Family Friendly 5-Day Itinerary for Kashmir in October 2023

1. Day 1: Srinagar
   20 minutes (8.4 km) from Srinagar International Airport

   Take a morning shikara ride on the beautiful Dal Lake, visit the Mughal Gardens (open from 10am to 5pm) and relax in the lush greenery. Don't miss the local handicrafts and souvenirs available at Shah-e-Hamdan Market.

2. Day 2: Gulmarg
   50 minutes (47 km) from Srinagar

   Experience the winter sports paradise of India at Asia's best skiing destination. Take the Gondola Cable Car ride (open from 10am to 5pm) and enjoy snow activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and sledging.

3. Day 3: Pahalgam
   2 hours and 20 minutes (86 km) from Gulmarg

   Drive to the Valley of Shepherds and indulge in exciting activities like rafting and trekking (open from 9am to 5pm). Take a pony ride to the beautiful Betaab Valley and enjoy a picnic with your family.

4. Day 4: Sonamarg
   2 hours and 25 minutes (81 km) from Pahalgam

   Drive on the gorgeous Srinagar-Sonamarg road and witness the scenic beauty of Kashmir. Visit the Thajiwas Glacier (open from 10am to 5pm) and enjoy activities like ice skating and sledging with your family.

5. Day 5: Srinagar
   2 hours (75 km) from Sonamarg

   Visit the Shankaracharya Temple (open from 9am to 5pm) perched on a hilltop for a beautiful view of the entire valley. Spend the rest of the day at leisure and enjoy a local cuisine experience at Dastarkhwan-e-Awadh.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Dal Lake shikara ride (2 hours, INR 600)
• Mughal Gardens (1-2 hours, INR 20)
• Shah-e-Hamdan Market (1-2 hours, as per purchase)
• Gondola Cable Car ride in Gulmarg (2 hours, INR 740)
• Rafting and Trekking in Pahalgam (4-5 hours, INR 1,500)
• Betaab Valley pony ride (2-3 hours, INR 900)
• Thajiwas Glacier (2-3 hours, INR 2,000)
• Shankaracharya Temple (2 hours, Free)
• Dastarkhwan-e-Awadh restaurant (2 hours, INR 1,000)

Total Estimated Costs: INR 8,760

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can add a visit to the Apharwat Peak and the Lidder Valley for a day trip or a short overnight stay. Alternatively, you can consider visiting the Baltal Valley or take a tour to the famous Amarnath Cave. If you have less time, you can skip Sonamarg and choose to spend an extra day in Srinagar.