Kashmir, valley by valley.

Srinagar Tour Packages

Best time

Mar–Nov (Apr and Oct our pick)

Ideal length

2 to 3 nights

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city

A night on a houseboat, a shikara across Dal Lake at first light, the Mughal gardens and the wooden shrines of the old city. Srinagar is our home, and it deserves more than a stopover on the way to Gulmarg.

Gulmarg Tour Packages

Best time

May–Sep for meadows, Jan–Feb for snow

Ideal length

Day trip, or 1 night

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city

A high meadow ringed by pine forest, with one of the highest cable cars in the world climbing to Apharwat. Wildflowers and golf in summer, deep snow and skiing in winter.

Pahalgam Tour Packages

Best time

Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct

Ideal length

1 to 2 nights

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city

A riverside town at about 2,200 m in the Lidder valley, the gateway to Aru, Betaab valley and Chandanwari, and base camp for the Amarnath Yatra.

Sonamarg Tour Packages

Best time

May–Jun and Sep–Oct

Ideal length

Day trip, or 1 night

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city

The last green valley before Zojila, at about 2,730 m on the Srinagar–Leh road, with the Thajiwas glacier a pony ride away.

Offbeat Kashmir Tour Packages

Best time

Jun–Sep

Ideal length

2 to 4 nights

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city

Gurez beyond the Razdan pass, the meadows of Doodhpathri and Yusmarg, the springs of the south, and the quiet valleys of the north. The Kashmir we grew up with, before the crowds.

Gurez Valley Tour Packages

Best time

Jun–Sep

Ideal length

2 to 3 nights in the valley

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city; Gurez is 5–6 hours by road

Log-built villages, the Kishanganga river and the pyramid of Habba Khatoon peak, a long mountain drive north of Srinagar. Gurez is Kashmir before tourism, and it repays the effort of getting there.

Doodhpathri & Yusmarg Tours

Best time

May–Sep

Ideal length

Day trips, or 1 night

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city

Wide green meadows, cold rivers and pine forest in Budgam district, with a fraction of Gulmarg’s crowds. Either makes an easy day out from Srinagar; both together make a gentle two days.

South Kashmir Tours: Kokernag, Verinag & Daksum

Best time

Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

Ideal length

1 to 2 nights, or as part of a Pahalgam trip

Price

On request

Airport

Srinagar International Airport (SXR), about 30–45 minutes from the city; most sites are 2–3 hours by road

The springs of Verinag and Kokernag, the Mughal garden at Achabal, the ruined Martand Sun Temple and the forests of Daksum. The quiet south of the valley, a couple of hours from Srinagar.

Ladakh Tour Packages from Srinagar

Best time

Jun–Sep

Ideal length

6 to 8 nights including Srinagar

Price

On request

Airport

Arrive Srinagar (SXR); depart Leh (IXL)

Drive from Srinagar to Leh over two days through Sonamarg, Zojila, Drass and Kargil. Gaining height by road gives your body time to adjust before Leh, Nubra and Pangong.