Everything we know about planning a Kashmir trip: where to go, when, how long, and what to know before you land. Then the itineraries we build on.
Fly into
Srinagar (SXR)
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
First trip
4–6 nights
Planned by
A Srinagar guide since 2010
Where to go
Srinagar is the base. Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Doodhpathri are within two to three hours of it; Gurez and the south take a night or two of their own.
Where every Kashmir trip begins
The meadow of flowers, and the snow above it
The Lidder valley, pine and river
The meadow of gold on the road to Ladakh
Two meadows, an hour and a half from Srinagar
Over the Razdan pass to the Kishanganga
Springs, Mughal gardens and pine forest
When to come
Kashmir is open all year. Here is what each part of it looks like.
Jan – Feb
Deep winter
Snow across the valley, skiing in Gulmarg and the coldest nights of the year. Roads and flights can pause after heavy snowfall.
Mar
Thaw and blossom
Almond blossom in Srinagar and the first warm days. Snow lingers in Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Apr
Tulips
The Tulip Garden for a few weeks, fruit blossom everywhere, and cool, fresh weather.
May – Jun
Green and busy
Every meadow open and at its greenest. Peak season: book hotels and houseboats early.
Jul – Aug
Warm and yatra season
The Amarnath Yatra makes Pahalgam and Sonamarg busy. Gurez and the north are at their best.
Sep – Oct
Our pick
Clear skies, thinner crowds, saffron in flower at Pampore and the chinars turning red and gold.
Nov
Late autumn
Quiet, crisp and cheaper, with the last chinar colour. The Gurez and Zojila roads close with the first heavy snow.
Dec
First snow
Snow arrives in Gulmarg and the hills, and the ski season begins. Chillai Kalan, the coldest spell, starts late in the month.
Plan it properly
Longer answers to what people ask before booking: seasons, routes, distances, safety and what to pack.
Travelling from
Kashmir itineraries
Each one is reshaped around your dates, your group and your pace, and quoted in writing before you pay.
The classic first Kashmir trip, planned properly: a houseboat night on Dal Lake, Gulmarg and its gondola, and a night in the Lidder valley at Pahalgam.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
All four of the Valley’s great names without rushing: Srinagar, a night in Gulmarg, two in Pahalgam, Sonamarg and the meadows of Doodhpathri.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Slower and quieter: a houseboat night on Nigeen Lake, a night in Gulmarg, two by the river in Pahalgam, and time left empty on purpose.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Over the Razdan pass into Gurez and the Tulail valley, with Doodhpathri’s meadows and the old city of Srinagar on either side. The Kashmir most visitors never reach.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Two nights in Srinagar, done properly: a houseboat on the lake, a shikara to the floating market at dawn, the Mughal gardens and the old city on foot.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Spring in the valley: the Tulip Garden in bloom, almond blossom, the Mughal gardens waking up, and snow still lying at Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Snow, kangris and kahwa: two nights in Gulmarg for the gondola, snow play or a first ski lesson, and Srinagar under snow on either side.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
An unhurried week for children and grandparents: short drives, two nights in each base, a houseboat, Gulmarg, the Lidder valley and an easy day in the Doodhpathri meadows.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Pahalgam and the quiet south: the Martand Sun Temple, the Mughal springs of Achabal, Kokernag and Verinag, and a night in the Daksum forest.
Price
On request
quote on WhatsApp
Before you land
Srinagar International Airport (SXR) has direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, around 30–45 minutes from Dal Lake. Ask us about current train connections into the valley and from Jammu.
Prepaid SIM cards from outside Jammu & Kashmir do not work here. Postpaid connections do. Hotels and houseboats have Wi-Fi; Gurez and the remote valleys have little or no signal.
UPI and cards work in Srinagar and the main resorts. Carry cash for shikaras, ponies, local taxis and village stops, where cards are rarely taken.
At Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, sightseeing beyond the town uses the local union’s taxis and ponies at fixed rates. Your own car waits in town. We tell you the rates before you go.
Kashmir is conservative. Modest clothing is appreciated, especially in the old city and at shrines; carry a scarf for Hazratbal. Ask before photographing people.
Carry original photo ID throughout. Gurez and some northern valleys are near the Line of Control: Indian nationals pass checkpoints with ID, while foreign nationals face restrictions. We check current access before every trip.
Questions
Four nights covers Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Six or seven lets you add Sonamarg and Doodhpathri without rushing. Add two or three more for Gurez or South Kashmir.
April to June and September to October suit most travellers. Come in April for tulips, October for autumn colour and saffron, and December to February for snow.
Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg receive large numbers of visitors every year. Conditions can change, and some meadows or roads close at short notice, so we check the current position before your trip and plan around it. We are based in Srinagar and travel these routes ourselves.
For one night, yes: it is the most Kashmiri thing you can do. For the rest of the trip a hotel is usually more comfortable. Quality varies a lot, so we book only houseboats we know and tell you the category first.
Yes, over the Zojila pass via Sonamarg and Kargil, usually from around May to October. Our Srinagar to Leh road trip does exactly that.
Season, hotel and houseboat category and group size change the cost more than anything else. We send a written, itemised quote for your dates, usually the same day, before you pay anything.
Plan your Kashmir trip
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. You get a day-by-day plan and an itemised quote, usually the same day.
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