Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam
Srinagar and Dal Lake · Gulmarg · Sonmarg
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7 days, 6 nights
The Valley in Seven Days
Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg at a sensible pace
The trip
What this is
This is the trip most people take on a first visit. It covers the four places everyone comes to Kashmir for, with enough time in each to do more than photograph it from the car. You start and end on Dal Lake, with two nights in the mountains in between.
Best for. A first trip to Kashmir where you want to see the well-known valleys without rushing between them.
Highlights
- Two nights in the mountains, not just day trips from the city
- A morning on Dal Lake before the day crowd arrives
- The Gulmarg gondola, weather permitting, with time to walk from the top station
- A full day in the Lidder valley around Aru and Betaab
- The old city of Srinagar on foot, with its woodwork and shrines
Day by day
The itinerary
A working outline. We move nights around, add or drop a day, and adjust for weather once we know your dates.
- 01Srinagar
Arrive in Srinagar
We meet you at the airport and take you to the lake. The rest of the day is yours to settle in. If you land early, there is time for a slow shikara ride in the late afternoon.
Houseboat or hotel on Dal or Nigeen - 02Srinagar
Srinagar: gardens and the old city
The Mughal gardens on the eastern shore in the morning, then the old city in the afternoon: Jamia Masjid, the Shah-e-Hamdan shrine, and the lanes where papier-mache and walnut wood are still worked.
Houseboat or hotel on Dal or Nigeen - 03Gulmarg
Drive to Gulmarg
A short drive up through the rice fields and pine to the meadow. Afternoon for the first stage of the gondola, or a walk toward Khilanmarg if the weather is open.
Hotel in Gulmarg - 04Pahalgam
Gulmarg to Pahalgam
A longer drive across the valley floor, skirting Srinagar and following the Lidder up to Pahalgam. Evening by the river.
Hotel in Pahalgam or Aru - 05Pahalgam
The Lidder valley
A full day around Aru, Betaab valley and Chandanwari, with time to walk rather than just stop at viewpoints. The far bank of the river above Pahalgam is quieter if you want a longer walk.
Hotel in Pahalgam or Aru - 06Srinagar
Pahalgam to Sonmarg, then Srinagar
Cross back toward Srinagar and continue up the Sindh valley to Sonmarg for the afternoon and the walk toward Thajiwas. Return to the lake for your last night.
Houseboat or hotel on Dal or Nigeen - 07Srinagar
Departure
Time for breakfast and a last look at the lake before we take you to the airport.
Places you will see
- Dal Lake
- Nishat and Shalimar gardens
- Srinagar old city
- Gulmarg and Khilanmarg
- Pahalgam
- Aru
- Betaab valley
- Chandanwari
- Sonmarg
- Thajiwas
What is included
- Private vehicle with a local driver for the whole trip
- Accommodation as listed, on a twin-sharing basis
- Daily breakfast, and dinner where you are staying outside Srinagar
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All road tolls, parking and driver costs
- A day-by-day plan and a single point of contact while you travel
What is not
- Flights to and from Srinagar
- Lunches, and meals not mentioned above
- Pony rides, gondola tickets, guides and entry fees at sightseeing points
- Anything personal, and anything not listed under inclusions
- Costs from road closures or weather beyond our control
Worth knowing before you book
- Day 6 is the longest on the road. We start early to keep the afternoon relaxed.
- The gondola can close at short notice. We keep the schedule flexible so we can try again.
- Autumn adds colour through the chinar and the Lidder valley but nights turn cold by mid-October.
Questions
Is seven days enough for a first visit?
For these four valleys, yes. It gives you a night in Gulmarg and two nights near Pahalgam, plus three nights in Srinagar. If you want to add Doodhpathri or a second night in the mountains, we can stretch it to eight or nine days.
Can we do this trip with young children?
Yes. The drives are the main thing to plan around. We break the longer days with stops, and none of the walking is difficult unless you choose to go further.
What kind of vehicle do you use?
For a group of two to four we usually use a sedan or a compact SUV. Larger groups get an Innova or a tempo traveller. You keep the same vehicle and driver for the whole trip.
Nearby
Other trips through here
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