TOP KASHMIR PACKAGES TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE VALLEY

Overview

Nestled by Mighty Himalayas, Kashmir is a sought-after holiday destination for country locals as well as foreigners. Providing top-notch activities along with beautiful attractions, the place is crowded with tourists throughout the year. There are some popular towns in Kashmir that are already included in the Kashmir itinerary and then there are some offbeat destinations, offering a completely different experience. For every kind of vacation, be it a romantic getaway with your partner or a big family holiday, you get your desired choices with a variety of Kashmir Tour Packages available. These packages include places and activities of your preference. There are premium options as well as under-budget ones too. Along with the major inclusions and no hidden charges, these packages are the well-suited option to have a safe and enjoyable Kashmir packages. Take a look at this article where the places to visit in Kashmir are mentioned along with the inclusions and exclusions of the tour packages. 

Brief 7-days Kashmir Itinerary: 

Day1: Arrival In Srinagar 

• Reach the main city, rest for some time and spend the rest of the evening exploring the local markets of Srinagar at Lal Chowk and in Old Srinagar. 

Night Stay in Srinagar. 

Day2: Srinagar Sightseeing

• Sightseeing includes visits to Mughal Gardens such as Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden, Chashme Shahi, Tulip Garden and then trek to Shankaracharya Temple. Shikhara ride at Dal Lake. 

Night Stay in Srinagar. 

Day3: Drive to Pahalgam and enroute sightseeing 

• A 3 hour long road trip with enroute sightseeing at Pampore Saffron Fields, Bat Making factories, Awantipora Temples and Apple orchards. Reach Pahalgam by evening. 

Night Stay in Pahalgam. 

Day 4: Sightseeing in Pahalgam

• Explore Aru Valley, Baisaran Valley, Betaab Valley and Chandanwari. Enjoy pony rides in the town.

Night stay in Pahalgam 

Day5: Gulmarg Sightseeing 

• Reach Gulmarg and ride the Gulmarg Gondola. Visit the Strawberry Valley, Gulmarg Golf Course, Khilanmarg and seek blessings at Maharani Temple, dedicated to Lord Shakti. 

Night stay in Gulmarg. 

Day 6: Sonmarg Sightseeing 

• Visit Sonmarg on the last day of the trip. Explore Thajiwas Glacier and Zero Point. Visit the walnut orchards to pick the fruit directly from the trees. Enjoy river rafting at Sindh River. 

Night Stay in Sonmarg. 

Day7: Departure

• Say Goodbye to Kashmir Valley. 

Places to visit in Kashmir trip: 

1. Srinagar: Kashmir tour starts and ends  with one of the oldest cities, Srinagar. After you arrive in Srinagar on day 1, reserve the next day for sightseeing only.  You can start the tour with a Shikara ride, early in the morning. The floating vegetable market is often visited via the ride at about 6AM. After having a steaming Kahwa and delicious breakfast, head out to explore the Mughal Gardens including Nishat Garden, Shalimar Garden and Chashme Shahi. Others to add are Pari Mahal, Botanical Garden, Tulip Garden, etc. These places take an hour or two to explore thoroughly and are in proximity. After noon, trek all the way up to the Shankaracharya Temple to seek blessings. The city is very convenient for tourism given that the nearest International Airport, Sheikh Ul-Alam International Airport is only 15 kilometres away and taxis from the airport are available to reach the main city.

2. Pahalgam: Pahalgam is a famous town of Kashmir, known for its lush valleys. While the town itself is filled with different local spots, the route leading to it is no less. As you are heading to Pahalgam from Srinagar, stop at Pampore Saffron Field and buy some to take back home. Offer prayers at the Awantipora Temples and then a site visit at the bat making factories. Lastly, explore the apple orchards, blooming in the harvesting season. After reaching Pahalgam, on the sightseeing day, explore Aru Valley from where the Tarsar Marsar trek starts. Head to Betaab Valley afterwards for the recreation of your favourite Bollywood scenes. Others are Baisaran Valley- Mini Switzerland of Kashmir and then Chandanwari. These are some of the best places to visit in Pahalgam on a Kashmir trip.

3. Gulmarg: Gulmarg is a popular winter destination, known for its ski slopes and resorts. Skiing in Gulmarg has to be one of the unforgettable experiences. Accessible through Gulmarg Gondola which operates 12 months a year, you get an aerial view of the snow-laden mountains. Apart from adventures like skiing, snowboarding, Pony rides, you can visit the famous local attractions. Start by the lush Strawberry Valley especially in October-November when it is harvested. Next on the list, there is Maharani Temple, built in the most exemplary way possible. Don’t miss Gulmarg Golf Course for the peaceful sport of Golf and Khilanmarg for the sprawled vistas. It is only 50 kilometres from Srinagar and can be easily reached via taxis or buses. 
4. Sonmarg: Sonmarg or “Meadow of Golden Light’’, is one of those destinations in Kashmir where you go in summer as well as winter. With a number of outdoor activities such as pony rides, paragliding , river rafting, etc. to enjoy in the balmy weather lasting from June to September. After Gulmarg, Sonmarg is a leading skiing destination of Kashmir. When visiting Sonmarg, explore the Thajiwas Glacier which gives a top-view of the entire city and is surrounded by numerous waterfalls. Do explore the Zero Point located on the Zoji La pass, that connects the Kashmir Valley to the Union Territory of Ladakh. There are valleys like Baltal Valley for some peaceful time in the town to Nilagrad river known for its reddish coloured water. Sonmarg is the epitome of natural beauty and grandeur and is a must-to-add to your Kashmir itinerary. 

Inclusions: 

• Accommodation on twin twin-sharing basis. Houseboat stay one night.
• Breakfast and Dinner
• All transfers. Airport to Airport. Sedan or SUV depending upon the group size. Upto 3 guests – a sedan cab.
• Srinagar Sightseeing. All places in Srinagar are covered.
• Driver lodgings, food, and other expenses.
• Road Tolls, fuel, and cab charges.
• One-hour complimentary Shikara ride.

Exclusions: 

• Travel insurance.
• Union transportation wherever applicable.
• Lunch and snacks.
• Park tickets, gondola rides, and other expenses.
• Camera fees.
• GST.
• Anything not mentioned in the inclusion list.