Kashmir Great Lakes

The Great Lakes route is less a single trek than a week spent walking from one water body to the next, each one a different colour and mood - glacial blue at altitude, deep green lower down. It's one of the more physically demanding routes in our catalogue, and one of the least forgiving of a rushed itinerary. We're listing it here because we want to run it ourselves before we ask anyone to book it - a route this good deserves more than a copy-pasted schedule.

The standard route runs from Sonamarg in the east to Naranag in the west, climbing out of pine forest into open meadow and rock above the tree line for most of the week. Both Nichnai and Gadsar passes sit above 4,000m and can hold snow or turn on short notice even in peak season. This crosses Ganderbal and Bandipora districts, close to areas where local administration or security clearance can apply - the itinerary below reflects the commonly published route, not a route we've walked or confirmed access for yet.

• Up to seven alpine lakes on one continuous route, including Vishansar, Krishansar, Gadsar, Satsar, Gangabal and Nundkol
• Two high passes, Nichnai and Gadsar, both crossing 4,000m
• Meadow campsites still grazed by Gujjar and Bakarwal shepherd flocks through summer
• A genuine week-long wilderness traverse, not a there-and-back day trek

Fitness level required: high. Group size runs 6–12 people. Age range: 14–55 years.

This is a high-altitude, multi-day trek crossing passes above 4,000m. Participants above 45 years, and anyone with a pre-existing heart, lung or blood-pressure condition, will need to share a valid medical fitness certificate before we can confirm a spot.

• Sturdy trekking shoes worn in well before the trek, not new out of the box
• Warm layers for near-freezing camp nights, even in July-August
• Rain shell / poncho and a pack cover
• Sun protection - high-altitude UV is stronger than it feels
• Personal medication and a copy of any medical fitness certificate
• Valid photo ID (Aadhaar or passport) - carried at all times

• Trek leader carries a first-aid kit and satellite communication device - network coverage is patchy to absent for most of the route
• Two nights above 3,700m call for a conservative, acclimatisation-first pace, not a race to the next camp
• Weather-based rescheduling, and any local authority guidance on access, takes priority over the published itinerary
• Group pace is set by the slowest member, not the fastest

This route crosses forest and high-altitude terrain across Ganderbal and Bandipora districts, and passes near areas where local administration or security clearance can apply. Trekking permits, police registration and any current access restrictions will be confirmed with the relevant authorities closer to a planned date - we won't publish exact permit steps until we've verified them ourselves.

A ₹1,000 Booking Advance secures your booking request. Final confirmation is issued only after operational and permit verification. The advance is non-refundable and non-transferable, as it blocks your spot in the group.

If we cancel a trek due to weather, safety, or forest department restrictions, you get a full refund or a free reschedule.

Duration, exact campsites and permit process are drawn from commonly published route descriptions and have not yet been walked or confirmed by our own team. Treat all figures as indicative until verified.