Hiking in Kashmir: Day Walks and Treks

Kashmir is walking country. Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg all have easy meadow walks for families and harder day hikes for fit walkers. Pick the route to suit the slowest person in your group.

Easy walks for families

Betaab Valley, Pahalgam: a flat riverside meadow with paths and bridges. Good for small legs.
Aru village: walk out into the meadows above the village for as long or as short as you like.
Thajiwas, Sonamarg: walk up the valley towards the glacier and turn back whenever you want.
Gulmarg meadow: a loop around the bowl, past the old church and the golf course.
Shankaracharya hill, Srinagar: a couple of hundred steps to a temple with a view over Dal Lake.

Harder day hikes

Aru to Lidderwat follows the Lidder upstream, about 11 km each way. It is a long day on foot, and many people ride ponies one way. From Gulmarg, the walk to Alpather Lake is steep and high, and the lake is often frozen until early summer. Go with a local guide. Multi-day treks such as the Kashmir Great Lakes, which start near Sonamarg, need proper trekking operators and are not part of our packages.

When to hike

Late spring to early autumn is the season. Higher trails keep their snow until June. In July and August the Pahalgam and Sonamarg areas are busy with the Amarnath Yatra, and some routes near the Yatra tracks have restrictions. By late October the high paths start to get snow again.

What to carry

Water, snacks and a rain jacket. The weather turns fast in the mountains.
Layers, a cap and sunscreen. The sun is strong at altitude even when the air is cool.
Shoes with grip. Meadow paths get muddy after rain.
Cash for a local guide or pony if you decide you want one.

Ask our Srinagar team to add Hiking to any Kashmir package. Some activities are seasonal, so tell us your month.