Blog · 29 October 2026
Kashmir trip: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, how many days, and what it costs
Kashmir is the closest thing India has to the Alps: a lake city with houseboats, meadows ringed by pine forest, and snow you can reach by cable car. It's a short flight from Delhi and needs no passport, so it works for a long weekend or a full week. The simplest way to see it is to stay in Srinagar and go out on day trips, coming back each evening to the lake.
How many days do you need?
Plan on five to six days. Give Srinagar a full day for the Mughal gardens, the old city and a shikara ride. Then take one day each for Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Each is a two to three hour drive from Srinagar, so the days are long but you don't have to keep packing. If you have a seventh day, add Doodhpathri, a quieter meadow that fewer tourists reach. In spring, keep half a day for the tulip garden.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 4-day Kashmir trip in December comes to about ₹73,800, or ₹36,900 per person. That covers return flights, the hotel, food, local transport, the day trips and attractions we pick for you, and a 10% buffer. Peak season in April to June costs more, mainly because flights and houseboats fill up during Indian school holidays.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel and attractions on our Kashmir trip cost page and see every line update.
Things worth paying for
- Gulmarg day trip with the gondola ride: about ₹2,800 per adult. The gondola climbs in two stages; the upper stage goes much higher and often has snow even when the meadow is green. Book gondola tickets online ahead, as they sell out.
- Pahalgam day trip: about ₹1,800, for the Lidder river and the valleys around it.
- Sonamarg day trip: about ₹1,800, the gateway to the glaciers, with the road usually open from spring to autumn.
- Shikara ride on Dal Lake: about ₹400. Go around sunset, past the floating gardens and market boats.
- Mughal Gardens (Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi): about ₹100 for all three.
- Tulip Garden, open only in spring: about ₹100.
- Doodhpathri day trip: about ₹1,600, for wide green meadows and streams with fewer crowds.
Free and cheap things to do
Walk the Boulevard Road along Dal Lake in the evening. Climb up to the Shankaracharya temple for the view over the city and the lake. Visit the Hazratbal shrine on the lake's far shore, and spend a morning in the old city around Jamia Masjid, with its wooden mosque halls and crowded lanes. Lal Chowk is the place for dry fruits, saffron and shawls; compare prices before you buy.
When to go
April to June is the main season: the tulips bloom in spring, the weather is pleasant, and Indian summer holidays fill every hotel, so book early. July to October is mild and green, with autumn colours in October and thinner crowds. November is cold and quiet. December to March brings snow, and Gulmarg turns into a ski resort; Srinagar nights drop below freezing, so pick a hotel with proper heating.
Do you need a visa?
No. Kashmir is in India, so all you need is a government photo ID for the flight and the hotel. Keep it with you on day trips too, as there are checkpoints on some roads. One thing to know: prepaid mobile connections from other states don't work in Jammu and Kashmir. Postpaid ones do, so if you are on prepaid, switch to postpaid before you go or buy a local SIM from an official store in Srinagar.
Tips that save money
- Stay in Srinagar and take day trips instead of booking a night in each valley.
- Inside Pahalgam and Sonamarg, local union taxis and ponies take you to the viewpoints at fixed rates; ask for the rate card before you agree.
- Agree the shikara price and the length of the ride before you step in.
- Try a houseboat for a night or two; off-season rates are often close to those of a good hotel.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Kashmir trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.