7 Days in Jammu Kashmir Exploring Nature

1. Day 1: Srinagar
   Arrive at Srinagar (SXR) in the morning

   Head to the Dal Lake to watch the sunrise while enjoying the view of floating markets and houseboats. Then, explore the Mughal Gardens including the Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh.

   Time & Distance: 30 min (12 km) from Srinagar Airport (SXR)
2. Day 2: Pahalgam

   Drive to Pahalgam and trek the Chandanwari trail or take a horse ride to the Baisaran Valley.

   Time & Distance: 3 h (95 km) from Srinagar
3. Day 3: Sonmarg

   Continue the trip by visiting Sonmarg to explore the Thajiwas Glacier and take a rafting tour in the Sindh River.

   Time & Distance: 2.5 h (80 km) from Pahalgam
4. Day 4: Kargil

   Move to Kargil and visit the Lamayuru Monastery and the Mulbekh Monastery to witness their history and architecture.

   Time & Distance: 5.5 h (210 km) from Sonmarg
5. Day 5: Zanskar Valley

   Drive to the Zanskar Valley to experience trekking to the Zangla Fort and the Phuktal Monastery, then make a stop at the Zongkul Monastery for the night.

   Time & Distance: 6 h (240 km) from Kargil
6. Day 6: Drass

   Depart from the Zongkul Monastery to reach the Drass Village. Discover the Drass War Memorial and enjoy a picnic at the Tololing Range.

   Time & Distance: 6.5 h (200 km) from Zongkul Monastery
7. Day 7: Departure

   Head towards Srinagar Airport and end the trip with a shopping spree for Kashmiri shawls, carpets and spices at the Zaina Kadal Market.

   Time & Distance: 10 min (4 km) from Srinagar

Time and Costs Estimates

• Srinagar International Airport: FREE
• Dal Lake: FREE
• Mughal Gardens: INR 50 (for entry and camera)
• Pahalgam: FREE entry
• Chandanwari Trail: INR 3,500 (for 6 hours trek)
• Baisaran Valley: INR 300-500 (for horse ride and guide)
• Sonmarg: INR 25 (for entry)
• Thajiwas Glacier: INR 500 (for a pony ride)
• rafting at Sindh River: INR 800-1,500 (depending on the distance)
• Kargil: FREE entry
• Lamayuru Monastery: INR 20 (for entry)
• Mulbekh Monastery: INR 10 (for entry)
• Zanskar Valley: FREE entry
• Zongkul Monastery: INR 300-400 (for room and board)
• Drass War Memorial: FREE entry
• Tololing Range: INR 200 (for a picnic set up rental)
• Zaina Kadal Market: varies on purchases
• Total Estimated Costs: INR 5,405 to INR 7,755 per person

Useful Tips

If you have more time, try the trek to the Amarnath Cave and the Gangbal Lake. For a lesser time frame, you can further skip Drass to relax at Gulmarg‘s ski slopes. Some places may require you to pay a fee for photography, restroom use, and so on.