Kashmir
The valley that earns every superlative
Overview
Kashmir is the trip most of our travellers have been quietly saving for. A valley ringed by the Pir Panjal, floored with chinar and saffron, and stitched together by lakes you travel across rather than around.
It works for almost everyone: honeymooners take the houseboats and Pahalgam meadows, families take the Gulmarg gondola and the gardens, and photographers take the light. We run it as a private-car itinerary — no shared coaches, no rushed mornings.
Best time to visit
March – October
April–May brings tulips and blossom, June–August is the cool escape from the plains, and September–October turns the chinars gold. December–February is deep snow and skiing at Gulmarg — beautiful, but bring serious layers.
View on Google Maps →What you'll see
Dal Lake & the houseboats
Shikara at golden hour, floating vegetable markets at dawn, and a night on carved cedar.
Gulmarg
The meadow of flowers, and one of the world's highest cable cars up Apharwat.
Pahalgam
Betaab and Aru valleys, the Lidder river, and horseback rides to Baisaran.
Sonmarg
The meadow of gold, and the Thajiwas glacier at the head of the valley.
Mughal Gardens
Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi — terraced 17th-century waterworks.
Srinagar old city
Hazratbal, Jamia Masjid, and the copper and pashmina workshops around them.
Things to do
- Shikara ride on Dal Lake at sunset
- Gulmarg gondola — phase 1 and 2
- Horse riding to Baisaran, Pahalgam
- Snow activities and skiing (Dec–Feb)
- Trout fishing on the Lidder
- Pashmina and papier-mâché workshop visits
Where you'll stay
Deluxe lakeside hotels
4.5Srinagar
3-star deluxe near Dal Lake, breakfast and dinner included
Traditional houseboats
4.7Dal Lake
Hand-carved cedar interiors, private bathrooms, 24/7 staff
Riverside resorts
4.4Pahalgam
Lidder-facing rooms, quiet, ideal for a slower second half
Weather through the year
| Season | Months | Temp | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar – May | 8–20°C | Tulips, blossom, mild days |
| Summer | Jun – Aug | 15–30°C | Warmest and greenest; best for Gulmarg |
| Autumn | Sep – Nov | 5–20°C | Golden chinars, crisp and clear |
| Winter | Dec – Feb | −2–8°C | Snow and skiing; very cold nights |
Travel tips from our team
The things we tell every traveller before they go — learned from running these trips, not from a brochure.
- Carry a warm layer even in June — evenings by the lake drop fast.
- Gondola tickets sell out. We help you book the day before rather than queuing.
- Local taxi unions hold exclusive rights on the last stretch at Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam. It's a genuine local rule, so we price it separately instead of hiding it.
- Mobile data works on postpaid connections; prepaid SIMs from outside J&K often won't.
- Buy pashmina only from the workshops we point you to — the roadside 'deals' rarely are.