Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Whenever we talk about Kashmir, we are overwhelmed by the thought of beauty, serenity, love, and peace. There cannot be a better way to experience Kashmir than the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. The trek begins at the Shitkari Base camp, around 78 km from Srinagar. The highest point of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is the Gadsar Pass, which sits at around 13800 ft. The entire trek requires around 8 days to complete and falls into the Moderate category.

What makes the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek special?

The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is full of beautiful landscapes which hypnotise the trekkers. The dense forests full of pine and deodar trees along with the snow-capped peaks in the background make the scenery look heavenly. The sound of the small streams flowing down the surrounding glaciers makes it a serene environment.

The green meadows and valleys of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek look mesmerizing. During the monsoon, the trekkers can witness the real beauty of Kashmir as the grassland looksvibrant due to lush greenery. The Sonmarg Valley looks the most stunning among all the other valleys during the trek. It is photogenic and allows the trekkers to capture lifelong memories. The lakes that the trekkers witness during the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek are the major attraction. Some of the major lakes during the trek include Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar and Satsar lakes.

The serene environment of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is also good for meditation. The locals say that the trek is also a shrine of a local deity, Lord Murugan. He is considered to be the God of energy and strength. The trekkers can also learn about the folklore prevalent in this region. This allows the trekkers to connect with the local culture at a deeper level.

Day 01 :

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 02 :

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 03 :

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 04 :

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 05 :

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.

Depending on the season, there are 4 or 5 lakes with water. The Satsar army check post is located on the right side of the hill, above the ridge. It is the LOC’s third line of defense. The same identity verification, data collection, and questioning procedures apply here. Finish this today to ensure a clean day of trekking tomorrow. The first of the Satsar lakes is situated ten minutes from the army camp. The lake is very big, and it is set in a beautiful green setting with mountains in the background.

Day 06 :

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 07 :

Buffer day at Gangbal Lake

This day is an extra day or buffer day (counted as 8D-7N trek) for those who want to take rest for the entire day and that will be charged an extra 2500 Rs per person (exclusive from 17,500). If this day is cancelled, then trek will be of 7D-6N @17,500Rs.

Day 08 :

Trek from Gangbal Lake to Naranag and back drive to Srinagar

On the final day of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Itinerary we bid farewell to the wilderness and make our way back to civilization. The day begins with a gentle ascent out of the valley, followed by a descent through the tree line to a forested trail, where we pause for lunch at a Tea-shop. The trek concludes with a three-hour steep descent to Naranag, an ancient temple settlement and the road-head connecting to Srinagar. Once your luggage is loaded into waiting vehicles, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic drive to Srinagar.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Overview

Itinerary

Cost