Day 1 : Drive from Srinagar to Sonamarg, 81 KM in 3 to 4 hours

Drive from Srinagar to Sonamarg, 81 KM in 3 to 4 hours Drive: 81 KM to Sonamarg Hike: 0.5 KM to the campsite Time: 4 hours total time taken Altitude: 2,750 meters
We leave from Srinagar around 1 PM and reach Sonamarg by 4:30 PM. The drive follows the Sind River, once we cross over to the true right of the river at Wayil bridge, 25 KM ahead of Srinagar. On the way we encounter the Anchar lake of Srinagar.
The drive is a gradual climb all the way to Sonamarg, and from an altitude of 1,600 meters at Srinagar we reach to a modest altitude slightly over 2,700 meters at Sonamarg.
We camp overnight at Shitkadi, and will have to walk a short distance of 500 meters to reach our campsite.

Day 2 : Shitkadi camp to Nichinai Camp, 11 KM trek in 5 to 6 hours

Shitkadi camp to Nichinai Camp, 11 KM trek in 5 to 6 hours Trek: 11 KM distance Altitude: 3,600 meters Time: 5 to 6 hours of trek
From our camp at Shitkadi we start the trek towards Nichinai camp. We follow the Nichinai stream which lays to our right throughout throughout the day today.

After a 1.5 KM trek upstream, we run into a meadow with maple trees dotting the landscape along with pines henceforth. The trail continues to climb up the ridge and as we gain more altitude, the view towards the Sonamarg becomes quite picturesque.

Henceforth we continue on the trail marked by patches of grassland and stone, all the way to Nichinai. We are surrounded by tall mountains on either sides, which towards are back lies the snow covered mountains far across the Sonamarg valley. We reach Nichinai by early evening and set up the camps.

Day 3 : Nichinai to Vishnusar (Vishansar) & Kishansar Lakes via Nichinai Pass, 13 KM trek in 6 hours

Nichinai to Vishnusar (Vishansar) & Kishansar Lakes via Nichinai Pass, 13 KM trek in 6 hours Trek: 13 KM distance Altitude: 4,100 meters at Nichinai Pass, 3,620 meters at Vishansar camp Time: 6 hours of trek
The trek from Nichinai camp starts by an ascent to the Nichinai Pass. The altitude of Nichinai pass is around 4,100 meters which is quite close to the altitude of Hampta Pass or the Sar Pass and higher than Kuari Pass, so take pride in the fact that so early into the trek you have already crossed over a pass.
The ascent takes a good couple of hours to the pass from the campsite at a moderate pace.
As soon as we crossover the Nichinai Pass, we can see a small lake at the base of the mountain to our left. There is another larger lake, almost 500 meters in lenght, around 2 KM ahead but it cannot be seen unless we climb up to the ridge to our right.
The trail continues downhill from the pass and enters grassland with a gentle slope after an our of descent. From here the trail is gentle up to the Vishansar Lake. Its a few KM before we reach the base of the lake and our campsite. The lake will require another 20 mins to reach as it is slightly higher in altitude.
Kishansar is further ahead of the Vishansar lake and higher in altitude still.
The lakes are quite large, and while the Vishansar runs 1.1 KM long and a little over 700 meters wide, the Kishansar is slightly smaller at 900 meters long and 550 meters wide. The latter’s shape is more of a triangular one with an inward arc on one on the side.

Day 4 : Rest Day at Vishansar Lake, explore nearby with day Hike

Rest Day at Vishansar Lake, explore nearby with day Hike
Today we explore near the Vishansar and Kishansar lake and go for hike to climb up to the higher reaches for a birds eye view. We use this day as a buffer in case the weather conditions are not very favorable. Otherwise we can proceed to the next campsite of Gadsar.
In such a case, we can take the rest day at Gangabaal lake and explore a couple of more lakes in the higher reaches that surround the Mount Harmukh

Day 5 : Vishansar Lake (Vishnusar) to Gadsar via Gadsar Pass, 16 KM trek in 5 Hours   

Trek: 16 KM distance
Altitude: 4,210 meters at Gadsar Pass, 3,810 meters at Gadsar camp
Time: 6 hours of trek
The trek from Vishansar to Gadsar is a beautiful but demanding. The trek today will take you across the highest point of the entire trek, at a modest altitude of 4,210

meters at the Gadsar Pass.
The trail from Vishansar campsite continues to the right with the Kishansar lake to our left as we cross it. The trail then starts climbing with a steep ascent all the way to the pass and the trail that cuts across the mountain in zig-zag can be seen from far.

It will take around 2 hour to reach the Gadsar Pass. As we climb higher we are rewarded with magnificent views of the two lakes as we turn to our backs. Take some time to capture these moments in your mind for you will cherish these for the rest of your life.
kashmir great lakes trek

From the Pass we can see a few smaller lakes and far off in the distance is the Gadsar lake.

Day 6 Gadsar to Satsar, 11 KM trek in 5 hours
Trek: 12 KM distance
Altitude: 3,660 meters at Satsar Lake camp
Time: 5 to 6 hours of trek
The trek from Gadsar to Satsar starts with an initial steep hike that will take a little over an hour, before we come across a trail that is gradual, mostly level plain.

This will be a relatively easier day compared to other trek days.

Day 7 Satsar to Gangabal Lake and Nund Kol Lake, 9 KM trek in 5 hours
Trek: 9 KM distance
Altitude: 3,500 meters at Gangabal Lake camp
Time: 5 to 6 hours of trek
The trek starts with an ascent to the Zaj Pass, which is comparatively lower in altitude than the former two passes we have crossed before along the trail. With an altitude of 13,280 feet, it takes around 2 hours to reach the pass. The trail descends steeply and then its a gradually descending trail, enjoyable to walk upon.

Day 8 Gangabal lake to Naranag & drive to Srinagar, 13 KM trek in 6 hours & 2 hour drive
Trek: 13 KM distance
Altitude: 2,270 meters at Naranag
Time: 5 to 6 hours of trek
On the last trekking day, the trail oscillates between minor ascents and descents upto halfway, after which there is a steep descent all the way to Naranag. We arrive in Srinagar between 5 and 7 PM depeding on start time from Gangabal.

Drive: 50 KM in 2 hours

 Cost – From Rs 14500/- Per Person

Easy To Moderate

13,800 ft

7Nights /8 Days

July to September

Kashmir is a fascinating trekker and mountaineer from all over the world and has got the title of “ Paradise on earth ”. Kashmir great lakes trek is the most beautiful trek of the Indian Himalayas due to its vast green meadows, snow-covered mountain peaks, and amazing alpine lakes. There are more than 2000 Alpine lakes in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the majority of them reside in the Kashmir valley but all of them are not meant for trekking purposes due to a number of reasons.

This awesome adventure starts from an elevation of 2700 m ASL and provides spectacular views of the alpine landscape from the start. The Kashmir great lakes trek will take you through the recurring views of pine forests, meadows covered with wildflowers, snow-capped mountains in the background, and witnessing the 7 breathtaking alpine lakes is the tag for Kashmir great lakes trek.

Beauty of Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Himalayan landscapes reflect a luminosity that is not present on the plains. Kashmir great lakes trek is full of psychedelic scenes of mountains peaks, meadows, and feelings of distant planet emerges from the heart while witnessing the sunrise and dawn breaking over the alpine lakes. After crossing the tree line at an elevation of 2000 meters the route of the great lakes trek provide amazing views of cliff valleys, glaciers views with sweet flowing water streams, and the meadows which are full of wildflowers. Great lakes trek is listed among the 5 best treks of India and is permitted for trekking purposes during the right season only by the Department of Tourism Jammu and Kashmir. The popular trails heads for great lakes trek are Naranag and Sonamarg. If you are gonna start trek from Naranag (closest village to this trekking trail), it will end up at Sonamarg and vice versa. We the team of Himalayan Bird offer you an amazing all-inclusive trekking deal for this trek with fixed group departures apart from that we operate private treks on the trail throughout the season.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

In the Kashmir state of India, located in the Western Himalayas, nestled between the Pir Panjal range to its south, the mighty Karakoram range to its north and north-west, and finally the Zanskar range to its east, is a cluster of alpine lakes and vast meadows that form the main attraction of the Kashmir Great Lakes trek. The region geographically stretches from a mountain known as Harmukh (5142 meters) to the famous hill station of Sonamarg to the east. The trek to the great lakes is a continuous route and thus it can be approached from either sides, i.e. starting from Naranag, near Srinagar and concluding at Sonamarg or vice versa. The preferred route is through Sonamarg as it has two distinct advantages. Firstly, the trek starts from a higher altitude of almost 2,700 meters compared to 2,400 meters from Naranag. Secondarily, the trail is more gradual from Sonamarg compared to the initial steep sections from Naranag. The Kashmir great lakes trek distance is 75 KM in total and the moderately difficult trek is ideally completed in a duration of 7 Days from Srinagar, with 6 Trekking days. The drive on the first day to Sonmarg is rather short and a total distance of 80 KM can be covered in around 3 to 4 hours with adequate stopovers, as the landscape is magnificent along the route. drive to sonamarg

How many lakes are there in the Kashmir great lakes trek?

While it has become a common understanding that there are 7 lakes in the Kashmir great lakes, which can be somewhat confusing, the etymology is actually incorrect. While the standard route followed by most would get us a view of up-to 7 lakes, there are several more lakes in the vicinity. A cluster of at least 8 other tarns and lakes surround the Harmukh mountain apart from the biggest two of Gangabal & Nund Kol. Thus this cluster alone is of around 10 lakes. To the north of this cluster there are at least another 4 to 5 lakes including the Madhumati lake (3,900 meters), situated around 8 to 9 KM from Gangabal. Add to these the beautiful lakes of Vishansar Kishansar, and the smaller Gadsar, Satsar, combined with other smaller lakes in the area, there are above 25 lakes in the region neighboring the trail. Could you even ask for more? However while routes to some are really difficult, others can be explored, by adding a few more days to the trekking itinerary.

How difficult is the Kashmir great lakes trek?

The Kashmir great lakes trek is moderate in difficulty and requires long walks on every trekking day. The total trekking distance is 75 KM in 6 days and thus it averages out to above 12 KM a day. Compare this to the most popular Kedarkantha trek which requires you to walk 19-20 KM in total over 4 days or even a comparable monsoon trek, Hampta Pass, which has 25 KM of trek distance, the Kashmir great lakes is thrice longer. This makes the trek a challenge for first timers, however the reward is massive. The added distance only allows for more exploration and a much more immersive experience. Adding to the woes will be the continuous ascent and descent across the trail. During the trek we will be crossing the Nichnai & Gadsar pass, along with ascent to steep ridges. The entire trek is a mix of steep ascents, descents and blended with gradual walks. Preparing for the trek is very important to make it an enjoyable experience.

What is the best time to trek to Kashmir great lakes?
The monsoon months of July, August & September are the best time to trek to Kashmir Great lakes. The trek starts from early July month. During this time snow is still present on the higher altitudes and the meadows are in their fresh bloom. The landscape is contrasting. Those keen to witness the snow covered landscape with a foreground of fresh summer bloom, should plan their trek in early July. By end of July the snow melts away, and the meadows are in their full bloom. The landscape has all the floral hues it can get and its a very great time to plan the trek. The temperatures are warmer than in July, making the nights more comfortable during camping. By late August the temperature starts to drop again, the flowers begin to wither as the cold begins to sweep the alpine meadows. Abrupt rainfall can be more than expected during this time period. The trek can continue well into the second week of September, before the snow starts to take over the higher reaches again and winter comes knocking at the doors.

What peaks are visible from Kashmir Great Lakes trek?
While Harmukh is a mountain that is surrounded by a cluster of Lakes, including the Gangabaal & Nund Kol, the mighty Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters) is briefly visible as we reach the ridge top before crossing over towards the Satsar tal from Gadsar Tal. Situated 100 KM in distance the Nanga Parbat is really difficult to spot unless we are blessed by very clear weather.