The Best Monsoon Trek: Kashmir Great Lakes

Discover the Kashmir Great Lakes trek: snow-capped peaks, vibrant meadows, and breathtaking landscapes. Plan your adventure from July to September.

Duration: 7 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Arrival at Srinagar for drive to Sonmarg at Shitkadi Campsite | Drive: 81 KM in 3 to 4 hours

Anchar Lake - Departing from Srinagar around 1 PM, we reach Sonamarg by 4:30 PM. The drive follows the Sind River, crossing to the true right of the river at Wayil bridge, 25 KM from Srinagar. Along the way, we pass Anchar Lake in Srinagar. The drive is a gradual ascent to Sonamarg, rising from 1,600 meters in Srinagar to just over 2,700 meters in Sonamarg. We camp overnight at Shitkadi, with a short 500-meter walk to our campsite.

Shitkadi camp to Nichinai Camp | Trek: 11 KM in 5 to 6 hours

Nichinai to Vishnusar (Vishansar) & Kishansar Lakes via Nichinai Pass | Trek: 13 KM in 5 to 6 hours

Vishansar Lake - The trek from Nichinai camp begins with an ascent to the Nichinai Pass, which is around 4,100 meters high. The climb takes a couple of hours at a moderate pace. After crossing the Nichinai Pass, we see a small lake at the mountain’s base to our left. Another larger lake, about 500 meters long, is 2 KM ahead but is not visible until we climb to the ridge on our right. The trail descends from the pass into grassland with a gentle slope after an hour of descent. From here, the trail is gentle up to Vishansar Lake. It’s a few KM to the lake’s base and our campsite. The lake requires another 20 minutes to reach as it is slightly higher in altitude. Kishansar is further ahead and higher in altitude than Vishansar Lake.

Vishansar Lake (Vishnusar) to Gadsar via Gadsar Pass | Trek: 16 KM in 5 hours

Gadsar Lake - The trek from Vishansar to Gadsar is beautiful but challenging. Today’s trek takes you to the highest point of the entire journey, at 4,210 meters at the Gadsar Pass. The trail from Vishansar campsite continues to the right, with Kishansar Lake to our left. The trail then climbs steeply to the pass, with a zig-zag path visible from afar. It takes around 2 hours to reach the Gadsar Pass. As we climb higher, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the two lakes behind us. Take some time to capture these moments in your mind, as you will cherish them for the rest of your life.

Gadsar to Satsar | Trek: 11 KM in 5 hours

Tarsar Lake - The trek from Gadsar to Satsar starts with a steep hike that takes a little over an hour, followed by a gradual, mostly level trail. This will be a relatively easier day compared to other trek days.

Satsar to Gangabal Lake and Nund Kol Lake via Zaj Pass (13,280 feet) | Trek: 11 KM in 6 hours

Gangabal Lake - The trek begins with an ascent to the Zaj Pass, which is lower in altitude than the previous passes. At 13,280 feet, it takes around 2 hours to reach the pass. The trail then descends steeply, followed by a gradual descent, making for an enjoyable walk.

Gangabal Lake to Naranag (7,800 feet) & drive to Srinagar | Trek: 13 KM in 6 hours & Drive: 50KM in 2 to 3 hours

Gangabal Lake - On the final trekking day, the trail alternates between minor ascents and descents for the first half, followed by a steep descent to Naranag. We arrive in Srinagar between 5 and 7 PM, depending on our start time from Gangabal.

What's Included
  • Accommodation for 6 Nights Standard Tent stay with Double occupancy
  • Clean sleeping bag & mats
  • Lunch
  • Transport support on Srinagar onwards
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • Good quality ‘A’ shape tent, Kitchen, dining and toilet tent with portable seats, Camping stools
  • All fees and/or taxes
  • Mountaineering qualified & BMC certified professional trek guide with First Aid kit
What's Not Included
  • Personal expenses like tips, personal medicines, phone calls, etc.
  • Transport to reach Srinagar from hometown.
  • Accommodation in Srinagar on last day.
  • Porter to carry personal luggage.( INR 500/- Charge per bag(<12), per day).
  • Any costs incurred apart from the above inclusions.
  • Increasing in prices due to emergency.
Additional Information

The trek starts from early July month. During this time snow is still present on the higher altitudes and the meadows are in their fresh bloom. The landscape is contrasting. Those keen to witness the snow covered landscape with a foreground of fresh summer bloom, should plan their trek in early July. By end of July the snow melts away, and the meadows are in their full bloom. The landscape has all the floral hues it can get and its a very great time to plan the trek. The temperatures are warmer than in July, making the nights more comfortable during camping. By late August the temperature starts to drop again, the flowers begin to wither as the cold begins to sweep the alpine meadows. Abrupt rainfall can be more than expected during this time period. The trek can continue well into the second week of September, before the snow starts to take over the higher reaches again and winter comes knocking at the doors.

Location
Srinagar
We'll be here to welcome the guest with a name board.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(25 Ratings)
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Navigator37328980874
Aug 16, 2024
Kashmir Great Lakes trek organised by Himalaya shelter - The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek organized by Himalaya Shelter was an exceptional experience. The support staff were outstanding, consistently attentive and ready to assist us at every turn. Kudos to Rishab bhaiya 🙌🏻
Review provided by Tripadvisor
5365see
Aug 16, 2024
The amazing Great Kashmir Lakes trek - Beautiful vast, green meadows after the first day. The terrain changes every few hours, streams, boulders, steep ascents, and the last day was a 13 kilometers downhill. The Himalaya Shelter team was amazing. Great food - hot,steaming soups, dals,rajma, pasta, popcorn , baingan bharta... good food, so far from home - much relished after all the hours of trekking. There were ten of us, I didn't know anybody but along with the Himalaya Shelter team, we all became like family. The evenings were beautiful because our camp sites were right next to alpine lakes, we took many photos. The night sky was starlit, unbelievably clear. Looking forward to many more beautiful treks with Himalaya Shelter.
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Travel17812828874
Aug 11, 2024
Amazing - Wonderful experience mainly because of lower number of people( group size was only 10), which was calming and also yeh staff was amazing, from the trek leaders to the cook.
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Journey56187193908
Aug 10, 2024
Good experience - Staff was very supportive, their camps were at best location, group size was small (10 person) food was delicious despite hard mountain conditions.
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Goplaces324685
Aug 1, 2024
Best experience of a lifetime! - Big thanks to the Himalaya Shelter Team for the memorable and amazing experience. The Team was incredibly caring, supportive, relaxing and calm. They truly made our journey safe and wonderful. I am so glad I were with them, thank you so much!
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Himanshi32
Jul 29, 2024
Expert and friendly guides, Well-organized itineraries,Stunning locations Delicious food,Excellent equipment and support - Unforgettable adventure with Himalaya shelter!! From the moment I booked, the team was incredibly helpful and accommodating. Their expertise in planning the itinerary was evident as every day was filled with breathtaking vistas and challenges that pushed me to my limits. Our guides, Sonu Sir and Praveen Sir were very friendly. Their in-depth knowledge of each and everything, made the trek even more enjoyable. The team's attention to ensuring our comfort and safety throughout the trek. The campsites were well-chosen, offering stunning views and peaceful nights under the stars. The food provided was surprisingly delicious and filling, considering the remote locations. They have set the bar incredibly high for future trekking adventures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nomad40991425505
Jul 28, 2024
Was able to complete because of Himalya shelter's experienced and caring staff. - Professional people with great experience. They won't leave you alone during the trek even if your walking speed is slow. Food is great. Trek leaders and cooking staff are genuinely humble people. Highly recommend
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714krishnag
Jul 26, 2024
Kgl - It was my first trek in himalaya and i got the best experience ever. All thanks to himalaya shelter and the trek guide(sonu sir ) and ) (praveen sir) bcuz of these both it was done successfully they are the best,very helful and good. Best thing about the trek was there food i just loved it! Cant wait to have another trek with them.
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97udayg
Jul 26, 2024
KGL - It’s was one of the best trek in Kashmir with Himalayan shelter . I have done 3,4 treks with them and all were best . The staff,cook & trek guides (Sonu & Pravin bhai) were best . We were getting best food in the beautiful mountains ❤️😍
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Maps24748376253
Aug 11, 2024
Overall great experience, will travel again. - The management was amazing, food was excellent. We enjoyed the trip with the crew, and what we liked was the fact that we were able to do it at our pace with many scenic stops. The gear was also excellent. The permit could've been managed better since we got a day less on the trek.
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September 2024
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