Srinagar Pahalgam Gulmarg Sonmarg Tour

Delhi to Srinagar is about 800 km, so this is a full driving day: departure at 4 am, breakfast near Ambala, lunch at Pathankot, and the Jawahar tunnel crossing in the late afternoon, reaching Srinagar late in the evening. Groups that would rather not do it in one stretch can add a night at Jammu, or fly into Srinagar and have the vehicle meet them there.

Morning at the Shankaracharya temple, which opens early and looks over the whole lake. Then Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh on the eastern shore, the Chashme Shahi spring and, if the group wishes, the Pari Mahal terraces above it. Lunch on the Boulevard. Late afternoon shikara ride from the ghats or your houseboat, ending near the floating vegetable market. Overnight at Srinagar.

Leave at 8 am on the Leh road along the Sindh. Sonmarg is about 80 km and 2.5 hours away. At the town the road ends for private vehicles; ponies or a walk of about 3 km lead to the Thajiwas glacier. Lunch at one of the small restaurants near the market. Return to Srinagar by 6 pm. This is the only day with a repeated road and it is kept short on purpose.

Pahalgam is about 95 km south-east, 2.5 hours through Pampore, Awantipora and Anantnag. Stop at Pampore in autumn for the saffron fields and at the Awantipora temple ruins at any time of year. Check in by lunch. Afternoon in Betaab valley and Chandanwari by union taxi, or a walk along the Lidder. Overnight at Pahalgam.

A longer transfer of about 4 hours, back past the outskirts of Srinagar and out along the Tangmarg road. Arrive by early afternoon and go straight to the gondola; the queue is shortest after 2 pm. Kongdoori at the top of phase one has snow well into spring; Apharwat on phase two depends on the weather. Overnight at Gulmarg.

Day 6 is the drive out: Gulmarg to Srinagar by 10 am, then the tunnel road to Jammu, about 350 km and 9 to 10 hours in all, with a night halt at Jammu. Day 7 is Jammu to Delhi on NH44, about 12 hours with meal stops, arriving in the evening. Groups flying home instead are dropped at Srinagar airport on day 6.