Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

You will be picked up from Srinagar at 15:00 hrs and driven to Sonamarg, a three hour journey. The route is beautiful, and will give you a taste of the many gorgeous views that you'll encounter over the next few days. You'll be camping near Sonmarg tonight. Overnight in tents.

Today's campsite is about 3 kms away from Sonmarg, and you'll be provided with tents on triple sharing basis, sleeping bags and mattresses. In addition, you'll also have access to toilet tents, and a kitchen/dining tent.

You start your trek today, setting off into the wild through a meadow that overlooks Sonmarg. From here onwards, you will not be seeing any civilization for the next week. You'll walk through meadows, and through maple and pine trees. You'll eat lunch at Shekdur, lined with Bhoj trees, and then trek onwards to Nichnai. Your campsite lies in a valley, wtih the river Sindh nearby. There is silence all around, and clear starry skies above. Overnight in tents.

Overnight stay in tents

Your campsite is set at a perfect spot in the meadow nestled between two ranges. Take the time to relax, enjoy the views, click some photographs. All meals are included today.

It is a long walk into the meadows today. You'll trek through Nichnai Pass, which stands at 13,500 feet, and is a bit of a climb. You'll begin to feel the altitude here, but the trail descends from here, so you'll feel better soon. The trail leads you into a wide green meadow with a flowing river, with the Himalayan ranges at the backdrop. Nestled below the four mountains is the Vishansar lake. The lake is full of trout and you'll be camping here for the night. Overnight in tents.

Overnight stay in tents

After a long and tiring day of trekking, your campsite is postcard-perfect, with the mountains in the backdrop and the Vishansar Lake not far from sight.

After conquering the vast meadows of Nichnai, you have earned a day of rest. Today you'll relax at the campsite, admire the lake, and take a few short walks around to help you acclimatize. The colour of the lake depends upon the time of the day, and is colourless before sunrise, a crisp blue in the afternoon, and a greenish blue in the evening sun. Spend some leisure time fishing or spotting trout in the lake. A permit for fishing must be obtained in Srinagar. Overnight in tents.

Overnight stay in tents

You'll spend the day resting and acclimatizing at Vishansar today. You can take short walks, spend some time taking photographs, or catch up on some reading.

Today you'll tackle a steep ascent, from where you can see views of the Vishansar lake. You'll trek through a meadow, and then along a ridge, from where the Kishansar lake is visible, so there are plenty of photography opportunities here. After that, you'll descend, and enter sprawling meadows filled with red flowers and beautiful blue irises. You'll camp here, or beside the lake tonight. You might have to wait for a while as the trek guides arrange permissions from the army camp nearby, but there's plenty to see and do. Overnight in tents.

Overnight stay in tents

You'll be camping at the base of snowy cliffs or alternatively a little further at the army camp. You'll be provided with tents (on triple sharing basis), sleeping bags and mattresses. In addition, you'll also have access to toilet tents, and a kitchen/dining tent.

From the army camp, crossing the stream is the easiest option. The terrain flattens out, and you'll be able to spot the craters of Maengandob, formed by ancient meteorites. Beyond the ridge, you'll find the Satsar Army check post, which is the third defence from LOC. Further away from the army camp is the first Satsar lake, where you'll be camping. Overnight stay in tents.

Overnight stay in tents

Your campsite for the night is near Satsar lake, and offers great photography opportunities. You'll be provided with tents (on triple sharing basis), sleeping bags and mattresses. In addition, you'll also have access to toilet tents, and a kitchen/dining tent.

Located in the midst of a boulder-dotted terrain, the seven lakes of Satsar are the highlight of the day. You'll trek along a zig-zag trail, and ascend the ridges to get some of the best views of your Great Lakes of Kashmir trek. From here you'll trek down to Nundkol lake, where a glacier slides down the side of the mountains. Gangabal is 20 minutes from Nundkol, across a stream. Walk all the way to the bank of the lake and cross over a man-made bridge. Overnight in tents.

Overnight stay in tents

It's your last night of camping on the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, so make the most of it. You'll be able to take some team pictures today, with the Harmukh peak overlooking your campsite.

Today's an all-descent day, and you'll begin to enter civilization again. You'll walk through a meadow filled with yellow flowers. You'll hike through a small pine forest, and will see a log hut and some other signs of civilization, and your phone will start picking up network again. The last 4 km are a quick descent, more than 3000 feet. Naranag slowly comes into sight and beyond the paved village track, you slowly enter the main road. Here you'll board vehicles and be driven back to Srinagar. Trip ends here.

Trip ends before nightfall.

You'll trek down to Naranag, where vehicles are waiting for you. You'll be dropped off at Srinagar airport, by about 18:30-19:30 hrs. Trip ends here.