Kashmir 7 Day Itinerary
A week in Kashmir — read the travel advice first.
Three nights by Dal Lake in Srinagar, the gondola at Gulmarg, two nights in the Lidder valley at Pahalgam and, in summer, the glacier road to Sonamarg. Before any of that: the UK and US governments advise against travel to Jammu & Kashmir. This page starts with that advice, then shows what a week looks like, and we will tell you honestly if we don’t recommend going on your dates.
- 7 days Srinagar → Gulmarg → Pahalgam → Sonamarg
- Advice first UK FCDO and US State Dept, dated
- Private car one driver, Srinagar airport in and out
- 20% deposit full refund within 48 h
What is a good 7-day Kashmir itinerary?
A 7-day Kashmir itinerary usually bases three nights in Srinagar (a Dal Lake houseboat, shikara, Mughal gardens), with a day trip to Gulmarg (about 52–56 km), two nights in Pahalgam (about 95 km) and, in summer, a day to Sonamarg. First check your government’s advice: the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Jammu & Kashmir and the US rates it Level 4. Suzu Travels quotes it on request.
Talk to a real person: our team in Himachal answers 9 am–9 pm IST (UTC+5:30), usually within 2 hours. Message us on WhatsApp +91 70874 88961 or email info@suzutravels.com.
Before anything else: what governments advise about Kashmir
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Jammu & Kashmir, including Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg (checked 13 Nov 2026). The US State Department rates Jammu & Kashmir Level 4: Do not travel. Read your own government’s advice before you book. Travelling against your government’s advice can invalidate your travel insurance. The FCDO’s only exceptions are flying to and from Jammu city and travel within Jammu city, and it notes that there have been frequent terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
We will tell you honestly if we don’t recommend travelling on your dates. If your advice or your insurer rules Kashmir out, we plan mountains and snow in Himachal instead — see our Himachal 10-day itinerary and where to see snow in India.
The route: Srinagar as your base, three valleys around it
Kashmir’s sights sit in different valleys around Srinagar, so the plan keeps Srinagar as the base and moves only once, to Pahalgam. Distances below are from the Jammu & Kashmir tourism corporation (JKTDC) and the district sites; where the two differ, we give the range. We don’t print drive times the official sites don’t give.
Srinagar (Days 1–3, Gulmarg as a day trip on Day 3) → Pahalgam (Days 4–5) → Sonamarg on Day 6 in summer → back to Srinagar to fly out on Day 7.
Seven days in Kashmir, day by day
A sample we build from, once you have checked the advice above. The quote changes with the month and the hotels; the pace stays easy.
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DAY 1Fly into Srinagar · Dal Lake
Your driver meets you at Srinagar airport — name, photo and car number are shared with you before the trip. An afternoon shikara ride on Dal Lake and a night on a houseboat.
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DAY 2Srinagar: Mughal gardens and the old city
The terraced Mughal gardens along the lake, then the old city at a walking pace. In spring the Tulip Garden in the Zabarwan foothills, overlooking Dal Lake, opens in March–April.
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DAY 3Day trip to Gulmarg
About 52–56 km (32–35 mi) to the meadow at Gulmarg and the gondola: Phase 1 to Kongdoori at about 3,100 m (10,200 ft), Phase 2 to Apharwat at about 3,980 m (13,000 ft). Snow is likely from December to March. Back to Srinagar for the night.
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DAY 4Srinagar → Pahalgam
About 95 km (59 mi), a road drive of about 2½ hours, to Pahalgam at 2,130 m (6,990 ft) in the Lidder valley. An easy afternoon by the river.
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DAY 5Pahalgam: Betaab Valley and Aru
Betaab Valley, and the Aru valley 15 km (9 mi) from Pahalgam, by local transport. Pahalgam is also where the Amarnath Yatra starts — expect crowds and restrictions in July and August.
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DAY 6Pahalgam → Srinagar, or Sonamarg in summer
Back to Srinagar. In summer, a day on the Srinagar–Leh road to Sonamarg (about 90–110 km, around 3 hours from Srinagar) and the Thajiwas glacier — private vehicles aren’t allowed for sightseeing there, so you hire a local taxi. In winter we swap Sonamarg for a second Gulmarg day.
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DAY 7Fly out of Srinagar
Your driver drops you at Srinagar airport with a margin before your flight — on to Delhi, home, or the rest of India.
Take this plan with you: 7-day itinerary (PDF). Day by day, what is included and what is not, prices and how booking works — 2 pages. No email or sign-up needed; print it or share it with whoever you travel with.
Winter and summer: which days change
The shape of the week stays the same; a few days change with the season. Our month-by-month table is on the best time to visit Kashmir.
Spring (March–April)
The Tulip Garden opens. March is Srinagar’s wettest month (104.6 mm / 4.1 in), so we keep Day 2 flexible.
Summer
July is the warmest month, with a mean of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F) in Srinagar. Sonamarg’s hotels open only in the summer months. The Amarnath Yatra (3 Jul–28 Aug in 2026) uses Pahalgam and the Baltal side near Sonamarg — expect crowds and restrictions.
Autumn
October is the driest month in Srinagar (23.3 mm / 0.9 in) — clear days for the gardens and the drives.
Winter
Cold: January’s mean is 2.5 °C (36.5 °F), and the harshest stretch is locally known as Chillai Kalan (21 Dec–31 Jan). Gulmarg’s ski season usually runs mid-December to mid-April. No Sonamarg day — a second Gulmarg day instead. Skiing? See our Gulmarg ski holiday page.
What's included — and what isn't
Included
Private car and the same English-speaking driver for the week, fuel, tolls and parking; 6 nights with breakfast, one of them on a Dal Lake houseboat, in the tier you choose; a shikara ride; airport pick-up and drop in Srinagar.
Not included
International flights, the flight to and from Srinagar, the India e-Visa, gondola and entry tickets, local transport in Pahalgam and the local taxi in Sonamarg, lunches and dinners, tips.
Your driver
Your driver’s name, photo and car number are shared with you before the trip. You don’t drive yourself — and in Sonamarg, sightseeing is by local taxi only.
Run from Himachal
Our office is in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh. We check the travel advice again before you pay and before you travel, and you have our office WhatsApp number throughout.
Practical notes for Kashmir
Visa
Apply yourself for the India e-Visa at the official site indianvisaonline.gov.in — beware look-alike sites that charge extra. We are not a visa agency; our e-Visa guide walks you through it.
Insurance
Ask your insurer in writing whether you are covered in Jammu & Kashmir before you book — travelling against your government’s advice can invalidate your travel insurance. Our India travel insurance guide explains what to ask.
Cold and altitude
Gulmarg’s gondola tops out at about 3,980 m (13,000 ft) and winters are cold. If you have heart or breathing conditions, consult your doctor before you go and see an official travel-health site (CDC, NHS Fit for Travel).
Zoji La and Ladakh
Sonamarg is the last stop before the Zoji La pass (3,540 m / 11,600 ft), 20 km (12 mi) further east on the road to Ladakh. This itinerary turns back at Sonamarg.
Kashmir with the Taj Mahal — or the Himalaya without Kashmir
First time in India? Our Golden Triangle + Kashmir route adds Delhi, Agra and Jaipur to a shorter Kashmir stay — compare it with every other route on our North India tours page. Read the travel advice above first.
Want the mountains without the advisory? Himachal Pradesh, where our office is, has snow in winter, high valleys and no UK FCDO advice against all travel — see 10 days in Himachal. Choosing who to book with? Read how to choose a travel agency in India.
Prices
This 7-day Kashmir itinerary is quoted on request: it depends on the month, the hotels and houseboat, and how many of you travel. You receive a day-by-day plan with a US-dollar total and what it covers before you pay anything — and our honest view of the travel advice for your dates.
| Option | From | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Kashmir — 7 days / 6 nights (this itinerary) | on request | Private car and driver, 6 nights with breakfast including a Dal Lake houseboat night, shikara ride, Srinagar airport pick-up and drop; gondola and entry tickets not included |
| Golden Triangle + Kashmir — 10 days / 9 nights | from US$899 | Per person, two sharing: comfortable 3-star hotels with breakfast, private car and driver. International flights and the Delhi–Srinagar flight not included. Read the travel advice above first. |
Prices are per person in US dollars, indicative for the season shown, and confirmed on your quote. Taxes included; international flights excluded.
Booking terms (20% deposit, 48-hour refund window) are stated once, under Plan it with a local.
Questions travellers ask
Is it safe to visit Kashmir?
Read your own government’s advice first. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Jammu & Kashmir, including Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg (checked 13 Nov 2026), and the US State Department rates it Level 4: Do not travel. Travelling against your government’s advice can invalidate your travel insurance. We will tell you honestly if we don’t recommend travelling on your dates.
How many days do I need for Kashmir?
Five to seven days. Seven lets you base three nights in Srinagar with a Gulmarg day trip, spend two nights in Pahalgam, and add Sonamarg in summer without rushing.
In which order should I visit Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg?
Start in Srinagar, which is where you fly in. Gulmarg (about 52–56 km) works as a day trip from Srinagar; Pahalgam (about 95 km, about 2½ hours) is worth two nights; Sonamarg (about 90–110 km, around 3 hours) is a summer day trip on the way back.
What is the best month to visit Kashmir?
It depends on what you want: spring for the Tulip Garden (March–April), summer for Sonamarg, October for the driest weather, winter for snow at Gulmarg. Avoid July–August if you dislike crowds — that is the Amarnath Yatra season. Month by month on our best-time-to-visit-Kashmir page.
Can I see snow in Kashmir?
In winter, at Gulmarg: snow is likely from December to March, and the ski season usually runs mid-December to mid-April. Nothing is guaranteed. In winter we swap the Sonamarg day for a second Gulmarg day.
Can I drive myself in Kashmir?
We plan it with a private car and driver; your driver’s name, photo and car number are shared with you before the trip. In Sonamarg private vehicles aren’t allowed for sightseeing — visitors hire a local taxi there.
Can I combine Kashmir with the Golden Triangle?
Yes. Our Golden Triangle + Kashmir route is 10 days / 9 nights, from US$899 per person, two sharing, with 3-star hotels, breakfast and a private car and driver; international flights and the Delhi–Srinagar flight are not included. Read the travel advice first.
What if the travel advice changes after I book?
20% deposit locks your dates and price; full refund if cancelled within 48 hours of paying; balance before the trip; pay by card via Razorpay (international cards accepted) or PayPal. If the advice changes, we talk to you first and can re-plan the trip, for example to Himachal.
Tell us your dates — we'll tell you honestly what we'd plan
Your month, how many of you, your country and the hotels you like. We check the latest advice for your dates, send a day-by-day plan and a US-dollar quote — or suggest Himachal if we don’t recommend Kashmir then.
We usually reply within 2 hours, 9 am–9 pm IST (UTC+5:30). Email info@suzutravels.com if you don’t use WhatsApp.
Booking: A 20% deposit locks your dates and price. Full refund if you cancel within 48 hours of paying. Pay by card (Razorpay, international cards accepted) or PayPal; the balance is due before the trip.
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Keep exploring
Sources
- UK FCDO — India: regional risks (Jammu & Kashmir)
- UK FCDO — India travel advice
- US State Department — India travel advisory
- JKTDC — Pahalgam
- District Anantnag — Pahalgam
- JKTDC — Sonamarg
- District Ganderbal — Sonamarg
- JKTDC — Skiing in Kashmir (Gulmarg)
- Japan Meteorological Agency (WMO normals) — Srinagar monthly climate
- India e-Visa — the only official site
Written by the Suzu Travels team in Himachal Pradesh, India. Facts checked 14 Nov 2026. Prices, visa rules and road conditions change — we re-check this page regularly; ask us before you book.
