa at the houseboat.
• Air and train tickets.
• Personal expenses like pony rides and guide charges.
• Additional costs due to unforeseen circumstances like flight cancellations or roadblocks.
• Inner line sightseeing and any alterations to the tour itinerary.
• Expenses for personal items like video camera fees, tips, and table drinks.

This post was published by Alma Rosina

Share this post on social media Facebook Twitter

Kashmir Travel Packages

Compare quotes from upto 3 travel agents for free

Kashmir Tour Package for 5 Nights with Sonamarg Excursion

Srinagar Gulmarg Package: Excursion to Pahalgam Valley

Picturesque Honeymoon - Professional Photoshoot

Best kashmir tour packages for family with houseboat stay, kashmir tour package 5 nights 6 days - 02 night houseboat in srinagar.

Kashmir 8 Days Itinerary: Enthralling Trip with Srinagar Houseboat Stay

Related Articles

Experiences

Kashmir Valley Tourism Resumes After Uplifted Ban

Sightseeing

Kashmir: The Paradise on Earth

Snowfall in Kashmir: A Winter Symphony in the Himalayan Wonderland

Backpacking

Exploring Paradise: A 5-Day Itinerary for Kashmir

Kashmir In December : A Winter Wonderland

Best Things To Do in Kashmir

Kashmir - The Other Side of the Valley #TWC

19 Kashmiri Food Dishes That You Must Try (Zaeka-e-Kashmir)

What to Wear in Kashmir: Everything You Need to Know

Snowfall in Srinagar: A Winter Odyssey

Art & Culture

Culture of Kashmir: A Kaleidoscope of Traditions and Rich Heritage

A Guide to Skiing in Kashmir

A Guide to Kashmir Handicrafts: Exploring the Artistry of Kashmir

Comments on this post

Browse package collections, kashmir package collections.

Kashmir Honeymoon Packages

Cheapest Kashmir Tour Packages

Kashmir Family Tour Packages

Leh Ladakh Kashmir Tour Package

Nearby Destinations for Packages

Dharamshala

Bir Billing

Top Listed Packages

Srinagar Tour Packages 3 Nights 4 Days: Paradise on Earth Family Holiday

Srinagar Leh Ladakh Tour Package for 8 Day

Kashmir Ladakh Manali Tour Packages

Srinagar Package for 4 Nights - Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

Kashmir Luxury Honeymoon Package

Browse Hotel Collections

For special purposes.

Gorgeous Houseboats in Kashmir

Top Places in Kashmir

Get the best offers on Travel Packages

Compare package quotes from top travel agents

Compare upto 3 quotes for free

• India (+91)

*Final prices will be shared by our partner agents based on your requirements.

Log in to your account

Welcome to holidify.

Forget Password?

Share this page

FootLoose Dev

Travel blog by an Indian travel blogger.

7-Day Kashmir Itinerary: A Journey Through Paradise

Kashmir, a hidden paradise on Earth, unfolds a tapestry of breathtaking landscapes, a vibrant culture, and serene lakes, making it an irresistible destination for those craving an immersive travel experience.

As an experienced travel blogger who has traversed the enchanting terrains of Kashmir multiple times, I’ve crafted this 7-day itinerary with a deep personal understanding and insights from my journeys. Through this guide, I aim to share a slice of my adventures and learnings, ensuring you get to witness the magnificence of Kashmir in its full glory.

Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar

Your journey begins with your arrival in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. As you step into this city, you’re greeted by the serene beauty of Dal Lake, surrounded by majestic mountains.

After settling in, spend your afternoon wandering through the famous Mughal Gardens — Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi — each a testament to the architectural genius of the Mughals, with lush greenery and vibrant flowers.

End your day with a peaceful Shikara ride on Dal Lake, watching the sunset paint the sky in hues of gold and pink, a perfect introduction to the valley’s tranquil beauty.

Activities/Things to Do on Kashmir Itinerary Day 1:

• Explore the Mughal Gardens: Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi.
• Enjoy a Shikara ride on Dal Lake.

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   N/A (Arrival Point)

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport : A taxi from the airport is the most convenient for newcomers.

Personalized   Advice   for :

• Couples: The Shikara ride at sunset is highly recommended for its romantic feel.
• Family: The Mughal Gardens are spacious and offer a relaxing outing for families.
• Family with Kids:   Kids will enjoy the gardens and the boat ride, but keep an eye on them near the water.
• Old Age   People:   Gardens are mostly flat and easily accessible; however, some areas may require assistance.

For an even more tailored experience, consider exploring Kashmir holiday packages  to find the perfect match for your journey without any hassle.

Day 2: Exploring Srinagar

On your second day, dive deeper into the heart of Srinagar. Start with a visit to the Shankaracharya Temple, perched on a hilltop offering panoramic views of the city.

Next, explore the vibrant Old City, also known as Downtown Srinagar, where ancient mosques and bustling bazaars paint a vivid picture of the local life.

For a leisurely afternoon, consider a visit to the handicrafts market to pick up intricately designed Kashmiri handicrafts and shawls. Reflect on your day with a peaceful evening by the Dal Lake, savoring the tranquillity that Srinagar offers.

Activities/Things to Do on Kashmir Itinerary Day 2:

• visit Shankaracharya Temple.
• Explore the Old City and its bazaars.
• Shop for handicrafts and local shawls.

And if you are travelling to Srinagar solo, read this article for more tips .

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   Within city limits, travel time varies from 15 to 30 minutes between sites.

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport:   Auto-rickshaws and taxis are readily available and ideal for day tours.

Personalized   Advice   for:

• Couples: The Old City’s bazaars are perfect for couples looking for an authentic experience.
• Family: Engage in a guided tour to ensure you don’t miss any historical angle.
• Family with Kids:   The hustle and bustle of the Old City might be overwhelming; morning visits are quieter.
• Old Age   People:   Consider private transport to navigate the city.

Day 3: Sonamarg – The Meadow of Gold

Day three takes you to Sonamarg, a breathtaking meadow lying in the embrace of snow-capped peaks. Known as ‘The Meadow of Gold’, Sonamarg offers splendid views and a chance for adventure seekers to explore.

Engage in a trek to Thajiwas Glacier or enjoy a horse ride through the meadow, surrounded by stunning landscapes. Sonamarg’s natural beauty provides a perfect backdrop for memorable photographs and serene moments with nature.

Activities/Things to Do on Kashmir Itinerary Day 3:

• Trek to Thajiwas Glacier.
• Horseriding through the meadows.

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   Approximately 80 km from Srinagar, a 2-3 hour drive.

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport: A taxi  or private vehicle is preferred for the scenic drive.

Personalized Advice for:

• Couples: The meadows offer secluded spots for couples.
• Family: Horse riding can be a fun family activity; ensure safety gear is available.
• Family with   Kids:   The glacier trek might be challenging; opt for a shorter trek.
• Old Age   People:   Enjoy the views from accessible points without embarking on strenuous activities.

Day 4: Gulmarg – Winter Wonderland

Next, head to Gulmarg, renowned for its ski resorts and the world’s highest golf course. The gondola ride in Gulmarg is a must-do, taking you up to the Apharwat Peak for a mesmerizing view of the Himalayas. Whether you’re visiting in winter for skiing or summer for mountain biking and trekking, Gulmarg offers activities for every traveler. Enjoy the evening relaxing in this picturesque location, a highlight of your Kashmir trip.

Activities/Things to Do on Kashmir Itinerary Day 4:

• Gondola ride to Apharwat Peak.
• Skiing or mountain biking, depending on the season.

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   About 123 km from Sonamarg, approximately a 3-4 hour drive.

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport:   Taxi or personal vehicle for the picturesque journey.

• Couples: The gondola ride offers breathtaking views perfect for memorable
• Family: Skiing lessons are available for beginners.
• Family with   Kids:   Children will enjoy the gondola ride; ensure safety.
• Old Age   People:   Apharwat Peak offers cafes to relax and enjoy the view.

Day 5: Pahalgam – The Valley of Shepherds

On day five, journey to Pahalgam, a picturesque town known as ‘The Valley of Shepherds.’ Here, the Lidder River adds a melodious background as you explore lush meadows and pristine landscapes.

A visit to the Betaab Valley, named after the Bollywood movie filmed there, offers scenic beauty and a serene atmosphere. Enjoy leisurely walks or horseback rides, and don’t forget to visit the local markets for traditional Kashmiri crafts.

Activities/Things to Do on Day Kashmir Itinerary 5:

• Visit Betaab Valley.
• Enjoy leisurely walks or horseback rides.

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   Approximately 140 km from Gulmarg, a 4-5 hour drive.

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport:   Taxi or personal vehicle, considering the distance.

• Couples: The serene walks in Betaab Valley are romantic and peaceful.
• Family: The river offers spots for family picnics.
• Family with   Kids:   Horseback riding can be adventurous; select gentle horses (make sure you only take horses from the vendors you think keep their horses in good health and not just to make money. Be a responsible tourist).
• Old Age   People:   Many areas in Pahalgam are accessible for leisurely  walks.

Day 6: Exploring the Countryside

Spend your sixth day experiencing the serene countryside of Kashmir. Take a guided tour to visit the saffron fields of Pampore and the ancient Awantipora ruins, witnessing the rich history and agricultural prowess of the region.

For nature enthusiasts, a visit to the nearby villages offers a glimpse into the rural Kashmiri lifestyle and hospitality. This day is perfect for those seeking tranquillity and a deeper connection with nature.

Activities/Things to Do on Kashmir Itinerary Day 6:

• Visit saffron fields in Pampore.
• Explore Awantipora ruins.

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   Varies as you explore different sites but generally within a 1-2 hour drive from Pahalgam.

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport:   A private vehicle or taxi allows for flexible countryside exploration.

• Couples: The tranquillity of the countryside is ideal for spending quality time together.
• Family: Engage in interactive tours to learn about rural lifestyles
• Family with Kids: Visiting farms can be educational and fun.
• Old Age People: Enjoy the scenery with comfortable stops along the  way.

Day 7: Return to Srinagar and Departure

On your final day, return to Srinagar with time to explore any sights you may have missed or to revisit your favorites. Take this opportunity to indulge in last-minute shopping in Srinagar’s bustling markets, where you can find exquisite hand-woven carpets, pashmina shawls, and unique Kashmiri saffron. As your journey comes to an end, reflect on the unforgettable memories made and the beauty of Kashmir that you’ve experienced.

Activities/Things to Do on Kashmir Itinerary Day 7:

• Last-minute shopping for carpets, shawls, and saffron.

Distance   from   Previous   Destination:   Depends on your location in the countryside, typically a 1-3 hour drive back to Srinagar.

Preferred   Mode   of   Transport:   Taxi or personal vehicle for the return trip.

• Couples: Look for special Kashmiri jewellery as a keepsake.
• Family: Buy educational toys and books about Kashmir for kids.
• Family with   Kids:   Saffron and dry fruits are good souvenirs for friends back home.
• Old Age   People:   Pashmina shawls are luxurious and practical gift.

Kashmir, with its unparalleled beauty, offers a unique experience that combines adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion.

This 7-day itinerary is designed to showcase the best of what Kashmir has to offer, from the bustling city life of Srinagar to the tranquil meadows of Sonamarg and Pahalgam.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Today's deals
• Search travel guides

7 Days in Kashmir Itinerary: Exploring Heaven on Earth

Welcome to Kashmir , a jewel nestled in the northern frontier of India, often described as ‘Paradise on Earth.’ With its breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, Kashmir promises an unforgettable journey. This comprehensive guide will lead you through a seven-day itinerary, ensuring you get the best of what Kashmir has to offer.

Background on Kashmir

Known for its mesmerizing beauty, Kashmir’s history is as rich as its landscapes are picturesque. Once the cradle of ancient civilizations, the region has seen the blossoming of diverse cultures and languages over centuries. The predominant language here is Kashmiri , though Urdu, Hindi, and English are widely understood. The region’s history, marked by various ruling dynasties, has left an indelible mark on its culture, cuisine, and architecture, making it a melting pot of experiences.

Pre-Trip Preparations

Before embarking on your journey to Kashmir, here are a few recommendations:

• Travel Documents: Ensure your ID and travel documents are up-to-date.
• Pack Wisely: Weather in Kashmir can be unpredictable; carry layers and waterproof clothing.
• Health and Safety: Carry necessary medications and stay informed about the local health advisories.

Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar

Begin your journey in Srinagar , the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Known for its stunning landscapes and waterfronts, Srinagar sits on the banks of the Jhelum River, offering an awe-inspiring introduction to the valley.

Morning: Arrival and Check-in

Upon your arrival at Srinagar International Airport , take a taxi to your pre-booked accommodations. For a unique experience, consider staying in a traditional houseboat on Dal Lake.

Afternoon: Explore the Mughal Gardens

After settling in, embark on a visit to Srinagar’s famous Mughal Gardens . Start with Shalimar Bagh , lovingly called the ‘abode of love’ by its creator, Emperor Jahangir for his wife Noor Jahan. Next, visit Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi to witness the Persian influence in their architecture and the seamless integration of natural landscapes into formal gardens.

Evening: Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

No visit to Srinagar is complete without a Shikara ride on Dal Lake. As the sun sets, these traditional wooden boats glide over the water, offering a peaceful and picturesque close to your first day. Alongside, you’ll see the vibrant floating markets and experience a slice of local life unique to Srinagar.

Dining Recommendation:

For dinner, try some authentic Kashmiri cuisine at Ahdoos Restaurant . Their Wazwan , a multi-course meal, is not to be missed for a truly traditional dining experience.

Day 2: Exploring Srinagar

Immerse yourself in the heart and soul of Srinagar. Today, you will explore the city’s heritage sites, bustling markets, and serene landscapes.

Morning: Visit the Old City

Start your day with a visit to the Old City or Shehr-e-Khaas . Stroll through its narrow lanes, witness the splendid wooden architecture, and soak in the rich history. Don’t miss Jama Masjid , a stunning piece of Persian architecture that stands as a testament to the city’s historical and religious importance.

Afternoon: Houseboat Lunch and Hazratbal Shrine

Experience dining on a houseboat for lunch, offering a variety of Kashmiri dishes that tantalize your taste buds while you enjoy the view of the Dal Lake. Post lunch, head to the Hazratbal Shrine , famous for housing a relic believed to be the hair of Prophet Muhammad. The shrine, with its white marble elegance, offers a tranquil spiritual experience.

Evening: Shopping at Lal Chowk

No visit to Srinagar is complete without exploring the vibrant Lal Chowk . Known for its array of shops selling everything from Kashmiri handicrafts and pashminas to dry fruits and spices, it’s the perfect place to pick souvenirs for your loved ones. Remember to haggle for the best deals!

Conclude your day with a meal at Mughal Darbar , renowned for its traditional Kashmiri cuisine, especially the exquisite Rogan Josh and Gushtaba .

Day 3: Day Trip to Gulmarg

Prepare for an exhilarating day trip to Gulmarg , a premier hill resort in the Kashmir valley renowned for its stunning beauty and adventure sports opportunities.

Morning: Departure to Gulmarg

After an early breakfast, start your journey to Gulmarg, which takes about 2 to 3 hours from Srinagar. The drive itself is scenic, offering magnificent views of snow-capped mountains and lush green landscapes. Once there, begin your exploration with a visit to the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve , home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Afternoon: Gondola Ride and Lunch

Experience the world’s second-highest operating cable car, the Gulmarg Gondola . The ride is divided into two phases: the first takes you to Kongdori Station and the second to Apharwat Peak. Enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayas from the top. After descending, enjoy a cozy lunch at one of Gulmarg’s eateries offering local delicacies.

Evening: Leisure Time and Return to Srinagar

Use the afternoon for leisure activities. Gulmarg is famous for golfing, trekking, and in the winter, skiing. Alternatively, simply relax and soak up the natural beauty before returning to Srinagar in the evening.

Back in Srinagar, dine at Shamyana Restaurant by the boulevard. They offer a variety of dishes, but their trout fish preparations are a must-try.

Day 4: Sonmarg – The Meadow of Gold

Today’s journey takes you to Sonmarg , a mesmerizing hill station in the Ganderbal district known as ‘The Meadow of Gold.’ Sonmarg is an impeccable blend of snow-capped mountains, vibrant flowers, and serene lakes.

Morning: Departure to Sonmarg

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast before embarking on the approximately 2-hour drive to Sonmarg. The route is known for its breathtaking views, so consider making stops along the way to capture photographs of the picturesque landscape.

Afternoon: Adventure Activities and Lunch

Upon arrival, immerse yourself in the beauty of Sonmarg by trying out the variety of available adventure activities. Popular options include trekking to Thajiwas Glacier , a remarkable spot where snow remains year-round, or river rafting on the Sindh River . Following an adventurous morning, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant where you can savor traditional Kashmiri dishes amid the panoramic views of the valley.

Evening: Exploration and Return to Srinagar

Spend the late afternoon leisurely exploring Sonmarg. Visit the Satsar Lake , a pristine alpine lake that is part of the Himalayan Trek route. As the evening approaches, start your journey back to Srinagar. The return trip offers a golden opportunity to witness the spectacular sunset over the Kashmir Valley.

Once back in Srinagar, consider dining at Stream Restaurant . Located near the Jhelum River, it’s known for its serene dining experience and offers a variety of international and Kashmiri cuisine.

Day 5: Pahalgam – The Valley of Shepherds

On your fifth day, explore Pahalgam , a picturesque town known as ‘The Valley of Shepherds’. Surrounded by lush greenery and positioned at the confluence of the Lidder River and Sheshnag Lake, Pahalgam is a haven for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Morning: Journey to Pahalgam

After breakfast, set off for Pahalgam, approximately a 3-hour drive from Srinagar. The journey towards Pahalgam is as mesmerizing as the destination itself, with plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the views or take photos.

Afternoon: Explore Aru Valley and Betaab Valley

Once in Pahalgam, direct your footsteps towards the serene Aru Valley . It’s an ideal spot for photography enthusiasts and those who enjoy trekking. Next, visit the Betaab Valley , renowned for its lush meadows, fresh streams, and encircling snowy peaks. It’s a perfect picnic spot, so consider having your lunch amidst the breathtaking scenery.

Evening: Leisure Time by the Lidder River

Spend your evening unwinding by the banks of the Lidder River . The peaceful water and surrounding beauty make it an ideal spot for relaxation or a quiet walk. It’s also known for trout fishing, for those interested in angling.

For dinner, visit Troutbeat . This restaurant offers fresh trout dishes in a variety of preparations, providing a delightful dining experience by the riverside.

Day 6: Leisure Day in Srinagar

After the exciting travels of the past few days, take this day to unwind and explore Srinagar at your leisure. The city offers a range of experiences, from serene to cultural, allowing you to choose your pace.

Morning: Visit Shankaracharya Temple

Start your day with a visit to the Shankaracharya Temple , situated atop a hill and providing panoramic views of Srinagar. This ancient site, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is not only a spiritual retreat but also offers an insight into the architectural marvels of the past.

Afternoon: Shopping in Srinagar

Spend your afternoon indulging in some shopping. Srinagar is famous for its handicrafts, pashmina shawls, and intricately designed carpets. Head over to Polo View Market for a shopping spree, where you can find a myriad of local products perfect for souvenirs or gifts.

Evening: Dal Lake Houseboat Experience

Your visit to Srinagar wouldn’t be complete without spending an evening on a houseboat in Dal Lake . Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and stunning sunset views, making for a perfect end to the day.

Dine at Lhasa Restaurant , known for its Tibetan, Chinese, and Kashmiri cuisine. A cozy environment and delicious food will make your evening even more memorable.

Day 7: Departure

As your enchanting journey through Kashmir comes to a close, take the morning to reflect on the unforgettable experiences you’ve had. Whether it’s the serene landscapes, the warm hospitality, or the rich culture, Kashmir surely leaves a lasting impression on every traveler.

Morning: Reflection and Relaxation

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on your houseboat or at your hotel, overlooking the picturesque landscapes of Srinagar for one last time. Take a moment to reflect on your journey and pen down your memories or capture some final photographs of the beautiful surroundings.

Afternoon: Last-minute Shopping and Departure Preparations

If your flight schedule permits, squeeze in some last-minute shopping to pick up any souvenirs you may have missed. Visit the local markets one more time or enjoy a peaceful walk along the boulevards. Ensure your belongings are packed and ready for departure.

Evening: Departure

Proceed to the Srinagar International Airport in time for your departure. As you bid farewell to Kashmir, take with you the memories of a land that truly lives up to its title as ‘Paradise on Earth.’

You may also like

Ultimate Seattle Travel Guide: A 3-Day Exploration of The Emerald City

Exploring Udon Thani: A 3-Day Immersion in History, Culture and Flavor

Discover Brisbane: A Travel Guide to Australia's River City

Sustainable Kochi Travel Guide: Eco-Conscious Explorations

Unforgettable Siem Reap: A 3-Day Guide to Angkor's Wonders and Beyond

Discover Vientiane: A 3-Day Guide to Laos' Tranquil Capital

3-Day Jacksonville Itinerary: Explore Florida’s Vibrant City Life & Natural Beauty

3-Day Nagasaki Itinerary: Exploring History and Culture

Embrace the Monsoon Magic: A 5-Day Immersive Guide to Pondicherry

Ultimate 3-Day Munich Itinerary: Bavarian Castles, Culture, and Countryside

Unveiling the Majesty of Gyeryongsan National Park: A Hiker's Paradise near Daejeon

Welcome to Tagaytay: A Haven of Scenic Views and Culinary Delights

3 Days in Kenting Itinerary: Exploring Coastal Beauty and Vibrant Nightlife

Weekend Getaway in Davao City Itinerary: Top Attractions and Dining Spots

Explore Venice in 3 Days: A Complete Itinerary to Iconic Sights and Hidden Gems

Explore Bekasi in 3 Days: Adventure, Culture, and Cuisine

Uncover Makassar in 3 Days: Ultimate City Guide & Top Attractions

Explore Udon Thani in 3 Days: A Journey Through Culture, Nature, and Spirituality

Welcome to Nashville: 3 Days in Music City

Explore Daegu in 3 Days: Top Attractions & Hidden Gems Itinerary

3 Days in Hsinchu Itinerary: Exploring Science, Culture, and Nature

Dive into our 3-day Seattle travel guide to uncover the best of The Emerald City. From iconic Space Needle views to bustling Pike Place Market, experience Seattle's top attractions, rich culture, and natural beauty.

Discover the hidden gems of Udon Thani in our comprehensive 3-day travel guide. Explore ancient sites, savor Isaan cuisine, and immerse in Thai culture.

Discover Brisbane: A Travel Guide to Australia's River City

Explore the enchanting city of Brisbane with our comprehensive travel guide. Discover hidden gems, cultural landmarks, and the vibrant lifestyle of Queensland's capital.

Embark on a sustainable journey through Kochi with our guide. Discover eco-friendly stays, organic cuisine, and activities that protect nature while immersing you in the local culture of Kerala's enchanting city.

Unforgettable Siem Reap: A 3-Day Guide to Angkor's Wonders and Beyond

Embark on a captivating 3-day journey through Siem Reap, from the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat to the serene Tonle Sap Lake and the vibrant local culture.

Discover Vientiane: A 3-Day Guide to Laos' Tranquil Capital

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Vientiane with our 3-day guide. Explore ancient temples, savor Laotian cuisine, and unwind by the Mekong River.

3-Day Jacksonville Itinerary: Explore Florida’s Vibrant City Life & Natural Beauty

Uncover the best of Jacksonville, FL in three days. From historic sites and vibrant cultural hubs to serene beaches and lush parks, this itinerary guides you through the city’s top attractions.

Embark on a captivating 4-day adventure through Nagasaki, where history and culture converge. Discover essential historical sites, cultural gems, and breathtaking views in this immersive travel guide.

Discover the alluring charm of Pondicherry during the monsoon with our detailed 5-day itinerary. Embrace serene mornings, cultural riches, and culinary delights in this enchanting coastal town.

Dive into our extensive 4-day Munich guide, from historic squares to Neuschwanstein Castle and the Bavarian Alps.

Unveiling the Majesty of Gyeryongsan National Park: A Hiker's Paradise near Daejeon

Immerse yourself in the heart of South Korea with our 3-day guide to Daejeon, Gyeryongsan National Park, and beyond. Explore historic sites, natural wonders, and gourmet delights in a journey that blends adventure with cultural immersion.

Embark on a 3-day adventure in Tagaytay with our expertly crafted itinerary. Explore breathtaking landscapes, indulge in exquisite culinary delights, and uncover the best activities.

Discover the ultimate 3-day itinerary for Kenting, Taiwan, featuring stunning coastal views, vibrant nightlife, and cultural highlights. Perfect for adventure seekers and culture enthusiasts alike.

Explore Davao City in a weekend with our fun-packed itinerary! Discover top attractions, the best dining spots, and hidden gems. Perfect for travelers looking to experience adventure and culture in one of the Philippines' most vibrant cities.

Discover the enchanting beauty of Venice with our 3-day itinerary. Dive into iconic sights, hidden alleys, and rich Venetian culture. Perfect tips for accommodations and dining to enhance your journey.

Uncover the best of Bekasi with our 3-day itinerary. Experience cultural sights, local cuisine, and thrilling adventure in one of Java's vibrant cities.

Uncover Makassar in 3 Days: Ultimate City Guide & Top Attractions

Explore the best of Makassar with our 3-day itinerary! Discover historical sites, stunning islands, and vibrant markets.

Discover the best of Udon Thani in just 3 days! Explore ancient temples, serene lotus lakes, and vibrant markets with our comprehensive travel itinerary.

Uncover the best of Nashville with our 3-day itinerary! Dive into the heart of Music City, from iconic music venues and historical sites to culinary delights and vibrant streets.

Explore Daegu in 3 Days: Top Attractions & Hidden Gems Itinerary

Uncover the best of Daegu with our exclusive 3-day itinerary! From ancient temples and bustling markets to culinary delights, discover the must-visit attractions and hidden gems of South Korea’s vibrant city.

Embark on a 3-day journey through Hsinchu, Taiwan's hub of technology and culture. Explore science parks, historical temples, and lush landscapes with our comprehensive travel guide.

Current language

All languages.

• India Tour Packages Shimla Manali Kullu Goa Kashmir Spiti valley Srinagar Nainital Dalhousie Mussoorie Ooty Munnar Kerala Andaman Sikkim Himachal Pradesh International Tour Packages Thailand Singapore Sri Lanka Mauritius Maldives Dubai Bhutan Seychelles Bali Switzerland New Zealand Hong Kong Istanbul Greece Italy United Kingdom

Explore the most popular Kashmir itinerary - 7 nights 8 days

Debalina Deb Roy

Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar

• Arrive at Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar .
• Check-in to your hotel or houseboat on Dal Lake.
• In the evening, take a Shikara ride on Dal Lake to witness the sunset and the floating gardens.

Places to visit in Srinagar

Day 2: Srinagar Sightseeing

• According to your Kashmir tour packages after breakfast, visit the Mughal Gardens: Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi, known for their stunning Mughal architecture and terraced gardens.
• Explore the Shankaracharya Temple, offering panoramic views of Srinagar.
• Visit the Jama Masjid and stroll around the local markets for shopping and tasting local delicacies.

Day 3: Gulmarg Excursion (Day Trip)

• Depart early for Gulmarg , known as the "Meadow of Flowers," approximately 2 hours from Srinagar.
• Enjoy the scenic drive and take the Gulmarg Gondola (cable car ride) to the second phase, offering breathtaking views of the Himalayas.
• Explore the lush meadows, go for a pony ride, or play golf at the world's highest golf course.
• Return to Srinagar in the evening.

Places to visit in Gulmarg

Day 4: Pahalgam Day Trip

• Drive to Pahalgam , about a 2.5 to 3-hour journey from Srinagar.
• En route, visit the saffron fields and the ruins of the ancient Awantipura Temple.
• In Pahalgam, enjoy the serene Betaab Valley and Aru Valley. You can also go for pony rides or explore the local market.

Places to visit in Pahalgam

Day 5: srinagar to sonamarg.

• Leave Srinagar for Sonamarg, known as the " Meadow of Gold ," approximately 3 hours away.
• Enjoy the scenic drive along the Sindh River and stop at beautiful spots like Zoji La Pass and Baltal.
• Explore the Thajiwas Glacier, accessible via a short trek or pony ride.
• Check-in to your hotel in Sonamarg.

Places to visit in Sonmarg

Day 6: Sonamarg Exploration

• Spend the day exploring Sonamarg's natural beauty. You can go for scenic walks, horseback riding, or simply relax amidst the stunning landscapes.
• Visit the picturesque Sindh River, which flows through Sonamarg.
• Enjoy the tranquility and take in the stunning views.

Day 7: Departure from Srinagar

• Drive back to Srinagar and explore any attractions you may have missed on the first day.
• Depending on your flight schedule, do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs or local crafts.
• Depart from Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, concluding your 7-day trip to Kashmir.

Help & Support

Call us now, +91-8069145442, best places to visit in india by month.

Read More Stories

• Plan Your Vacation

5-Day Kashmir Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide to Paradise

How you can spend 5 days in Kashmir.

Introduction:

This guide will help you plan the perfect 5-day trip to Kashmir. Kashmir is an ideal vacation destination due to its natural scenery. This guide has been made to make sure that your trip becomes unforgettable.

Experience the beauty of Kashmir on a family vacation with our 5-day trip packages. Explore the best family-friendly activities, adventure travel options, tour packages, and itinerary planning tips for an unforgettable trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar

The first day begins with arrival in Srinagar.

Arriving at the Airport, you will be welcomed by a staff member who will take your valuables, put them in the taxi and will swing you to your staying place. Thereafter you can have the first proper glimpses of the heavenly land of Kashmir.

Day 2: Srinagar City Tour

We will pick you up the following day to take you on a tour of Srinagar and the widely visited and appreciated Mughal Gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi. You can also go for a shikara ride on the world-famous Dal Lake.

Day 3: Gulmarg Tour

After breakfast the next day, we will take you to Gulmarg, also called the “Meadow of Flowers.” Here, you may ride on a Gondola or participate in extreme activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

Day 4: Pahalgam Tour

The following day, we will take you to Pahalgam, the “Valley of Shepherds.” You can go sightseeing in nearby Chandanwari and the famous Betaab Valley.

Day 5: Departure

You can do some shopping and after we bid you farewell, you will be dropped off at the airport by the driver. You will miss the valley a hundred percent.

Tips to make the most of your trip:

Some helpful hints to enjoy your vacation to the fullest are:

• Bring absolutely necessary items with you as you will move around to a few different places.
• Carry proper warm clothes if you are visiting in winter but if it’s summer, an extra lightweight jacket is enough. A raincoat can be added for untimed rain.
• If trekking, you will have to keep trekking gear like poles, sleeping bags and other small items with you. You can also shop them in Kashmir if you do not have them with you.
• Ensure to comply with all safety regulations and the instructor’s directions while engaging in sports.
• Keep the surroundings clean and do not litter as it harms the environment.
• A first aid kit is a good option to carry, in case of need.
• Use your time wisely and check the weather beforehand.
• Follow your guides everywhere and trust them. Some guides are notorious but you can double check for that through the internet and other resources.
• Lastly, capture memories in your camera as much as you can, and do plenty of shopping so you take something back and get feelings of nostalgia at home.

Conclusion:

Our 5-day itinerary for Kashmir is made to provide you with a thorough tour of Kashmir. The accommodations, transportation and guides are all included in our package. We hope that this travel guide will be of assistance to you as you plan your trip to Kashmir and make it a trip to remember.

Kashmir Online is a one-stop Shop for Tourism that brings all services under one umbrella. We offer customers reliable information and transparent, real-deal travel offers and services. We focus on safety by having dedicated, verified, knowledgeable, well-trained & dependable guides throughout the stay. We offer fair and honest pricing (products, services, and packages) that surpass client expectations and all competitors.

Haveed Hilal

Author is a student who loves to explore new corners of learning. He likes writing and travelling while taking challenges that question his abilities and skills. His hobbies are helping people and spending time in nature.

• Haveed Hilal https://www.kashmironline.com/blog/author/kashmironline/ Exploring Kashmir’s Film Locations: A Bollywood Buff’s Guide
• Haveed Hilal https://www.kashmironline.com/blog/author/kashmironline/ Top 5 Government Hospitals in Kashmir
• Haveed Hilal https://www.kashmironline.com/blog/author/kashmironline/ Homestays in Kashmir: Authentic Experiences Beyond Hotels
• Haveed Hilal https://www.kashmironline.com/blog/author/kashmironline/ Team-Building in Srinagar: Corporate Activities and Retreats

WhatsApp Number

Month of Travel January February March April May June July August September October November December

No. Of Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

No. Of Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Budget Per Person Economy Standard Luxury

About the author

Kashmir Travel Itinerary 7 to 9 Days

18 oct kashmir travel itinerary 7 to 9 days.

This is my Kashmir travel itinerary for a long-awaited journey and a lifelong dream for my dad. Like most Indians, I have had my presumptions and imagination about Kashmir. After all, it is one of the most talked-about subjects in Indian politics, a subject that we love as much as we love tea.

I had tried visiting Kashmir 2 years ago. But with a sudden twist of the historic event of the removal of article 370 followed by the coronavirus pandemic had led me to cancel my plans.

After 2 years of yearning and pent up energy for ‘revenge travel’ after being locked indoors for months, I was determined to make this trip. However, like always, I find it hard to get information online, even with thousands of Indians with cheap Jio networks flocking to these destinations.

Kashmir is often called ‘paradise on earth’ and so much of it is true. You could easily barter your Switzerland trip for this place and won’t miss a thing. But you need to know quite a few things to make your way around. Here is my itinerary and more that you may find useful.

Itinerary to Kashmir

Srinagar -> Gulmarg -> Pahalgam -> Wular Lake -> Sonmarg -> Srinagar

Day 1 – Arrive in Srinagar

Day 2,3 – Leave for Gulmarg. Spend 1 or 2 days/nights in Gulmarg.

Day 4 – Travel from Gulmarg to Pahalgam. Takes about 4 hours. Stop at Pampore.

Day 5 – Spend the day in Pahalgam.

Day 6 – Travel from Pahalgam to Sonmarg. Takes about 6 hours. Stop at Wular Lake.

Day 7 – Spend the day in Sonmarg

Day 8,9 – Travel to Srinagar. Sightseeing in Srinagar. Return home.

Another alternative is to travel to Srinagar from Pahalgam and stay there for the rest of your trip. You can instead visit Sonmarg on a day trip from Srinagar and return the same day.

How to travel around in Kashmir

The answer largely depends upon how many people you are travelling with. If you are travelling solo, you can find shared cabs (sumo), small buses and even hitchhike between cities in Kashmir. However, you will need to find out with the locals about the schedules. No trains are available inside Kashmir.

However, there is very limited public transport inside the cities/towns. So in most cases, you will have to hire a local cab for the day to take you around the tourist destinations. These cabs can cost around INR 3000-4500 per day depending upon the distance and the destination you are covering. 

In case you are travelling in groups, try and go for day cabs and split the rent. Large groups can also opt for taking a full-time cab with them. Take note that cabs/cars from a different state number plate are often unwelcome and banned from entering some locations. So it would be better and cheaper to get a local cab in most cases.

Horses and ponies are also another very common way to travel short distances. Several locals in the countryside breed and keep them to offer rides to tourists. And personally, I think that most people treat their animals well.

So you will often find yourself looking for a pony ride at places that are not easily accessible on foot. A pony ride usually starts at INR 800 for 2 hours and added INR 200 per additional hour from there.

Srinagar is the gateway to Kashmir and it should be the first stop to move ahead anywhere, even if you don’t spend much time in the city. Srinagar is accessible by road and flight that operates frequently from Delhi and even a few other major cities.

To me, Srinagar had this dreamy feeling of a mesmerizing shikara ride on the dal lake with snow-capped mountains in the background. On top of that, the ‘Shalimar gardens’ and other historical buildings built by Mughal emperors have only been the tales from our textbooks. 

To be honest, I was fairly disappointed. It’s not that this is not true. But for the most part, Srinagar looks like any other city in India and parts of it resembles old Delhi city and even Lucknow with crowded streets, traffic jams, loud and boisterous people and the wafting smell of delicious food.

If you have come in search of the real Kashmir, I would suggest finishing up your sightseeing in Srinagar quickly and head ahead as soon as you can. Here are some of the places that you must visit in Srinagar:

1. Dal Lake

2. Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden

3. Nigeen Lake

4. Hari Parbat

5. Jamia Masjid

6. Lal Chowk

7. Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

8. Nishat Garden

9. Shankaracharya Temple

10. Dachigam National Park

Srinagar is the centre point for almost all major tourist destinations and you may have to pass the city repeatedly to move to another location.

Check out our blog on the best places to visit in Srinagar for more details

Gulmarg is a must-visit place when in Kashmir. At least for first-time travellers. I haven’t been to Switzerland (yet) but I think that you can see an insane similarity between the topography of the two, both during the summers and the winters.

Gulmarg is just 2 hours away from Srinagar. You would be surprised to know that there is no local population that resided in Gulmarg. The place is only accessible for tourists and the Indian Army. The only locals that live in the town are the ones who travel during the day for work.

Therefore, it is only natural to find the place deserted at times and extremely tourist-centric, sometimes at the point of being annoying. Also be ready to pay steep prices for things like pony rides, gondolas, guided tours and viewpoints. These prices almost double during winters and the arrival of snowfall.

There is no other place like Gulmarg in winters and if you love the cold or want to experience the beauty of snowfall, you should try and visit the place between December to March but get ready to pay handsomely for it.

Here are some of the places that you must visit when in Gulmarg.

1. Apharwat Peak

2. Gulmarg Gondola

3. Alpather Lake

4. Kilanmarg

5. Maharaja Hari Singh’s Cottage

6. Children’s Park

7. Maharani Temple

Also Check out our detailed blog on travelling to Gulmarg, Kashmir

Pahalgam is 2.5 hours road ride from Srinagar and 4-5 hours from Gulmarg if you are making this trip directly.

Pampore is really nothing more than a small regular town, much like the rest of India. But the area around Pampore is popular for saffron fields where purple saffron flowers bloom during the autumn season from which saffron strands are extracted.

Of course, catching these flowers bloom will depend upon the time you visit. But if you want to buy authentic real saffron and related produce like almonds, walnut, raisins, fresh spices, honey, gulkand, Kashmiri kehwa etc. you should stop by and visit some of these places located right on the highway to Pahalgam

Pahalgam is a small town located east of Srinagar that gradually moves towards the higher mountains that you have been looking at the backdrop so far. Unlike Gulmarg, the town is home to locals and you will find a small market, local shops, homes and people moving around the town. I also found it less touristy and more homely.

There are a few places to visit inside Pahalgam town. Here are some that you can explore even on foot if you are living around the main town:

1. Baisaran Road

2. Mamaleshwar Temple

3. Poshwan Park

4. Dara Shikoh Garden

5. Tulian Lake Trek

6. Tarsar Marsar Trek

But some of the best sights are located out of town and you will need to make small trips to visit them. A full day trip to all of these places combined will finish up your sightseeing. You will need to hire a local cab since private vehicles are not allowed in most of these areas. The fare for a half-day cab is INR 2100 and INR 3000 for a full day.

If you are looking for more information on the places to visit in Pahalgam and the popular treks, check out our blog .

Aru valley is one of the popular places for sightseeing near Pahalgam where tourists flock for some fantastic views of the dreamy mountain ranges. It is around 30 minutes ride from Pahalgam and I suggest you get a local cab to take you there. 

Not only the ride to the valley is beautiful, to me, but the valley itself is also comparable to the photographs I had seen of Switzerland. The mountains turn green during the summers with occasional wandering horses and their owner hiking in the wilderness.

Once you reach Aru valley, you can make a stop at the nearest park that is a fantastic place for your memorable photos of Kashmir. We rented out some local Kashmiri garments and went overboard with the cliche touristy poses. Renting out garments cost us INR 100 per person.

Right next to the park you can also take some ponies to reach the interiors of Aru valley that takes around 30 minutes. Do make the trip if you haven’t had your share of pony rides. The result is a lovely meadow and patch of grassland that should be even more beautiful during the blooming season.

Betab Valley

On the other side of Pahalgam is Betab valley on the way to Chandanwadi. The valley’s name comes from the hit Bollywood movie ‘Betab’ starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh that was shot here. In fact, the two decades from the 60s – 80s is when Bollywood made Kashmir its go-to destination for shooting.

Today, you can find a sprawling park in Betab valley. The Lidder river makes its way through the park with icy cold and crystal clear water that the locals drink from directly. It later merges with Jhelum. The park is huge with a walkable stone trail that runs across. You can also enjoy a small meal on the riverbank of Maggi, tea, coffee or ice cream from a nearby stall.

However, you will catch the best views of the valley on your way to Chandanwadi. Stop your car and get down to take in the aerial view of the Lidder river, blue in colour, cutting and making its way through the wide meadow.

Chandanwadi

Chandanwadi is a small and extremely important town to the northeast of Pahalgam. It is the starting point for the Amarnath yatra, a long arduous and religious journey that several Hindus make to the endpoint at the Amarnath caves. It is also the last village on this route.

If you are fascinated by the Amarnath journey but are not making it, I would suggest you can make your way to Chandanwadi and find more about it. You will also find the river that makes its way from the Amarnath caves and maybe hike a couple of kilometres to get in the feel. Make sure you have warm clothes for this place since it can get pretty chilly.

Including this in your itinerary is completely an option since you will have to take a detour on your way to Sonmarg and maybe spend an additional 2 hours visiting it. But we did that and I will tell you about it.

Wular Lake is HUGE! You can see that on the map. Geographically, it is the biggest freshwater lake in India (Sambhar lake is saltwater and Chilka lake is a brackish or semi-saline water lake bigger than this).

Since it is so huge, you can access it from several points. We made a halt at Wular vintage park and I think the view to the lake was simply mindblowing. You don’t have any shops in the area so get some snacks or a meal with you and make a picnic out of it. The garden is beautiful and a great resting place for late afternoon.

Sonmarg was our last destination in our 9-day trip itinerary and luckily, we had the best of it there. When I was looking up for stuff to do in Sonmarg earlier and really nothing came up. So, don’t rely on the internet.

The most popular place to visit in Sonmarg is Thajiwas glacier. And I think that you must not miss it. While most of the local guides will convince you that you need a pony to reach there, if you are fit enough to hike 5 km on slightly uneven terrain, you can also make this journey on foot.

We did one way on a pony (costs up to INR 600 per pony) and returned back on foot. The views are amazing. At the glacier, you probably won’t find any snow during the peak in summer. But it’s still cold up there and you can hang around for tea and Maggi.

You can read more about places to visit in Sonmarg with popular treks on our blog

The next trip from Sonmarg is towards zero point. While it shows just 6 km from Sonmarg, its actual distance is 23 km. Zero-point refers to the border point between Kashmir and Ladakh. Only local vehicles are allowed to make this journey so hire one if you don’t have one already. It could cost you around INR 3000.

The journey itself is exhilarating. You can find snow-capped mountains in the distance even at the peak of the summer. You can also observe the terrain changing from bright green mountains to dry yellow ones with distance. We found some large blocks of ice from last winter that melts into icy cold water streams and makes tiny waterfalls.

We crossed the Zoji La pass and saw the construction of the tunnel that will open up Ladakh all year round (currently its closes in winters). The zero point lies just ahead of Gumri where you can find a war memorial and a small temple that you must make a stop at. A small cafe run by the army also serves tea, Maggi and momos.

Saying goodbye to Kashmir

No matter where ever you are, you need to travel back to Srinagar to travel back. If you are travelling back by air, make sure you reach the airport with an ample amount of time since the security checking is rather strict.

Kashmir will imprint strong memories for you. Memories of mountains and Himalayas that you will never find anywhere on the planet (even if they look alike). If you decide to make another trip, you can also decide to travel deep in the mountains to some of the lakes with trek time that could range from 3 – 10 days.

Check out these tours if you want to explore more:

Kashmirtreks.com – Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Indiahikes.com – Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Thrillophillia.com – Tarshar Marsar Trek

Alpinelakestrek.com – Kashmir Naranag Gangabal Lakes Trekking

Best time to visit Kashmir

Winters in kashmir.

Now if you love winters and the snow, I will definitely suggest that you visit Kashmir once in the winters. Especially Gulmarg. But it comes with its own restrictions.

On one side it is extremely cold where the temperature drops down to several degrees minus zero. On the other hand, your travel and movement os fairly restricted since most of the roads are blocked with snow and only small vehicles are allowed to pass. On top of that, the prices are insanely high.

But I still think that the price is worth it and you must visit Kashmir during the winter at least once in your life

Summers in Kashmir

As beautiful are the winters, summers are also a fantastic time to be in Kashmir. Especially if you are looking for some respite from the heat. Although Srinagar still remains quite hot. You can find relatively better weather in Gulmarg and Sonmarg.

It is also a good time to travel long distances and cover a lot of places in Kashmir. Tourist activities are at their peak corresponding to the number of tourists that flock here. Several places that are closed off during the winters are open only after the snow melts during a few months in summer.

Most of the treks to lakes deep in the mountains takes place during this time. You can also plan all your adventure activities then.

Spring and Autumn

I think these are probably the best months to go. Also called the ‘shoulder’ season, spring is when the snow has not yet melted in a lot of places in Kashmir. You can catch snow and frozen glaciers near Gulmarg and Sonmarg as late as April. Plus, the steep prices have come down and there is the ability for more movement.

Autumn is also a fantastic time. It is when the saffron flowers bloom in the valley and with a little effort, you can find these rare views. The weather is a little chilly but the days are warm. The tourist activity also subsides after a busy summer so you can get great prices on hotels and flights.

If you are going in search of some snow, plan your vacation in mid-October and you will be able to catch some fantastic views, at least in some areas.

Related Posts

Snigdha Jaiswal

MAHMOUD AHMED

HOW MUCH DOES Kashmir Travel Itinerary 7 to 9 Days COST

Hi Mahmoud, You can expect to pay around an average of 50-60k per person if it is not the peak season for 7-9 days. If it is the peak season (winter ski season, tulip blooming or summers, the prices can be much more.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• International
• Personal Travel Planning

An Epic 7-Day Kashmir Itinerary

Are you dreaming of a trip to Kashmir? Look no further! We’ve curated a 7-day Kashmir itinerary for a truly special journey.

This fantastic Kashmir itinerary includes everything from breathtaking mountains to tranquil lakes, giving you the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Get ready to experience stunning views and unforgettable moments that you won’t soon forget!

How To Reach Srinagar l Kashmir Itinerary

The easiest way to arrive in Srinagar is by air. Srinagar airport is well connected to the airports of major cities.

Check out some great deals on airfare here .  

Presently, there are no operational railway stations in Srinagar. Jammu Tawi is the nearest railway station at a distance of approximately 260 kilometres. 

From Jammu Tawi, you can hire taxis and private and state government buses to reach Srinagar.

You can see more details here .

The city is well connected with major cities like Delhi (876 km), Chandigarh (646 km), Leh (424 km) and Jammu (260 km).

If you are on a tight budget and wish to take the bus, this  site  has excellent bus deals. You can take JKSRTC buses from and to the city. 

                      DAY-WISE KASHMIR ITINERARY  

                        DAY 1: ARRIVE IN SRINAGAR 

A trip to Kashmir would not be complete without visiting Srinagar. Srinagar is considered to be its heart, both literally and figuratively!

Stroll Around

After reaching, take some time to relax and spend the rest of your day strolling here in tranquillity along the Dal lake.

Take a Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

Start your evening by enjoying the serenity of one of Kashmir’s most popular attractions — Dal Lake. 

A shikara ride on its waters is the perfect way to relax and take in the majesty of nature.  Enjoy sunsets  over the peaceful Dal lake and experience the surreal beauty of Kashmir. 

During summer, shikara rides have their own charm when decorated with colourful flowers blooming everywhere.

                       DAY 2: SIGHTSEEINGS IN SRINAGAR 

Indira gandhi tulip garden.

Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden is Kashmir’s very own version of the famous Keukenhof park in Amsterdam, Netherlands – the largest flower garden in the world! 

It houses over 50 varieties of tulips on sprawling seven terraces blanketed with tulip beds, making it an ideal spot for any nature lover. 

The best time to visit Tulip garden is from mid-March until mid-May. 

Mughal Gardens of Nishat / Shalimar Bagh

Nishat Garden , or ‘Garden of Joy and Relaxation’, is located on the banks of Dal Lake.

This majestic garden is 11 terraces high – each terrace dedicated to various flowers and trees. It is said to be one of the oldest surviving examples of traditional Mughal gardens that span across Asia and provides stunning views of the nearby mountains!

Shalimar Bagh is one of the most iconic gardens in Kashmir, located in Srinagar. It was built in 1619 by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife, Nur Jahan. The garden is situated on the banks of Dal Lake. 

Today, it is an oasis of beauty with its four terraced gardens filled with flowers, fruit trees, and lawns. Visitors can stroll over 400 meters long causeway that runs along the lake or take a leisurely boat ride around Shalimar Bagh while taking in its breathtaking beauty.

Not interested in Gardens or got more time in hand? l Kashmir Itinerary

Visit Yusmarg 

Yusmarg is such a place that sees few tourist footfalls. Yusmarg lies in the Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, about 50 kilometres from Srinagar. 

It is surrounded by snow-covered peaks, and the Doodh Ganga river passes near it, making it one of the most attractive regions for tourism.

A place for a digital detox, rejuvenating yourself from the hustle and bustle of cities. Yusmarg is a perfect definition of a place that refreshes one’s soul and mind.

If you are an adventure junkie, you’ll come across abundant outdoor activities such as trekking, paragliding, skiing expeditions and camping under star-filled skies! 

               DAY 3: HEAD TO GULMARG 

It’s time to explore one of Kashmir’s most popular attractions – Gulmarg, about 51 kilometres from Srinagar.

From golf courses built within sloping meadows to riding a cable car (or Gondola) up Mt Apharwat for breathtaking views of snow-clad mountains, this place certainly has something for everyone! 

Moreover, if you’re an adrenaline junkie, you must try skiing and sledging here for an unforgettable experience.  

If you plan for a week, I suggest picking Gulmarg or Sonmarg.

While both places are heaven in a true sense, visiting both locations in your 7-day trip may get too hectic if you’re a slow-paced traveller.  However , if you do not mind a packed Kashmir itinerary, then go ahead and allocate 1 day each to Gulmarg and Sonmarg.  

             DAY 4: GULMARG (LOCAL SIGHTSEEING)

Depending upon the time at hand and your interest, you can visit the following places:

Gulmarg Gondola 

The Gulmarg Gondola is arguably the most iconic attraction of Gulmarg. 

It is one of the highest cable cars in the world, offering incredible views of the lush, green valley below and the towering mountains above. 

The two stages provide tourists access to remote areas in this stunning part of Kashmir, such as Kongdori and Apharwat Peak, where you can ski and snowboard in winter or take some time to take a leisurely stroll.

Alpather Lake

Image credit: India Chalk

Alpather lake is one of Kashmir’s most picturesque lakes, which holds a special place in tourists’ hearts due to its mesmerising beauty. It is also known as frozen Lake by the locals.

This stunning lake lies at an altitude of 12500 feet above sea level near the mighty Mt. Afarwat (the highest peak accessible by cable car).

It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers that make for incredible sights. Enjoy a picnic lunch by its banks or soak up the breathtaking views.

Khilanmarg Valley

This majestic 8 km long alpine meadow stretch offers you some of Kashmir’s most impressive mountain prospects that no tourist must miss! 

Located about 10 km from Gondola Base Station at an elevation between 2700 meters to 3600 meters above sea level – this nature-pocket hosts all kinds of thrilling activities like Curling (ice skating) & Horse Riding for adventure seekers alike – coupled with gorgeous sunsets & sunrises loaded with colours so vivid it will leave you stunned!

Strawberry Valley 

Strawberry Valley is a hidden gem and an unexplored area of Gulmarg. It holds the beauty and charm of the valley. 

The valley is covered with budding red strawberries, and the clear sky with lush green grass all over gives it the most pristine view of the valley.

Trekking is one of the main attractions at Strawberry Valley Gulmarg during the summer seasons.

            If you are adding “Sonmarg” to your Kashmir itinerary, then read this:

Sonmarg is at a distance of 122 kilometres from Gulmarg and 79 kilometres from Srinagar. You can take a day trip from Srinagar.

This picturesque town lies close to the banks of the Nallah Sindh River and is surrounded by snow-covered peaks and meadows of vibrant flowers. 

Spend time exploring the wonders of nature here – such as glacial lakes like Vishansar Lake, Thajiwas Glacier or Nilagrad River – and rejuvenate yourself at hot springs like Verinag water bodies or Hatmal Narayan village. 

You can also get adventurous with activities like horse riding, camping or river rafting! 

                   DAY 5&6: PAHALGAM 

Pahalgam is a stunning hill station tucked away in Kashmir! 

This gorgeous mountain town will entice you with its lush green hills, glaciers, lakes and sparkling rivers. Pahalgam is a great spot to explore the region’s natural beauty and soak up the fresh air. 

On the way, you can also visit the Awantipura ruins. 

It is an ancient temple that is over 1100 years old. The temple was built in honour of Lord Vishnu and by King Awantivarman. Check out the reviews  here .

Depending upon the time at hand and your interest, you can visit the following places in/near Pahalgam:

Baisaran meadow

It is a natural meadow surrounded by dense pine forests & offers views of snow-laden peaks around it during peak season months. 

An ideal place to enjoy a picnic or take leisure walks, Baisaran Meadow has many exciting sights apart from the spectacular mountain view that can quickly draw visitors towards itself, making them want to stay longer in this magnificent place!

Aru Valley 

This picturesque location attracts tourists for its stunning landscapes and natural beauty. 

Aru valley also serves as the starting point for treks like Kolhoi Glacier, Amarnath and so on., which makes it a much sought-after tourist spot in Pahalgam.

Chandanwari 

Another popular sightseeing point in Pahalgam is located at an altitude of 2895 m above sea level. It is the starting point of a holy pilgrimage from the Amarnath cave shrine and Aru valley. 

Chandanwari offers stunning views of snow-stripped mountains, creating breathtaking landscape views around the region.

Betaab Valley 

Named after Sunny Deol’s hit movie Betaab, this picturesque valley looks like paradise on Earth! 

Surrounded by astonishingly beautiful mountain peaks with sparkling waterfalls and greenery, it’s truly a sight not worth missing out on when travelling to Pahalgam! 

Sheshnag Lake & Trekking Trail 

Located at 4138 meters above sea level, Sheshnag Lake captures ‘heavenly beauty’ within itself. It stands true to its name – derived from King Cobra or ‘Seshnag’ who ate seven eggs buried underneath the lake bed yet never did any damage! 

Reaching up here involves a majestic hike full of nature trails leading past cascading locks and wildlife spotting points, along with panoramic views over snow-clad Himalayan Mountains that greets trekkers once they reach Sheshnag Lake!

               DAY 7: BACK TO SRINAGAR 

Head back to Srinagar from Pahalgam, which is about 90 kilometres away.

You can visit the following places today:

Hazratbal Mosque

Hazratbal Mosque is a famous Islamic shrine on the left bank of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir.

The mosque is also home to numerous shrines or dargahs (tombs), including those belonging to local saints. 

The main building is composed of crisp white marble with verses from the Qur’an written in Arabic script adorning its walls. It also houses two courtyards and an extended terrace that continues around the shrine’s perimeter wall and cascades onto the shore of Dal Lake beneath.

Shankaracharya Temple

Image credit: Tour my India

Shankaracharya Temple, also known as Shankara Hill, is the iconic temple atop the hill.

After parking your vehicle at of the spots, you have to climb about 250 steps. This iconic destination stands out amongst the biggest crowd-pullers in the entire valley due to its spiritual calmness, captivating viewpoints & surreal energy manifesting within its premises!

Shopping In Srinagar l Kashmir Itinerary

Kashmir’s handicrafts are famous worldwide, as are its dry fruits. 

Shopping in Srinagar is a pleasant experience as there are lots of fascinating stuff to pick up while you’re browsing the streets, but here’re a few things that the city is famous for

Shopping for souvenirs on the mesmerising Dal lake would not be complete without taking home one of these unique boat-shaped wooden vessels called Shikaras. There are many shops that dot the waterfront where you can find these shikaras in various sizes and designs, along with other traditional woodwork creations from Srinagar, such as carved furniture and jewellery boxes etc.,

Dry Fruits & Spices  

A visit to a local dry fruit market or spice shop in Srinagar should not be missed while exploring the city streets! You will come across several open bazaars selling everything ranging from handpicked nuts like Kesar almonds *chilgoza*, raisins & walnuts to dried fruits like dates & apricots to freshly grounded spices such as saffron, cardamom & cassia bark etc., 

Pashmina Shawls  

Head over to Residency Road for some exclusive Pashmina shawls, typical of Jammu & Kashmir – beautiful embroidered woollen garments crafted with meticulous detailing that make for excellent gifts for your loved ones back home! 

Papier Mache Art  

Papier-mache products are another item you can carry back home without much hassle. 

Kashmiri Handicrafts  

Reflecting its rich cultural heritage best are exotic yet contemporary wooden handicrafts made from walnut tree wood – beautifully carved trinket boxes painted with semi-precious stones; ornately decorated hookahs; intricately designed coffee tables featuring floral motives; Mirswari shawl materials; exquisite rosewood carvings etc., all make up every traveller’s dream shopping experience right here in Srinagar!

Regarding where to shop in Srinagar, a few places like Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the shopping mall Srinagar and other famous shopping streets make for the perfect places for the purpose.

Food In Srinagar l Kashmir Itinerary

How can our Kashmir itinerary not include at least a bit about the cuisine? 😉

Kashmir cuisine is very diverse and flavorful because of the variety of indigenous ingredients and local spices that flourish in the valley regions. 

The cuisine of Srinagar is greatly influenced by the Mughals. The authentic Mughal dishes spiked with spices like fennel, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves are common here. If you are a vegetarian, the cuisine has a few unique varieties. However, meat and fish are the main ingredients in any signature dish.

Some of the dishes you may want to try are – Kashmiri Pulao , Kashmiri Modur Pulav ( a unique type of pilaf prepared using basmati rice and yoghurt ), Yakhni ( It refers to the simmering of yoghurt gravy which is usually made with yoghurt, onions, garlic cloves etc .,  and seasoned with cardamom pods, bay leaves and saffron strands for enhanced flavour) , Tabak Maaz   (Tabak maaz (or fried rib) is another local speciality from this region that cannot be missed out on) , Dum Aloo, Rogan Josh, Tobruk Halwa   (sweet dish made of semolina).  

The local beverages are Noon Chai and Kahwah.

Do You Have More Days In Kashmir?

Gurez Valley (the forsaken land – 125 kilometres from Srinagar) , Lolab valley  (120 kilometres from Srinagar) , Verinag  (Stunningly wooded mountain – 85 kilometres from Srinagar),   Doodhpatri (an alpine valley  – 45 kilometres from Srinagar ).

Kashmir is also a fantastic place to go trekking – there are several routes to traverse including Mount Harmukh as well as various tracks around Pahalgam and Sonamarg that provide sights of nature like no other.

Make sure you’re prepared with enough supplies such as food, water and warm clothing before taking on any treks!

Best Time To Visit Kashmir l Kashmir Itinerary  

March to august.

This is the best time of the year to visit Kashmir. The temperate is pleasant, making it ideal for sightseeing.  

During this period, two seasons are covered in Kashmir. Spring (March to early May) and Summer (early May to late August). 

November to February 

To witness Kashmir’s awe-inspiring beauty in winter that transforms the place into a fairyland, you should plan your trip in winter.

Explore activities like skiing and sledging near Gulmarg, which are covered with gracefully fallen snow around November- February.

From November to February, expect low temperatures of 0°C and sub-zero. High temperatures don’t often go beyond 15°C.

Hope this Kashmir itinerary is helpful! Have I convinced you to visit Kashmir this year? 😊

Are you looking for a customised Kashmir itinerary? Have me create a personal itinerary for you today! Let’s connect. 

Happy travelling! 

You may also like to read “ Pondicherry Itinerary for 3 Days l Feeling French “

Let’s connect on Instagram for some wonderful wanderlust vibes! 

Share this:

You may also like, leave a reply cancel reply.

My goal is to create a warm space for sharing my travel blogs coupled with personal growth ideas, thus, giving inspiration to always be happy!  

Hope you find something here that interests you, and your mood shines a little brighter because of it.

Popular Posts

• 1 Places 11 Unique Resorts Near Mumbai For A Perfect Weekend – (Within 200 km)
• 2 India , Itineraries Pondicherry Itinerary for 3 Days – Feeling French
• 3 Places Best Places To Visit In India In January 2024
• 4 India A Complete Mussoorie Itinerary For Your 3-day Trip

Subscribe and follow

• International (8)
• Itineraries (23)
• Places (77)

Arrive at Srinagar

Arrive at Srinagar before 8 AM. Make sure to shoot some amazing visuals of the Himalayas before your flight lands. Left-side seats are better for this.

Have breakfast and go for a city tour, covering the following places. You can hire a cab or an auto for this.

You can spend around 30 - 45 minutes in each of these places.

Post the city tour, you can proceed for lunch. You can try out some of the following restaurants.

Post lunch, proceed towards Dal lake and check into your hotel. You can also stay in one of the houseboats in Dal lake. Listing down some recommendations for your stay:

After you checkin, rest till evening. In the evening, proceed towards Dal Lake for an amazing sunset boat ride. The ride typically lasts for 1 - 1.5 hours and shall cost you about INR 500 - 800 per person. Make sure that you bargain. During the ride, you will come across people in boats selling snacks, kahwa (traditional Kashmiri tea), artifacts, etc. You will also pass by the floating market. The prices here can be a tad bit more expensive compared to land costs.

Post the boat ride, you can have dinner and call it a day. 

On day 2, finish your breakfast early and proceed towards Pahalgam. You can hire a cab for this. The journey from Srinagar to Pahalgam should take about 2 - 3 hours. En route, you will pass by saffron fields, apple orchards and cricket bat factory. You may also purchase dry fruits and saffron from any of the shops on the way.

On arrival at Pahalgam, check into your hotel. The following are our recommendations:

Post lunch, proceed towards Pahalgam taxi stand. You can hire a pony here to visit places such as mini Switzerland, Kashmir valley, Pahalgam valley, etc. The cost of pony will depend upon the places that you want to visit and should range from INR 4000 - 5000 per person. Again, make sure to bargain. This should take about 4 - 5 hours to complete.

P.S. Even though this experience is slightly expensive, we strongly recommend it. The views are to die for, and movies such as Bajrangi Bhaijan were shot in these places. 

Post this trip, return to your hotel for dinner and call it a day.

Pahalgam and return to Srinagar

Post breakfast, proceed to Pahalgam taxi stand. Please note that the cabs you hired from Srinagar are not allowed here, and you need to hire local union cabs from the taxi stand to visit Aru Valley, Betab Valley, and Chandanwari. During winter months, you may hire a sled in these valleys since walking can be a bit taxing in the cold weather. Gumboots will be available for rent in front of the entrance of these places. You can spend 1 - 1.5 hours in each of these places.

Once you cover these places, you can return to Srinagar. En-route, visit Avantipur ruins.

In the evening, you may visit Lal Chowk market or take a stroll along the banks of Dal Lake.

On day 4, finish your breakfast early and proceed towards Gulmarg. You can hire a cab for this. The journey from Srinagar to Gulmarg should take about 1.5 - 2 hours. Please note that during winter months, depending on road conditions, your vehicle may not be allowed in Gulmarg and you may have to hire a local union cab. Here also, on the top, you may hire a sled during the winter months. You can also rent jackets, gumboots, etc. here. The main attraction in Gulmarg is the Gondola ride. The queue for getting the tickets can sometimes be very long, so plan on reaching Gulmarg early. It is also possible to book these tickets online. Gondola has two phases. The ticket price will depend upon the phase that you want to visit.

You can also try out activities such as skiing and snowboarding here. You may spend 4 - 5 hours here, depending upon the crowd and number of activities that you want to do.

Post this, definitely visit Drung waterfall, especially if you are visiting during the winter months. The frozen waterfall is one of the best natural sights that you will see in your life!

You may choose to spend the day in Gulmarg, or return to Srinagar in the evening.

The following are some of our recommendations for stays in Gulmarg:

The journey from Gulmarg to Sonmarg can take 3 - 3.5 hours. If you are traveling from Srinagar, it will take 2 - 2.5 hours. 

The biggest attraction of this place is the Thajiwas Glacier. You can hire a pony similar to Pahalgam here also.

Return to Srinagar in the evening.

Departure from Srinagar

Check out from your hotel post breakfast and proceed towards with lots of memories to be cherished for a lifetime!

1. The land cost in Kashmir is expensive compared to other destinations (for hiring pony, local cabs, renting winter wear, etc.). Make sure that you bargain for a fair price and also carry sufficient amount of cash with you. While ATMs are available in Srinagar, they are sparsely available in other locations and online payment is not always an option.

2. If you are traveling during winter, make sure to carry sufficient amount of winter wear such as thermals, jackets, sweaters, etc. While gumboots are available for rent in places with heavy snow, you must carry woollen socks and a good pair of shoes.

3. Make sure to carry your essential medicines with you since medical shops may not be accessible everywhere.

4. While aerial shots of Kashmir are beautiful, make sure that you ask around for local regulations related to flying a drone. 

5. Please leave for airport early on your departure day since there is security checking before entering the airport. Please make sure to factor in atleast 30 - 45 minutes for this, based on the crowd at the airport.

Looking for a personalized experience?

If you need a customised itinerary, we are here to help! Book a call with us or drop a line at [email protected] 

Kashmir Itinerary for 7 Days: Best Places to Visit

It is a very late post. I visited Kashmir with my husband and it was our first trip together. It is well known that Kashmir is Paradise on earth surrounded by the Himalayas and there are so many beautiful places in Kashmir. I want to show you why it is called paradise. In this post, I am covering the Kashmir itinerary for 7 days with Best Places to Visit in Kashmir. for first-timer.

We traveled by train to Jammu and from there we took a road trip. We had booked Cab and hotels in advance.

Day-1 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Arrival in Jammu and Heading towards Srinagar.

on the first day of our Roadtrip Kashmir itinerary, we arrived at Jammu railway station in the early morning, and reached the taxi stand where a pre-booked cab was waiting for us.

We booked a taxi through the agent in Delhi. The driving distance from Jammu to Srinagar is 250-260 Km. I recommend starting early as roads are curvy and due to landslides, there are possibilities of heavy traffic.

Try Rajama Chaval (Kidney Beans dish with Rice) at one of the Dhaba on the highway.

We reached Srinagar after 7-8 hours with some quick stops at Patnitop and at some viewpoints on the way. After reaching Srinagar, checked into the hotel and we slept early on that day due to the long journey on the road.

Also Read: Guide to Kedarnath and Badrinath

Day-2 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Day trip to Sonmarg

There are so many places to visit around Srinagar on a day trip. On day-2 of 7 days Kashmir trip, we proceeded to Sonmarg which means “Meadow of Gold” with a backdrop of snowy mountains against a cerulean sky.

The place received its name because of the fact that during the spring season, it is enveloped with beautiful flowers that look golden. In late April when Sonmarg is open for road transport, the visitors can have access to snow which is furnished all over like a white carpet.

The main attraction is Thajiwas Glacier resting at the foot of Sonmarg Glacier. The Glacier remains snow-covered throughout the year. One can reach by Pony or on a walk.

It is like a short trek to reach here, but it is doable by walking. We reached here and were awe-stricken with the beauty of the place. The great joy was having Maggie at the mountain. After spending a day on the top we got down and headed back to Srinagar in the evening.

Day-3 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Visit to Gulmarg

Today Driver Bhaiya drove to Gulmarg. Gulmarg is a town and popular hill station and ski destination located in the Baramula district of Jammu and Kashmir. The town is situated in the Pirpanjal range in the western Himalayas. It is also the ‘heartland of winter sports in India’.

On the way to Gulmarg, you can see apple and cherry trees all the way. We visited one of the apple and cherry Gardens and purchased the cherries. The route to Gulmarg is picturesque.

There are many attractions in Gulmarg including Gulmarg Gondola. It is one of the highest in the world measuring 3,979 meters from sea level. At stage 1 of the Gondola at Aphrawat, you can enjoy endless snow. But here there was some twist between the two of us.

We enjoyed the snow in Sonmarg and we decided not to go for a Gondola ride and we opted to visit Khalinmarg. Gulmarg is the Best Place to visit in Kashmir during summer and winter.

Khalinmarg is a valley located 5 km from Gulmarg covered with nature’s beauty and splendor. Khalinmarg gives panoramic views of the majestic Himalayan peaks.

Khalinmarg is carpeted with fragrant and blossoming flowers with greenery all around in spring and becomes a ski run destination for its visitors in winter. It is a 1.5 hr trek or can reach by Pony. I and my husband were not ready to go by Pony, but also we were unable to go by foot so hired a pony to reach there.

On the way, we stopped halfway and ate delicious Kashmiri Pulav at one of the dhabas and clicked some photos on the way. After reaching here, we just sat back and relaxed and enjoyed the weather, the beauty, and everything it has to offer. Tourists were busy playing with the snow but for us, beauty was to be with nature.

It was a wonderful day and retired for the day at Srinagar.

Day-4 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary : Srinagar Local Sightseeing

From our 7 days trip to Kashmir, on the 4th day, we did Srinagar Local sightseeing. we started the day by seeking blessings at Hazrat Bal Shrine. It is located on the left bank of the famous Dal lake. It is famous among Muslims but all the community people go here to seek blessings. It is a very calm and serene place near Dal lake.

After that, we headed to visit the famous Mughal Gardens of Kashmir. We visited Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chasme Shahi, and botanical gardens till noon. All the gardens are nearby.

After lunch at one of the restaurants near Dal Lake, we headed to visit Shankaracharya temple on the hilltop. Temple is located upstairs at 1000 ft above the plain. You can view the entire Srinagar from the top of the hill.

After the whole day of sightseeing, in the evening our driver left us on the bank of Dal lake for reaching to Houseboat. After checking into the houseboat we opted  Shikara ride for 2 hours. It is a must-do activity if you are in Srinagar.

We also explored the floating market of Dal Lake, and knew about the life of people who lives in the houseboat. As the sun was at dusk, we retired for the day with an amazing sunset at Dal Lake. You can take Srinagar Local Sightseeing tour Package by Taxi Or auto from the town.

Day-5 of Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Srinagar to Pahalgam

There are so many beautiful places to visit near Srinagar, and Pahalgam is one of them. On this day, we checked out from the houseboat and started towards Pahalgam.

On the way we pit stopped first for shopping of dry fruits and then visited Mattan sun temple; well known for its lovely Shiva Lingam, surrounded by clear blue water on all sides. We reached Pahalgam by noon. One can visit the saffron fields of Palampore; it was not the season time, so we couldn’t visit it.

Pahalgam is located at a height of 7200 ft popularly known as the ‘Valley of Shepherds’. It is a scenic hill station in Kashmir where many Bollywood movies have been shot. Perched at the intersection of the Lidder River and the Sheshnag Lake, Pahalgam is encompassed by thickly lush pine backwoods, stunning vistas of knolls, and the snow-clad Himalayan Mountains.

We pit-stopped for photography at Lidder River and then Checked into the hotel, we took lunch at the famous Dana Pani restaurant and headed for Places to visit in Pahalgam. Our first stop was – Baisaran.

Baisaran is often dubbed as ‘Mini Switzerland’ because of its long dark meadows and dense pine forest that gives the green carpet look to the meadow and provides a contrasting hue to the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains.

It is a major tourist place to visit in Pahalgam, a voyage to the meadow is truly a treat for the senses. The entry ticket is INR 10 per person. We sit on the grass and enjoyed the beauty around us.

Day-6 of  Kashmir 7 Days Itinerary: Visit Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and Chandanwari

Our morning started with the walk along the Lidder river as our hotel was located just on the bank of the Lidder river. Pahalgam is surrounded by so many walnut tree gardens. It was the month of June and all the trees were loaded with green walnuts. Walnut harvesting season is Sep-Oct.

Also Read : Top things to do in Manali,Himachal Pradesh

On this day opted Pahalgam sightseeing trip that gave us varying sights from snow-clad white regions to green-filled meadows and rocky terrains to dense forests.

It is possible only by hiring taxis available locally. While private vehicles can ply to these destinations without any restrictions, taxis coming from other parts of the state like Srinagar are not allowed to ply to these viewpoints.

Our first stop was Aru valley near Pahalgam. It is very famous for trekking and camping activities. This valley is at a height of 8,000 feet and provides wonderful scenery all around.  The drive through Aru valley is itself quite enjoyable and a traveler’s delight.

The next stop was Betaab valley. The original name for this valley was Hajan Valley and is at a distance of 15 kilometers from Pahalgam. A Hindi film by the name “Betaab” was shot mostly in this valley and the valley is now known as “Betaab Valley”.  

It is a beautiful valley with a background of mountains and a long valley through which a river flows. A beautiful park is created along the river. When the days are bright and sunny, a whole day can be spent in the park to enjoy the scenery and flowing waters of the river.

After some snaps here and resting for a while, we headed to our last point Chandanwari.

The last stop on the route was Chandanwari. It is the starting point for the “Amarnath Yatra”, Chandanwari is at a distance of 16 Kilometers from Pahalgam and at a height of 9,500 feet.

The short journey from Pahalgam to Chandanwari itself is quite enjoyable, Lidder river flows on one side of the road, and mountains with green vegetation provide the setting on the other side. There are innumerable streams flowing down from the snow-clad peaks. Just stop for sightseeing and enjoy the scenery.

You can see the melting snow of the glacier converting into a stream and flowing downwards.

After returning from sightseeing we took lunch at Dana Pani restaurant and passed our evening time at the bank of the Lidder river. A touch of water only gives you so much healing to the body. Overall, we loved Pahalgam very much as it has mountains, rivers, a clear sky, and beautiful weather.

Day-7 Kashmir Itinerary: Pahalgam to Jammu and Train to Homebound

This was the last day to be back home with beautiful memories of the Kashmir trip. This was just a perfect 7 days Kashmir trip Plan to experience the best of Kashmir Valley.

Will always cherish it for a lifetime.

How to Reach:

By air: Fly to Srinagar airport [15 km away] which is well connected via all major Indian cities.

By Train: The nearest railhead is Jammu is located within the city and is known as Jammu Tawi. This railhead is linked to most Indian cities.

Where to Stay:

Kashmir is a budget destination. You can stay at homestays, budget hotels, or at luxury resorts as per your choice. I recommend staying at Houseboat on Dal Lake for 1-2 nights, it is a fabulous experience.

Getting around

Taxis are available at reasonable rates at Taxi stand in Jammu and Srinagar.No needs to book a taxi in advance through a travel agent. You can get it as and when required. Also, autos are available for local sightseeing in Srinagar.

Travel Tips

• Entry fees for the Gardens are Rs.20 Per Person.
• There are 245-250 steps leading up to the temple area of Shankaracharya temple. Entrance to the hill is guarded by army personnel and cars are not permitted after 17:00 hours, although the temple remains open until 20:00 hours. Camera, Mobile phones, purses, etc not allowed.
• In Pahalgam, you are required to hire taxis of Pahalgam taxi passing for sightseeing, and rates are fixed.
• If you are good at health, there is no need for Pony hire, you can trek for 2-3 hours and can reach khalinmarg and Baisaran valley.

If you like this Post, Pin it for Later!!

Mayuri Patel, owner of the fernwehrahee Blog loves to travel and helping you to plan your Next Trip! She is full time Travel Blogger, dreaming about her next adventure! Join her Journeys where she takes you to destinations around the world with the pinch of history & culture!

Similar Posts

How to Spend One Day in Atlanta: Itinerary from a Local

If you’re visiting Peach State Georgia and have one day in Atlanta or have a long layover in the…

3 days Jaipur Itinerary: Complete Travel Guide

This 3 days Jaipur itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors to the capital city of Rajasthan. From when to…

4 day Las Vegas Itinerary : Ultimate Guide 2024

Are you planning a 4 days in Las Vegs? This 4-Day Las Vegas itinerary will help you plan out…

Perfect 5 Day Los Angeles(LA) Itinerary 2024: Travel Guide

Read about the perfect 5 Day Los Angeles Itinerary for first-time visitors and how to utilize your 5 days…

One Day in Salt Lake City: Itinerary + Things to do

Wandering what there is to see in one day in Salt Lake City? Are you planning a trip to…

Jaisalmer Itinerary for 2 days: Complete Travel Guide

Read the perfect Jaisalmer itinerary for 2 days along with Jaisalmer travel tips. Surely, desert camping is the top…

Lovely post, I have been to Kashmir three times and relate to the write up. And yes, lovely photos.

Thank you so much, I also loved my time over there so much

This is one of the best places to visit, And about a week an ago I have one guy on Facebook has shared the videos of Beautiful Kashmir and how Media Mis Interpreting people about the Kashmir valley that nothing left to see in Kashmir, All thanks to you guys where we can see the Beautiful visuals of Kashmir and I would Love to visit it one day and Explore the Kashmir, Scenic beauty and I heard from my friend who is my colleague from Kashmir you must taste the home food. Anyway, thank you for sharing such a beautiful post with great visuals.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Privacy Overview

7-Day Itinerary To Explore Kashmir With Family !

insideoutwithrahulyuvi.com

#GuestPost #Performics.Convonix #ClubMahindra

Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir , a land of unimaginable beauty, is cradled between the mighty Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. The bracing air of the valley offers a wholesome treat as you sip a cup of Kahwah and enjoy the glorious view.

Offering a variety of experiences, a trip to Kashmir with your family will enrich your mind. If you are looking for places to visit in Kashmir, here’s a curated 7-day Kashmir itinerary for you:

DAY 1: Arrive in Srinagar

A famous tourist place in Kashmir is the serene city of Srinagar. Home to the beautiful Mughal gardens; you can spend the morning admiring acres of exotic flowers. Enjoy a local Kashmiri lunch and head out for a Shikara ride at Nehru Park. In the evening, book a stay in a boathouse on Dal Lake for a truly mesmerizing experience.

DAY 2: Sightseeing in Srinagar

One night is not enough to take in the beauty of Dal Lake, especially if you are staying in a boathouse on the lake. Known as Srinagar’s jewel, Dal Lake offers more than just splendid houseboats. A source of commercial operations, there is a unique floating flower and vegetable market that can be explored early in the morning. Have lunch at the in-house restaurant and check out the local spice and woollen market in Srinagar. Later, make it a point to watch the beautiful sunset over the lake before you call it a night.

DAY 3: Head to Gulmarg

PHOTO CREDIT : SHUTTERSTOCK

A skier’s paradise, Gulmarg is a must-visit spot in every tourist’s Kashmir itinerary. From vibrant flowers to snow-capped mountains, Gulmarg is paradise for adventure buffs. Stop for lunch at one of the local dhabas and if the weather is favourable, you can go mountain biking, skiing, trekking, or take gondola rides for a panoramic view of the valley. It gets dark early, so it is best to enjoy the view with your family after dinner, over laughter and conversation.

DAY 4: Move on to Sonmarg

Sonmarg, a hill station located to the northeast of Srinagar, is another popular tourist place in Kashmir. Set at an altitude of 9186 feet against scenic meadows and a clear blue sky, the name literally translates to ‘Meadow of Gold’. After lunch, do check out the Kheer Bhawani Temple located in the middle of a natural spring and the Gadsar Lake that is at 16,400 feet and remains frozen throughout the year. Surrounded by snow-covered mountains and alpine flowers, Sonmarg also has beautiful walnut orchards that you definitely must visit.

DAY 5: Destination Pahalgam

A favourite tourist place in Kashmir, Pahalgam is a small hill station that embodies the beauty of Kashmir. Also known as the Valley of Shepherds, Pahalgam is perched at the intersection of the Lidder and Sheshnag rivers. This tiny town has the beautiful Baisaran Hills that are just the place for a trek with your children. An ideal picnic spot; it’s a great place to enjoy a meal with your family after a rejuvenating trek. You can also visit Mamaleshwar Temple, Kolahoi Glacier, and Betaab Valley later in the evening (before sunset) for a picturesque view of the valley.

Chandanwari

DAY 6: Pahalgam to Srinagar via Chandanwari

At a distance of only 15 km from Pahalgam is Chandanwari, a glacier point and the starting point of the sacred Amarnath Yatra. Located at an elevation, it’s an offbeat destination to stop and have breakfast in the lap of nature. After a 30-minute detour, you can go on with your journey back to Srinagar. Spend the night in a houseboat (if you haven’t already) or a hotel in the city and relish a local meal. Try the authentic mutton rogan josh with the traditional bread and finish off with the world-famous Kashmiri phirni for dessert.

DAY 7: Relax and check out

Have a hearty breakfast at your boathouse or hotel and depart on your return journey!

The Kashmir Valley is resplendent with vibrant orchards, lakes, and snow-clad mountains.

A few words from Performics.Convonix Team :

While this 7-day itinerary will help you explore the splendour that is Kashmir, Club Mahindra offers you a comfortable stay at its legendary houseboat in Dal Lake. With comfortable rooms that offer a brilliant view of the lake, you can enjoy the sunrise and sunset, and partake of some finger-licking local food at the in-house restaurant.

Check out the Club Mahindra reviews online left by happy guests who have spent their family vacations on the houseboat, and book your trip to Kashmir soon!

Just Google : Inside Out with Rahul Yuvi

.........................

You can always Reach me at :

Inside Out with Rahul Yuvi @ Facebook

Inside Out with Rahul Yuvi @ Instagram

Inside Out with Rahul Yuvi @ YouTube

Namaste & Take Care till my next post !

Book Kashmir tour packages

Frequent searches leading to this page:-.

7 days in kashmir , kashmir packages for family trip , family trip packages to jammu and kashmir ,kashmir tour packages for family , top kashmir tour packages for honeymoon, kashmir group packages , sports activities in gulmarg , top activities in kashmir , top valley to visit in srinagar , budget hotels in kashmir , best local site seeing in kashmir , srinagar best food , adventure in kashmir

Jammu And Kashmir Packages

Further Reads

Author, Consultant, Traveller, Techie, Forever Curious

The Perfect 5 Days in Kashmir | A Do-It-Yourself Road Trip

Kashmir was as beautiful as I’d heard. It met all my expectations and more. Tall chinar laden mountains, hurt-my-eyes expansive green valleys, colourfully dressed chatty locals, delectable local food, lush gardens of flowers and fountains, a marvellous drop of the mountain at every turn of the road… not surprising then that Kashmir is called Heaven on Earth.

Therefore, Kashmir warrants not one, but many visits to take it all in. The itinerary I’ve listed here is the most commonly done, an introduction to Kashmir if you will, and a tourist should start here before attempting the more challenging routes. You can also avail of a travel agent’s multi-day package (dime-o-dozen, INR 12-15k / person usually for 4 nights and 5 days), but here’s how to do it yourself, by road, the best way to experience the region’s true beauty, in my view.

What was slightly putting-off in Kashmir and took some getting used to, was the constant soliciting, selling and overpricing of goods and services. Tourism is the only source of income for many in the valley and it seemed to me as if the locals aimed to wring the most out of every deal. Therefore, expect to be overcharged for everything, and thus, bargain hard everywhere. Although, I think there’s a thick line between a ‘tourist’ and a ‘friends/family’ in Kashmir. Once you cross that line, things turn around remarkably.

Now, to the five-day do-it-yourself Kashmir road trip itinerary.

What this itinerary doesn’t have. Pony rides. Luxury stays. Leisure time off. Winter sports.

There are easier ways to do this journey, through a multi-day organized tour like this or this .

About Kashmir

Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of India, made of the Himalayan mountain ranges, verdant valleys, lush lakes, and gushing rivers. The valley was apparently formed of a lake, drained through the gap of Baramulla. India controls half the area of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which comprises Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, while Pakistan controls the rest, divided into two provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The dominant religion of the region is Islam.

Tourism in Kashmir is fraught with constant tensions between Pakistan, Islamic militants, and the Indian army. But, for the most part, tourists are safe.

Moving Around

There are two ways to do my itinerary.

First – set Srinagar as the base and take day trips to nearby areas of interest. The towns mentioned in this plan are all in different directions and you’ll likely pass Srinagar in all of them, as you move from one to another.

The other way is to go from one town to another, passing Srinagar but not stopping there. This will increase your travel time, but you might want to do it to merely to spend your night in a different place (also, usually, a different altitude).

A daily cab (Innova/ Tavera) with a driver can be hired starting at INR 2500/day.

If you prefer a bike, which we used, they can be rented from Kashmir Travelogue or Kashmir Adventure Bikers for INR 1400/day. Documents asked: Passport copy, Aadhaar card, Driver’s license. You’ll need to deposit your Aadhaar card with them.

Day 1: Srinagar

The capital of Kashmir is noisy, dusty, curious, colourful. We arrived with zero bookings and were approached by Nissar at the airport who promised a world-class hotel at Dal Lake for INR 4500/ night. We agreed to check it out before committing—we intended to use the free ride from the airport to the city (It normally costs INR 500 to go from the airport to Dal Lake/ Lal Chowk. There is a prepaid taxi booth outside the airport gate. However, Nissar promised to adjust the amount with a full-day car hire for sightseeing which would’ve cost INR 2000. Alternately, we could simply pay him INR 500 if we didn’t like his place, or didn’t take the cab. To our tired minds, it seemed like a no-loss deal).

The ride through Srinagar was eventful, with traffic jams and noisy honks; people in Srinagar love their horns and use them liberally. We arrived at Ghat 17 and were ferried by a shikara to a cluster of ramshackle houseboats, one of which was Nissar’s Star of Kashmir (not available online). The houseboat was not luxurious but it was unique, and we loved the wooden loft that jutted daintily out into the water. The area was less touristy and crowded than I’d expected. We were a bit tired from the early morning flight, and so, we decided to stay put, at least for the night (we negotiated the nightly charge down to INR 3000/night eventually). We spent another thirty minutes fending off the package deal the houseboat manager was trying to push down on us (this would be a recurring theme) before we managed to retire to our quaint room.

If you like serene and quiet, you could base yourself on the less touristy Nigeen Lake , instead of Dal Lake. But we found staying at Dal Lake convenient because it was in the middle of the city. I’ll also recommend staying in a houseboat rather than on land; the experience is memorable.

Sukoon Houseboats was recommended to us for a luxury stay on Dal Lake. It looked beautiful but was unavailable in the days we went.

Things to do in Srinagar

Shankaracharya Temple: The temple—dedicated to Lord Shiva and from the 9th century AD—is located on top of the Shankaracharya Hill on the Zabarwan Range in Srinagar. At a height of 1,000 feet above the valley, it gives a nice view of the city of Srinagar, and especially, of the serpentine 8 km long Dal Lake. The temple can be reached by climbing about 250 steps. The area is under CRPF control, so you cannot carry cameras or mobile phones to the top. There are no locker facilities (that I noticed). So, best to leave them in the cab or at your hotel before you come.

Mughal Gardens: There are several so-called pleasure gardens in Kashmir. The most famous are Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chashma Shahi and Pari Mahal. These gardens are fashioned after the Persian Paradise gardens—made of terraces—arranged around a central water channel—lined with fountains—and planted with a variety of flowers and trees. In the end, though, one garden is like the other. Altogether, I enjoyed Nishat Garden the most. More on the gardens here .

Shikara Ride: An hour-long shikara ride costs upwards of INR 1000 for an hour (again, depending on your negotiation skills) and takes you to up to 7 points of interest in Dal Lake, which include a ‘function-boat’, some interesting movie spots ( Mission Kashmir !), and the Dal Lake market. The best time to take the ride is at dusk just around sunset. The weather is balmy and the ride is pleasantly soporific. We were exhausted when we did it, but the ride took away all our tiredness (just as Aamir, our shikara rower promised). Beware of the many other shikaras that will row to yours, stick by its side, and try to sell you their overpriced goods.

Lal Chowk: is Srinagar’s city centre of sorts and also a bustling marketplace. Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, unfurled the Indian national flag in 1948 in Lal Chowk, shortly after the country gained independence from the British. The chowk has been used for several political meetings since. The iconic clock tower at Lal Chowk was built in 1980. I preferred the shops here to elsewhere in the city, the ‘no bargaining’ policy (in many but not all stores) providing relief. But you’ve got to look for the good stuff.

Mosques : You’ll spot several unique mosques on your tour around Srinagar. Hazratbal Mosque and Jamia Mosque are among the most impressive. The Jamia Masjid is located in the middle of the Old City, very near to Lal Chowk. The impressive and humongous mosque (33,000 people can pray here at one time!) was commissioned by Sultan Sikandar in 1394 CE and today is considered the focal point of local dissent and political discourse. You’ll often find the main doors locked, in fear of a riot. The Hazratbal Shrine is another impressive mosque located in the Hazratbal area of Srinagar. It is said to be home to a relic, Moi-e-Muqqadas , which is widely believed to be the hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Day 2: Sonmarg

Sonmarg is located in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, about 80 km from Srinagar. The ‘Golden Meadow’ is perched at 8,960 ft, and is close to several peaks such as Machoi Glacier, Sirbal Peak, and Kolahoi Peak. It also has a historical significance, as a gateway on the ancient Silk Road, connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Tibet. Ponies can be hired for a trip up to Thajiwas Glacier , a major attraction during the summer months. But what we really enjoyed, was the 25 km ride to zero point through Zoji La pass.

At about 15 km from Sonmarg is the Baltal Valley whose splendour can be enjoyed on the ride through Zoji La Pass. The valley acts as a base for pilgrims camping for the yatra to the nearby Amarnath Temple . (There are two routes: Sonamarg – Baltal Route and Pahalgam – Chandanwari Track Route)

An under-construction tunnel is expected to replace Zoji La Pass, enabling all-weather connection between Srinagar and Kargil.

Day 3: Pahalgam

Pahalgam is located at an altitude of 7,200 feet and is 95 km east of Srinagar. The travel time from Srinagar is around 3 hours. The town is the starting point of the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath. The Lidder River runs through it offering several picture-perfect picnic spots. Literally, the name of the town translates to mean the ‘Valley of Shepherds’.

The main things to see in Pahalgam are Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari. The ride to Pahalgam is plenty interesting too, lined as the streets are with apple orchards, saffron fields, and cricket-bat factories.

Betab Valley lies between the two Himalayan Ranges–Pir Panjal and Zanskar. It can be reached in ten minutes from the Pahalgam city centre. The valley is named after the Sunny Deol-Amrita Singh hit debut film Betaab . The final point is a man-made park (INR 100 entry fee) with some good views of the Lidder River and mountains. The park is worth a 30-minute stop and it can get crowded.

Aru Valley is located 12 km from Pahalgam and takes about 20-30 minutes to reach. As always, the ride was better than the destination with several awesome views of the Lidder River and the valley as we rode along to the top. Aru Valley is also the base camp for trekking to the Kolhoi Glacier and Tarsar Lake. It is also the location of the JKTDC at Aru Valley. You can take a pony ride to see the valley or have a chai and plate of bread pakora at the JKTDC canteen once you reach the final point.

Chandanwari is where the Amarnath Yatra starts—the other route. It is situated at an elevation of 9,500 feet and is located 16 kilometres from Pahalgam.

Outside vehicles are not allowed to do sightseeing in Pahalgam. They can only drop you at the hotel. Only local taxis can ferry tourists in the town. Since we had a bike, we had no problem moving around.

Day 4: Pahalgam

Laze around in the day and take in more of the beauty of Pahalgam, or move your ass and head to one of the highly touted treks that start from here. Among the popular ones are the Sheshnag and Verinag Lake treks. There are several trek organizers to go with, Highhill Tours being one. We were too tired to do a trek, so we just soaked the beauty around and lazed in the market area—both plenty interesting. Be sure to eat at Food Point , a nondescript eatery frequented by locals. I had my first wazwan dishes here. If you fancy an early morning coffee, go to Volga . But again, be prepared to tip heavily.

Day 5: Gulmarg

At 8,700 feet above sea level, Gulmarg is best visited in winter when there is a couple of feet deep snow, and the mountains are covered in them, offering entrancing views. Gulmarg is also home to the famous skiing location of Kongdoor-Aferwat. In the summer and autumn months though, you can simply enjoy rides in the Gulmarg Gondola and the views of the valley it offers.

The Gulmarg Gondola is Asia’s largest and highest and the world’s second-largest and second-highest cable car project. It can be ridden in two phases. Phase 1 is at 9800 feet above sea level and takes you to Kongdoor Valley. Tickets are available from 9 am to 5 pm. Ticket costs are INR 750/ pp.

Phase 2 of the Gulmarg Gondola is at 13,700 feet above sea level. Tickets are available from 10 am to 4 pm. Phase 2 is often closed due to bad weather or maintenance and there is no way to check beforehand. To go to phase 2 you need to reach phase 1, either through the gondola or on horse/ foot (takes 45 min-1 hours). From Phase 2 you can see the Nanda Devi peak and, some say, even the LOC. Ticket costs are INR 950/ pp.

You can buy the tickets online but you can also buy on-site—preferable really—because what if the gondola is closed for the day? Also, all you get online is a voucher which will be required to be exchanged for a boarding pass at the ticket counter. So, there’s really no point.

Another tip for the Gondola: either be late or very early because the ticket queues can be long (especially during season—the winter months). Also, do not listen to the stories the local guides tell you. The heckling can be relentless and they’re just out to make a quick buck.

The Khyber Resort is a good upscale alternative to JKTDC. I’ve heard of people planning their trip in winter to accommodate availability in the hotel. We stayed at the JKTDC hutments and booked on arrival at the clubhouse. If the manager is not around, go to the restaurant to get his contacts. Or book online.

The ride from Gulmarg back to Srinagar airport takes approximately 2 hours. Take a detour to Lal Chowk to do some last-minute shopping, or eat at a local restaurant such as Ahdoos or Jhelum Cafe .

Good to Know

Partaking in Kashmiri Wazwan should be on top of your list of things to do. Kashmiri Wazwan dishes are multi-Kashmiri dishes, usually meat-based using lamb, beef or chicken, and served during weddings. During a wedding, guests are seated in a group on a dastarkhwan or sheet and they share the meal in a Traem . Most restaurants in Kashmir list several delectable Wazwan dishes on their menu. Rista (meatballs in red gravy), rogan josh (tender lamb cooked with Kashmiri spices), and yakhni (meat in spiced yoghurt curry) are among the most popular ones.

There are only a few shops in Srinagar that sell alcohol (since liquor is haram in Islam). 3 are on Boulevard Road. One is hidden inside a shanty next to Ghat 7 (I think – check with your driver). Prices are astronomical and arbitrary, but what can you do? As far as I know, one cannot purchase alcohol anywhere else in Kashmir; only in these stores in Srinagar.

Good Time to Visit

March is the most pleasant with remnants of snow and the onset of balmy weather. October, when I visited, was not half bad. The valleys were green, with loads of flowers, days sunny, and nights tolerably cold. I didn’t see any snow though. The best time to visit for cryo-phobics is March to October. For those looking to enjoy winter, it would be between November and March.

Avoid shopping at tourist hotspots like Gulmarg and the Dal Lake Market. I found goods at Lal Chowk more reasonably priced and the vendors less likely to hike prices, therefore avoiding acrimonious negotiations. On the way back from Pahalgam, you can pick up saffron from the store before Pampore (INR 150/1 gm). You can pick up Kahwa from departmental stores to gift people (INR 150 onwards for a small box). Other commonly purchased gifts are dry fruits, Kashmiri shawls, stoles, and carpets. Try getting them from Lal Chowk or the Polo View Market .

Useful Resources

Varghis Khan’s blog was a useful resource to plan our trip.

We checked the JKTDC website for Government Hotels in Jammu and Kashmir. Like all government hotels, they were in great locations and inexpensive (INR 1700-2300/night). Not the best maintained though.

Read the TripAdvisor forums, such as this one on Gulmarg Gondola , before you visit a place, to prepare for the assault of touts.

Alternate Itinerary Additions

You can consider visiting Yousmarg, Doodhpathri, and Aharbal, all 2-3 hours from Srinagar and much less touristy than the ones above.

Alternate 5-day trip

Guerez valley or Gurais, is located in the high Himalayas, about 123 kilometres from Srinagar in northern Kashmir. It is 8400 feet above sea level. While Gurez is touted to be beautiful, it is close to the ‘LOC’ or Line of Control and falls barely on the Indian side of the border. For the longest time, Gurez was off-limit to tourists, and even today, it is quite difficult to reach.

Srinagar to Guerez by road looked like an awesome alternative which we evaluated but eventually discarded because it was our first time in Kashmir and we wanted a taste of the tourist track before we committed to something more adventurous. We got to know that a chopper service (INR 3000/per head) to Guerez is available at the Srinagar airport. The service is available only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It wasn’t operational when we went probably because of the Covid-19-related restrictions. By road, the journey takes 6-7 hours. There’s a JKTDC guest house at Guerez for an overnight stay.

My 7 days in Ladakh | The perfect itinerary and Maharashtra Road Trip itineraries.

• First, I go to TripAdvisor and check out top things to do, top places, and experiences. I use this to make a rough itinerary.
• From TripAdvisor I often go to Viator to book day tours. I love their user friendly platform and flexible cancellation policies. Compare their offers with GetYourGuide , which is great too.
• I book my accommodations in Booking because of their flexibility and that the bookings are easily cancellable. The mobile app is great and the genius discounts are on point.
• I recommend getting the Priority Pass . It gives you access to airport lounges and has helped me through many long waits. It’s definitely well worth the money.
• And I am literally always on Skyscanner . I get to see the best airfares, and the airline / third party providers offering them. Try the “From: origin city” to “To: Everywhere” option to ignite your imagination on where to travel to next.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You will be redirected to your dashboard shortly. We will also call you back in 24 hrs .

• 4 Days Itinerary For Kashmir: Gondola Ride, Scenic Drives & Idyllic Stay On Dal Lake

27 Mar 2023

Kashmir has always been more than a mere place. It has the quality of an experience, or a state of mind, or perhaps an ideal.” — Jan Morris

Jan Morris was right. Kashmir is like an ecstasy, a place so beautiful that you can never have enough of it. I had heard so much about how beautiful Kashmir is from my friends that I could not wait to visit this place. My husband and I had to visit Delhi for a function. So, it felt like a perfect opportunity to extend our visit and spend a few days in Kashmir. I had to see for myself how heavenly this place was and I couldn’t believe my eyes.

We planned our 4 days itinerary for Kashmir with TravelTriangle and flew to heaven on earth. The locals were too good contrary to what we thought. We were very well received and treated so well by the locals. People in Kashmir were so friendly. We made good friends there. We loved the Kashmiris. They were very well behaved, kind, and lovely to the tourists.

Trip Details

Trip Type: Group holiday Number of people: 5 Adults, 2 children Trip Duration: 4D/3N Trip Cost: INR 50,000 per person Trip Planner: Ritz Tour & Travels Inclusions: Breakfast, Dinner, Transport, Accommodation, Airport Transfers, sightseeing Exclusions: Flights, Gondola Ride, Pony rides

4 Days Itinerary For Kashmir

Day 1: Gulmarg Day 2: Sonmarg Day 3: Pahalgam Day 4: Departure

Here’s What Makes Kashmir A True Heaven On Earth

Weather In Kashmir

July seemed like a good time to visit Kashmir. Although we feared facing rainfall during this time, we got to see snow in Gulmarg and the weather was all nippy and clear.

Best Experiences In Kashmir

Here are the best experiences we had on our holiday. The 4 days itinerary for kashmir that we had planned was recovered with fun and exciting adventures.

1. Gondola Ride

The Gondola Ride to Phase 2 was spectacular. We enjoyed sweeping the breathtaking panoramic views of the valley from the cubicle. It was oh-so-romantic!

2. Sledging & Skiing

Our 4 days itinerary for Kashmir also included sledding and skiing in Kashmir. We had our share of fun in the snow. We were not expecting to see so much of snow in July in Kashmir but we got lucky.

Sonmarg felt like a ‘gateway to heaven’. I have never seen such a beautiful place in my life. I can visit Kashmir n number of times just to witness the beauty of Sonmarg over and again. You simply can’t get enough of the beautiful landscapes here. The drive from Srinagar to sonmarg itself was so beautiful but that’s just the trailer. Two eyes are not enough to witness the beauty of Sonmarg!

Visited Kashmir In September Yet? This Pocket Guide 2022 Will Tell You All About It

4. Pahalgam

We enjoyed the scenic drive from Srinagar to Pahalgam. It is breathtaking and serene. The ride goes along the beautiful Lidder River banks. There were quite a few vantage points in Pahalgam from where we enjoyed the astounding landscapes of the Kashmir Valley like Kanimarg and Baisaran. Nature looked at its best at these places. We also explored one or two waterfalls in Pahalgam and they were simply amazing.

Where To Stay In Kashmir

Here are the hotels we stayed in during our 4 days trip in Kashmir. Our experience on the houseboat was the best and we recommend everyone to spend a few days on Dal Lake.

1. Hotel Zaryab

We enjoyed staying in comfortable and well-equipped rooms although service could have been Better.

2. Hotel Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel is one of the oldest in Kashmir. Though the rooms were old, hospitality was amazing.

3. Houseboat Anarkali

It was an awesome experience living on a houseboat in Dal Lake. The rooms were exceptionally good and the hospitality of the staff was spot on. We truly enjoyed our stay.

20 Best Hotels In Kashmir For Both Luxury And Budget Vacationers (2022)!

Shopping in Kashmir

We did not get much time for shopping but there were a few essential and famous items we absolutely had to buy in Kashmir:

• Pashmina Shawl
• Organic Saffron
• Dry Fruits like almonds, walnuts, cranberries, blueberries
• Pashmina Poncho
• Handmade Sweaters

What To Pack For Kashmir Trip

Here is what we packed for our 4 days trip in Kashmir. Don’t leave these essential items from your packing list.

• Some snacks

Is Kashmir Safe To Travel? See This Man’s Wonderful Family Trip And Judge For Yourself

Kashmir Travel Tips

• Here are a few tips that would come in handy to fellow travelers visiting Kashmir to have an amazing holiday in the valley.
• Bargain for pony rides. Take help from your driver and get the nominal rate otherwise these people will charge you 4x-5x rates.
• You don’t need pony rides in Gulmarg as the Gondola Ride is at walkable distance from the parking lot.
• Buy pashmina shawls and saffron from authentic shops for pure quality instead from dal lake floating markets.
• Pack some snacks with you as you don’t get many options except maggi and tea when you go to places like Sonmarg and Pahalgam.
• Be early to the attractions to get cheaper pony rides and photos without being photobombed. After around 9.30 or 10am, the parking lots at sonmarg and pahalgam get overcrowded and you really can’t take your time to bargain as its flooded with ppl.

How To Reach Kashmir

We took direct flights from Delhi to Srinagar. We were picked by our executive at the airport and later dropped to our hotel room in the car. Flight is the only best way to reach here as it saves you time.

Experience With TravelTriangle

This is my second package with travel triangle after we had a memorable trip in mauritius. Kashmir was indeed a hassle free trip. Our agent Ritz Tours & Travels went way beyond to make sure we were comfortable on our trip at all times.

The owner Shoukat Meer did meet us in person and made sure everything was going fine. Our executives were constantly in touch with us and helped us in every possible way throughout the trip. Our driver Fayaz was very friendly and was of utmost help. He helped us get the best rates for pony rides and other shopping stuffs.

Choosing travel triangle and Ritz tours and travels was the best decision. Highly recommend Ritz tours and travel. I could actually rate them 6 on 5. Excellent service and support .

23 Things To Do In Kashmir In 2022 To See The Best Of This Heaven On Earth!

Our 4 days itinerary for Kashmir proved to be successful as we had so much fun and delight in the heaven. Anyone who has never been here before should plan a vacation to Kashmir and see for themselves what the hype is all about. I can visit this place over and over again. Kashmir is heaven on earth.. True. Kashmiris are no less than angels.

Common Asked Questions

How many days do I need in Pahalgam?

One day is enough for Pahalgama. You can start early in the day and spend the entire day sightseeing and soaking the beautiful views of Pahalgam.

How can I go to Gulmarg from Srinagar?

There is only one way to reach Gulmarg from Srinagar i.e. by car. You can book a cab or ask your travel agent to arrange transport for you.

What is the best time to visit Gulmarg?

The best time to visit Gulmarg is in summers from March-June. There is just enough snow for you to enjoy adventure activities and the scenery is immensely beautiful.

Recent Posts

Trek To Valley Of Flowers In Kashmir That Unfold The Enchanting World of Nature

Sinthan Top Kashmir Is A Crown Jewel Of Breathtaking Beauty

Discover Nishat Bagh Srinagar Also Known As The Garden of Bliss

Uncovering 5 Offbeat Places In Kashmir That Make You Memorable For A Lifetime

Betaab Valley Pahalgam: A Serene Paradise In Kashmir

पृथ्वी पर इस स्वर्ग का सर्वश्रेष्ठ देखने के लिए 2023 में 23 कश्मीर में करने योग्य चीजें!

Trending Blogs

20 Mysterious Places In India To Visit In 2024 More Bizarre Than The Bermuda Triangle

10 Scariest Roads In India That Are A Driver’s Nightmare

101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2024

35 Exotic Places To Visit In December In India 2024 To Enjoy A Surreal Vacation

60 Best Honeymoon Destinations In India In 2024

95 Best Honeymoon Destinations In The World In 2023 For A Romantic Escape!

Best Places To Visit In India By Month

Best places to visit outside india by month.

• TravelTriangle
• Kashmir »
• Tour Packages
• Honeymoon Packages
• Family Packages
• Budget Tour Packages
• Luxury Tour Packages
• Adventure Tour Packages
• Group Tour Packages
• Kerala Tour Packages
• Goa Tour Packages
• Andaman Tour Packages
• Sikkim Tour Packages
• Himachal Tour Packages
• Uttarakhand Tour Packages
• Rajasthan Tour Packages
• Tour Packages From Delhi
• Tour Packages From Mumbai
• Tour Packages From Bangalore
• Tour Packages From Chennai
• Tour Packages From Kolkata
• Tour Packages From Hyderabad
• Tour Packages From Ahmedabad
• Kerala Tourism
• Goa Tourism
• Sikkim Tourism
• Andaman Tourism
• Himachal Tourism
• Uttarakhand Tourism
• Rajasthan Tourism
• Hotels in Kerala
• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Sikkim
• Hotels in Andaman
• Hotels in Himachal
• Hotels in Uttarakhand
• Hotels in Rajasthan

Kashmir Itinerary 10 Days -don’t miss out on any key experiences during your time in Kashmir

Planning a trip to Kashmir and looking to make the most of your 10-day adventure? Look no further! This article will provide you with a detailed travel itinerary that covers all the essential components of your trip. From departure and arrival details to accommodation, transportation, activities, and excursions, this itinerary will ensure that you don’t miss out on any key experiences during your time in Kashmir. So grab your bags, get ready to immerse yourself in the scenic beauty of this enchanting region, and let this itinerary be your roadmap to an unforgettable journey.

• 1.1.1 Airport Pickup and Transfer to Hotel
• 1.1.2 Shikara Ride on Dal Lake
• 1.1.3 Visit to Nishat Bagh
• 1.1.4 Explore the Local Market
• 1.2.1 Visit to Mughal Gardens (Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi, and Pari Mahal)
• 1.2.2 Visit to Shankaracharya Temple
• 1.2.3 Explore Hazratbal Shrine
• 1.2.4 Enjoy Local Cuisine for Dinner
• 1.3.1 Drive to Gulmarg
• 1.3.2 Enjoy Gondola Ride to Kongdori
• 1.3.3 Visit Alpather Lake
• 1.3.4 Skiing or Snowboarding (Optional)
• 1.3.5 Return to Srinagar in the Evening
• 1.4.1 Drive to Pahalgam
• 1.4.2 Visit Betaab Valley
• 1.4.3 Explore Aru Valley
• 1.4.4 Sightseeing in Chandanwari
• 1.4.5 Return to Srinagar
• 1.5.1 Drive to Sonamarg
• 1.5.2 Visit Thajiwas Glacier
• 1.5.3 Enjoy Horse Riding
• 1.5.4 Explore Zoji-La Pass
• 1.5.5 Return to Srinagar in the Evening
• 1.6.1 Drive to Yusmarg
• 1.6.2 Enjoy Scenic Beauty and Nature Walks
• 1.6.3 Visit Doodhpathri Valley
• 1.6.4 Picnic by Nilnag Lake
• 1.6.5 Return to Srinagar
• 1.7.1 Visit the Old City
• 1.7.2 Explore the Famous Jama Masjid
• 1.7.3 Discover the Parihaspora Ruins
• 1.7.4 Visit the Historic Hari Parbat Fort
• 1.7.5 Experience Kashmiri Traditional Arts and Crafts
• 1.8.1 Drive to Gurez Valley
• 1.8.2 Explore Kishanganga River
• 1.8.3 Visit Habba Khatoon Peak
• 1.8.4 Trek to Gangabal Lake
• 1.8.5 Experience Local Village Life
• 1.9.1 Visit Dachigam National Park
• 1.9.2 Enjoy Wildlife Safari
• 1.9.3 Spot Himalayan Fauna (Leopards, Hanguls)
• 1.9.4 Hike to Marsar Lake
• 1.9.5 Birdwatching in the Park
• 1.10.1 Checkout from Hotel
• 1.10.2 Airport Drop-off
• 1.10.3 Last-Minute Shopping
• 1.10.4 Farewell to Kashmir
• 1.11.1 Like this:
• 1.11.2 Related

10-Day Itinerary in Kashmir

Welcome to Kashmir! Get ready for an unforgettable 10-day journey through the paradise on earth. From the moment you arrive in Srinagar to the day you bid farewell, this itinerary is designed to make the most of your time in Kashmir. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an amazing adventure!

Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar -Kashmir Itinerary 10 Days

Airport pickup and transfer to hotel.

As you step off the plane, our friendly guide will be there to welcome you to Srinagar. You’ll be taken to your hotel where you can freshen up and relax after your journey. Get settled in and soak up the beauty of the surroundings.

Shikara Ride on Dal Lake

To kickstart your Kashmir experience, hop on a traditional Shikara boat and glide along the enchanting Dal Lake. Take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, floating gardens, and colorful houseboats. The gentle ripples of the water and the serene atmosphere will instantly captivate you.

Visit to Nishat Bagh

Next, we’ll take you to Nishat Bagh, one of the Mughal Gardens in Srinagar. Stroll through the well-manicured lawns, marvel at the cascading fountains, and immerse yourself in the vibrant floral display. The terraced gardens offer a perfect setting for a leisurely walk and a great opportunity for beautiful photographs.

Explore the Local Market

End your day with a visit to the local market, where you can shop for souvenirs, handicrafts, and authentic Kashmiri products. From intricately designed carpets and Pashmina shawls to traditional spices and jewelry, the market is a treasure trove of Kashmiri culture.

Day 2: Srinagar Sightseeing

Visit to mughal gardens (shalimar bagh, chashme shahi, and pari mahal).

Embark on a journey through time as you explore the Mughal Gardens. Begin with a visit to Shalimar Bagh, known for its stunning architecture and serene atmosphere. Admire the intricate detailing of the terraces, pavilions, and colorful flowerbeds.

Next, head to Chashme Shahi, a picturesque garden built around a natural spring. Enjoy the tranquil ambiance as you wander through the terraced gardens, taking in the fragrant flowers and panoramic views of the city.

Continue your exploration with a visit to Pari Mahal, a historic monument that offers a beautiful view of the city. Marvel at the ancient architecture and soak in the peaceful atmosphere surrounded by lush greenery.

Visit to Shankaracharya Temple

Perched on a hilltop, the Shankaracharya Temple is a sacred site for Hindu devotees and offers panoramic views of Srinagar. Take a scenic drive up to the temple and witness the breathtaking beauty of the city and its surroundings.

Explore Hazratbal Shrine

Pay a visit to the renowned Hazratbal Shrine, which houses a holy relic believed to be the hair strand of Prophet Muhammad. Experience the spiritual ambiance as you observe the prayers and rituals performed by devotees. The pristine white marble architecture and the picturesque location next to the Dal Lake make it a must-visit site in Srinagar.

Enjoy Local Cuisine for Dinner

End your day with a culinary adventure by trying out the local cuisine of Srinagar. Indulge in traditional Kashmiri dishes like Rogan Josh (spicy lamb curry), Yakhni (yogurt-based curry), and the world-famous Kashmiri Pulao. Let your taste buds savor the flavors of Kashmir as you feast on authentic delicacies.

Day 3: Gulmarg Excursion

Drive to gulmarg.

Get ready for a scenic drive to Gulmarg, a popular hill station known for its stunning beauty and adventure activities. As you travel through the winding roads surrounded by snow-capped mountains, you’ll feel like you’re entering a winter wonderland.

Enjoy Gondola Ride to Kongdori

Once you reach Gulmarg, embark on an exhilarating gondola ride. The cable car will take you to Kongdori, offering mesmerizing views of the snow-covered peaks and lush green meadows. Feel the thrill as you ascend higher and witness the breathtaking vistas unfold before your eyes.

Visit Alpather Lake

Continue your exploration of Gulmarg with a visit to Alpather Lake, a hidden gem nestled amidst the picturesque mountains. Trek through the snow-dusted trails and soak in the tranquility of the surroundings. The pristine blue waters of the lake make for a stunning sight and a perfect spot for some memorable photographs.

Skiing or Snowboarding (Optional)

For those seeking an adrenaline rush, Gulmarg offers world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities. Strap on your gear and hit the slopes as you glide through the powdery snow. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, the slopes of Gulmarg provide an unforgettable experience.

Return to Srinagar in the Evening

After a day full of adventure and scenic beauty, we’ll drive you back to Srinagar, where you can unwind and relax at your hotel.

Day 4: Pahalgam Day Trip

Drive to pahalgam.

Today, we’ll take you on a picturesque drive to Pahalgam, a serene town located in the beautiful Lidder Valley. As you travel through the stunning landscapes, you’ll be greeted by rolling hills, gushing rivers, and dense pine forests.

Visit Betaab Valley

Your first stop in Pahalgam is Betaab Valley, named after the Bollywood film “Betaab” that was shot here. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the valley, with its lush green meadows, crystal-clear streams, and panoramic views. Nature lovers will be captivated by the serene atmosphere and the opportunity to rejuvenate amidst nature’s bounty.

Explore Aru Valley

Next, head to Aru Valley, a hidden gem known for its untouched beauty. Take a leisurely walk through the meandering trails as you soak in the tranquility of the surroundings. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense pine forests, Aru Valley offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Sightseeing in Chandanwari

Continue your exploration with a visit to Chandanwari, the starting point of the Amarnath Yatra. Located at an altitude of 2,895 meters, Chandanwari is a picturesque spot where the beauty of the mountains leaves you spellbound. Take a stroll along the Lidder River and breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Return to Srinagar

In the evening, we’ll drive you back to Srinagar, where you can relax and reflect on the day’s adventures.

Day 5: Sonamarg Excursion

Drive to sonamarg.

Today, we’ll take you on an exciting excursion to Sonamarg, which means “Meadow of Gold.” The drive itself is an unforgettable experience, as you pass through the scenic Zoji-La Pass and witness the breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountains.

Visit Thajiwas Glacier

Upon reaching Sonamarg, visit Thajiwas Glacier, a magnificent sight nestled amidst the peaks of the Himalayas. Trek through the snow-covered landscapes and marvel at the glistening ice formations. Capture the beauty of nature in your photographs and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Enjoy Horse Riding

Explore Sonamarg on horseback and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region. Traverse through the meadows, cross gushing streams, and admire the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Feel the cool breeze against your face as you embark on this unique adventure.

Explore Zoji-La Pass

On your way back to Srinagar, make a stop at Zoji-La Pass, a high mountain pass that connects Kashmir with Ladakh. Marvel at the stunning views of the snow-covered peaks and the rugged terrain. Take a moment to soak in the serenity of the surroundings and embrace the magnificence of nature.

As the day comes to an end, we’ll drive you back to Srinagar, where you can relax and reflect on the beauty of Sonamarg.

Day 6: Yusmarg Day Trip

Drive to yusmarg.

Today, we’ll take you on an offbeat adventure to Yusmarg, a hidden gem tucked away in the valleys of Kashmir. Enjoy a scenic drive through the lush green meadows and dense forests as you approach this picturesque destination.

Enjoy Scenic Beauty and Nature Walks

Yusmarg is renowned for its untouched natural beauty and tranquil environment. Take leisurely walks through the meandering trails, surrounded by towering mountains and vibrant wildflowers. Feel the crisp mountain air rejuvenating your senses as you immerse yourself in the serenity of the surroundings.

Visit Doodhpathri Valley

While in Yusmarg, we’ll also take you to Doodhpathri Valley, aptly named the “Valley of Milk.” Situated at an altitude of 8,957 feet, this hidden gem offers stunning landscapes, pristine meadows, and gushing streams. Take a moment to relax by the crystal-clear waters and let the tranquility of the valley mesmerize you.

Picnic by Nilnag Lake

Indulge in a delightful picnic by the banks of Nilnag Lake, surrounded by lush greenery and the magnificent Himalayan mountains. Unwind and relax in the lap of nature, taking in the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings.

As the day draws to a close, we’ll drive you back to Srinagar, where you can reminisce about your time in Yusmarg.

Day 7: Explore Srinagar’s Heritage

Visit the old city.

Embark on a journey through the rich history and culture of Srinagar by exploring its Old City. As you wander through the narrow lanes, you’ll encounter ancient architecture, traditional houses, and vibrant markets. Immerse yourself in the local way of life and witness the charm of old-world Srinagar.

Explore the Famous Jama Masjid

Pay a visit to the iconic Jama Masjid, a historic mosque that dates back to the 14th century. Admire the splendid architecture, intricate woodwork, and the peaceful ambiance of this sacred site. Take a moment to offer prayers and experience the spiritual energy that fills the mosque.

Discover the Parihaspora Ruins

Continue your exploration of Srinagar’s heritage by visiting the Parihaspora ruins, an archaeological site that dates back to the 8th century. Marvel at the remnants of the ancient temples, pillars, and arches, which stand as a testament to the rich history of the region. Let your imagination transport you back in time as you walk through the remnants of a glorious past.

Visit the Historic Hari Parbat Fort

Perched on a hill, the Hari Parbat Fort offers panoramic views of Srinagar and the surrounding landscape. Explore the ancient fortifications, admire the intricate artwork, and learn about the history and significance of this architectural marvel. The fort is also home to numerous temples and shrines, adding to its cultural significance.

Experience Kashmiri Traditional Arts and Crafts

End your day by immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of Kashmir through its traditional arts and crafts. Visit a local handicraft center, where you can witness artisans at work creating intricate carpets, intricate embroidery, and exquisite woodwork. Take home a piece of Kashmiri artistry as a memento of your journey.

Day 8: Gurez Valley Expedition

Drive to gurez valley.

Today, we’ll take you on an exciting expedition to the remote and beautiful Gurez Valley. Embark on a scenic drive through the picturesque countryside, as you leave behind the bustling city and enter the tranquil landscapes of Gurez.

Explore Kishanganga River

Gurez Valley is blessed with the pristine waters of the Kishanganga River. Take a leisurely stroll along the riverbanks, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and let the peaceful ambiance of the surroundings rejuvenate your senses. The river offers a perfect spot for picnicking and unwinding amidst nature.

Visit Habba Khatoon Peak

Habba Khatoon Peak, named after the famous Kashmiri poetess, is a majestic peak that offers panoramic views of the valley. Embark on a short trek to the summit and witness the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding mountains. Let the tranquility of the peak wash over you as you take in the surreal landscapes.

Trek to Gangabal Lake

For the adventure enthusiasts, a trek to Gangabal Lake is a must. Located at an altitude of 11,500 feet, this pristine alpine lake offers a spellbinding sight. Trek through the verdant meadows, cross gushing streams, and immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of the region. The trek offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature and experience the thrill of the great outdoors.

Experience Local Village Life

To truly immerse yourself in the local culture, spend some time experiencing life in the traditional Gurez villages. Explore the narrow lanes, interact with the welcoming locals, and witness their way of life. From traditional houses to quaint village markets, every aspect of village life in Gurez will leave a lasting impression on you.

Day 9: Dachigam National Park Safari

Visit dachigam national park.

Today, we’ll take you on a thrilling safari adventure in Dachigam National Park. This protected area is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the endangered Hangul (Kashmiri Stag). As you enter the park, be prepared to witness the untouched beauty of nature and encounter the majestic fauna that calls this park their home.

Enjoy Wildlife Safari

Hop aboard a safari vehicle and venture into the heart of Dachigam National Park. Traverse through lush green meadows, dense forests, and rolling hills as you search for wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of the elusive Hangul, as well as other animals like leopards, musk deer, and Himalayan Black Bears.

Spot Himalayan Fauna (Leopards, Hanguls)

Dachigam National Park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Keep your camera ready as you spot various species of birds, mammals, and reptiles in their natural habitat. From the graceful snow leopards to the elegant Hanguls, every sighting will leave you in awe of the wonders of nature.

Hike to Marsar Lake

Embark on a scenic hike to Marsar Lake, a serene alpine lake known for its untouched beauty. Trek through the meandering trails, witness the diverse flora and fauna, and breathe in the crisp mountain air. The tranquil beauty of Marsar Lake is sure to captivate your heart and leave you with memories to cherish.

Birdwatching in the Park

Dachigam National Park is a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts. With over 150 species of birds, including the rare Himalayan Monal, this park offers ample opportunities to spot and photograph these beautiful creatures.

Day 10: Departure from Srinagar

Checkout from hotel.

On your final day in Kashmir, checkout from your hotel after a delightful breakfast. Take a moment to bid farewell to the cozy comfort and warm hospitality that made your stay in Srinagar memorable.

Airport Drop-off

Our guide will accompany you to the airport, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free departure. As you drive away from this paradise on earth, hold on to the memories you’ve made and the experiences that have touched your soul.

Last-Minute Shopping

If time permits, indulge in some last-minute shopping for souvenirs and mementos to take back home. From exquisite handicrafts to traditional Kashmiri attire, the markets of Srinagar offer a plethora of options to choose from.

Farewell to Kashmir

As you board your flight, bid a fond farewell to Kashmir and carry the beauty and charm of this land in your heart. Take with you the memories of the snow-capped peaks, the pristine lakes, and the warm smiles of the people you encountered along the way. Until we meet again, Kashmir will always hold a special place in your heart.

In Conclusion

This comprehensive 10-day itinerary offers a perfect blend of sightseeing, adventure, and cultural experiences. From exploring the Mughal Gardens and historic sites in Srinagar to venturing into the breathtaking mountain landscapes of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Yusmarg, Gurez Valley, and Dachigam National Park, every day of your journey promises to be a memorable adventure.

Whether you’re seeking tranquility amidst nature or an adrenaline rush through adventure activities, Kashmir has it all. Pack your bags, follow this itinerary, and get ready to embark on a journey that will leave an indelible mark on your soul. Kashmir awaits you with open arms, ready to show you the true meaning of paradise on earth.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Travel gear.

Take your social media skills to the next level with our step-by-step guide on how to create content, engage your audience, and monetize your channel. Make your social media dreams a reality.

Privacy Policy

@Travelercarry.com | All rights reserved

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer

• Long Weekend Trips
• All Girls Trips
• Domestic Tours
• International Tours
• Upcoming Trips
• Corporate Program

Welcome Guest

• Travel Guide

Best Kashmir Trip Itinerary – Here’s how to spend 5 days exploring Kashmir

Written by Khushi Maheshwari 10 Sep, 2022

Going to the places, people have always heard of, is something travelers fantasize about a lot. But you can’t just sit there fantasizing about the Kashmir trip instead of planning one! As soon as you start planning, you would think of someone who can draft for you the best Kashmir trip itinerary. This blog will curate the same for you, effortlessly.

Table of Contents

Why a trip to Kashmir is a must?

When anyone thinks about visiting Kashmir, the imagination majorly stops at the images of snow-capped mountains and beautiful valleys. You might not be missing anything but the intrepid adventurer in you might be missing the experience of visiting a place consisting of incredible mountains and Himalayan lakes, tangerine sunsets and clear nights, aromatic cuisines, and much more. Kashmir is more than a destination; it is an experience of a lifetime. The only way the adventurer in you can experience all of this is if you’re there.

Why the best Kashmir trip itinerary is the only thing you need?

The beauty of this paradise attracts many tourists to visit Kashmir, but not everyone knows how to do so. There are abundant attractions in Kashmir and it may be tough for one to plan a trip including all the major attractions and activities. A great way most people save their time and money is by going through an informative itinerary to make the best out of their trip .

An itinerary bestows backpackers with all the information they need throughout their journey. From planning to execution, it specifies every single thing in detail.

Let’s start with our 5 days Kashmir trip itinerary !

Day 1: Srinagar Arrival| Shikara Ride

Srinagar is an ideal location to commence your journey to the exquisite Kashmir. It is a great tourist place and offers varieties of things to experience. Other than that the fact that Srinagar can be visited anytime from summer to winter makes it more worthy of being visited. There are innumerable activities and one can easily choose their cup of tea among them. Some of them are listed below.

Things to do at Srinagar on day 1 of your trip to Kashmir

• Shikara Ride in the pristine Dal Lake.
• Paragliding near Harwan Gardens in Astanmarg
• Visit scenic places like Dal lake, Mahadev peak, etc
• Get a floating experience with Shikaras.
• Indulge in Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and Tarsar Marsar Trek.
• Explore local markets and religious places like Pardrethan temple, Shankaracharya temple , and Jamia Masjid mosque .
• Enjoy the beautiful view while bird-watching

Kashmir trip itinerary Day 2: Gulmarg| Local sightseeing

Gulmarg is a marvelous spot in the Baramulla region of Jammu and Kashmir and is frequently perceived as the “heartland of winter sports in India” . This day can be counted as the most adventurous one for your trip. You can get your hands on several activities within a day.

Activities that can be part of your Kashmir trip itinerary’s second day at Gulmarg

• Gondola rides.
• Mountain biking.
• Skiing at Apharwat Peak
• Trekking to Alpather Lake
• Golfing at the highest Gulmarg Golf Course.
• Enjoy the view at Single Nallah, temples and other places.
• Pony ride at Khilanmarg.

Looking for other places to explore? Click here

Day 3: Pahalgam| Local sightseeing

Pahalgam has to be the next in your Kashmir trip itinerary. This hill station can’t wait anymore for you to see it. With Pahalgam, you will be entering the most breathtaking location of your trip. The holy site of the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage makes Pahalgam a spiritual place and adds importance to the place. You can dive yourself into the relaxing environment and glorious valleys.

Kashmir trip itinerary: Must visit places in Pahalgam

• Beautiful Saffron Fields in Pampore
• Kolahoi Glaciers
• Betaab valley in the evening
• Aru Valley for its beautiful and scenic view
• Chandanwadi, the starting point for the Amarnath Yatra

Day 4: Drive to Srinagar| Local sightseeing

Save day 4 of your Kashmir trip for the local sightseeing at Srinagar because that’s something you can’t miss. There are so many sites that one can never visit every place within a day. That’s the reason for Day 4 to be in Srinagar again! Apart from the activities that you experienced on Day 1, the rest can be accomplished today. You can visit the most prominent Mughal Gardens and other nearby places in one go.

Suggested read: Winter Travel Hacks for Backpackers

Day 5: Yousmarg Local Excursion

And the day comes to explore the hidden gem of our Kashmir Trip, Yousmarg Valley. It is known for its pristine water bodies, green pastures and peaceful environs. So no way to miss this out! However, if the weather turns out to be unfavourable for visiting Yousmarg, need not worry, you can head to Sonmarg . It is another beautiful place to spend your time in.

After this, give yourself a night to rest and then check out the most amazing memories. To conclude, I would like to say that this trip will be an experience of a lifetime for you and your friends or family. So, just execute your 5 days Kashmir trip with the best itinerary by just tapping here .

Web Stories

Leave a comment, subscribe newsletter.

Khushi Maheshwari

Latest Blogs

B-42, 2nd Floor, Tower- B, The Corenthum, Block A, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

+91-8810 457 631

[email protected]

© 2015-2024 JustWravel Pvt. Ltd.

B-42, 2nd Floor, Tower- B, The Corenthum, Block A, Industrial Area, Sector 62, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301

Group Tours

Customized Trips

• Logout Login
• Adventure Holidays
• Weekend Getaways
• Driving Holidays
• Travel News

Top Searches

Maasai Mara Migration

Asia Natural Landscapes

Highly Searched Travel Places

White Tiger Zoo

Camping in India

Maharashtra Monsoon Places

Exploring Kashmir in a 3-day itinerary

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / TRAVEL TRENDS , JAMMU AND KASHMIR / Created : Jun 6, 2024, 17:00 IST

You're Reading

With its captivating beauty and timeless charm, Kashmir offers an unforgettable experience for visitors. If you're planning a trip to this enchanting destination, here's a 3-day itinerary to make the most of your time in Kashmir.

With its captivating beauty and timeless charm, Kashmir offers an unforgettable experience for visitors. If you're planning a trip to this enchanting destination, here's a 3-day itinerary to make the most of your time in Kashmir. Read less

Day 1: Srinagar

More from Travel News

Most beautiful places in Asia that inspire travel

Day 2: gulmarg.

Day 3: Pahalgam

Comments (0)

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Comments ( ) Sort: Newest UpVoted Oldest Discussed Down Voted closecomments

SIGN IN WITH

Or post without registration.

Visual Stories

Popular Galleries

Places to visit near Pune within 100 km for weekend fun TRAVEL TRENDS , PUNE

6 famous places you can skip visiting TRAVEL TRENDS , WORLD

Kenya: Maasai Mara's Great Migration should be on your July wild bucketlist TRAVEL TRENDS , KENYA

Trending stories.

Places to visit near Pune within 100 km for weekend fun

6 famous places you can skip visiting

• Odisha's Bhitarkanika mangrove forest is an ecological gem; here’s why

Budget honeymoon destinations outside India

• 1 Exploring Kashmir in a 3-day itinerary
• 2 People are Googling these 7 places the most for travelling
• 3 Why is a visit to Lucknow a must for every traveller?
• 4 Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur: Karnataka’s magnificent architectural marvel
• 5 From Sakshi Dhoni to Janhvi Kapoor: Celebs share their travel photos post Anant-Radhika 2nd pre-wedding bash

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO DESTINATIONS, ITINERARIES, THINGS TO DO, RESTAURANTS, NIGHTLIFE and LOTS MORE!

FOLLOW US ON

Places to visit.

• Places to visit in Bangalore
• Places to visit in Mumbai
• Places to visit in Delhi
• Places to visit in Goa
• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Jaipur
• Hotels in Shimla
• Hotels in Mumbai

Things To do

• Things to do in Goa
• Things to do in Mumbai
• Things to do in Bangalore
• Things to do in Delhi

Travel Inspiration

• Visa on arrival for Indians
• Honeymoon Places in india
• Hill Stations in India
• Weekend getaways in Mumbai
• Weather in Delhi
• Weather in Chennai
• Weather in Bangalore
• Weather in Mumbai

Best Beaches

• Goa Beaches
• Mumbai Beaches
• Pondicherry Beaches
• Kerala Beaches
• Restaurants in Bangalore
• Restaurants in Chennai
• Restaurants in Pune
• Restaurants in Jaipur
• Hill Station near Delhi
• Winter trip to Ladakh
• Places to visit in Kerala
• Winter Honeymoon Destinations
• UK visa guide for Indians
• Winter Trip to Manali
• Vaishno Devi Yatra
• Special Train Ticket Booking
• HP inter-state Bus
• Honeymoon Destinations India

Latest News

• Burj Khalifa: A first timer's guide to visiting the tallest building in the world
• Top 5 national parks to visit in USA

Congratulations!

You have been successfully added to the mailing list of Times of India Travel. To complete the subscription process, kindly open your inbox and click on the confirmation link which has been emailed to you.

Share with friends

Thank You for sharing! Your friend will receive the article link on email mentioned.

• (For more than one recipient, type addresses separated by commas)

With its captivating beauty and timeless charm, Kashmir offers an unforgettable experience for visitors. If you're planning a trip to this enchanting destination, here's a 3-day itinerary to make the ...

• April 5, 2016

Kashmir travel itinerary: offbeat and for all

• Continent: Asia
• Country: India
• Categories: Kashmir
• Tags: Achabal , Kokernag , South Kashmir

Sandeepa Chetan

The crowded Mughal gardens of Srinagar – Chashmeshahi , Shalimar and Nishat , left us wanting for more. We decided to explore the lesser known parts of Kashmir. We headed south and started our exploration with Kokernag .

We recommend this Kashmir travel itinerary based on our travels in Kashmir. It’s offbeat and away from the maddening tourist crowd, yet it’s suitable for all kinds of travellers.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 1: Lesser known Mughal gardens of Kashmir

Achabal, Kokernag and Verinag.

Kokernag is the biggest botanical garden in Kashmir .

Tip: For its central location and proximity to Anantnag, we chose to stay in Achabal.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 2: Experience a “real” city in Kashmir

Think of a big city near where you live. Now think of a smaller city close to it, almost like a suburb. Now think of peak hours, traffic and people leaving for work.

We usually associate Kashmir only with a beautiful holiday. Almost forgetting that the people of Kashmir lead normal lives in Kashmir, just like we do back home. They all head to central Srinagar (big city) for work in the morning. Head back to their homes (in smaller cities like Anantnag) in the evening. This makes the road connecting Srinagar to Anantnag susceptible to “peak traffic hours”.

People are busy discussing copper prices to decide which boiler to invest in for this winter.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 3: Aharbal waterfalls

The Aharbal waterfalls are a day trip from Achabal.

Our visit to the Aharbal waterfalls gave us a first-hand experience of the fickle weather of the Himalayan mountains. It had been dark and gloomy when we reached the meadows around the Aharbal waterfalls. By the time we were on the walkway to the waterfalls, it had become bright and sunny!

By then, we had spent a few days in the tourist bungalow at Achabal. The caretaker and the staff treated us like their personal guests. Our sudden decision to not turn up for the night would have got them worried sick. We decided to be good responsible guests and “reach home on time”. We walked up to the Sangam point, said our goodbyes to the nomads and headed back.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 4: Sulphur springs at Kolam Chinar

On our way to the Mughal garden of Verinag, we saw a board saying these were medicinal sulphur springs. We decided to give these a look. We got off the Tata Sumo taxi at this board and went looking for these springs. Without realising it, we had walked past the sulphur springs. Clearly, they were nothing great to look at.

They let us leave only after assurances that we would return to stay with them for longer.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 5: Temples and ruins

Another route from Achabal goes to the Mattan Temple and the sun temple ruins at Martand. The temple at Mattan has formidable security all around it.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 6: Forest walking at Daksum

Ahead of Kokernag, at the base of the Sinthan Pass is the village of Daksum. Just before the village is the Rajpari Wildlife Sanctuary. It is surrounded by a dense coniferous forest. The melting glacial waters flow as a stream through it.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 7: Sinthan top for snow

Sinthan Top is the one place in Kashmir that has snow all year round. Even when the meadows of Gulmarg turn green, Sinthan Top is still covered in snow.

Offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary 8: If you want to go really offbeat in Kashmir then head to Chatpal

Chatpal, for us, tops the list of offbeat places in Kashmir .

We began our stay in South Kashmir with Kokernag. We made Achabal our “headquarters” and traveled to all the places we have mentioned above by local, shared Tata Sumo taxis. For most places, we would first go to Anantnag. The different taxi stands in Anantnag have regular connections to all other places.

This part of Kashmir was a perfect way for us to explore the real beauty of Kashmir, together with the local people of Kashmir. Offbeat enough to stay away from the crowds, this part of Kashmir helped us ease into our travels. We felt more confident while exploring the remote valleys in Northern Kashmir or venturing out for the Amaranth yatra .

Top tips for this offbeat Kashmir travel itinerary

• People in the smaller villages of Kashmir are not used to seeing many tourists. They are as curious about you as you are about them. Do not consider the questions offensive. Be friendly with the locals.
• Resorts and ponies will not be found in these parts of Kashmir. This is the real Kashmir, not the “showcase for tourists” Kashmir!
• The front seat of the Tata Sumo taxis, next to the driver was our favourite seat. It doesn’t get cramped if the driver takes in more passengers and is perfect for “photography on-the-go”!
• We traveled everywhere by a shared Tata Sumo taxi. The routes below will help you plan an itinerary. Italics indicate no changeover .
• Route 1: Achabal-Anantnag- Kokernag -Vailoo. Change over into the Tata Sumos that go to Kishtwar. Vailoo-Daksum-Sinthan Top.
• Route 2: Achabal-Anantnag- Kolam Chinar -Verinag. There is also a direct road connecting Achabal and Verinag. Regular shared taxi service, however, might not be available on this direct route.
• Route 3: Achabal-Anantnag-Kulgam-Aharbal.
• Achabal-Ranipora-Martand-Mattan. OR Achabal-Anantnag-Mattan-Martand.

Map of the places in South Kashmir around Achabal

Do you need further assistance to plan your itinerary for offbeat travel to kashmir?

• 3-4 star hotels
• Local culture
• Light treks

These posts will help you prepare you Kashmir travel itinerary

Or if you are traveling ahead of Kashmir to Ladakh

And Zanskar too…

Need help planning your trip to Kashmir?

Tell us your requirement.

Share this story on:

Related posts.

Pilgrimage at LOC: A privilege and a paradox

Going so close to the LOC itself was stuff wild dreams are made of. In a region filled with so much uncertainty, to experience the common bond of heartfelt devotion – it was a paradox we had the privilege to witness.

Guide for offbeat travel to Kashmir

Or a guide to alternative travel to Kashmir. Where can you go other than Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam when you travel to Kashmir? We

Kashmir, time travel and Entrepreneurs of Dal lake

How did a shikara ride on Dal lake, an overtly chiched travel experience in Kashmir touch our hearts? “Shauk se karo” (Do as you please,

53 thoughts on “Kashmir travel itinerary: offbeat and for all”

Wow man these pictures are stunning, i mean you have in true sense explored the soul of Kashmir, i have seen many blogs on Kashmir but this one is just amazing. Where is the 10 stars rating for this blog. Bookmarked!

Absolutely stunning pictures and information. Thank you. But you have put me to worry as we have already planned a trip with Thomas cook. Thank God, that we have taken a personalised tour so that we can change our itinerary a bit. We have a stay at srinagar in houseboat and a resort and a day stay in gulmarg and 2 days in pahalgam. Out itinerary is as follows. 2nd May 2019 to 8th May 2019 Day 1 srinagar houseboat stay Day 2 n 3 pahalgam Day 4 in gulmarg Day 5 n 6 in srinagar We have chosen the “non listed” hotels at least to be away from the “typical touristy crowd”. Please guide us as to how do we manage now to see at least a few of these places mentioned on your blog? Please reply as soon as possible

Pingback: People of the valley: Kashmir – My way.

Pingback: People of the valley: Kashmir · SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog

Pingback: 7 Himalayan families which stunned us with their hospitality · SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog

Pingback: The kids of the hills... · SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog

Pingback: Guide for offbeat travel to Kashmir · SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog

Pingback: Chatpal: offbeat gem of Kashmir | SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog

Can i cover Achabal,kokernag,daksum,verinag,aharbal falls in 1day trip??

3 days will be appropriate. Keep at least 2 days.

Hey Guys, great stuff. Loved the images and the exploratory spirit.

Need help on following:

Where to stay if I need to visit Chatpal and Sinthan Top.

Can two day trips from Pahalgam do it for us?

How to book the forest house/guest house at Aharbal?

Thanks, Himanshu

Hello thepoetwithin, would recommend staying at Achabal and doing day trips from there to Aharbal, Sithan Top and Chatpal. You can get in touch with the tourism officers at the Jammu and Kashmir tourism website regarding booking.

hey guys great post. just wanted to point out the heading of chatpal. its written chaptal 🙂

Thank you for pointing it out, Gunjan. Have corrected it now. also, thanks for reading the travel post in detail 🙂 Much appreciated! Happy travels!

Wow absolutely mesmerizing clicks… Great Post… neha

Thank you, Neha!

Amazing pictures Sandeepa Chethan. Awesome post.

Thank you, Seema!

Pingback: South Kashmir circuit: Non ‘touristy’ fit for all travelers | SandeepaChetan’s Travel Blog – Santa's Reindeer

Such a lovely post, thanks for sharing….

Glad you liked the Kashmir post, Santosh!

What a great pics guys!!! all pictures of yours leaves me gasping for breath seriously.

Thank you so much for your appreciation!

nice range 🙂

Thank you 🙂

That moment when you realize editing your itinerary due to lack of time could be so painful! I had to drop Kokernag plans during my trip to Kashmir and your pics and this article made me regret that decision. Lovely pics! And people do need to know Kashmir beyond Srinagar, Sonmarg and Gulmarg.

Hello Vishvarsha, our favourite term when it comes to such a situation is “next time” 🙂 And you are absolutely correct about Kashmir being more than Srinagar , Gulmarg and Sonmarg!

Beautiful place and pictures. Thanks for sharing this part of Kashmir.

Glad you like these pictures from South Kashmir. It is a lovely region of Kashmir!

Man you guys have popped opened my eyes… never even thought such beautiful places could be within our reach….

Indeed Prasadji! This region of Kashmir is relatively easy to explore, with some good stay options everywhere. And so much quieter and less crowded than the touristy side of Kashmir. Warmer people too 🙂

Wow. Had never heard of those places and the MTDC bungalow near Aharbal sounds very promising.

Did you mean to say JKTDC? By the way, do bear in mind that JKTDC and the JK tourism Board are two different entities. JK Tourism Board offers these accommodations and their prices are a lot more affordable than JKTDC, since they work on a no-profit-no-loss model.

Around here we also saw some dilapidated houses of the Kashmir Pandits, who lived here many years back. Some houses still had the names of the families intact. Everything else, however, was in a state of decay. Very beautiful images with information !!

Thank you, Yogi Saraswat. The houses were tough to look at.

Just Stunning !!! Wonderful trip and narration.. someday I will go too… Thanks for sharing !

Thank you! Hope you do visit this beautiful part of Kashmir!

Gorgeous pictures and what a stunning place!

Thank you, Archana! The region is a beautiful part of Kashmir!

‘Slightly’ offbeat? This is a storehouse of information with stunning photos. Would make anyone want to pack their bags right away!

So when is the next trip to Kashmir, Priyanka? 🙂 Happy travels!

Lovely place. shots are fantastic, came to know about a new place.

Thank you, Jyotirmoy!

Stunning captures. I am in love with the place.

South Kashmir was our introduction to Kashmir away from the tourists 🙂 Loved all of it!

Beautiful Photographs.. Well presented!

Magnificent Pictures. 🙂 Just loved them. Can you share which camera are you using to take these pics?

Hello Pamela, all the details of the cameras are on our Travel Gear page.

Amazing photos. Beautiful post.

Thank you, Rupam!

You just took me on a wonderful trip through Kashmir, thank you so much for great images and great text.

Glad you liked it, Cornelia!

Comments are closed.

Excited about Travel?