Blog · India
Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam: how to plan 5 days
Five days is the classic first trip to Kashmir. Here is how we usually arrange it, and why the order matters.
Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar
Fly into Srinagar and settle in. If you are staying on a houseboat, the first evening is perfect for a shikara ride on Dal Lake as the lights come on.
Day 2: Srinagar sightseeing
A full day for the Mughal gardens (Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Chashme Shahi), the old city and Dal Lake. Keep time for a slow shikara ride and the floating market area if you are up early.
Day 3: Srinagar to Gulmarg (about 56 km)
Gulmarg is roughly a 2-hour drive. The highlight is the Gulmarg Gondola, which runs in two phases; tickets are bought locally and sell out on busy days, so start early. In winter, this is your snow day.
Day 4: Gulmarg to Pahalgam
This is the longest drive of the trip, about 149 km. Pahalgam sits along the Lidder river, and the local valleys (Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari) are reached by local taxi, which is paid locally.
Day 5: Pahalgam to Srinagar and departure
Drive back to Srinagar for your flight. Allow a buffer: morning flights after a Pahalgam night are tight, so we prefer afternoon departures.
Variations
- Day trips only: stay all nights in Srinagar and visit Gulmarg and Sonmarg as day trips (our Srinagar Gulmarg Sonmarg Day Trip tour).
- Add Sonmarg: one extra day for the glacier valley.
- Add Vaishno Devi: continue from Srinagar to Katra (about 268 km) for the yatra.
Questions travellers ask
Is 4 nights enough for Kashmir?
Yes for Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Add one night for Sonmarg, or two to go at a slower pace.
