A Kashmir with Vaishno Devi tour package starts in Jammu, gives you a night or two in Katra for the Mata Vaishno Devi darshan, then moves on to Srinagar, Gulmarg and, on the longer plan, Pahalgam and a Dal Lake houseboat. Suzu Travels runs two such trips: Panoramic Kashmir with Vaishno Devi (6 days, from ₹17,499 per person, economy/deluxe hotels) and Kashmir with Vaishno Devi (7 days, from ₹24,999 per person, deluxe hotels plus a houseboat night), both twin sharing at the off-season rate. They suit families, parents on a pilgrimage and first-time visitors who want both the yatra and the valley in one booking.
Updated: November 2026
Planning Vaishno Devi and Kashmir together?
Send your dates, number of people (with ages of elders and children) and whether you want to walk, ride or fly to the shrine. We reply with one written quote with the hotels named. Get a free quote · WhatsApp us · Call +91 70874 88961
Kashmir Vaishno Devi tour packages and prices (2026)
The first two trips include Vaishno Devi. The last two are Srinagar-start Kashmir trips: if you are already in Katra (or do the yatra on your own), take the Vande Bharat to Srinagar and join one of them; we add the Katra nights and the transfer to your quote.
| Package | Days | Starts from | Transport | From ₹ per person | Vaishno Devi included? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panoramic Kashmir with Vaishno Devi (Economy) | 6D/5N | Jammu | Private AC sedan | ₹17,499 | Yes: 2 nights in Katra, darshan day |
| Kashmir with Vaishno Devi | 7D/6N | Jammu | Private SUV | ₹24,999 | Yes: 2 nights in Katra, darshan day |
| Magical Kashmir Economy | 6D/5N | Srinagar | Private sedan | ₹16,999 | No; add Katra nights on request |
| Kashmir Houseboat Tour (Luxury) | 5D/4N | Srinagar | Private car (sedan or SUV) | ₹21,999 | No; add Katra nights on request |
“From” prices are the sample rates printed on each live package page on 6 November 2026: per person, twin sharing, off-season. Peak dates (Christmas–New Year, school holidays, long weekends) and higher hotel categories cost more. “On request” means the page prints no price; we quote it for your dates. You get a written quote before you pay anything.
Quick pick: Panoramic Kashmir with Vaishno Devi is the lower-priced plan, with Gulmarg as a day trip from Srinagar. Kashmir with Vaishno Devi adds a night on a Dal Lake houseboat, a night in Pahalgam and a private SUV. Both start at Jammu airport or Jammu Tawi station and end at Srinagar airport, so book an open-jaw ticket: fly or take the train into Jammu, fly home from Srinagar. All our Kashmir trips are on the Kashmir tour packages hub and the Kashmir destination page.
Sample itinerary: 6 days, Jammu to Srinagar
This is the day plan of Panoramic Kashmir with Vaishno Devi, from ₹17,499 per person.
| Day | Route | What you do | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Jammu → Katra (about 45–50 km, 1–1.5 h) | Pickup at Jammu airport or Jammu Tawi; rest in Katra. Register for RFID Yatra cards close to your start time, as the card must be used within the hours printed on it. | Katra |
| Day 2 | Katra → Bhawan → Katra | Early start for the darshan; walk, pony, palki, or the helicopter to Sanjichhat. Back to Katra by evening. | Katra |
| Day 3 | Katra → Srinagar (about 245 km by road) | Drive into the valley; or, on request, the morning Vande Bharat from Katra, about 3 hours, with the car meeting you at Srinagar station. | Srinagar |
| Day 4 | Srinagar | Nishat and Shalimar Mughal gardens, Shankaracharya temple, a 1-hour shikara ride on Dal Lake. | Srinagar |
| Day 5 | Srinagar → Gulmarg → Srinagar (about 50–56 km each way) | Gondola Phase 1 and 2 (tickets extra, official portal only) or a meadow walk. | Srinagar |
| Day 6 | Srinagar airport | Departure. | — |
7-day version with a houseboat and Pahalgam
Kashmir with Vaishno Devi (from ₹24,999 per person) keeps Days 1–2 the same, then: Day 3 Katra to Srinagar and a night on a Dal Lake houseboat; Day 4 Gulmarg day trip; Day 5 to Pahalgam (about 90–95 km) via the Pampore saffron fields, night in Pahalgam; Day 6 back to Srinagar for the Mughal gardens; Day 7 departure. Betaab and Aru valleys are visited in Pahalgam’s local union taxis, which are not in the package price.
Pahalgam status: Betaab Valley reopened in June 2025 and Aru Valley on 29 September 2025. Baisaran meadow is still closed to tourists: it is on the Anantnag district closed list dated 7 July 2026, with no reopening date announced as of late October 2026. Reports on Chandanwari differ, so check at the Pahalgam taxi stand on the day, and follow J&K Tourism and local police advisories. For more day-by-day options see our Kashmir itinerary guide.
Vaishno Devi yatra logistics: RFID card, trek, helicopter
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) runs the yatra. These are the points that decide how your Katra days go:
- RFID Yatra card: every pilgrim, children included, needs a free RFID Yatra Access Card from the Yatri Registration Counter near the Katra bus stand, YRC-II on the Udhampur road about 1 km away, or online through the Shrine Board’s portal. It is checked at Banganga, about 1.5 km up; without it you are turned back.
- Time limits: start the climb within the time printed on your card (reports in December 2025 gave 6 to 12 hours) and plan to be back in Katra within 24 hours. In a heavy rush, when arrivals pass roughly 30,000–35,000 a day, registration can pause and you wait in Katra.
- The trek: about 12–13 km one way from Katra to the Bhawan (the holy cave, about 1,585 m), plus about 1.5 km to Bhairon temple. Most people take 4–6 hours to walk up; the path is paved, lit and has shelters.
- Battery car and ropeway: battery cars run between Ardhkuwari and the Bhawan, with priority for seniors and the disabled; a ropeway links the Bhawan with Bhairon temple.
- Helicopter: flies from the Katra helipad to Sanjichhat, not to the Bhawan; from Sanjichhat it is about 2.5 km to the cave. From 1 November 2026 the fare was raised to ₹2,700 one way and ₹5,400 return per person (from ₹2,320 / ₹4,640). Book only on the Shrine Board’s official website (maavaishnodevi.org) or its counters; look-alike sites and WhatsApp sellers are not the Shrine Board.
- Weather: heavy rain has stopped the yatra before. A landslide near Ardhkuwari on 26 August 2025 killed 34 people and halted the yatra for 22 days, and in July 2026 it was suspended for six days before resuming on 25 July. In the monsoon, keep a spare day.
Our Vaishno Devi yatra guide covers the old and new tracks, what to carry and the aarti. The yatra card and any helicopter ticket are booked by you on the Shrine Board’s site; we plan everything around them.
| Way up to the Bhawan | Time (approx.) | Cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| On foot | 4–6 h up | Free | Fit pilgrims; start early or at night |
| Pony or palki | Part or all of the way | Rates fixed by the authorities; pay on the track | Elders who cannot walk the full distance |
| Battery car (Ardhkuwari–Bhawan) | Last stretch only | Shrine Board ticket | Seniors and the disabled (priority) |
| Helicopter (Katra–Sanjichhat) + 2.5 km walk | A few minutes flying | ₹2,700 one way / ₹5,400 return per person from 1 Nov 2026 | Short on time, or elders with a bookable date |
Katra to Srinagar: Vande Bharat train or road?
Since the service was extended to Jammu Tawi on 30 April 2026, two pairs of Vande Bharat trains run Jammu Tawi – Katra – Srinagar six days a week. The morning train 26401 leaves Jammu at 6:20 am, calls at Katra around 8:10 am and reaches Srinagar at 11:10 am (not on Tuesdays); 26403 leaves Jammu at 1:20 pm and reaches Srinagar at 6:00 pm (not on Wednesdays). Katra to Srinagar takes about 3 hours across the Chenab bridge.
| Vande Bharat | Car (in the package) | |
|---|---|---|
| Katra → Srinagar time | About 3 hours | About 7–8 hours, about 245 km |
| Cost | Chair car fares reported from about ₹660; Executive more (IRCTC shows the final fare) | Included in both packages |
| Luggage | Overhead racks only; travel light | Boot of the car |
| Best for | Couples, small groups with light bags | Families with elders, heavy luggage, sold-out trains |
Book on IRCTC as soon as your dates are fixed; morning trains fill early in peak months, and security checks at Katra and Srinagar stations take time. Full timetable and fares are in our Katra to Srinagar train guide. If you prefer the road all the way, see the Jammu to Srinagar taxi route; for the short hop to the shrine, Jammu to Katra taxi fares start from ₹2,499 for a sedan.
What’s included and not included
| Included (both packages) | Not included |
|---|---|
| Hotel nights as listed (economy/deluxe on Panoramic; deluxe hotels plus one Dal Lake houseboat night on the 7-day plan) | Air or train tickets to Jammu and from Srinagar |
| Daily breakfast and dinner | Lunch, snacks, laundry, tips |
| Private vehicle for all transfers and sightseeing (AC car on Panoramic, SUV on the 7-day plan); fuel, tolls, parking and driver allowance | Pony, palki or helicopter for Vaishno Devi |
| One-hour shikara ride on Dal Lake | Gondola tickets, garden and monument entry fees |
| Pickup at Jammu, drop at Srinagar airport | Union taxis in Pahalgam for Betaab and Aru (7-day plan) |
The yatra RFID card is free and issued only by the Shrine Board. Prices are per person on twin sharing; peak dates (Christmas–New Year, school holidays, long weekends) and higher hotel categories cost more, and your written quote shows the final figure before you pay.
Best time for a Kashmir and Vaishno Devi trip
The shrine is open all year; the season mainly changes Kashmir and the crowds at Katra.
| Months | Katra and the yatra | Kashmir | Our view |
|---|---|---|---|
| March–June | Pleasant; summer holidays bring big crowds in May–June | Tulip season in spring, green meadows in May–June (peak prices) | Good; book trains and hotels early for May–June |
| July–mid-September | Monsoon; the yatra has been suspended for rain in August 2025 and July 2026 | Mild; Amarnath Yatra traffic in July–August | Possible with a spare day; avoid if you have elders |
| October–November | Navratri weeks are very crowded (Sharad Navratri was 11–19 October in 2026) | Autumn colours, clear days | Very good outside Navratri; November is off-season |
| December–February | Cold, quieter except New Year week, when registration can pause | Snow in Gulmarg; Chillai Kalan (21 December–31 January) is the coldest spell | Good for snow lovers; carry real winter clothes |
For a winter yatra, read our Vaishno Devi in December guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of a Kashmir Vaishno Devi tour package?
Suzu Travels’ Panoramic Kashmir with Vaishno Devi (6 days, Jammu to Srinagar) starts from ₹17,499 per person, and Kashmir with Vaishno Devi (7 days, with a houseboat night and Pahalgam) from ₹24,999 per person, twin sharing, off-season. Flights or trains to Jammu, helicopter and gondola tickets are extra.
How many days are needed for Vaishno Devi and Kashmir?
Six days is the minimum that is comfortable: two nights in Katra for the darshan, then three nights in Srinagar with Gulmarg. Seven days lets you add a houseboat night and Pahalgam.
How far is the Vaishno Devi trek from Katra?
About 12–13 km one way from Katra to the Bhawan, plus about 1.5 km to Bhairon temple. Most people take 4–6 hours to walk up. Ponies, palkis, battery cars (Ardhkuwari to Bhawan) and the helicopter to Sanjichhat are alternatives.
Is registration needed for Vaishno Devi?
Yes. Every pilgrim needs a free RFID Yatra card from the Katra registration counters or the Shrine Board’s online portal. It is checked at Banganga, and you must start within the time printed on the card.
How do I book the Vaishno Devi helicopter?
Only on the Shrine Board’s official website, maavaishnodevi.org, or its counters. It flies from Katra to Sanjichhat, about 2.5 km from the cave. From 1 November 2026 the fare is ₹2,700 one way and ₹5,400 return per person. Avoid other websites and WhatsApp sellers.
Can we go from Katra to Srinagar by train?
Yes. Vande Bharat trains run Jammu Tawi – Katra – Srinagar six days a week; the morning train 26401 calls at Katra around 8:10 am and reaches Srinagar at 11:10 am, about 3 hours. Book on IRCTC; the packages include the road transfer if trains are full.
Is Pahalgam included and what is open there?
Pahalgam is on the 7-day plan. Betaab and Aru valleys are open; Baisaran meadow remains closed to tourists as of late October 2026. Check J&K Tourism and local police advisories before you go.
Get your Kashmir with Vaishno Devi quote
Tell us your dates, group size and how the elders will reach the shrine. We plan the Katra nights around your RFID card and helicopter slot, then the train or road to Srinagar, and send one clear quote.
Get a free quote · WhatsApp us · Call +91 70874 88961 · info@suzutravels.com
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