
Gurez-Tulail Gangabal Trek expedition is a crossover trek from Tulail in Gurez Valley to Naranag in Sind Valley crossing Zajibal Pass (4080 m). Kashmir Ensueno is the only local agency that lead a maiden and successful Trek-Expedition of Levison Wood’s Walking the Himalayas through this hidden valley of Kashmir in 2015 summer. Being the organizers of the trek, acquiring trek-permits was the most challenging part of the trek; as the base camp lies close to the Line of Control. Kashmir Ensueno started an era opening this trek for many to come.
Gurez Valley is the beautiful amalgamation of mountains, a valley, and a river. It is a valley deep located in the high Himalayas, about 86 km from Bandipora near Wular Lake and 133 km from Srinagar in the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir. Gurez was part of ancient Dardistan, stretching from Sharada Peeth in the west, Minimarg over Burzil Pass in the north, Drass in the east, and Baghtor in the south. The Gurez Valley falls along the section of the ancient Silk Route, which connected the Kashmir Valley with Gilgit continuing further to Kashgar. At present, the valley is divided by the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, Minimarg along with the Burzil Pass lies in the Pakistani side, and Dawar and Tulail lie on the Indian side.
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
Note: Book Your Slots 15 days Before Mentioned Date
Arrival. Reception at Srinagar airport/bus station. On arrival at Srinagar airport or bus station, our representative will receive you and transfer you to the hotel or houseboat at Dal Lake, Srinagar for an overnight stay.
Srinagar – Tulail (6 hrs drive). We leave early in the morning take a car drive to Tulail Gurez. The drive itself is an adventure. We drive along with Jehlum River and Wular Lake and arrive Bandipora. From there we drive through a Hill station of Tragbal and cross Razdan Pass to enter Gurez Valley. Driving through the remote villages we arrive Badogam in Tulail. We camp at the river bank at a small hamlet of Wazrithal village for an overnight stay.
Wazrithal – Joginai (6 hours trek). We pack our load on horses and start our trek. Our trail a slightly steep passes through a pine/ birch forest and meadows. At Butimali a gradual descend we again start ascending to Joginai for an overnight stay.
Joginai – Satsar Lakes – Megandoab (6 hrs trek). We leave Joginai and immediately start ascending one of the highest passes of the trek the Joginai Pass (3950m). We ascend it down to reach Jawdara. After crossing a stream we enter into the Rasbal Valley 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 second pass of Zajibal for an overnight stay.
Satsar – Gangabal lake (6 hrs trek). We ascend the last and the highest pass of our trek ‘Zajibal Pass (4180m)’. We forget all our tiredness when reaching atop, the views and the scenery of the Mount Haramukh (5300m) and the twin beautiful alpine lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol. We descend the pass to reach Gangabal Lake for an overnight stay.
Day at leisure. Explore twin lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol or take a short walk to a nearby lake of Kolesar.
Gangabal – Naranag. (6 hrs trek). We leave Gangabal and Nundkol Lakes and trek through the meadows of Trunkol and descend to Naranag village through the pine forest of Bodpathri. Here ends our walking. We take our car and drive back to Srinagar hotel or houseboat for an overnight stay.
Departure day. Our representative will drop you at the airport or bus station for the departure.
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.
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.