Sonamarg Courtyard
Hotel
Day 1
Kashmir Great Lakes — small batch - 7 Days (Srinagar, Sonamarg, Nichnai, Vishansar & Gadsar)
Seven days, seven alpine lakes, three passes above 4,000 m. Seven days on batches capped at fourteen, with a lead per eight and a kitchen crew that goes ahead to have camp up before you arrive.
Kestrel High Routes
Runs this trip
Trekking
Seven days, seven alpine lakes, three passes above 4,000 m
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Sindh valleyAn easy first day. ShekdurThe first climb is the steepest of the trek and it comes early. Nichnai PassThe first of the lakes. Kishansar LakeThe longest day and the best one. Naranag temple ruins1,400 m down in one go.
Itinerary
An easy first day. The walking starts tomorrow.
Srinagar, SonamargHow the day runs
- 3 hrs10:00 AM — up the Sindh valley
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationSonamarg Courtyard
Included Activities
- Transport from Srinagar
- Camp night
- All meals from dinner
LANDMARKS Sindh valley Sonamarg Start point Srinagar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir 08:00 - 18:00The first climb is the steepest of the trek and it comes early.
Sonamarg, NichnaiHow the day runs
- 6 hrs8:00 AM — the steep pull out of Shekdur, then the meadow
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationNichnai Inn
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Shekdur Table Top Nichnai The first of the lakes. Trout in it, and a permit needed if you mean to fish.
Nichnai, VishansarHow the day runs
- 6 hrs7:30 AM — over the Nichnai pass and down to the first lake
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationVishansar Courtyard
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Nichnai Pass Vishansar Lake The longest day and the best one. Four lakes and the highest pass, at 4,190 m.
Vishansar, GadsarHow the day runs
- 8 hrs6:30 AM — Kishansar, then the highest pass of the trek
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationGadsar House
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
- Army permit check
LANDMARKS Kishansar Lake Gadsar Pass Yamsar Gadsar Lake Satsar means seven lakes, and depending on the season there are between four and seven.
Gadsar, SatsarHow the day runs
- 6 hrs8:00 AM — over the shoulder to the seven lakes
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSatsar Retreat
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Satsar lakes Maengandob Gangbal and Nundkol sit under Harmukh at 5,142 m. It is the best camp of the trek.
Satsar, GangbalHow the day runs
- 6 hrs7:30 AM — the boulder field, then over Zaj pass
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationGangbal House
Included Activities
- Tented camp
- All meals
LANDMARKS Zaj Pass Gangbal Lake Nundkol Lake Harmukh 1,400 m down in one go. Poles help more today than on any other day.
Gangbal, Naranag, SrinagarHow the day runs
- 6 hrs7:00 AM — a long knee-punishing descent
- 2 hrs2:00 PM — back to the city
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Transport to Srinagar
LANDMARKS Naranag temple ruins
- Day 1Transport from Srinagar
- Day 1Camp night
- Day 1All meals from dinner
- Day 2Tented camp
- Day 2All meals
- Day 4Army permit check
- Day 7Transport to Srinagar
- Day 1 · 1 nightSonamarg Courtyard
- Day 2 · 1 nightNichnai Inn
- Day 3 · 1 nightVishansar Courtyard
- Day 4 · 1 nightGadsar House
- Day 5 · 1 nightSatsar Retreat
- Day 6 · 1 nightGangbal House
- Day 1Srinagar to Sonamarg10:00 AM — up the Sindh valley
- Day 7Naranag to Srinagar2:00 PM — back to the city
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Nichnai Inn
Hotel
Day 2
Vishansar Courtyard
Hotel
Day 3
Gadsar House
Hotel
Day 4
Satsar Retreat
Hotel
Day 5
Gangbal House
Hotel
Day 6
What you'll eat
6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast and lunch on day 7.
- DinnerServed on days 1–6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–7
- LunchServed on days 2–7
18 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
4.5/5
Based on 19 reviews
Review summary
Food4.3/5
Guide4.2/5
Itinerary4.4/5
Transport4.3/5
Accommodation4.3/5
Tour operator4.3/5
Sort by:Recommended
4
A
Arjun Pillai – Kochi2026-05-08 · Verified booking
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Good value for what's included.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
C
Carla Mendes – Berlin2026-05-08 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Worth every rupee.
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5
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Nagpur2026-05-08 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Solid operator.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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4
R
Rohit Verma – Jaipur2026-05-08 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Good value for what's included.
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3
N
Nina Hoffmann – Dublin2026-05-08 · Verified booking
The trek itself is good but the group was too large for the trail on the summit day. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
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5
S
Sofia Marchetti – Amsterdam2025-12-30 · Verified booking
Kashmir in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Solid operator.
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5
D
Divya Reddy – Kochi2025-12-30 · 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.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Chennai2025-12-30 · Verified booking
Kashmir in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Would book with them again.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →