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Kashmir Great Lakes Trek in Kashmir

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Extreme ⏱ 8 Days ★ 4.9 (1,980) 📍 Srinagar, Kashmir

About

The Kashmir Great Lakes trek strings together a chain of high alpine lakes across the meadows of Kashmir, climbing over three passes above 13,000 ft. Starting near Sonamarg, the trail links Vishansar, Krishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, Gangbal and Nundkol — each lake a different shade of blue set against wildflower meadows and snow walls.

What makes it special:

  • Seven high-altitude lakes in eight days, with the scenery changing completely at every pass
  • Vast green meadows (margs) carpeted in wildflowers, unlike anywhere else in the Indian Himalaya
  • A high but non-technical route that rewards experienced trekkers with India's most photogenic lake circuit

It's a demanding trek best suited to those who already have a Himalayan trek behind them — and the payoff is widely rated among the most beautiful in the country.

Getting There

The trek runs from a base camp near Sonamarg, about 80 km from Srinagar — a scenic 3–4 hour drive along the Sindh River. Srinagar International Airport (SXR) is the nearest air link, with direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru; the nearest major railhead is Jammu Tawi.

This is a border region, so the trail has forest permits and army checkpoints along the way — operators arrange the paperwork, but carry your original photo ID plus a few photocopies. There's no mobile signal once you leave the road head, so a power bank is essential. The trek only runs from early July to mid-September; the passes are snowbound the rest of the year.

FAQs

When's the only window for KGL? +
Mid-July to early September. Snow blocks the passes outside this window. Peak season is August. Operators stop running it by mid-September because the lakes start freezing over from the edges.
How hard is this trek really? +
Hard. Eight days, 70 km, three high passes above 13,000 ft, max altitude around 13,800 ft. Daily distance is 11–13 km with 3–4 lake-and-pass crossings per stage. You need at least one prior Himalayan trek (Kedarkantha-level) before attempting this.
Will I get altitude sickness? +
Real risk. The trek pattern (camp at 11,000 ft, cross 13,000+ ft passes daily) doesn't give long acclimatization. Take Diamox prophylactically, hydrate heavily, and tell your guide if a headache lasts more than a couple of hours. Evacuation from the high camps is slow.
How crowded is it? +
Far less than Kedarkantha or Triund. KGL is a self-selecting trek — most casual trekkers don't sign up for 8 days at altitude. Expect 4–6 small groups per stretch, but never the queues you see on shorter trails.
Is the Kashmir region safe right now? +
The trek route (Sonamarg → Vishansar → Krishansar → Gadsar → Satsar → Gangabal) is far from any sensitive zones. Operators are local, well-known, and have clean safety records. Check current travel advisories before booking, but the trekking circuit itself stays open and stable.