About the Trek
The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek transports you to a divine, never before seen side of Kashmir evocative of its nickname, Heaven on Earth. This is the only trek in the Himalayas that packs three high altitude passes, five river valley crossings sporting seven alpine lakes, each an astonishing shade of green, blue and turquoise, all within an impressive span of 8 days!
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A 8-day journey from Srinagar.
- Pick up from Srinagar (TRC) at 9 a.m
- 90 km drive from Srinagar, approx. 3 hours
- Ensure that you carry the ‘must haves’ before starting the road journey
- Remember to keep the mandatory documents andoriginal ID Cards with you as it will be checked at Army Camps/Posts all along the trek
- Sonamarg, meadow of Gold, is a popular tourist destination in Kashmir, offering postcard views of mountains. Dinner & Night Stay at Camp in Sonamarg
- Trek uphill for first 3 Kms followed by 2 Km descent and again a gradual ascent of 5 Km till Nichnai
- Trek to Nichnai via Shekdur will take you through dense forests of Maple, Pine, and Bhoj trees leading to lush green meadows
- Enjoy the enthralling view Sonmarg Valley and the Thajiwas Glacier being on trekking trail
- Following the Nichnai stream, reach the campsite by afternoon. Camping at Nichnai
- A ascent of 1 and half hour from Nichnai to NichnaiPass followed by a long hike through picturesque meadows till Vishansar lake
- Campsite is close to Vishansar Lake, the first alpine lake of the trek . The scenery will soothe your sense and will fuel your soul
- The next lake in series is the Kishansar lake lying at the base of Kishansar peak, just about 1 km away and 500ft higher than Vishansar
- Trek comprises of 2 hour steep ascent followed by a steep descent and then gentle walk in the meadows
- Cross the Gadsar pass, highest point of the trek. From the other side of Gadsar pass you can view Peaks across the LOC. Crossing the Gadsar pass we descent gradually till the campsite visiting the Gadsar Lake enroute. Camping at Gadsar
- From trail, you may get a chance to see Naga Parvatof Pakistan which mostly remains covered with clouds
- Satsar lake is a group of seven interconnected lakes, lying in a narrow alpine valley, forming a very big lake
- By afternoon, we will reach the Satsar lakes. The landscape ahead is captivating
- The trail is easy but filled with heavy boulders, be careful for loose rocks
- Following the rocky path for an hour and half, ascend till Jazz Pass
- From Jazz pass, descend till the Gangbal lake, one of the largest lakes on the trek
- Camp at Nandkol lake which lies at the base of the Harmukh peak
- A steep descent till Naranag. Be careful while on descent and take care of your knees and ankles to avoid any injury
- Passing through the beautiful pine tree forests, the trail will lead you to meadows filled with beautiful yellowflowers
- From Naranag there is a 70 km drive till Srinagar. You will reach Srinagar by 6:30 pm
- Buffer Day will be used if needed as per weather condition between trek
What's Included
- Transportation as mentioned in the itinerary above.
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary above.
- Accommodation - Hotel/Homestay/Tents on triple sharing.
- All necessary entry fees and permits.
- Professional trek Leader, guide, cook and Support staff.
- Camping Equipment - Sleeping bags / Blankets / Mats etc (accessories required inside tents), Toilet Tents.
- Safety Equipment - Medical kit, Oximeter, Crampons & Gaiters (as & when required)
What's Not Included
- Meals during Road Journey.
- Any kind of insurance.
- Mules or porter to carry personal luggage. However can be arranged at the extra cost.
- Any expense towards medical emergencies, evacuation charges etc. However, best possible assistance will be provided in case of exigencies.
- Any expense of personal nature.
Things to Carry
Essentials
- Backpack (50–60 L) with rain cover
- Day pack (20 L)
- Trekking shoes with ankle support
- Headlamp / torch with spare batteries
- Water bottles (2 L)
- Personal medication
Clothing
- Thermal innerwear (top + bottom)
- Fleece / down jacket
- Waterproof outer shell
- Woollen cap, gloves, neck gaiter
- Trekking pants × 2
- Quick-dry t-shirts × 3
Documents
- Government photo ID (Aadhaar / Passport / DL)
- Two passport-sized photos
- Medical fitness certificate
Optional
- Trekking poles
- Sunglasses (UV protection)
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+)
- Power bank
- Energy bars / dry fruits
How to Prepare
This is a Moderate grade trek. You'll be walking 5–8 hours on some days, often at altitudes above 3,500 m. Prior trekking experience is not mandatory but a solid 4–6 weeks of preparation will make a real difference.
Cardio — Start 4–6 Weeks Before
- Run/jog: Build up to 5 km in under 28 minutes, 4x per week
- Brisk walks: 8–10 km weekend walks with a 5–8 kg daypack
- Stairs: 10–12 floors daily, or use a stair machine at the gym
- Cycling / swimming: Great cross-training — 30 min sessions, 2x per week
Strength (3–4x per week)
- Squats — 3 sets of 20 (add 5 kg dumbbells in week 3+)
- Lunges — 3 sets of 15 each leg
- Step-ups on a bench — 3 sets of 12 each leg
- Planks — hold 60 seconds, 3 sets; side planks 30 sec each
- Dead hangs — grip strength helps on rocky scrambles
Diet & Hydration
- 3–4 litres of water daily throughout your training period
- High-protein meals (eggs, dal, paneer, chicken) for muscle recovery
- Complex carbs (oats, brown rice, sweet potato) for sustained energy
- Cut alcohol completely 1 week before departure
- Carry electrolyte sachets and glucose powder for the trail
Altitude Awareness
- Moderate treks often cross 3,500–4,200 m — AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) is a real risk
- Walk slowly, breathe deeply, and hydrate constantly above 3,000 m
- Know the symptoms: headache, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness
- Inform your trek leader immediately if you feel unwell — never push through altitude symptoms
- Consult your doctor about Diamox if you have a history of altitude sensitivity
Photo Gallery
Photos from the trail. More coming soon — follow us on Instagram for daily updates.
Gallery photos will be added soon. Binoy is preparing the best shots from the trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Difficulty depends on the trek — please check the difficulty rating above. Our trek leaders brief you in detail before departure and help you build up gradually on the trail.
Refer to the upcoming departure dates on the right — those are the months we operate this trek. Weather is most stable in the listed batch dates.
You should be able to walk 5 km comfortably and jog 4 km in under 30 minutes. Start preparing at least a month before your trek with cardio and basic leg strength work.
Network is patchy beyond the base village. Embrace the digital detox — we provide walkie-talkies and emergency comms with the trek leader.