We’re often asked to share the best itinerary for a place. Most of our friends come to us with questions like ‘Where to eat?’, ‘What to shop?’, ‘Where to stay?’. Now, we don’t really know what a best itinerary is because most places have too much to offer to be able to cover it all on a short trip. So, we pick experiences, sometimes touristy and sometimes offbeat, that are sure to stay with us a longtime. And of course, we make mistakes. But, we make them so that you don’t have to.
Kashmir was on our mind since years. Both Nikita and I genuinely maintain a long bucket list, and we usually pick ones that we’ve both longed for the mostest. And Kashmir was definitely one such place. Even though, the planning itself was pretty last minute for this one, we’ve curated a beautiful itinerary to cover most things on your first trip to Kashmir.
Trip Details:
Places Covered: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Dras, Pahalgam
No. of Days: 8-9 days
Cost: INR 20,000 only (Excluding flight tickets)
- Food – 11%
- Transport – 31%
- Stay – 37%
- Misc (Includes entry tickets, gondola, shopping, tips) – 22%
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Srinagar
Fly into Srinagar, take a morning flight, because the view when flying into Srinagar is worth it. Book yourself into a cozy houseboat. Pro Tip: The hourboats on Nigeen are much more serene than the ones on Dal Lake. Spend the rest of the day leisurely on the houseboat, soaking in the beauty of Srinagar, taking a Shikara ride or two and just enjoying the loving hospitality of Kashmiris.
Day 2: Srinagar
Get a super early start to your day and check out the Floating Vegetable Market on Dal Lake. This is such a unique market where locals on Shikaras barter their daily harvest of vegetables. Absolutely worth making the effort. Post breakfast, head on outside to explore the many touristy places of Srinagar. Start off with Shankaracharya temple, overlooking most of Srinagar and the magnificent Dal Lake. Then head over to the other corner, passing by the famous Boulevard Road of Dal Lake, to the Hazratbal Mosque. Take in the splendid beauty and peace of Hazratbal. There are plenty of tiny restaurants in the market near Hazratbal for some authentic Kashmiri food. You could also try some amazing street food here. Post a heavy lunch, it is time to head out to one of the famous Mughal Gardens to laze around. Pick Chashm-e-Shahi for Spring and Nishat bagh for Autumn. If you are there during Summer, do plan to visit Asia’s largest tulip garden, Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden. You can end your day enjoying a splendid sunset from Pari Mahal.
Read our detailed post on 9 things to do in Srinagar.
Day 3: Gulmarg
Checkout from your houseboat and head over to the world famous ski destination, Gulmarg. This is about a 2 hour drive from Srinagar. Pro Tip: Do plan to reach Gulmarg before 9AM. On most days when the tourist rush is high, the queue to the Gondola gets very long and oftentimes people miss out on visiting Phase 2. You could do Gulmarg as a day trip, but we suggest staying here a night because the night sky is splendid in Gulmarg. Most of today will go in exploring and enjoying Phase 1 and 2 of the Gondola.
Read our complete guide on how to spend 24 hours in Gulmarg
Day 4: Sonmarg
Check out of your hotel and head over to Sonmarg, the meadow of gold. On the way, take a slight detour to Drung Waterfalls, near Tangmarg. The beauty of this place is otherworldly and you won’t regret listening to us. Reach Sonmarg by lunchtime, check in and head out to Thajiwas Glacier. The hike is short and doable, you could also hire ponies. During much of the year, there is snow at the top, no matter how much the locals promise you. So, don’t be disappointed. It is an extremely delightful place to spend a relaxing evening by the gushing rivers.
Day 5: Dras
Head over to Dras through Zojila Pass, an extremely treacherous pass located at an altitude of 11,500 feet. This, in itself, is an experience worth talking about. However, your travel to Dras is to visit the Kargil War Memorial, inches away from the Tiger Hill, where the standoff took place. It is an experience worth the effort. We had chills. After this ordeal, you can head over back to Srinagar to retire for the night.
Read about how to plan your day in Sonmarg and Dras
Day 6: Pahalgam
Check out and head over to Pahalgam. Enroute, stop by Apple Orchards and Saffron fields. You won’t regret these stops, for sure. Take the time out to shop for some dry fruits and saffron, as well – best place to buy is enroute Pahalgam. Upon reaching, check in to your stay and head out to explore this beautiful valley. Hire a cab from the main taxi stand and head out to Aru Valley. Upon reaching the base, you’ll either have to hike or take a pony to the top – ‘Green Top’. The valley is absolutely stunning and worth the visit. Note: The hike is steep at certain places. Spend enough time at the top trying to figure out how this place came to be so beautiful. If you have the time, also check out Pahalgam Golf Course, one of the highest in the world.
Day 7: Pahalgam
Get an early start today and hike out to Baisaran Valley, ‘Mini Switzerland of India’. The hike is easy and totally doable at a leisurely pace in 2 hours, one way. Of course, you can always take a pony, but we’d suggest otherwise. Absolutely stunning landscape, a meadow amidst lush coniferous trees. Upon descending, have a decent lunch at the main market and hire a taxi again to head over to Chandanwari and Betaab Valley. Chandanwari is the base for the Amarnath Yatra and is a beautiful spot to enjoy a post lunch nap by the river. Pro Tip: Don’t take any pony rides here, they are not worth it. Then head over to Betaab Valley, where the movie Betaab was shot. A great place to spend a relaxed evening, to feed your mind and soul.
Read on everything you need to see and do in Pahalgam
Day 8: Srinagar
Check out from your hotel and leave to Srinagar. Enroute, take a small detour to visit the Niagara Falls of Kashmir, Aharbhal. It’s a breathtaking sight, for sure.
You can either choose to spend the day in Srinagar or take a flight out today itself. We’d suggest to spend a day here. Soak in beauty of Dal Lake at sunset, take a ride to Char Chinar, enjoy the shopping experience on the Shikara, where you are treated like royalty. Grab a kulfi or two. You could also use this day to head to Lal Chowk, the central market and shop for Pashmina and Walnut wood handicrafts. Don’t forget to check out the historical wooden arch Zero Bridge.
That, right there, is how you spend 8 wholesome days exploring Kashmir. Kashmir has so much more to offer and we’re definitely going back for sure.
Winding Roads & Pages 