Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is one of the popular trek in india.in which where you can see 7 to 8 high altitude alpine lakes and so many snow glaciers.

Category: Trekking tours kashmir

Shoes.
clothes ( One outer layer , Two trek pants , Three insulation layers , Three t shirts ).
Trekking poles.
Raingear.
Raincover for bagpack.
Day pack.
Sunglass.
Suncap.
Three pair of socks.
Headlamp.
Toilet kit.
Water bottle.
Plastic covers.
Personal medical kit.
Bagpack.

You can reach Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, by air, road, or rail (partially). Here’s a breakdown of all travel options:

1. By Air (Fastest & Most Convenient)

•Airport: Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (SXR), Srinagar

•Major Flights From: Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu, Chandigarh, Bangalore

•Travel Time: 1–2.5 hours (from major cities)

•Tip: Prepaid taxis are available at the airport to reach the city center (Dal Lake is ~12 km).

2. By Road

a. From Jammu

•Distance: ~270 km

•Time: 6–8 hours

•Route: Jammu → Udhampur → Chenani-Nashri Tunnel → Ramban → Banihal → Anantnag → Srinagar

•Travel Options:

•Private Taxi: ₹5,500–₹7,000

•Bus (JKSRTC or Private): ₹600–₹1,000

•Shared Cabs/Tempos: ₹700–₹1,000 per person

b. From Leh (via Kargil)

•Distance: ~420 km

•Time: 12–14 hours (2-day journey ideal)

•Open: May to October (Zoji La closed in winter)

3. By Train (Nearest Station: Banihal)

•Major Railhead: Jammu Tawi (JAT)

•From Jammu to Banihal: Take a train or taxi (approx. 135 km)

•From Banihal to Srinagar:

•Option 1: Take the Banihal–Baramulla DEMU train to Srinagar (Nowgam Station)

•Option 2: Hire a cab/shared taxi from Banihal (Tunnel route)

4. By Bus (Volvo/Deluxe/Ordinary)

•From Delhi: ~850 km / 18–20 hours

•Buses available from ISBT or private operators

•Break Journey via Jammu is common and more comfortable.

Best Travel Option?

•For Comfort: Flight to Srinagar

•For Scenic Experience: Road trip via Jammu or Leh

•Budget Travel: Train to Jammu → Bus/Train to Banihal → Train to Srinagar

Let me know your starting point, and I can suggest the best route!

Day01: Arrival + Local Sightseeing:

Our representative, will pick you from airport and start drive towards Srinagar hotel after checkin and fresh up go for local sightseeing of Mughal Gardens, like Shalimar ,Nishat Garden ,Chashma Shahi, Pari Mahal after that go back to reserved hotel for overnight stay.

Day02: Srinagar -Sonmarg – Shitkadi camp site:

Today will be the second day of your trip after breakfast start your journey towards Sonmarg. sonmarg means the meadow of Gold and it was the ancient silk Route, which connects tibet to Kashmir valley on the way you will see many places like wayil Bridge ,dumping Park ,gateway of sonmarg.on the right side of the road. The river flows. This is called Sind river, which comes from the glaciers after reaching Sonmarg you have the options to go for a sightseen, option One is zero point and drass war memorial by union taxi and another one is Thajwas Glacier by ponny ride(by your own cost). after that drive back towards shitkadi campsite for overnight stay at tents.

Day03: shitkadi to nichnai:

This will be the first days of your trek Wake up on 6 AM fresh up do breakfast and pack the bagpacks and start ascending towords the next campsite Nichnai. just ascending some hundred metres there is a army camp where you can check and enter yourself carry valid Aadhaar card or passport on your bagpack. after completed the formalities again, start ascending towards table top, where you can take little rest and take some snacks there. from table top, you will get a arial view of Sonmarg and thajwas glacier. after table top, your Trek will be beside the river till nichnai campsite. overnight, stay at campsite.

Day 04: Nichnai to Vishansar valley:

After breakfast, pack your backpacks and take your lunch pack and continue your journey towards next Campsite, Vishansar valley today you will cross Nainaa pass that is around 12,500 fts above the sea level. It connects vishansar valley with nichnai on the top of the nichnai pass, there is a Dhaba where you can take a cup of tea or Maggi. The place is also rocky and steep. after taking rest at nichnai pass descending down towards the vishansar Valley, where you can see many type of flowers and a big open area, walk-through the area and reach campsite for overnight stay.

Day 05: Vishansar valley – Gadsar:

It will be the third day of your Trek on this day It will be very difficult and lengthy for you because you have to cross the highest pass of Kashmir Great Lakes Trek that is gadsar pass and on this day u will see 3 alpine lakes.

After breakfast, pack your backpacks, take your lunchbox and again continue Trek towards Gadsar Valley camp Site.After some minutes of walking on the left side. You will see a lake that is called vishansar Lake. It is a home of many fishes like brown trout, Rambo trout, and also it is the origin of Neelam River .Again after couple of metres again on the left side, there is also another lake that is called krishansar Lake. It is also one of the beautiful lake in Kashmir Great lake Trek then ascending towards Gadsar pass very calmly, and very slowly.Once reached the Gadsar pass. You will get a arial view of both lakes, which looks very beautiful. Take rest, take photos and again descending towords, Gadsar lake, which is one of the beautiful and clean lake in the whole trek after some meters there is our campsite overnight stay at campsite.

Day 06: Gadsar – Satsar:

After breakfast, heading towards Satsar campsite Satsar means 7 lakes, but they are very small lakes and does not have any attraction, on this day, you don’t need to take a lunch pack. You will get hot lunch at the campsite. You will reach the satsar campsite on noon.satsar is surrounded by big rocky mountains and there is no trees and if the weather will be cloudy, that makes very dangerous conditions.overnight stay at Satsar campsite.

Day 07: Satsar – Gangbal:

This is the day when you will check your physical calibre after breakfast, start journey towards Jai pass which is around 13,600 feets above the sea level. During the climb. You will see many mud houses of gypsy people. After reaching jai pass. You will get view of twin lakes, Nandal and Gangbal. You will get a good pictures from there of both of the lakes and descending towords. Gangbal lake campsitefor overnight stay.

Day 08: Halt day:

Explore gangbal and nundkol lake

Day 09: Gangbal to naranag –srinagar:

This will be the last day of your Trek. So wake up early in the morning. Pack your bag packs and descending down towords Narayana through the trundkol Meadows this day, you have to go down carefully and slowly because of the slippery rocky Trek after reaching Naranag village over cab. Will pick you and take you to the Srinagar hotel For overnight stay.

Day 10: Srinagar airport drop:

It will be the last day of your trip, so after breakfast drive towards Srinagar airport with great memories to catch the onward destination flight.