Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Package 7 Nights 8 Days

The Walk: About 9 km climbing to 11,500 ft through the Shekdur maple and pine forest and out above the tree line. Six hours.

• Top Places to Cover: Shekdur forest, Table Top, Nichnai meadow.
• Things to Know: The first proper altitude gain. Walk slowly and hydrate.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Nichnai camp

Nichnai Pass: Over at 13,100 ft, then down to the Vishansar meadow at 12,000 ft. About 12 km, six to seven hours.

The Lakes: Vishansar sits beside camp and Kishansar just above it.

• Top Places to Cover: Nichnai Pass, Vishansar lake, Kishansar lake.
• Importance of Each Place: Vishansar means lake of Vishnu and Kishansar lake of Krishna - the pair are fed by the same glacier.
• Things to Know: Camp here is beside the water and cold at night. Trout are found in Vishansar but fishing requires a permit.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Vishansar camp

The Climb: Past Kishansar to Gadsar Pass at 13,750 ft, the high point of the trek, with both lakes laid out below you on one side.

The Descent: A long drop to Gadsar at 12,000 ft through meadow full of alpine flower. About 16 km and ten hours in total.

• Top Places to Cover: Gadsar Pass, Yamsar lake, Gadsar lake, the flower meadows.
• Importance of Each Place: Gadsar means lake of fishes and is surrounded by some of the densest wildflower meadow on the route.
• Things to Know: This is the longest and hardest day. An army check post here verifies identity - carry ID on your person, not in your pack.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Gadsar camp

The Walk: About 12 km over Satsar Pass to a cluster of seven small lakes at 12,000 ft. Six hours.

• Top Places to Cover: Satsar Pass, the seven lakes, Maengandob.
• Importance of Each Place: Satsar means seven lakes, though the number visible varies with the season as the smaller ones dry.
• Things to Know: A second army check post here. The terrain is boulder-strewn in stretches and slower than the distance suggests.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Satsar camp

Over Zaj Pass: At 13,400 ft, then down to Gangbal and Nundkol at 11,500 ft. About 11 km, six to seven hours.

The Campsite: The twin lakes sit directly beneath Harmukh at 16,870 ft, and this is the best campsite of the trek.

• Top Places to Cover: Zaj Pass, Gangbal lake, Nundkol lake, Harmukh.
• Importance of Each Place: Harmukh is sacred in Kashmiri Shaivism and Gangbal is the site of an annual pilgrimage where ashes are immersed.
• Things to Know: The last night on the trek. Nights here are cold but the setting compensates.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Gangbal camp

The Descent: About 13 km down to Naranag at 7,450 ft, steep in the upper half.

Naranag: An eighth-century Shiva temple complex in grey stone at the bottom, largely ruined but substantial.

To Srinagar: Drive back in the evening.

• Top Places to Cover: Naranag temple complex, Wangath, Srinagar.
• Importance of Each Place: The Naranag temples date to the Karkota dynasty and were a major Shaivite centre before the valley converted.
• Things to Know: The descent is relentless and hard on knees. Poles are strongly recommended.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Overnight: Srinagar

Last Morning: Breakfast, then transfer to Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport.

• Top Places to Cover: Srinagar, SXR airport.
• Things to Know: Allow three hours at SXR; security screening is thorough.

Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: Journey ends