Kashmir Valley Classic

Overview

The itinerary most people mean when they say Kashmir. Two nights in Srinagar including one on a Dal Lake houseboat, a day in the Gulmarg meadows with the gondola, and two nights in Pahalgam for the Lidder valley. Distances are short and we keep one afternoon completely free, because Kashmir rewards sitting still.

• One night on a deluxe Dal Lake houseboat
• Gulmarg Gondola to Kongdoori
• Betaab and Aru valleys near Pahalgam
• Shikara ride at sunrise or sunset
• Mughal gardens above Srinagar

Gallery

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrive Srinagar and the Mughal gardens

   Picked up at Srinagar airport and driven to your hotel. Afternoon at Nishat and Shalimar Bagh, the terraced Mughal gardens looking down over Dal Lake, followed by a shikara ride as the light softens.

   
   • Airport pickup
   • Nishat Bagh
   • Shalimar Bagh
   • Shikara ride on Dal Lake

2. Day 2

   Day trip to Gulmarg

   A two-hour drive through pine forest to Gulmarg. The gondola climbs to Kongdoori for views across to Apharwat — snow in winter, open meadow in summer. Back in Srinagar by evening.

   
   • Drive to Gulmarg
   • Gulmarg Gondola phase one
   • Meadow walk or snow activities
   • Return to Srinagar

3. Day 3

   Srinagar to Pahalgam

   Drive south through saffron fields and cricket-bat workshops to Pahalgam. Afternoon in the Lidder valley, which is as close to a walking holiday as this trip gets.

   
   • Pampore saffron fields
   • Awantipora ruins
   • Check-in at Pahalgam
   • Lidder river walk

4. Day 4

   Betaab and Aru valleys

   A local vehicle takes you up to Betaab valley, Chandanwari and Aru — three short, very scenic stops with plenty of time to stop for chai.

   
   • Betaab Valley
   • Chandanwari
   • Aru Valley
   • Evening free in Pahalgam

5. Day 5

   Back to Srinagar and the houseboat

   Return to Srinagar and check in to a deluxe houseboat on Dal Lake. Afternoon in the old city — Jamia Masjid, the shrine at Hazratbal and the covered markets for pashmina and papier-mâché.

   
   • Drive to Srinagar
   • Houseboat check-in
   • Old city and market walk
   • Dinner on the houseboat

6. Day 6

   Departure

   Breakfast on the houseboat, then a transfer to Srinagar airport.

   • Breakfast
   • Checkout
   • Airport transfer

Choose your stay

Where you'll stay

Lake Crest Srinagar

3★

Boulevard Road, Srinagar · Standard room · Breakfast included

Simple, warm rooms a short walk from the Dal Lake boulevard and shikara ghats.

Chinar Retreat Pahalgam

4★

Lidder Valley, Pahalgam · Valley-view room · Breakfast and dinner included

Riverside property with wood-panelled rooms, in-house dining and heating throughout.

Heritage Houseboat Dal Lake

4★

Dal Lake, Srinagar · Deluxe houseboat room · Breakfast and dinner included

A traditional carved-cedar houseboat with attached bathrooms, a sun deck and home-cooked Kashmiri meals.

The Vale Srinagar

5★

Nishat, Srinagar · Lake-view deluxe room · Breakfast and dinner included

Luxury lakefront hotel with a spa, mountain-facing rooms and a well-regarded Kashmiri restaurant.

Experiences included & optional

Sunrise shikara ride

The floating vegetable market on Dal Lake, best seen before 7am.

Gulmarg Gondola

Cable car to Kongdoori with Apharwat views.

Thajiwas glacier

A short pony ride or trek from Sonmarg to the glacier face.

Kashmiri wazwan dinner

A multi-course traditional meal arranged on request.

Good to know