Kashmir Great LakeS Trek
The 8 turquoise alpine lakes sit charmingly in the lush meadows of its valley.
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Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek or The Great Lakes Trek is an alpine Himalayan high-altitude trek in the Kashmir Valley in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the most famous trek in Kashmir. The trek has a variety and offers a scenic landscape unparalleled with any of the other treks. The 8 turquoise alpine lakes sit charmingly in the lush meadows of its valley. It has the most alpine lakes that any trek can offer. The great Kashmir lake trek is one of the best trekking places in Kashmir. If you visit in the best time for Kashmir great lakes trek then you can witness the real beauty of the nature.
Having said that, 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.
Best Trekking Places In Kashmir:
There are so much mesmerizing scenic beauty that it is almost impossible to sort which are the best trekking places in Kashmir. The alpine beauty, lush green meadows alongside the 7 great lakes and the Himalayas, anyone can fall for the beauty of Kashmir. Only you can feel after visiting why Kashmir is called the heaven on earth. Trekking in Kashmir is very popular in India, even people visit Kashmir to conquer the Himalayas.
Out of the many trekking destinations, most popular is the seven lakes trek in Kashmir. It is not considered as the toughest trek as most of the people can participate in it. India treks is offering customizable trek where you can chose your own unique camp site, local delicacies, horse riding, even couples can trek ensuring their privacy, isn’t it great! Have you ever seen the rainbow trouts? Have you ever experienced a day living in a houseboat at Dal lake? Have you ever walked through the valleys full of beautiful flowers beside a lake? Yes you can experience all these only in the customizable Kashmir trek packages of India Treks. Worried about the Kashmir great lakes trek cost? Don’t worry our base package starts from only 15,999. And there is a good news for you all, if you book your slot early then you might hit the jackpot as well, we are offering Srinagar to Srinagar pick up and drop facility that too included in the same package! Only first few can get this offer, so hurry!
Kashmir Trekking Quick Facts:
Duration: 7D/6N
Maximum Altitude: 13,800 ft
Trek Difficulty Level: Moderate
Trekking Distance: 72km
Temperature: Day: 17°C to 20°C and Night: -3°C to 4°C
Best Time to do Sandakphu Trek: May to August
Nearest Railway Station: Jammu
Nearest Airport: Srinagar
Starting Point: Sonmarg
Ending Point: Naranag
Best Time For Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
Best time for Kashmir great lakes trek is in summers and remains closed during the winter season. So the most popular time to do the great kashmir lake trek is from May to August, when the weather is not too harsh.
Kashmir Great Lakes trek starts from Sonamarg – the famous tourist place in Kashmir. The trek winds up through jungles, meadows, gullies, and the vast spread of grasslands in the high altitude of Kashmir. The total duration of the trek is 7 days and the gradient of the trek is moderate to difficult. Looking for the Kashmir great lakes trek map? You can find it in our gallery.
IT'S NOT HOW MANY MILES YOU WALK, IT'S HOW MANY SMILES YOU SHARE.
● Altitude: 2,730 m
● Time Taken: 3 hours drive
The first day of the trek is acclimatization day. The night is spent camping beside the Sindh river of Sonamarg. The sight is worth enjoying as the campsite gives you the view of the surrounding jungle and landscape.
● Distance: 9 km
● Time: 6.5 hours
● Altitude: 2,730m to 3,505 m
On the second day of the trek, one ascends towards Nichnai via tabletop. The tabletop is a small meadow with three sides covered with and towards one side giving a panoramic view of the entire Sonamarg area and the Thajwas mountain range. Behold the alluring peaks of this range from the table top. The campsite at Nichnai is a valley of flowers with a water stream running beside it.
● Distance: 13 km
● Time: 5.5 hours
● Altitude: 3,505m to 3,650 m
The third day one goes over Nichnai pass – a high altitude pass that gives you a wide view of the valleys down. Over the Nichnai pass, you will be trekking towards the next campsite at Vishansar valley. This valley is famous for its twin lakes – Vishansar and Kishansar lakes. The lakes are full of trout fish. You will see the fish dancing in the lakes and the river stream that comes out of these lakes.
● Distance: 14 km
● Time: 6 hours
● Altitude: 3,650m to 3,810m via 4,200m Gadsar Pass
The toughest of all days in this trek. You will be ascending the Gadsar pass which is the highest point of this trek. The pass stands at an altitude of around 4200m. At the pass, enjoy the wider view of the twin lakes and two valleys – Gadsar valley and Vishansar valley. The ascent to Gadsar pass is followed by equally sharp descent and then a long walk in the lush meadows of Gadsar valley. The valley is most famous for its wildflowers of varied colors and sizes. Walking amid these flowers is truly a heavenly walk. On the way, one sees, towards the left of the trail, a quaint Gadsar lake. This lake is small and yet breathtakingly beautiful. Away from the litter and noise, this lake is clean and turquoise in color. Immediately after the lake, you will have your campsite beside the river stream.
● Distance: 12 km
● Time: 5 hours
● Altitude: 3,810m to 3,600 m
This day is the easiest day of the trek. The day is mostly a meadow walk in the Satsar valley. There are seven lakes in this valley and you will be able to see some of the best lakes in this valley. The day is spent in a delightful walk without any sharp ascent or descent.
● Distance: 9 km
● Time: 5 hours
● Altitude: 3,600m to 3,587 m
The sixth day of the trek is when you will have to ascend Zajibal Pass. This is a tiring ascent and equally tiring descent. The trail goes over a boulder and rocky section just before the pass. At the pass, you get the fantastic view of the twin lakes of Gangabal Valley. Enjoy the view here and it is best for your lunch break. The campsite of this day is one of the picturesque in the Gangabal valley. The twin lakes – Nundkol & Gangabal lakes- are in the vicinity. The entire valley is just amazing with wavy meadows and the towering peak of Mount Harmukh. Your campsite is just in the vicinity of Harmukh and Nundkol lake.
● Distance: 13 km
● Time: 6.5 hours
● Altitude: 3,587m to 2,271 m
The last day of the trek has an easy walk in the wavy meadows of Trunkhol. After the meadow, the trail enters the jungle and gets down with a heavy steepness. This is the toughest steep descent of the trek and is quite heavy on your knees and ankles. This descent in jungle walk should be maneuveredcarefully. The day and the trek finish in Naranag village.
Kashmir Great Lake Trek
All vegetarian meals during the trek. Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks, dinner.
Camp accommodation on all the nights in high high-quality tents on a twin-sharing basis. Sleeping bags, sleeping mattresses, dining tents, and cutlery included.
Helpers to pitch the tents, wash the dishes, serve the food and assist while on the camp.
Mountaineering qualified and experienced trek leaders, guides, and experienced cooks.
All the necessary mountain medicine includes first aid, oxygen cylinder, etc.
Passes and Permits.
aloo matar, bhaingan ka bharta, dam aloo, andaburji, etc. We have both roti and rice available for dinner and lunch. We serve them with different pickles and salad.
For evening snacks we have tea, pakoda, soup, noodles, maggie, veg rolls, biscuits, etc.
For dessert we serve gulab jamun, phirni, halwa, custard, sewaya, fruit chaat, fruit cake, almond cake
In every meal plan, we try to provide different varieties, trying not to repeat the dishes, particularly in dinner and lunch. Here is the list of dishes and items from which we serve the clients.
Breakfast: eggs, paratha, chana, poha, dalia, upma, cornflakes, bread toast, butter, jam, roti, coffee, tea, kehwa, etc.
Lunch and dinner: we make a variety of dishes and try to serve the varied dishes. On all trek days, there will be different dishes served. We try not to repeat our dishes unless the clients say otherwise.
We serve veg dishes like veg biryani, veg pulaw, muttar paneer, palak paneer, aloo gobi, rajma chawal, rajma kadhai, mix veg, chana masala, kadhi chawal, dal makhni, bhindi masala, dal fry, veg korma, Kashmiri nadru, Kashmiri haakh, aloo matar, bhaingan ka bharta, dam aloo, andaburji, etc. We have both roti and rice available for dinner and lunch. We serve them with different pickles and salad.
For evening snacks we have tea, pakoda, soup, noodles, maggie, veg rolls, biscuits, etc.
For dessert we serve gulab jamun, phirni, halwa, custard, sewaya, fruit chaat, fruit cake, almond cake
Basic Requirement
A simple 50-60 liter backpack with proper hip and shoulder support is essential for the trek. Remember you have to carry your bag. Practice walking while carrying your packed bag. Pack only as much as you can comfortably bear.
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek requires appropriate trekking shoes that not only provide good grip and support but can also withstand rain and snow. Make sure your trekking shoes are broken into weeks before the trek commences.
Quick-drying garments, providing the right balance of flexibility in movements and comfort, are indispensable on a long trek. Quick-dry socks, full-sleeved t-shirts, and comfortable trek pants are necessary. Choose jackets with hoods to protect you from the strong winds. Invest in proper trekking gear depending on the season you choose for trekking.
i. Spring: The temperatures are mild during these months. Carry a windcheater or jacket and a couple of fleece layers for the early mornings and nights. Rainproof ponchos, rain jackets, and covers are essential due to the possibility of periodic rainfall.
ii. Autumn: The temperatures fall drastically during the nights. Rains are infrequent. The odds of snowfall are also very less during these months. Carry a padded jacket and layer on your fleece as required.
iii. Winter: The temperatures are extremely low and windy. Snowfall is recurring from December to February. Carry a padded down-jacket, fit for below zero temperatures. Carry enough warm clothes and waterproof gloves.
i. Sunglasses – UV-protected sunglasses are especially essential for the winter months with the vast stretches of snow.
ii. Sunscreen Lotion – Protects your skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun while on the trek.
iii. Cap/Hat – It is vital to keep your head protected from direct sunlight, wind, etc.
iv. Gloves – Waterproof gloves are extremely crucial during the winter months for handling snow.
v. Socks – As previously mentioned, quick-dry socks are essential. You can also choose to carry woollen socks for cold nights.
vi. Ear And Nose Covers – Carry proper gear to cover your nose and ears against the wind on the summits. You can use a Muffler or neck warmer for this purpose.
Carry at least two 1 liter reusable water bottles per person. Fill them up whenever you come across a drinking water source on the trail
Polythene Bags/Ziplock bags: Carry your used or wet garments in these bags. It is advised to not wash clothes on the trek, due to water scarcity in the mountains. Save water.
Toilet Kit: Carry your own bathroom/toilet kit and personal care items. Cream and moisturisers are a necessity for the trek.
Carry your prescribed medicines (if any) and/or medicines that you may require such as anti-allergens, paracetamol, etc. Do keep band-aids handy
Carry your government Photo ID card on your person always.
Policies
Upon selection of the trek you need to make payments for booking the trek. The payment terms and conditions are as follows
- When you book the trek 30 or more days before start, a booking amout @ 25% of the total price needs to be paid. The dues are then to be paid in full 10 days prior to the start date.
- When the selection window is between 30-16 days before start date 50% needs to be paid as booking amount. The dues are to be cleared 10 days prior to start date.
- When the selection window is 15 or less days to the start of the trek, full trek fee payment needs to be made in order to book the trek.
- When a trek is cancelled 3 weeks prior to the start date you can choose from either (a) full refund or (b) zero deduction on rescheduling or location** shifting.
- When cancelled between 3-2 weeks before start, options available are (a) 25% deduction of the total trek fee, remaining of the paid amount to be refunded in full (b) zero deduction on rescheduling or location** shifting.
- When cancelled between 13 days - 5 days before the start date, options available are
(a) __% deduction of the total trek fee , remaining of the paid amount to be refunded in full
(b) 15% deduction, remaining amount to be issued as a coupon valid till 15 months from issue.
- When cancelled in less than 96 hours no cash refund options available, refund in coupon can be opted for where in 35% of the trek fee will be deducted and a coupon issued for the remaining paid amount.