Season Special
Kashmir Tour Packages
- Best Time April to June, September to October
- Flight Time About 1.5 hours from Delhi
- Ideal Duration 5 to 7 nights
Why Kashmir?
Lakes, Meadows and Snow, Close to Home
Kashmir is the mountain trip most of India dreams about, and it is a short flight from Delhi. Dal Lake and its houseboats in Srinagar, the pine valleys of Pahalgam, the gondola and snowfields of Gulmarg, the glacier meadows of Sonmarg: four very different days, all within a few hours' drive of each other.
What makes the trip is the order and the timing. Which season suits your group, which valley gets the extra night, which houseboat is worth staying on, and how to keep the drives short so the days are spent outside, not in a car. That judgement is what we bring. Tell us who is travelling and what you are picturing, and we shape a Kashmir that fits.
At a Glance
Kashmir, at a Glance
- Best Time April to June, September to October
- Flight Time About 1.5 hours from Delhi to Srinagar
- Ideal Duration 5 to 7 nights
- Permits None for Indian citizens on the main circuit. Carry photo ID.
- Snow Season Mid-January to late February in Gulmarg
- Language Kashmiri and Urdu, with Hindi and English widely spoken
When to Go
The Best Time to Visit Kashmir
Kashmir changes completely with the seasons: blossom in spring, green meadows in summer, gold chinars in autumn and deep snow in winter. Each is a different trip. Here is how the year works.
January Srinagar & the Lakes 7°C · Gulmarg & the Mountains 1°C
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Spring, tulips and blossom
The tulip garden in Srinagar opens for about a month from late March, the orchards flower and the snow is still on the peaks above green valleys. Mild days and the broad sweet spot for a first trip.
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Summer, the meadows
Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg at their greenest, cool when the plains are at their hottest. July and August bring the Amarnath Yatra, which adds crowds and road controls near Pahalgam and Sonmarg, so we plan around it.
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Autumn, the chinar gold
Clear skies, calm lakes and the chinar trees turning red and gold through October and November, best seen in the Mughal gardens. Quieter than summer, with clear light for photographs.
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Winter, the snow
Gulmarg under deep snow, with the most reliable skiing from mid-January to late February. Srinagar drops below freezing at night and parts of Dal Lake can freeze in the coldest weeks, from late December. The Z-Morh tunnel makes Sonmarg far easier to reach, but nearby sightseeing and high roads still depend on weather and local orders, so the trip is built around warm stays and the snow days.
Top Things to Do
What We Can Arrange in Kashmir
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Dal Lake by Shikara
An early shikara ride on Dal Lake, past the floating vegetable market and the Mughal gardens on the shore, timed for the still morning light.
A shikara on a winter morning, with snow on the hills above the lake. In the coldest weeks, from late December, parts of the lake can freeze.
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A Srinagar Houseboat
A night or two on a carved cedar houseboat on Dal or Nagin Lake, with your own host and a shikara to the shore. We pick the boat for its upkeep and quiet, not just the view.
In winter the better houseboats are warmed by a bukhari, the Kashmiri wood stove, with heated blankets and hot water. We confirm the heating before we book one.
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Pahalgam and Betaab Valley
The Lidder river, the pine forest and the green bowl of Betaab Valley, with Aru Valley a short drive on for walks, ponies and picnics by the water.
Pahalgam under snow from December to February, for quiet walks among the pines and along the Lidder. Betaab Valley can close for a while after heavy snowfall.
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Gulmarg and the Gondola
The two-stage gondola climbs from the Gulmarg meadow to Kongdoori and on up Mount Apharwat. In summer the meadows are green, for walks, pony rides and picnics.
Snow, ski lessons and the gondola up Mount Apharwat. The most reliable snow runs from mid-January to late February, and we book the gondola slots ahead.
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Sonmarg and Thajiwas Glacier
The Sindh river valley under the snow peaks, with a pony ride or a walk up to the Thajiwas Glacier. A day trip from Srinagar, at its best from June to October.
Since the Z-Morh tunnel opened in January 2025, Sonmarg is far easier to reach in winter. Access to Thajiwas and the roads beyond still depends on weather and local orders, so we confirm it for your dates.
Photos: Mike Prince (Dal Lake, Sonmarg), TheVinamra (Dal Lake in winter), flowcomm (houseboats), Dr. Partha Sarathi Sahana (Pahalgam in winter) and Rajarshi Mitra (Gulmarg in winter), CC BY 2.0; Harvinder Chandigarh (Gulmarg in summer), CC BY 4.0; Hemant Tejwani (Pahalgam), CC0. Via Wikimedia Commons and Flickr.
Ideal For
Who Kashmir Suits
Honeymooners
A houseboat night on Dal Lake, a sunrise shikara and quiet valley stays, the classic Indian honeymoon done with care.
Start planning this kind of tripFamilies
A short flight, gentle days and ponies, boats, snow and the gondola for the children, with the drives kept short.
Start planning this kind of tripSnow Seekers
Gulmarg from mid-January to late February, for first snow, ski lessons or deep powder off the gondola, with warm stays to come back to.
Start planning this kind of tripNature Lovers
Meadow walks at Aru and Sonmarg, river valleys, glaciers and the Mughal gardens, paced for long days outside.
Start planning this kind of tripHow Long to Stay
How Many Days in Kashmir?
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3 to 4 nights
A short break
Srinagar, a houseboat night and a day in Gulmarg, ideal for a long weekend from Delhi.
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Most trips
5 to 7 nights
The classic circuit
Srinagar and Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and a day at Sonmarg, at a pace that keeps the drives short. Most Kashmir trips land here.
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8+ nights
The slow valley
Room for Aru Valley, longer meadow days and a quiet lake stay, or onward to Ladakh by road in summer.
ID & Permits
ID, Permits and Practical Notes
Indian citizens need no visa or permit for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg. Carry a government photo ID, since it is checked at the airport and at hotels. Prepaid mobile connections from other states generally do not work in Jammu and Kashmir, so bring a postpaid number. Some remote areas near the border have their own entry rules, and we check them if your route goes there. We also keep an eye on local advisories and road conditions, and adjust the plan if anything changes.
What We Handle
One Tailored Trip, Not an Off-the-Shelf Package
The difference is in the joins. We book the flights to Srinagar that suit your day, choose a houseboat we would stay on ourselves, and put you in the right hotel in each valley. One trusted driver stays with you for the trip, the Pahalgam union taxis for Betaab and Aru are arranged, and the Gulmarg gondola slots are booked ahead online so no one queues for one that has already sold out.
None of it is a fixed bundle. It is one tailored trip, priced and shaped around who is travelling and what matters to you, with a real person accountable from the first message to the flight home. If a road closes or the weather turns while you are there, you call us, not a call centre.
Good to Know
Kashmir Questions, Answered
When is the best time to visit Kashmir?
April to June and September to October. Spring brings the tulips and blossom, early summer opens the meadows at Pahalgam and Sonmarg, and autumn is clear and calm, with the chinar trees turning gold. For snow, come between December and March; the most reliable skiing in Gulmarg runs from mid-January to late February.
How many days do I need in Kashmir?
Five to seven nights covers Srinagar and a houseboat night, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and a day at Sonmarg without rushing. Three to four nights suits Srinagar and Gulmarg alone, and eight or more leaves room for Aru Valley and slower days in the meadows.
Do I need a permit to visit Kashmir?
Not for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg if you are an Indian citizen. Carry a government photo ID, since it is checked at the airport and at hotels. Some remote areas near the border have their own entry rules, and we check them if your route goes there.
Can we visit Kashmir in winter?
Yes. Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam stay open through winter, and the Z-Morh tunnel has made Sonmarg far easier to reach. Expect sub-zero nights and roads that can close for a while after heavy snow, with sightseeing near Sonmarg still subject to weather and local orders, so we confirm it for your dates and plan warm stays, a buffer day and the drives around the weather.
When is there snow in Gulmarg?
Usually from December to March, with the most reliable snow and skiing from mid-January to late February. In summer the same slopes turn to green meadow, and the gondola still climbs up Mount Apharwat.
Should we stay on a houseboat?
Yes, for a night or two. It is the most Kashmiri way to see Dal Lake, with your own shikara to the shore. We choose the boat for its upkeep, quiet and host, and in winter for its heating, then move you to a hotel for the mountain days.
Is Kashmir good for families?
Very. The flight from Delhi is short, the days are gentle, and ponies, shikaras, the gondola and snow keep children busy. We plan the drives and the pace around the ages travelling.
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