Jammu & Kashmir

Kashmir

Shikaras, Mughal gardens & snow slopes

7 Days / 6 Nights

4.9 (240+ reviews)

Starting from

₹32,900 / person

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Duration

7 Days / 6 Nights

Location

Jammu & Kashmir, India

Tour Type

Nature, Adventure, Mughal Heritage & Snow

Group Size

2–20 pax (couples, families & small groups)

Hotel Category

4★ Hotel + Deluxe Houseboat (upgradable to 5★)

Transportation

Private AC Innova / Xylo

Meals

Breakfast & dinner daily (MAP plan) + 1 wazwan tasting

Best Season

March–October (year-round for snow at Gulmarg)

Tour Overview

About the Kashmir Tour

Dal Lake at first light, a shikara glide past floating gardens, tulips and chinars in the Mughal gardens, apple orchards on the drive to Pahalgam and a gondola above Gulmarg's snow bowls — Kashmir is India's softest, most cinematic surprise.

Every Kashmir journey we design is grounded in local relationships — vetted hotels, hand-picked guides and a curator on call whenever you need us. This itinerary suits couples, families and small groups seeking a balance of iconic sights, culture and quiet time.

Tour Highlights

Shikara ride & houseboat night on Dal Lake
Gulmarg Gondola to Apharwat Peak (Phase II)
Betaab Valley, Aru & Chandanwari at Pahalgam
Thajiwas glacier excursion at Sonmarg
Mughal gardens of Srinagar — Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi
Saffron fields of Pampore & Awantipora ruins

Day by Day

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Srinagar → Deluxe houseboat on Dal Lake

Warm welcome at Srinagar International Airport and a scenic drive to your deluxe houseboat moored on Dal Lake. After a hot kahwa welcome, spend the afternoon on a private 90-minute shikara ride through the floating vegetable gardens, Rainawari lotus stems and Nehru Park island. Sunset from the deck of the houseboat, followed by a traditional Kashmiri dinner served on board.

Day 2

Srinagar Mughal gardens & Old City

Full day exploring Srinagar's Mughal heritage: Shalimar Bagh (built by Jahangir for Nur Jahan), Nishat Bagh (twelve terraces facing the lake), Chashme Shahi (imperial spring) and Pari Mahal. Post-lunch visit Shankaracharya Temple (a hill-top Shiva shrine) and the Old City's Jamia Masjid. Evening on Lal Chowk for kahwa, saffron, walnut carvings and Pashmina shopping.

Day 3

Srinagar → Gulmarg (Meadow of Flowers)

2.5-hour drive to Gulmarg (8,700 ft) — Asia's premier ski resort. Ride the world's second-highest cable car (the Gulmarg Gondola) up to Kongdoori (Phase I) and, weather permitting, on to Apharwat Peak at 13,780 ft (Phase II) — snow year-round. Optional skiing lessons, sledging or snow-scooter rides. Overnight at a Gulmarg property.

Day 4

Gulmarg → Pahalgam via saffron country

A cinematic 5-hour drive to Pahalgam ('Valley of Shepherds') passing through the saffron fields of Pampore (in bloom October–November) and the ancient sun-temple ruins of Awantipora. Arrive at Pahalgam (7,200 ft) — a green Lidder-river valley of pine forests. Evening riverside walk and Kashmiri wazwan tasting dinner.

Day 5

Pahalgam local — Aru, Betaab & Chandanwari

The 'Bollywood day' — visit Betaab Valley (where the film Betaab was shot), Aru Valley (a pristine meadow 12 km up-river) and Chandanwari (the starting point of the Amarnath Yatra, with a small glacier). Optional pony ride at any of the three points. Rest of the day free for a Lidder-river trout lunch and pine-forest walks.

Day 6

Sonmarg day trip → Return to Srinagar

Drive to Sonmarg ('Meadow of Gold') — a spectacular alpine setting at 9,200 ft with the Thajiwas Glacier reachable by pony ride (approximately 3 hours round trip). Return to Srinagar by evening and check into a lake-facing hotel. Optional final evening on Dal Lake for another shikara or shopping.

Day 7

Farewell breakfast & departure

A leisurely breakfast, last-minute saffron and dry-fruit shopping and a private transfer to Srinagar Airport for your onward flight. Depart with a canister of kahwa, memories of Chinar autumn and Kashmir's unmistakable warmth.

Package Inclusions

6 nights accommodation on twin-sharing (1N deluxe houseboat + 1N Gulmarg + 2N Pahalgam + 2N Srinagar)
Daily breakfast and dinner (MAP plan) at all stays
1 traditional Kashmiri wazwan tasting dinner at Pahalgam
Private AC Innova / Xylo for the entire trip
Srinagar airport pickup and drop-off
Private 90-minute shikara ride on Dal Lake
All Mughal garden entry tickets (Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi)
Sonmarg day-trip transfers included
Experienced local Kashmiri driver for the full trip
24×7 on-trip travel assistance from your VacationsVista curator

Package Exclusions

Flights to/from Srinagar
Lunches and any meals outside the MAP plan
Gulmarg Gondola tickets (Phase I & Phase II — payable directly at the ticket counter)
Pony rides at Pahalgam (Aru, Betaab, Chandanwari) and Sonmarg (Thajiwas glacier)
Sledge, snow-scooter and ski gear/lesson charges at Gulmarg
Camera fees at Mughal gardens and monuments
Personal expenses — laundry, tips, phone bills, shopping
Travel insurance (recommended — we can arrange on request)
Anything not specifically listed under inclusions

Hotels & Accommodation

Deluxe Houseboat on Dal Lake

Dal Lake · 1 night · traditional cedar-panelled deluxe category with attached bathrooms

The Vintage / Hotel Highlands Park, Gulmarg

Gulmarg · 1 night · 4★ ski-slope-access property with mountain views

Hotel Heevan Retreat, Pahalgam / Similar

Pahalgam · 2 nights · 4★ Lidder river-facing rooms

Radisson Srinagar / Vivanta Dal View

Srinagar · 2 nights · 4★ hotel at the foothill of Zabarwan range

5★ Upgrade — Taj Vivanta Dal View / Khyber Himalayan Resort

Luxury upgrade available on request

Transportation & Transfers

Private AC Innova / Toyota Xylo for the full trip
Experienced local Kashmiri driver familiar with all valley routes
Srinagar airport pickup and drop-off included
Dedicated private shikara on Dal Lake (90 minutes)
All inter-valley transfers (Srinagar ↔ Gulmarg ↔ Pahalgam ↔ Sonmarg) included
All permits, tolls and driver charges included

Important Tour Information

Warm layers essential year-round — Gulmarg and Sonmarg can hit zero even in June
Gulmarg Gondola Phase II tickets often sell out — we pre-book where the online system allows
Follow guide instructions in higher-altitude areas (Sonmarg, Apharwat) — mild AMS possible
Houseboat categories vary — we book only D-category deluxe with attached bathrooms and 24×7 caretaker
Public disturbances are rare in tourist zones; our on-ground team monitors advisories daily
Skiing at Gulmarg (Dec–March) requires basic fitness; beginner lessons available on request

Why Visit

Kashmir is one of our travellers' most-loved routes — here's why.

Shikara ride & houseboat night on Dal Lake
Gulmarg Gondola to Apharwat Peak (Phase II)
Betaab Valley, Aru & Chandanwari at Pahalgam
Thajiwas glacier excursion at Sonmarg
Mughal gardens of Srinagar — Shalimar, Nishat, Chashme Shahi
Saffron fields of Pampore & Awantipora ruins

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg are fully operational and see tens of thousands of visitors weekly across peak season. Our on-ground team monitors J&K Tourism Department advisories daily and will proactively adjust routes if any road or region requires it. Standard travel precautions apply.

Gulmarg has snow year-round at Apharwat Peak (Gondola Phase II) — even in July you can touch snow at 13,780 ft. For fresh snowfall in Srinagar and Pahalgam, plan late December to early February. For the famous tulip festival, target the first three weeks of April.

We book only D-category deluxe houseboats registered with J&K Tourism — cedar-panelled interiors, attached bathrooms with hot water, safety-checked LPG and electrical systems and 24×7 caretaker service. Meals are prepared fresh on board and dietary requests are honoured.

Yes — Gulmarg is one of Asia's best beginner-to-advanced ski destinations, with slopes from December to March. We arrange certified instructor lessons, gear rental (skis, boots, poles, jackets) and slope-side accommodation. First-timers can be up and skiing within 2 hours.

Wazwan is the multi-course Kashmiri feast — traditionally 7 to 36 courses of slow-cooked lamb, chicken and rice preparations. There's also a rich vegetarian tradition (dum aloo, nadru yakhni, chaman qaliya, haakh saag) — we arrange vegetarian and Jain wazwan on request with equal ceremony.

Indian nationals need only a photo ID — no inner-line permit for the Kashmir valley (Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg). Ladakh routes (Kargil, Leh) require separate permits which we arrange if you extend the trip. Foreign nationals must register with FRRO on arrival — we handle the paperwork.

Srinagar (5,200 ft), Pahalgam (7,200 ft) and Gulmarg (8,700 ft) are well tolerated by most travellers. Sonmarg Thajiwas glacier (11,000+ ft) and Gondola Phase II (13,780 ft) can cause mild altitude symptoms — we build in acclimatisation, keep the pace slow and can arrange portable oxygen on request.