Kashmir · India
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
Seven alpine lakes, one ridge at a time
The trek
The most beautiful meadow trek in India — a chain of glacial lakes unlocked one mountain pass at a time.
Ask a room of seasoned Himalayan trek leaders to name the single loveliest trail they have walked, and a surprising number will land on the same answer: the Kashmir Great Lakes. The route threads together a necklace of glacial lakes — Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and the Gangabal twins — each one tucked behind its own pass, each holding a different, almost unreal shade of blue and green that shifts with the hour and the light.
What lingers afterwards, though, is rarely a single lake. It is the meadows between them: immense, gently rolling, stitched with wildflowers and grazed by Gujjar and Bakarwal shepherds who move their flocks up the valleys each summer. The grade stays honestly moderate, but the days are long and the passes come thick and fast, so the trek rewards walkers with steady legs and a real appetite for wide, open country.
Because the trail crosses the Himalayan crest again and again, no two days feel alike. One morning you are skirting a mirror-still tarn; by afternoon you are cresting a windswept saddle with a whole new basin of lakes unrolling below. It is a trek of constant arrival.
Highlights
- A chain of five-plus glacial lakes, each behind its own pass
- Endless flower meadows beneath the Himalayan crest
- Multiple high passes, each opening a fresh basin of water
- Widely regarded as the most scenic trek in India
From
₹15,999
per person
- Free reschedule up to 21 days out
- Small groups, certified mountain leaders
- Oximeter, oxygen & evacuation plan on every route
Day by day
The itinerary
8 days from Sonamarg. Tap any day to read the detail — distances and altitudes are planning figures and may shift with conditions.
Sonamarg—the "Meadow of Gold"—serves as the scenic launchpad for the Kashmir Great Lakes (KGL) trek. If you have booked transportation with Frontpoint Adventures, ensure you arrive at Dal Gate No. 1 in Srinagar by 12:00 PM for pickup. If traveling independently, aim to reach the Sonamarg base camp between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. While official reporting is at 3:00 PM, an early arrival is well worth it. The surrounding landscape offers a front-row view of famous Kashmiri peaks and glaciers—including Sirbal, Kolahoi, Amarnath, and Machoi Peak alongside the sprawling Machoi Glacier. The journey from Srinagar to Sonamarg is a scenic delight. Once clear of city limits, urban sprawl gives way to quiet pastoral countryside. About 30 kilometers in, snow-capped massifs rise against the horizon and boundless green pastures frame both sides of the highway. Tonight is spent in alpine tents at base camp. We will gather after evening tea for team introductions and a comprehensive trek briefing, followed by an early dinner to prepare for tomorrow’s climb.
What's included
- All camping equipment and freshly cooked meals
- Certified trek leader and support crew
- Permits and entry fees
- Safety equipment, oximeter and emergency oxygen
- Mule support for common loads
Not included
- Transport to and from the trailheads
- Personal gear, insurance and offloading of personal bags
- Anything not listed under inclusions
In the field
The country you'll walk
Ready when you are
Walk Kashmir Great Lakes Trek with us
Small groups, honest briefings and a crew that has done this route many times over. From ₹15,999 per person.
Keep exploring
