The first thing you notice in Kashmir is how slow everything is. You step onto a shikara at Dal Lake, the boatman does not hurry, and for an hour you float past lotus leaves, floating vegetable markets and houseboats with carved wooden windows. Your phone goes in your pocket and stays there.
This is a 5 Nights 6 Days group trip for people who want to see Kashmir the easy way: one plan, one group and one Trip Captain. You start with a night on a houseboat, ride up the Gulmarg gondola, walk through the Lidder Valley in Pahalgam and spend a full day in Sonmarg. The stay, a Tempo Traveller, local cabs for the narrow valleys, and the main tickets are all part of the package.
Srinagar
Backpacking Trip
5 Nights 6 Days
Tempo Traveller
Not Included
18-42 Years
Kashmir is easy to like and hard to rush. Most people come with a list of places, but the days that stay with you are the slow ones. A cup of kahwa on the houseboat deck in the evening. A walk along the Lidder River with nobody around. A cold wind at the top of the Gulmarg gondola that makes you pull your jacket tighter and laugh.
Your first day is gentle. You land in Srinagar, meet your Trip Captain and the group, check in to the houseboat and head out to see the Mughal Gardens. The day ends with a shikara ride on Dal Lake, and by dinner you are already talking to the people who will be with you for the next six days.
On Day 2 you go up to Gulmarg. The road climbs through pine forests, and the gondola takes you higher over the meadows. Day 3 takes you down to Pahalgam via the old ruins at Avantipur, and the road follows the river for a good part of the way.
In Pahalgam, a local cab takes you through Aru Valley, Betaab Valley and Chandanwari. The roads are narrow here, so a smaller vehicle makes sense. The fifth day is Sonmarg, where you can take a pony to Thajiwas Glacier and spend time in a valley with mountains on every side.
It is a busy trip, with a lot of driving and a few early mornings. In return, you get a group, a plan that works and a Kashmir you can actually enjoy.
This trip is for people who want to see the main parts of Kashmir with a group and without planning. It suits you if you are:
It is not the right trip if you want a fully relaxed holiday with no early mornings, or if you are not comfortable with long road days.
You travel with the same group and Trip Captain from the first day to the last, so you are never alone in a new place.
Shikara ride, Gulmarg gondola Phase 1 and the local cabs for Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari are covered.
A fixed-time pickup on Day 1, so you start the trip without hunting for a cab.
One night on Dal Lake, the rest in hotels at Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg.
Your captain handles the plan, checks on everyone and decides what is safe each day.
What is included and what is not is listed on this page, so there are no surprises.
| Destination | Key Experience | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Srinagar (Start) | Dal Lake & Houseboat Stay | Airport pickup, Mughal Gardens, and evening 1-hour Shikara ride. |
| Gulmarg | Meadows & Gondola Ride | Scenic drive through pine forests and Gondola Phase 1 cable car experience. |
| Pahalgam | Valley Exploration | Avantipur ruins route, Lidder River, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and Chandanwari. |
| Sonmarg | Glacier Day Trip | Thajiwas Glacier views, pony rides, and high mountain valley landscapes. |
| Srinagar (End) | Departure | Final departure with seamless transfer back to Srinagar airport. |
5 Nights / 6 Days plan for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg.
Meeting Point: Houseboat in Srinagar (directions shared on arrival)
Airport Pickup: One pickup at a fixed time
Stay: Houseboat in Srinagar
Meals: Dinner
Fly into Srinagar and meet your Trip Captain. Check in to the houseboat and rest for a while. In the afternoon, you visit the Mughal Gardens, including Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Garden and Chashme Shahi. Later, you take a one-hour shikara ride on Dal Lake with the Pir Panjal range around you. Dinner and night stay on the houseboat.
Important: Book your flight to reach Srinagar before 12:00 PM, because sightseeing starts at 1:00 PM. The airport pickup is at one fixed time based on when most of the group arrives.
Stay: Hotel in Gulmarg
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
After breakfast, you drive to Gulmarg, one of the best-known hill spots in Kashmir. The day is slow and open. You take the gondola (Phase 1 ticket included), walk around the meadows and take photos. Dinner and night stay in Gulmarg.
Important: Gondola tickets depend on availability and weather. If they are not available, we will arrange the best alternative. Higher phases and any activities are paid separately.
Stay: Hotel in Pahalgam
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
After breakfast, you start the drive to Pahalgam. On the way, you stop at the Avantipur ruins, one of the oldest temple sites in the valley. The rest of the road follows the Lidder River. You reach Pahalgam in the evening, check in and rest.
Important: Depending on weather and hotel availability, the Pahalgam and Gulmarg stays can be swapped. The sightseeing plan stays the same.
Stay: Hotel in Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Today you see the three main valleys around Pahalgam in local cabs: Aru Valley, Betaab Valley and Chandanwari. After sightseeing, you drive back to Srinagar for the night.
Important: Local cabs are used because the roads are narrow. Stops can change if a road is closed.
Stay: Hotel in Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
After breakfast, you drive to Sonmarg for a full-day trip. You can take a pony ride to Thajiwas Glacier (optional, paid separately) or just walk around the valley. In the evening, you return to Srinagar.
Important: If the road to Sonmarg is closed because of weather or landslides, we will plan the best alternative.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, check out and head to the airport for your onward journey. The trip ends here. Airport drop is not included.
Important: Book your return flight with enough buffer time. Timings can change because of weather, traffic and road conditions.
Perfect for friends and small groups
Best for couples or 2 travelers
Warm layers including jacket, fleece or sweater, thermals (depending on the month), gloves, woollen cap, scarf for cooler months, and a light rain jacket or poncho.
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip and slippers for the stay.
Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, moisturiser, quick-dry towel, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, and reusable water bottle.
Power bank, charger, extra camera batteries, and waterproof bags for electronics and documents.
Personal medicines and basic first-aid kit (headache, fever, cold, motion sickness, stomach upset, ORS, bandages).
Original government photo ID along with a digital copy, dry fruits, chocolates, energy bars, and cash for personal expenses.
Please read our cancellation terms carefully before confirming your booking.
Full refund
25% refund
Non-refundable
GST and transaction charges are non-refundable in all cases.
Quick answers to common questions before booking your Kashmir Backpacking Trip.
Yes. Many people join alone, and your Trip Captain helps everyone get to know each other from the first day.
No. Flights or trains to and from Srinagar are not included. Please book your flight to arrive before 12:00 PM on Day 1.
Phase 1 tickets are included. Anything beyond that, and any activities like skiing or sledging in season, are paid separately. Ticket availability depends on weather.
No. It is optional and paid directly at the place.
One night on a houseboat in Srinagar, two nights in a hotel in Srinagar, one night in Pahalgam and one night in Gulmarg, on double or triple sharing.
Postpaid connections generally work. Prepaid SIM cards from outside Jammu & Kashmir usually do not.
Your Trip Captain and drivers decide the safest option. The plan may change, and extra costs for roadblocks or natural calamities are not covered in the package.
Small group departures with around 8 to 15 travellers to ensure a seamless experience.
18 to 42 years for group departures. For other age groups, we can plan a customised trip.
Yes. You can fly from Delhi to Srinagar and meet the group there. We can share flight tips with you on WhatsApp.
Memories from travelers who explored incredible destinations with Trip Guru Go.
My first solo trip felt completely safe. Great group, friendly people, and a supportive Trip Captain.
Everything was well planned from start to finish. Special thanks to the Trip Captain.
It was my second trip with Trip Guru Go and I joined as a solo traveler in a weekend group trip, it was a great experience
My trekking experience was amazing under the guidance of Trip Captain Suraj. It was an adventurous
We planned a private trip with Trip Guru Go and everything was arranged perfectly and the captain was awesome
