Kashmir itinerary for 8 days: Pahalgam to Srinagar
An 8-day Kashmir itinerary through Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Srinagar, with drive times, the Gondola, a shikara ride, hotels and the best months.
AVR Travels · · 6 min read
This 8-day Kashmir itinerary is for families, couples and parents who want to see the four places most visitors come for without spending every day in the car. It starts and ends at Srinagar airport and loops through Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Srinagar, with two nights in each except Sonmarg.
It is the plan behind our Kashmir trip. Drives are 2.5 to 5 hours, and you get a full day in Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Srinagar before moving on.
Best time to visit: March to May is spring, and the Tulip Garden opens from late March to April. June to August is summer, with green meadows, and the best time for Sonmarg. September to November brings autumn colours and the saffron harvest. December to February is snow season, with skiing in Gulmarg, though some roads may close.
Day by day
Day 01
Srinagar to Pahalgam
Our representative meets you at Srinagar airport for the drive to Pahalgam, about 95 km and 3 hours. On the way you pass apple orchards, the saffron fields around Pampore and the cricket bat workshops along the highway. Pahalgam sits at 7,200 ft on the Lidder River. The evening is free. Dinner and overnight in Pahalgam.
Day 02
Chandanwari, Betaab and Aru valleys
A full day in the three valleys around Pahalgam. Outside vehicles are not allowed on these roads, so you switch to a local union taxi for the day, which is included. Pony rides are available at the meadows if you want them. Overnight in Pahalgam.
Day 03
Pahalgam to Gulmarg
Drive about 150 km, 4 to 5 hours, to Gulmarg at 8,825 ft. Stop at Kunzer, a village known for its carpets and shawls, and at Drung waterfall. In the evening, high tea at the Khyber resort for the view across the meadow. Overnight in Gulmarg.
Day 04
Gulmarg Gondola
Walk to the base station for the Gulmarg Gondola. Phase 1 to Kongdoori is included. Phase 2 goes on up Apharwat to about 13,000 ft; it can be booked online through the J&K cable car site at your own cost, and it sells out in season. In winter we book a table at Gulmarg's igloo cafe for the evening. Overnight in Gulmarg.
Day 05
Gulmarg to Sonmarg
Drive about 140 km, 4 hours, back past Srinagar and up the Sindh valley. A pony ride takes you to Thajiwas Glacier, which has snow for much of the year. Baltal valley is further up the road, and white-water rafting on the Sindh River is available in season at extra cost. Overnight in Sonmarg.
Day 06
Sonmarg to Srinagar and Dal Lake
Drive back to Srinagar, about 80 km and 2.5 hours. In spring, from late March to April, visit the Tulip Garden on the Zabarwan foothills above Dal Lake. In the late afternoon, a shikara ride on Dal Lake past the houseboats and floating vegetable gardens, which is included, then a free evening for shopping at Lal Chowk. Overnight in Srinagar.
Day 07
Mughal gardens of Srinagar
Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh, the terraced Mughal gardens along the east shore of Dal Lake. The afternoon is free. If you would rather have a day out, Doodhpathri (66 km, just over 2 hours) and Yusmarg (50 km, 2 hours) are the two easiest meadow trips from Srinagar. Overnight in Srinagar.
Day 08
Departure
Check out after breakfast and transfer to Srinagar airport for your flight home.
Where to stay
The plan uses 4-star hotels on a Comfort or Premium tier. These are the hotels in the plan, or similar on your dates.
- Pahalgam, 2 nights: Hotel Hilltop, Pahalgam (Comfort) or Pine Spring Pahalgam (Premium)
- Gulmarg, 2 nights: Hotel Hilltop, Gulmarg (Comfort) or The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa (Premium)
- Sonmarg, 1 night: Hotel Village Walk on both tiers
- Srinagar, 2 nights: Rah Bagh by the Orchard (Comfort). On the Premium tier, the first Srinagar night is on the Luxury Prince of Kashmir Houseboat and the second at Rah Bagh
On either tier you can spend one Srinagar night on a Dal Lake houseboat. One night is usually enough.
Getting there
Fly to Srinagar. The trip starts and ends at Srinagar airport, and a private vehicle stays with you for all 8 days, from the airport pickup to the drop. Flights are not included because fares change daily, so we quote them separately when you book.
In Pahalgam and Gulmarg, local rules only allow union taxis on the valley roads, so you change vehicles for those outings. The union taxi is included in the trip.
Budget
We price this trip for your dates and group rather than quoting one number, because the season, the hotel tier and a houseboat night all change it. The price covers 7 nights in 4-star hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, the private vehicle for all 8 days, the union taxis at Pahalgam and Gulmarg, the shikara ride on Dal Lake and Phase 1 of the Gulmarg Gondola.
Not included: flights to and from Srinagar, Phase 2 of the Gondola, pony rides, rafting, skiing and other snow activities, lunches, and personal expenses such as drinks, calls and laundry. Pony rides come up on Days 2 and 5, so set aside money for them if the family wants to ride.
Tips for travelling with kids and parents
- Altitude: Pahalgam is at 7,200 ft, Gulmarg at 8,825 ft, and Phase 2 of the Gondola reaches about 13,000 ft. Anyone with heart or breathing conditions should check with their doctor before the trip, and can stay at Phase 1.
- If you want Phase 2, book it online as soon as your dates are fixed. It sells out in season.
- Pony rides at the Pahalgam meadows and to Thajiwas Glacier are optional. Decide on the day, depending on how everyone is feeling.
- Pack warm layers for the evenings in the hills, and proper winter clothing from December to February, when there is snow.
- The longest drives are Day 3, at 4 to 5 hours, and Day 5, at about 4 hours. Day 7 in Srinagar is the easy one, with a free afternoon.
How to change it
- Spring: travel between late March and April, and Day 6 includes the Tulip Garden.
- Autumn: in October and November, add a visit to a saffron farm during the harvest.
- A quieter day: on Day 7, swap the free afternoon for a meadow trip to Doodhpathri or Yusmarg.
- Winter: from December to February, Gulmarg is the place for snow and skiing. Some roads may close, so we plan the route around the conditions.
- Shorter: the single Sonmarg night is the easiest part to drop if you have fewer days.
- Less time on the road: a helicopter transfer is one of the upgrades we can arrange in Kashmir.
If you are comparing hill trips, our Manali and Kasol trip is the other snow-and-valleys option in the north. For Kashmir itself, send us your dates and group on WhatsApp from the Kashmir trip page and we will price it for you.
Questions families ask
Is 8 days enough for Kashmir?
Yes, for the main circuit. Eight days covers Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Srinagar, with two nights in each except Sonmarg, and leaves time for the Gondola, a shikara ride and the Mughal gardens.
What is the best month to visit Kashmir?
It depends on what you want. Late March to April for the Tulip Garden, June to August for green meadows and Sonmarg, September to November for autumn colour and the saffron harvest, and December to February for snow and skiing in Gulmarg.
Is Kashmir safe for families?
The tourist areas on this route are busy with visitors through the year. We keep track of local conditions and adjust plans if needed.
Is Kashmir suitable for senior citizens?
Yes, with care. Pony rides and Phase 2 of the Gondola are optional, and a private vehicle does all the driving. Gulmarg is at 8,825 ft, so anyone with heart or breathing conditions should check with their doctor first.
Is the Gulmarg Gondola included?
Phase 1 to Kongdoori is included. Phase 2 tickets can be booked online at extra cost and often sell out, so book early.
Can we stay on a houseboat in Srinagar?
Yes. We can swap one Srinagar night for a Dal Lake houseboat. One night is usually enough.
