Overview
Kashmir great lakes trek is the most pristine combination of alpine lakes, far-reaching meadows, high altitude passes and the vast unexplored vistas of Kashmir Himalayas. Kashmir Great Lakes is one of the most beautiful treks in India. It is situated 75 km northeast of Srinagar. Every day is a 360° panorama of wild, rugged mountains, rolling meadows and turquoise alpine lakes. And you get more than seven of these lakes and five very different valleys to explore! The range of landscape makes it a moderate-difficult trek spanning over six days. This means it has long trekking days with steep ascents and descents with no easy exit points. The challenges are worth it. Each day is postcard perfect, with a new alpine lake to look forward to. What makes these lakes even prettier are the snow patches that feed these lakes. You see them sliding off the serrated mountains into the lakes. Sometimes you’ll see milky white icebergs floating on the lake’s inky blue surface. And then there are meadows of Kashmir. These meadows come in every shape and size, sometimes many in a day.| Day | Date | Activity |
| Day 0 | 18-Aug-2024 | Arrival Srinagar (Optional) |
| Day 1 | 19-Aug-2024 | Srinagar (5,200 ft) to Shitkadi village, its situated before Sonamrg (7,850 ft) (90 km, 4 hours) |
| Day 2 | 20-Aug-2024 | Trek from Shitkadi (7,850 ft) to Nichnai (11,778 ft) (12 km, 7 hours) |
| Day 3 | 21-Aug-2024 | Trek from Nichnai (11,778 ft) to Vishansar (12,100 ft) (14 km, 7 hours) |
| Day 4 | 22-Aug-2024 | Trek from Vishnusar (12,100 ft) to Gadsar (12,200 ft) via Gadsar Pass (13,870 ft) (16 km, 8 hours) |
| Day 5 | 23-Aug-2024 | Trek from Gadsar (12,200 ft) to Satsar (12,100 ft) (11 km, 5 hours) |
| Day 6 | 24-Aug-2024 | Trek from Satsar (12,100 ft) to Gangabal (11,720 ft) via Zaj Pass (13,050 ft) (9 km, 6 hours) |
| Day 7 | 25-Aug-2024 | Trek from Gangabal (11,720 ft) to Naranag (7,450 ft) (13 km, 6 hours) and drive to Srinagar (75 km, 3 hours) |
| Day 8 | 26-Aug-2024 | Buffer Day (Will be used in case of bad weather) |
| Day 9 | 27-Aug-2024 | Book return Ticket on this day |
Detailed Itinerary
| Day | Date | Activity |
| Day 0 | 18-Aug-2024 | Arrival at Srinagar |
| This day you can arrive Srinagar any time and Take rest or you can visit some places in Srinagar. This is an optional day. | ||
| Day 1 | 19-Aug-2024 | |
| Arrival at Shitkadi, Sonmarg (7,850 ft) (90 km, 4 hours) | ||
| It will take approximately 3 hours to reach base camp at Shitkadi village. It is just before Sonamarg. Dubbed as the “meadow of gold”, Sonamarg is one of the most popular hill stations in Kashmir val-ley and in its vicinity are some glaciers and peaks of the Kashmir National Park. We will have a Team Introduction after evening Tea. Early dinner & stay in camps. | ||
| Day 2 | 20-Aug-2024 | |
| Trek from Shitkadi (7,850 ft) to Nichnai (11,778 ft) (12 km, 7 hours) | ||
| The first day of Kashmir great lakes trek is a good combination of ascent & descent. The trekking tail starting point is marked by a nice roadside Dhabha where one can buy packaged food items for the trek. For the initial 3 km, the trail is uphill, next 2 km is descent and finally, there is a gradual ascent of 5 km up to Nichnai. On the trail, you will see beautiful meadows, dark forests with trees of Maple, Pine, and Bhoj. Reach Nichnai by afternoon. Camp in Nichnai. | ||
| Day 3 | 21-Aug-2024 | Trek from Nichnai (11,778 ft) to Vishansar (12,100 ft) (14 km, 7 hours) |
| Break camps early & start the trek by 8 AM as today it's a long walk through meadows. The scenery keeps changing all the way which is a treat for the senses. Once you cross the Nichnai pass towards Vishansar Lake you have reached your destination for the day. The Vishansar lake is an alpine lake which will calm your senses n the first glimpse of it. This banks of this lake make the perfect campsite. Camp here for the night. | ||
| Day 4 | 22-Aug-2024 | |
| Trek from Vishansar (12,100 ft) to Gadsar (12,200 ft) via Gadsar Pass (13,870 ft) (16 km, 8 hours) | ||
| After breakfast we will start our trek passing by Kishansar Lake towards Gadsar Pass. Initially, the trek is a steep ascent which is followed by a steep descent & a gentle walk through the meadows. To reach Gadsar Pass, it takes around 2 to 3 hours depending upon your pace and once you reach the top, be ready to absorb the views of the Vishansar and Kishansar Lakes, together. Cross Gadsar pass. On the other side of the pass, there are a couple of small lakes & peaks. The LOC can be seen from here. The beauty of flowers & Meadows en route is something you should look forward to. You will reach Gadsar lake by early afternoon. Gadsar is one of the most beautiful and most pristine lake of the Kashmir great lakes trek. On one side of the Gadsar lake lies the snow clad cliffs and on the other side open lush green meadows. All details of the visitors including original id cards are checked in the army camp which is nearby. Please keep original Id cards essentially with you. Camp for the night at Gadsar. | ||
| Day 5 | 23-Aug-2024 | |
| Trek from Gadsar (12,200 ft) to Satsar (12,100 ft) (11 km, 5 hours) | ||
| Start trek early towards Satsar after a nice breakfast. You will cross the river today. Satsar is basical-ly a collection of 7 lakes and you can find water in various lakes depending upon the season of your trek and all of these lakes are interconnected. ID cards will be checked again at Satsar army check post. A few minutes from the army camp is the first of the Satsar lakes, which is pretty big in size and amazingly beautiful. The lakes drain out into the Wangath nallah which is a tributary of the Sind. Camp at the beautiful campsite near the first lake. | ||
| Day 6 | 24-Aug-2024 | |
| Trek from Satsar (12,100 ft) to Gangabal (11,720 ft) via Zaj Pass (13,050 ft) (9 km, 6 hours) | ||
| Today is a tough day and be prepared for a long arduous trek through the rocky terrain full of boul-ders. Today the trail is dominated by boulders. Be careful of loose rocks while trekking. The view of Gangabal and Nandkol twin lakes from the Zaj Pass is something to look forward. After spending sometime at the top of Zaj Pass, we will start descending towards Gangabal lake. Last few Kilome-tres are through Meadows. Reach our destination for the day, Gangabal lake. Camp here for the night. | ||
| Day 7 | 25-Aug-2024 | |
| Trek from Gangabal (11,720 ft) to Naranag (7,450 ft) (13 km, 6 hours) and drive to Srinagar (75 km, 3 hours) | ||
| Today is the last and final day of Kashmir Great Lakes trek. Like most treks, the trail on the last day is a steep descent. You will see the most beautiful pine forests today. The trail passes through a meadow with pretty yellow flowers. After trekking for a couple of hours, finally, we reach the road head of Naranag, where jeeps would be waiting to pick us up. Start the drive and reach Srinagar in the evening. | ||
| Day 8 | 26-Aug-2024 | |
| Buffer Day | ||
| This day will be utilized in case of bad weather or other unexpected delays. You are advised to keep a buffer day in your travel plan. In case buffer day is not used, then the group can take a collective decision to stay one more day at Gangabal Camp and explore around or they can go to Srinagar. | ||
| Why we recommend to keep Buffer day ? Sometimes in Gadsar Pass because of bad weather we may not possible to trek , Then we have to wait one more day, To avoid missing your flight we recommend you to keep a buffer day. So that you will be able to enjoy the trek tension free. | ||
| Day 9 | 27-Aug-2024 | Book your Return ticket on this day |
Note:-
- Why these dates ? Aug 24-25 (Sat-Sunday)
Package Inclusions
- Accommodation on a double sharing basis in tents (1st to 7th night) as per the itinerary.
- Meals on trek (from day 1st Dinner to day 7th Breakfast) (Veg).
- Trek logistics like Kitchen tents, Dining tents, Dry pit Toilet Tents, Sleeping Tents, Sleeping Bags, Mattresses, Camping stools, etc.
- All necessary permits and entry fees for Indian citizens.
- Basic first aid kit, Oximeter, stretcher, and Oxygen Cylinder.
- Well Qualified & Experienced Trek Leader with Friendly & Cheerful support staff.
- Trekking Permits
Package Exclusions
- Transportation From Srinagar to Sonmarg and Narnag to Srinagar. We will be able to arrange your pick up and drop from Srinagar. We will discuss this in the WhatsApp group formed. Incase if you opt for pick up you have to be ready at 12:00 PM at Srinagar
- Hotel stay in Srinagar
- In case if we are forced to use buffer days either at Gadsar Pass or at Gangabal Camp extra amount need to pay to the trek lead, normally it comes below 2000/- . You can pay directly.
- Any kind of personal expenses
- Food during transit
- Bottled water
- Insurance
- Mules/Porters to carry personal luggage
- Accommodations not listed in the itinerary
- Incurred expenses due to any kind of mishap, medical issues, landslide, weather conditions, strikes, political unrest, etc.
- Emergency evacuation charges
Bag Offloading:
In case you do not wish to carry your backpack, porters/mules will carry your backpack along with the other trek logistics. It is an extra chargeable service. For this trek, charges per bag are INR 2200 for the entire trek (Shitkadi to Naranag). Bag shouldn’t weigh more than 10 kgs.Note:
- Team LGFC will be able to arrange group pick-up from Srinagar at an extra cost
- More details will discuss in the WhatsApp group.
- In that case, pick up point will be Tourism Reception Center, Srinagar, Time 1 pm on day 1
- In case any of the trekkers need a room at Srinagar/ Make plans for sightseeing at Srinagar we will be able to arrange with an extra cost
Documents Required
-
- Original Aadhar Card
- 3 copies of the Aadhaar Card
- Medical certificate
- 2 photocopies of the Medical certificate
Fees
₹16,600.00
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Payment Plan
| Installment Dates | Amount |
|---|---|
| At the time of registration | ₹6,640 |
| Before Jun 15, 2024 | ₹4,980 |
| Before Jul 15, 2024 | ₹4,980 |
| Total | ₹16,600 |
Cancellation Fees
| Cancellation dates | Cancellation fee |
| 90 days Before Trip date | ₹ 4,100 |
| 60 days Before Trip date | ₹ 5,800 |
| 30 days Before Trip date | ₹ 7,400 |
| 15 days Before Trip date | ₹ 9,900 |
| With 15 days from trip date | ₹ 16600 |
- Alternatively, a registered participant may transfer his/her registration to a friend without any cancellation fee 2 weeks before the trek only.
- In case of cancellation of the program due to any gov restrictions due to COVID/ Weather, an alternate date will be provided for the same trip and no refund for that.
- In case you are not able to join the trek on the new dates, either you can send a replacement ( Without any additional cost) / You can opt for Wallet transfer,
- What is Wallet Transfer?: The amount will move to LGFC Wallet and you can use that for any other trip. ( 3% fee will be deducted as movement charges) . Strictly there won’t be any refund to a bank account.
- Wallet transfer is applicable only for the case when a participant won’t be able to join the new date on a postponed trip due to Pandemic / Weather situations
- The wallet transfer offer will only be one time when the new date is announced. Further changes will be counted as normal cancellations and will be as per cancellation policy.
- Installments are to be paid before the due dates.
- In case when installments are pending after the due date, the order will be auto-canceled.
- There will be no refund in case of auto cancellation due to nonpayment of installments.
THINGS TO KNOW
- Accommodation – Tents Camping Sharing (Double/Triple ) Will provide family tents based on availability.
- Food – All meals during Trek are nutritious Veg
- Basecamp – Sonmarg
- The local market is available for any last-minute shopping in Sonmarg, but try to get all the necessary things before only.
- ATM point – Sonmarg, but we recommend keeping the required money with you.
- Mobile Signal –Mobile Signal –Only BSNL/AIRTEL postpaid at Srinagar and Sonmarg . During trekking time no connectivity
- Nearest Rail Head – Jammu
- Nearest Airport –Srinagar
- Best Season – July-September
- Snow – Normally there won’t be any snow on Trekking trail during the season of the Trek
- There will be no shops around so ensure you have all that you need already.
- At the top of Nichnai Pass, you can get BSNL & Airtel network, Its the last point under the mobile coverage area
- Don’t forget your ID proof in original and 2 photocopies.
HOW TO REACH SRINAGAR
By Air:-
Most major air carriers like Air India and Indigo operate daily flights to Srinagar. Reaching Srinagar by flight from New Delhi is the most convenient way.
By Train:-
Jammu is the nearest railway station to Srinagar, which is at a distance of 290 km. Jammu railway station is well connected to all major cities in India by rail. Direct train services are available from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Trivandrum.
By Bus:-
Srinagar is linked by the National Highway 1A to the rest of the country. J & K state road transport operates comfortable buses from Jammu. The Journey takes about 10 hours to reach Srinagar. ( Traffic Jams are always here in this route )
Srinagar to Shitkadi Village:-
3 hours to reach base camp at Shitkadi village. 80KM from Srinagar
WHY WITH US?
- Budget-Friendly. (You can compare the same package with any other available itineraries)
- Incomparable Itinerary: You can compare the Itinerary with any other itinerary available on social media/ Google. Our itinerary is special with all COVID safety ensured.
- Packed food prepared in safe conditions: We believe that for a traveler, food is one of the most important things during their journey. We provide the best nutritious food as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Not just sightseeing, but many more things to learn and experience: We are not just providing sightseeing. Our Camp navigator/local guide will share the details of the place, flora, fauna with you.
- Well Experienced Local Guide and Support Staff
- Why these dates? Aug 12-13 (2nd sat-Sun), Aug 15 (Independence day) & Aug 18-19 (Sat-sunday)
- Plan beyond the Itinerary- In case if you want to extend the trip, we are there to help you by finding Stays contact and transportation, Talk to the coordinator of LetsGoForACamp
VALUES WE FOLLOW
- Eco-friendly products.
- Minimizing plastic waste.
- Hiring local guides.
- Contributing to the local economy.
- Proper disposal of waste generated.
- Concept of Responsible traveler.
Read this before Booking.
- LetsGoForACamp has all the authority to change the itinerary without prior notice in case of any unavoidable circumstances.
- LetsGoForACamp team gives full help and support to our travelers who need medical treatment for any injury or accident before, during, or after the trek. The additional expense has to be borne by the trekker
- LetsGoForACamp has the right to cancel all the services of the trekker without any further clarification and without any refund in case of misconduct during the trek.
