Aru Retreat
Hotel
Days 1, 6
Tarsar Marsar — small batch - 7 Days (Srinagar, Aru, Lidderwat, Shekwas & Sundersar)
Seven days to twin lakes at 3,800 m, camping on the shore. Seven days on batches capped at twelve with a lead per eight, camping at Tarsar itself and the dawn Marsar climb included.
Kestrel High Routes
Runs this trip
Trekking
Seven days to twin lakes at 3,800 m, camping on the shore
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
PahalgamAru is a meadow at 2,400 m at the top of the Lidder valley, and the road stops there. LidderwatLidderwat is where two streams meet, and Gujjar shepherds summer here with their flocks. ShekwasThe treeline ends here and does not come back until the descent. HomwasA long descending day, but it is downhill and the air thickens the whole way. Aru to SrinagarBack in Srinagar by lunch, with time for a shikara on the Dal before your flight the next morning.
Itinerary
Aru is a meadow at 2,400 m at the top of the Lidder valley, and the road stops there.
Srinagar, AruHow the day runs
- 3 hrs10:00 AM — via Pahalgam up the Lidder valley
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationAru Retreat
Included Activities
- Transport from Srinagar
- Camp night at Aru
- All meals from dinner
LANDMARKS Pahalgam Aru meadow Lidder river Start point Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir 08:00 - 18:00Lidderwat is where two streams meet, and Gujjar shepherds summer here with their flocks.
Aru, LidderwatHow the day runs
- 6 hrs8:00 AM — up the valley through pine and open meadow
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationLidderwat Lodge
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Lidderwat Confluence Shepherd huts The treeline ends here and does not come back until the descent. Everything above is meadow and rock.
Lidderwat, ShekwasHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:30 AM — above the treeline into open bugyal
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationShekwas Courtyard
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Shekwas Bugyal meadows Tarsar is an almond-shaped lake at 3,800 m and you camp on its shore, which the Great Lakes trek does not allow at any of its lakes.
Shekwas, TarsarHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:30 AM — over the shoulder to the lake basin
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationTarsar Residency
Included Activities
- Lakeside camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Tarsar lake Kolahoi range Marsar is seen from a ridge above it rather than beside it, and it is usually in cloud by eight in the morning.
Tarsar, Sundersar, MarsarHow the day runs
- 5 hrs8:00 AM — over the Tarsar pass to the second lake
- 2 hrsNext dawn — up to the ridge above Marsar
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSundersar Courtyard
Included Activities
- Camp at Sundersar
- All meals
LANDMARKS Sundersar Marsar Tarsar pass A long descending day, but it is downhill and the air thickens the whole way.
Sundersar, Homwas, AruHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:30 AM — down the far side to the shepherd meadow
- 4 hrs1:00 PM — the last stretch back down the Lidder
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationAru Retreat
Included Activities
- Camp at Aru
- All meals
LANDMARKS Homwas Lidder valley Aru Back in Srinagar by lunch, with time for a shikara on the Dal before your flight the next morning.
Aru, SrinagarHow the day runs
- 3 hrs8:00 AM — back down the Lidder valley
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Transport to Srinagar
- Day 1Transport from Srinagar
- Day 1Camp night at Aru
- Day 1All meals from dinner
- Day 2Tented camp
- Day 2All meals
- Day 4Lakeside camp
- Day 5Camp at Sundersar
- Day 6Camp at Aru
- Day 7Transport to Srinagar
- Day 1 · 1 nightAru Retreat
- Day 2 · 1 nightLidderwat Lodge
- Day 3 · 1 nightShekwas Courtyard
- Day 4 · 1 nightTarsar Residency
- Day 5 · 1 nightSundersar Courtyard
- Day 6 · 1 nightAru Retreat
- Day 1Srinagar to Aru10:00 AM — via Pahalgam up the Lidder valley
- Day 7Aru to Srinagar8:00 AM — back down the Lidder valley
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Lidderwat Lodge
Lodge
Day 2
Shekwas Courtyard
Hotel
Day 3
Tarsar Residency
Hotel
Day 4
Sundersar Courtyard
Hotel
Day 5
What you'll eat
6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
- DinnerServed on days 1–6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–7
- LunchServed on days 2–6
17 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.4/5
Based on 17 reviews
Review summary
Food4.5/5
Guide3.8/5
Itinerary4.2/5
Transport4.2/5
Accommodation4.2/5
Tour operator4.1/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
N
Nina Hoffmann – Zurich2026-05-06 · Verified booking
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Recommended.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – Stockholm2026-05-06 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down. Would book with them again.
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5
D
Daniel Okafor – Zurich2026-05-06 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Good value for what's included.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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2
T
Tom Bergman – Amsterdam2026-05-06 · Verified booking
Long transfer at both ends that isn't obvious from the listing. Budget a day either side.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – Zurich2026-05-06 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up.
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4
T
Tara D'Souza – Chandigarh2025-12-20 · Verified booking
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Solid operator.
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4
D
Divya Reddy – Jaipur2025-12-20 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Worth every rupee.
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5
O
Owen Clarke – London2025-12-20 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Never went hungry, and the tea appeared exactly when it was needed. Solid operator.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →