Kashmir

Trip highlights

• 2 nights in Srinagar
• 2 nights in Pahalgam
• 1 night in Gulmarg
• 1 night in Srinagar

Day by day

1. 1Arrival in SrinagarDinner

   Arrive at Srinagar Sheikh Ul Alam International Airport on what is one of the most scenic flights in the world. Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is popularly known as the city of Reshis and Sufis. Our driver cum representative meets you and transfers you to the hotel for check in. In the afternoon, visit the Mughal Gardens: Nishat Bagh, the garden of pleasure built in 1633 by Asif Khan, Shalimar Bagh, the garden of love built in 1619 by Jahangir for his wife Noor Jahan, and Chashmashahi, the royal spring that has been loved by emperors and picnickers alike. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

2. 2Sonmarg ExcursionBreakfastDinner

   After breakfast, depart on a day excursion to Sonmarg, 87 km and about 2 to 3 hours each way. Sonmarg, which means meadow of gold, has a backdrop of snowy mountains against a blue sky, and the drive offers dense pine forests and gigantic mountains. The place is an ideal base for trekking routes, high mountain lakes, glaciers and the Sri Amarnath holy cave, and the river that meanders through it abounds with trout and mahseer. Sonmarg is also the last halt on the Kashmir side of the drive from Srinagar to Leh. Drive back and reach Srinagar by evening for dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

3. 3Srinagar to PahalgamBreakfastDinner

   After a leisurely breakfast, check out and leave for Pahalgam, 96 km and about 2 to 3 hours away, known as the valley of shepherds. En route, visit the saffron fields and the 19th century Awantipura ruins. Pahalgam sits at 2,130 m at the confluence of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river, and was once a humble shepherd's village. It is the base camp for the Amarnath pilgrimage, the start of several trekking routes and a long standing favourite of the Hindi film industry. It stays cool even at the height of summer, when the maximum temperature does not exceed 25 degrees. Check in at the pre-arranged hotel, then spend the rest of the day at leisure walking the banks of the Lidder. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

4. 4Pahalgam at LeisureBreakfast

   After a leisurely breakfast, the full day is free to enjoy and explore the beauty of Pahalgam on your own. Aru, 10 km from Pahalgam, is a fine meadow of picturesque scenery and the starting point for treks to Lidderwat, the Kolahoi glacier and Tarsar lake, with Betaab valley close by. Overnight stay at the hotel in Pahalgam.

5. 5Pahalgam to GulmargBreakfastDinner

   After an early breakfast, check out and drive to Gulmarg via the bypass, 148 km and about 4 to 5 hours away. Gulmarg, called the meadow of flowers, sits at 8,700 ft and is a famous ski resort and home to the world's highest 18 hole golf course at 2,650 m. Originally called Gaurimarg by shepherds, it was given its present name in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers, and it was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir, who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers here. On arrival, check in at the pre-arranged hotel. You can take the Gulmarg Gondola up to the first or second phase. One of the highest cable cars in the world, it reaches 3,979 m and ferries about 600 people an hour from the main station towards a shoulder of Mount Affarwat at 4,200 m, with countless off-piste possibilities through the Khilanmarg meadows below and scenic views of Nanga Parbat. The Affarwat ridge above 3,850 m is an avalanche controlled ski area for advanced skiers only, and Gulmarg's steep terrain has made it popular with extreme skiers from around the world. Return by evening for dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

6. 6Gulmarg to SrinagarBreakfastDinner

   After a leisurely breakfast, check out and transfer to Srinagar, 50 km and about an hour and a half away. On arrival, start the sightseeing tour with the Shankaracharya temple, believed to be where the great philosopher and saint stayed when he visited Kashmir ten centuries ago to revive Sanatan Dharma. Proceed to the Hazratbal mosque, set in a village on the western shore of Dal Lake opposite Nishat Bagh, a pristine white marble building and the only domed mosque in Srinagar among the city's pagoda roofed ones, and then to the Jamia Masjid in the heart of the old city, where thousands congregate for the Friday prayers. Later, proceed to the houseboat for check in. In the evening, take a shikara ride on world famous Dal Lake, visiting the floating vegetable gardens and the open lake, with plenty of opportunities for bird watching along the way, including kingfisher, little bittern, common pariah kite and grebe. Dinner and overnight stay at the houseboat.

7. 7Departure from SrinagarBreakfast

   The tour concludes. We thank you for your patronage and ensure a punctual transfer to Srinagar airport to catch the flight for your onward destination.

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