SONAMARG VISHANSAR TREK (11N12D)
Arrive:
Srinagar, KashmirDeport:
Srinagar, KashmirBest Time:
June to SeptemberDuration:
12 daysDistance:
82kmHighest Altitude:
Gadsar Pass (4180m)Activity Level:
4SONAMARG VISHANSAR TREK
Introduction
The aim of the Kashmir long Trek expedition is to trek from Sonamag to Bandipora via Nichnai Pass and Zajibal Pass. The Trek runs through over 50 high altitude alpine lakes situated at the foothills of different snowy mountain peaks. It crosses streams, plenty of colorful meadows, and crosses four mountain passes.
Though trekking in Kashmir is not the newest but still this expedition is no walk in the park. Arduous days, steep and rocky passes, and altitudes approaching 4200m all collide to create a challenging trek in one of the most beautiful and serene Himalayas of Kashmir.
WHILE PLANNING YOUR TREK, AS A BEGINNER KEEP THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN CONSIDERATION
- you feel fit enough to trek for hours.
- you walk two or three kilometers daily.
- you don’t have any breathing problems.
- you are not scared of heights.
Price Per Person
(inclusive of all taxes)Highlights
- Transport (airport to airport)
- Srinagar Hotel (1 night, Houseboat Jewel)
- Offloading (horses for carrying backpacks)
Accomodations
Rate :
32100Departures
All Slots
- 23 June to 30 June
- 26 June to 3 July
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
All Slots
- 1 July to 8 July
- 3 July to 10 July
- 7 July to 14 July
- 9 July to 16 July
- 12 July to 19 July
- 17 July to 24 July
- 20 July to 27 July
- 22 July to 29 July
- 25 July to 1 August
- 30 July to 06 August
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
All Slots
- 2 August to 9 August
- 4 August to 11 August
- 8 August to 15 August
- 12 August to 19 August
- 16 August to 23 August
- 21 August to 28 August
- 25 August to 1 September
- 29 August to 5 September
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
All Slots
- 3 September to 10 September
- 7 September to 14 September
- 11 September to 18 September
- 15 September to 22 September
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
What's Included in the Price?
- All road transport by private ac cars
- 5 nights of tented accommodation
- 2 nights (Before and after the trek) Hotel or Houseboat accommodation in Srinagar
- All trekking gear included
- Local Guides and Cooking staff
- All cooking utensils
- Offloading
- Meal plan- Vegetarian meals including eggs and cheese, unless specified
- Trek Permits
- Wildlife Permits
- Drinking Water
- First Aid Kit
What's Not Included in the Price?
- International or domestic flights
- Visa
- Travel Insurance
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Any Medical expenses
- Optional trips or excursions
- Tips for local staff and guides.
- Any other services not mentioned in the inclusion list
ITINERARY
Brief Itenerary
- Arrive Srinagar (Alt. 1600m)
- Pickup from Srinagar airport or Bus stand or Hotel
- 10 kms drive to Houseboat or Hotel at Dal Lake, approx 30 minutes
- Check-in hotel
- Our first campsite Nichnai
- Camping at Vishnasar
- Camp at Gadsar
- Camp at Megandoab
- Camp at Nichnai lake
- Camp at Nichnai and explore Gangbal
- Camp at Kundsar
- Camp at Sarbal
- Camp at poshpatri
- Poshpatri to Arin
- Transport to the airport or Hotel
Detailed Itnerary
On arrival at Srinagar airport or bus station, our representative will receive you and transfer you to the houseboat at Dal Lake for an overnight stay.
After breakfast at the houseboat, we drive to Sonamarg “the meadow of gold’ along the picturesque Sind river. At Shitksri we pack our load on horses and start our trek. Our trail a slightly steep passes through the meadows and enters a pine/ birch forest at Shokdari before the vast and long Nichnai meadow which is our camping ground for an overnight stay.
We leave Nichnai meadow and immediately start ascending one of the three passes of the trek the Nichnai Pass (4000m). We ascend it through long grazing pastures sheep. After crossing the pass we enter into the Vishansar Valley “the valley medicinal plants”, we descend gradually through the alpine flower valley and camp at Vishansar Lake for an overnight stay.
Krishansar – Gadsar (6 hrs trek). After discovering Vishansar Lake we head towards its sibling the Krishansar Lake which lies just over a ridge. We take its eastern shore to ascend the second pass of the trek the Gadsar Pass (4050m). On the top of the pass, we have the aerial view of the whole Vishansar valley among it are situated the twin lakes of Vishansar and Krishansar “the source of Neelam River”. We descend through Gadsar valley and lakes and camp at Kustoor Kout for an overnight stay
We ascend Kostur Kout leaving Gadsar valley and enter the meadow of Rasbal. It’s the Rasbal where a flowing river disappears underground. We continue our trek through seven small lakes of Satsar and camp at Megandoab at the foothills of the third pass of Zajibal for an overnight stay
We ascend the last and the highest pass of our trek ‘Zajibal Pass (4180m)’. We forget all our tiredness when reaching atop because of the views, the scenery it provides. We see Mount Haramukh (5300m) just standing at our face and at its footsteps lie the twin beautiful alpine lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol. We descend it to reach Gangabal Lake for an overnight stay.
Day at leisure. Stay at Gangabal Lake. Trout fishing, sightseeing or have a walk to the Kolsar Lake and around. Overnight stay at Gangabal Lake.
Gangabal – Kundsar lake (5 hours trek). Ascend on the right side of Gangbal lake follows by a gradual descend and 9 km trekking will lead us to Kundsar lake. Overnight stay.
Kundsar – Sarbal Lake (4 hours trek). Leaving Kundsar through Shirsar 11 km trek takes you to Minimarg and then descend to Sarbal. Overnight stay.
Sarbal – Poshpatri 2nd (5 hours trek). Through the meadows of Kundara village, we leave for Poshpatri. Enroute are the shepherds, tribal Bakerwals with their folks of sheep and goat. The scenery is breathtaking with snow-clad Harmukh and the green gorges with wild alpine flowers. Overnight stay.
Poshpatri – Arin (4 hours trek-Srinagar (3 hours drive). From Poshpatri along the stream of Arin, we gradually descend and reach Arin village. We take our car and drive back to Srinagar for an overnight stay.
Departure day. Our representative will drop you at the airport or bus station for the departure.
WHAT TO CARRY
The trek is supported by horses. You will need to carry only a light sack, weighing about 4-6kg for your items like passport, money, and camera gear. The following is a list of the items you should carry on the trek. If you have items that can not be used on the trek, you can store them at our houseboat or our office and take them back after returning from the trek.
- Please note that only postpaid Indian mobile sim cards (Jio, Airtel and BSNL) work in Kashmir Valley. There’s no cellular connectivity from Day 2 to Day 6 of the trek.
- Please double check your passport or Aadhar numbers before submitting through booking form. These numbers are required for preparation of trek permits.
- Passport or a valid ID card
- Duffel Bag 60 liters
- One Pair Trekking Shoes
- One Pair Trail Approach Shoes
- Trekking Pants
- Hooded Rain Jacket
- Shade Hat
- One Pair Sunglasses
- One Pair Liner Gloves
- Small Size Day-Pack
- Two Pair Trekking Socks
- One Pair Sandals
- Extra Warm Clothes
- Warm Hooded Down Jacket
- Sunscreen Cream
- Lip Balm
- Any Personal Medication
FITNESS
Kashmir Ensueno are achievable by anyone with a healthy lifestyle and a good level of general fitness. Team members should be willing to be part of a team working together to achieve the goal of the expedition. As a team member, you should have an adventurous and robust spirit. The biggest challenge on this expedition is the first part of the trek across alpine terrain, much of which at altitudes of above 3000m.
MINIMUM FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
- Trek: up to 10km per day.
- Daily activity: up to 5 hours’ trekking per day.
- Carry: up to 5kg in a day sack.
- Terrain: remote, uneven, snowy, icy, rocky, sometimes exposed terrain at up to 3600m.
- Climate: Can be sunny in valleys and cold and windy at Gangabal. Averages are 3000m, 5 to 25C.
- Swim: not required though there will be river crossings to make.
ADDRESS INFO
- Manigam, Ganderbal,
- Kashmir, India-191201.
- +91 6005702825
- kashmirensueno@gmail.com
