Trek Duration: 7-8 Days
Trek Distance: 72 Kms
Max Altitude: 13,800 ft
Trek Difficulty: Moderate
Age limit: 12yrs -65yrs
Trek Highlights:
- Camp at some of the most beautiful Alpine Lakes in India like Vishansar , Gadsar & Gangabal Lakes.
- The only trek in India where you cross three high altitude passes, sporting seven magnificent Alpine Lakes.
- Breathtaking view of the lush green meadows & river valley crossings.
Overview:
Whether you are a beginner or a regular trekker, when you talk about treks in Kashmir it is very unlikely that you haven’t heard of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek or what is commonly known as KGL. It is one of the most popular treks in Kashmir & arguably the most beautiful trek in India. Kashmir Great Lakes trek is in every way picture-perfect & every view is postcard worthy. It offers you a panoramic view of the innumerable lush green meadows of Kashmir while crossing five river valleys & three high altitude passes & breathtaking green & turquoise blue alpine lakes fed by snow-clad mountains right in front of your eyes. The trek is usually covered between 7 to 8 days each day as exciting as the other. The best thing about this trek is that when you are tucked up in your cozy sleeping bag resting in your tent after a tiring day of hiking, you will be eagerly looking forward to the next day because there is always something exciting waiting for you by the end of each day. In this trek you also get to experience the largest alpine lake in Kashmir, the Gangabal Lake. Book your KGL trek now & be prepared to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
Itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Sonamarg- Arrive at Shitkadi
Drive Distance: 85 kms
Max Altitude: 9,200 ft
Drive Duration: 3-4 hours
LogOut Kashmir representative will pick you up from Srinagar & head towards Sonamarg which is a 3 hour drive. On the way you can enjoy the beauty of Sindh river surrounded by paddy fields all along your drive. You arrive at Shitkadi Village just ahead of Sonamarg where we set up our base camp. You will be welcomed with some refreshments on arrival. You will be joined by our certified trek leaders & trek guides who will brief you about the trek. You enjoy rest of the day in the golden meadows of the Shitkadi Village surrounded by some of the famous mountain peaks of Kashmir like Kolahai & Machoi Peaks. You will be served dinner in the evening and return to your tents for the night.
Day 2: Trek from Shitkadi to Nichnai
Distance: 11 kms
Max Altitude: 11,500 ft
Trek Duration: 6 hours
After having your breakfast in the valleys of Shitkadi you begin your trek with a gradual ascent through lush green meadows that offer a birds-eye view of Sonamarg. The trail then leads into a stretch of dense Maple forest. The ascent is challenging but the experience of being surrounded by majestic, tall pine trees make you forget everything until you arrive at Tabletop, a beautiful grassland surrounded by forests that offer a wide look of the entire mountain range surrounding Sonamarg. LogOut Kashmir will offer you a light lunch at Tabletop. You take some rest, have your lunch and start trekking towards Nichnai. The meadows of Tabletop stretch for a mile & the trail leads into a forest. You descend through the forest for about 50 mins & you are now in an open valley enclosed by mountains. You will trek beside a river stream now .The path ahead is initially a bit rocky so be careful with your steps. A couple of hours later you reach the valley of Nichnai. This is your campsite for tonight .Relax & enjoy the vast golden meadows of Nichnai. Have your dinner early & have some much needed rest for the night.
Day 3: Trek from Nichnai to Vishansar Lake
Distance: 12 kms
Max Altitude: 12,000 ft
Trek Duration: 6 hours
You continue from Nichnai and start trekking towards Vishansar Lake. You start early & pack your lunch so that there is sufficient time for short breaks to enjoy the diverse views of the trail. The trail winds through yet another set of beautiful meadows as we start ascending gradually towards the Nichnai Pass. The ascent is a little steep so trek with a steady pace & take the required water breaks & rest whenever needed. As you reach the top of the pass & look behind the valleys you just traversed, you surely will feel delighted. BSNL mobile network users may find signal here at few spots. The trail gets easier now as you start descending towards Vishansar Lake. You will be walking through the flat meadows now full of blooming wildflowers. Soon you will start hearing the gushing sounds originating from the stream flowing out of Vishansar Lake. As you follow the trail you will reach the stream which will lead you to your campsite right beside Vishansar lake. Your will be mesmerized with the magical view in front of your eyes. Depending upon the time of the day & the weather you the lake changes color throughout the day from turquoise blue to green & more. You can also spot some trout jumping out of the lake. Enjoy the evening exploring the lake & retire to your tents for the night.
Day 4: Trek from Vishansar to Gadsar
Distance: 15 kms
Max Altitude: 13,800 ft
Trek Duration: 8 hours
Make sure you start early today as the trail is slightly longer & tougher. We begin from our campsite & start trekking towards Gadsar Pass. The trail is narrow & steep & will test your stamina. So take your time & move gradually towards the top of a ridge which is the highest point of the Gadsar Pass & the maximum altitude you will achieve in Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. After ascending the trail for about 2 hours you reach the top. You legs might feel a little tired but as you see the view that follows you the top of the ridge you forget everything. The view of entire Vishansar & Kishansar twin lakes together unfolding in front of your eyes is a moment to cherish forever. At 13,800 ft you not only feel like on top of the pass but on top of the world. Take a few moments & enjoy this otherworldly feeling before we start descending the trail. The descent as steep as the ascent. So continue at a slow pace until the trail eases out into a mild walk into the lush green meadows of Gadsar. You can also see Yemsar,a small alpine lake visible on your left. As you reach the Gadsar meadows you realize that the lush greem meadows are dotted with colorful wild flowers which enhance its beauty manifold. Soon you will be see a beautiful alpine lake originating from the foothills of s snowy glacier. It is Gadsar lake. One of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Kashmir. The lake is also full of wild trout that you could sometimes see on the banks of the lake. You camp overnight near the lake & take your well deserved rest.
Day 5: Trek from Gadsar to Satsar Lake
Distance: 11 kms
Max Altitude: 12,000 ft
Trek Duration: 5 hours
Today the trek gradient is easy. You cross a river stream and follow the trail up the mountain. On the trail you can see a tree line right beneath you. Around 45 mins of ascent & the trail opens up into Meangadob, a flat meadow recognized by its iconic deep craters. Soon you will be walking in the beautiful Satsar meadows. Satsar is an amalgamation of two Kashmiri words that translates into ‘Sat” meaning Seven and ‘Sar’ meaning Lake. It is a cluster of seven lakes not very far from each other that justifies the significance of the name. Trekking through the Satsar meadows is easier on your legs which allows you to enjoy the beautiful views of the valley even more. Shortly afterwards, we reach one of the Satsar lakes which will be our campsite. The lake offers a picturesque view surrounded by lush green meadows & mountains. Like other alpine lakes in the area, Satsar appears in different colors throughout the day. If you reach early, you can explore few of the other Satsar lakes later. Have your dinner & take some rest for the night.
Day 6: Satsar to Gangbal & Nundkol
Distance: 10 kms
Max Altitude: 13,000 ft
Trek Duration: 6 hours
You begin early from your campsite & follow the trail that begins with a mild ascent. 45 mins later you arrive at the last & the biggest of the Satsar lakes. Be careful of your steps as the trail is full of rocks & boulders. Soon you will be descending the trail & a beautiful forest line appears on your left. The trail onwards follows a similar pattern of going up & down through the Zaj pass. At about 13000 ft you reach the top of Zaj Pass that offers you a spectacular view of the twin lakes of Gangbal & Nundkol. If you thought that the view of Vishansar & Kishansar Twin lakes from the Gadsar Pass was the best view you have had on the trek, you will be surprised here. Gangbal lake is the largest alpine lake in Kashmir that originates from the Glaciers of Mount Harmukh & Nundkol lying on its side is like nothing you will have ever seen before. The birds-eye view of the twin lakes surrounded by the lush green meadows is undoubtedly magical that will captivate your heart & you feel like staying there for the rest of your life. Click some pictures & move towards the twin lakes. You will first reach Gangbal which holds a religious significance for Hindus of the valley as well. The lake is so grand & large that it will take you about an hour to circle. You can choose to explore & spend some time at Gangbal today or you can continue moving towards Nundkol, your campsite for tonight & come back early tomorrow morning to explore Gangbal. Gangbal & Nundkol lakes are 40 mins away from each other. Whatever you decide, make sure you take some time for yourself, look around & feel the purity of nature. Gangbal & Nundkol are the most explored lakes in the valley so expect some crowd here. These lakes are also home to the finest trout in Kashmir & you may see some locals fishing in these waters. Enjoy the atmosphere & return to your tents for the night.
Day 7: Trek to Naranag-Drive to Srinagar
Trek Distance: 14 kms
Drive Distance: 60 Kms
Max Altitude: 11,500 ft
Trek Duration: 6 hrs
Drive Duration: 2.5 hrs
Although it is the last day of your trek & it is mostly downhill but the descent is steep & takes a toll on your body especially your knees. So start as early as possible as you have a long drive ahead as well when you reach Naranag. The trail begins with an easy walk through a flat meadow as you trek besides a stream on your left flowing out of Nundkol. The trail is pleasant for an hour & the landscape is breathtaking. Soon you will reach Trundkol where the army will check your ID’s & permissions for the last time on this trek. It is a good spot to take some rest & refill your water bottles as you will trek through a dense forest for the rest of the trek. You can also find a descent mobile network here so you can connect with your family & friends as well. As you walk through the jungle you can also find a Gujjar Dhaba along the way at Budhsheri Top. You can buy some snacks or have some tea if you want although the main market is only 2 hours away now. Gather your strength here, steady your body & prepare for the final push as the descent from here is very steep & the most difficult you have seen on this trek. Control your pace here & move slowly till you Naranag village is visible. As you reach Naranag look behind once & be proud of what you have achieved. Your body will be tired but you will have achieved something that is going to remain with you for the rest of your life. LogOut Kashmir will have a cab arranged for you which will take you back to Srinagar. Notes: once you complete this trek these days will be etched in your memory forever. Embrace the beauty of nature. You in true sense realize why Kashmir is called heaven on earth.
