Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

About Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Kashmir, a phrase that conjures up a thousand feelings of love, grandeur, exoticism, and, in Firdaus’ terms, “heaven.” Some say it’s a paradise on earth, while others say it’s a paradise by itself, but Kashmir truly stands out among the world’s most beautiful places. The lakes around here, whether Dal Lake, Vishansar Lake, or the Gangabal Twin Lakes, are surreal and a rare sight. We discover the most pristine mix of alpine lakes, far-reaching meadows, high altitude passes, and vast unexplored vistas of Kashmir Himalayas on the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. As the saying goes, once you visit Kashmir, your heart will never leave.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Difficulty : Low to Moderate
Best time to visit : April to June and again from December - January
Temparature : Day time: 0°C To 7°C, Night time: 12°C To -5°C
Hightest Altitude : 15,059 feet
Pickup point : Dehradun

About Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek transports you to a divine, never before seen side of Kashmir evocative of its nickname, Heaven on Earth. This is the only trek in the Himalayas that packs three high altitude passes, five river valley crossings sporting seven alpine lakes, each an astonishing shade of green, blue and turquoise, all within an impressive span of 8 days!

Climbing up to an altitude of 4,206 M, the trail switches between ascents and descents on most days making it relatively easy to navigate. The only challenge lies in building endurance needed to tackle the long distances (10 kms or more) one needs to cover each day. The trek is 69 kms long and is an excellent choice for beginners looking to step up their trekking game in the Himalayas. We recommend this trail for experienced trekkers as well, not for the challenges but for the sheer beauty and extravagance it houses.

DAY 1

Arrival at Sonamarg (2, 730 M)

DAY 2

Sonamarg (2, 730 M) to Nichnai (3, 500 M)

DAY 3

Nichnai (3, 505 M) to Vishansar Lake (3, 658 M) via Nichnai Pass (4,150 M)

DAY 4

Vishansar Lake (3, 58 M) to Gadsar Lake (3, 810 M) via Gadsar Pass (4, 206 M)

DAY 5

Gadsar Lake (3, 810 M) to Satsar Lake (3, 658 M)

DAY 6

Satsar Lake (3, 658 M) to Gangabal Lake (3, 505 M)

DAY 7

Gangabal Lake (3, 505 M) to Naranag (2, 271 M)

Day 1: Receive from airport to Shitkari Base Camp

Upon arrival at Srinagar airport, board a vehicle for a three-hour drive to Shitkari, through winding roads that lead to Kashmir's golden meadows of Sonamarg. Shitkari is our base camp for the Kashmir Lakes Trek, and it is located 3 kilometers before Sonamarg. Stay overnight in tents at the open grassy campsite at Shitkari.

Day 2: Trek from Base Camp to Nichnaie

We begin our trek to Nichnai early in the morning, aiming for a 2 to 3-hour moderate ascent to the tabletop village of Shekdur, passing through a stretch of pine forests before arriving at the bank of Nichnai Nallah for lunch. We arrive at today's campsite after a gradual climb along the Nallah, with breathtaking views of the Nichnai Pass ahead.

Day 3: Trek from Nichnaie to Vishnusar

The day's trek begins with a 2-hour moderate to a steep climb to the top of Nichnai Pass (4100 m). While ascending towards the pass, we can see the Nichnai lake on the left side. After crossing the pass, we descend for an hour and re-group for lunch before walking through the valley meadows to today's campsite, which is located just below the Vishnusar lake. The rest of the day can be spent exploring the surrounding area. Visiting the Vishnusar and Kishansar twin lakes.

Day 4: Trek from Vishnusar to Gadsar

We begin the day by ascending gradually across the twin lakes. Following a steep climb to the top of Gadsar pass at 4200 m, which offers spectacular views of the twin lakes, a gradual descent follows, followed by a simple walk along the meadows towards Gadsar lake. We re-group at the lake for lunch before going on to the campsite further ahead.

Day 5: Trek from Gadsar to satsar

Today's trek takes us through SATSAR, a series of seven lakes. We hike uphill from Gadsar campsite for 1.5 to 2 hours before descending to Satsar pass through the Satsar stream. We re-group for lunch on the bank of a lake just across the pass before carrying on for another hour to our campsite today.

Day 6: Trek from Satsar to Gangbal and campsite at Nundkul Lake

Today we trek towards the Nundkol and Gangbal twin lakes. Our initial climb takes us to Zach pass at 4100 m, where we can see the Harmukh mountain looming over the Nundkol and Gangbal twin lakes. We take a break for lunch along a small stream before ascending to the Nundkol campsite through a small ridge with views of the lakes.

Day 7: Trek from Gangbal Lake to Naranag and back drive to Srinagar

Today is our last day in the wilderness, and we're heading back to civilization. We begin with a gradual ascent out of the valley, then descend towards the tree line to reach a forested trail that leads to a Tea-shop, where we will stop for lunch. After that, it is a three-hour steep descent to Naranag, an ancient temple settlement, and a road-head that connects to Srinagar. Move your luggage to the waiting vehicles, then relax and enjoy the ride to Srinagar.

Includes

Accommodation (Guest house, Home stay, Camping)
Trek equipments: Sleeping bag, mattress, tent (twin sharing), kitchen & dinning tent, toilet tent, utensils and crampon (if required)
Welcome refreshment
Three times meals (Veg+egg): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Snacks
All necessary permits and entry fees
First aid medical kits, stretcher and oxygen cylinder.
Mountaineering qualified & professional guide and Support staff.
Transport from Dehradun to Sankri and retorn (According to itinerary)
Porter or mule charges for carrying camping equipment and rations
Morning Tea
Evening Tea with snacks
Guide Charges
Hot drinking water
Om Adventure approved trek completion certificate
Dry fruits, chocolates, biscuits, toffees provided during the trek

Excludes

Porter/mule for personal bags
Any meals or services not mentioned in inclusions
Any charges for video cameras or still cameras
Charges for soft drinks or any other beverage
Personal expenses such as tips, laundry or telephone calls
Any costs arising from unforeseen circumstances like landslides, bad weather or road blocks, etc
Any kind of personal expenses.
Food during the transit.
Insurance.
Mules or porter to carry personal luggage.
Anything not specifically mentioned under the head.
Any kind of emergency evacuation charges.

Note : Normally Outside Explorer expect to carry your personal luggage on your own, if you wish to offload your backpack, you can give it to Mule.

Charges of offloading backpack:-

INR 1400/- if you make an online payment, 6 days in advance
INR 1500/- if you inform us after reaching Sankri
The backpack cannot weigh more than 11 kgs. Backpack should have waterproof cover. Suitcases/strolleys/ bags will not be allowed.