Private 5-Day Kashmir Tour from Srinagar: Dal Lake & Gulmarg

Five days to see Kashmir without arranging the logistics yourself

A private 5-day guided tour of Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley, starting with airport pickup and a houseboat stay on Dal Lake. You ride a Shikara across the water, walk the Mughal gardens of Nishat and Shalimar Bagh, take a full-day excursion to Pahalgam to see saffron fields and 9th-century ruins, and spend a night in Gulmarg at 8,700 feet. Your English-speaking guide and all transport between sites are included. The itinerary is fixed, so the five days hold together without you building them.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar and transfer

• Arrive at Srinagar Airport
• Meet and greet by representative
• Transfer to houseboat
• Overnight at houseboat

Day 2: Srinagar local sightseeing

• Breakfast
• Shikara ride on Dal Lake
• Visit Mughal gardens
• Visit Chashmi-e-Shahi spring
• Visit Nishat Bagh garden
• Visit Shalimar Bagh
• Transfer to Srinagar Tourist Reception Center
• Overnight at hotel

Day 3: Excursion to Pahalgam

• Breakfast
• Leave for Pahalgam excursion
• Visit saffron fields
• Visit Awantipura ruins
• Visit Martand Temple
• Enjoy natural beauty and river lidder
• Return to Srinagar
• Dinner and overnight at houseboat

Day 4: Travel to Gulmarg

• Breakfast
• Check-out from houseboat or hotel
• Drive to Gulmarg
• Check-in at hotel
• Optional gondola ride (self expense)
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 5: Departure from Srinagar

• Breakfast
• Check-out from hotel
• Drive to Srinagar airport
• Board flight for onward destination

The experience

You arrive at Srinagar Airport or the Tourist Reception Center and meet your guide, who transfers you to a houseboat on Dal Lake for your first night. The houseboat is where you sleep for two of the five days. It is the base for the tour's opening moves and the place you return to after the Pahalgam day trip.

On day two, after breakfast, you board a Shikara (the traditional wooden boat) and ride across Dal Lake, then visit three Mughal gardens in sequence: Chashmi-e-Shahi, known as the Royal Spring; Nishat, the Garden of Pleasure; and Shalimar Bagh, the Abode of Love. Each garden sits on the water's edge or overlooks it, and the guide walks you through them before you return to the houseboat. Day three is a full-day excursion to Pahalgam, a mountain village at 7,200 feet. The drive passes saffron fields, you see how the crop grows, and stops at Awantipura ruins from the 9th century and the Martand Temple, a sun temple built into the landscape. Pahalgam itself sits on the Lidder River and is known as the Village of Shepherds. It is also the base camp for the Amarnath pilgrimage and a filming location for Bollywood. You return to Srinagar in the late afternoon.

On day four, you check out and drive to Gulmarg, a high meadow at 8,700 feet famous for its 18-hole golf course in summer and ski resort in winter. You stay overnight at a hotel there. On the final morning, you check out and drive back to Srinagar Airport for your onward flight. The guide and driver handle all the transfers. You do not arrange transport between stops or negotiate with anyone along the way.

What’s included

• Airport pickup and transfer to the houseboat.
• four nights' accommodation (two on a houseboat, one in Gulmarg, one at a hotel in Srinagar).
• Shikara ride on Dal Lake.
• entry to the Mughal gardens of Chashmi-e-Shahi, Nishat and Shalimar Bagh.
• the full-day Pahalgam excursion with stops at saffron fields, Awantipura ruins and Martand Temple.
• all transport between sites.
• and an English-speaking guide throughout the five days.

Options for this experience

2 options

InclusionsGuide in English · 11:30Deluxe hotels: Hotel Grand Kaisar Srinagar, Hotel Royal Castle Gulmarg, shikara ride, breakfast only, private Etios cab; pickup is included

Five-day private Kashmir package tour from Srinagar, charming editionGuide in English · 11:30Pickup is included

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 50 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Just Go Kashmir

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a structured five-day itinerary covering Dal Lake, gardens, and mountain villages with a private guide who handles all logistics: ideal when you prefer a set schedule over piecing together your own route.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Shikara ride on Dal Lake like?

The Shikara is a traditional wooden boat, and the ride takes you across Dal Lake as part of day two's sightseeing. You see the water and the surrounding mountains from the boat before visiting the Mughal gardens.

How far is Pahalgam from Srinagar, and what do we see on the way?

Pahalgam is a full-day excursion from Srinagar. On the drive, you pass saffron fields, stop at the 9th-century Awantipura ruins and the Martand Temple, then spend time in Pahalgam itself before returning to Srinagar in the late afternoon.

Where do I stay during the 5 days?

You stay on a houseboat on Dal Lake for nights one and two, then at a hotel in Gulmarg on night four. Night three is spent back at the houseboat after the Pahalgam day trip. The accommodations are included in the tour price.

Is the guide English-speaking, and does the tour include airport pickup?

Yes, your guide speaks English. Airport pickup from Srinagar Airport or the Tourist Reception Center is included, and the guide meets you on arrival to transfer you to the houseboat.

What is Gulmarg known for?

Gulmarg is a high meadow at 8,700 feet called the Meadow of Flowers. It has an 18-hole golf course (one of the highest in the world) that operates in summer, and a ski resort in winter. A cable car ride is available at your own expense.

Can children join this tour?

The tour is suitable for children aged 12 and above. It is also suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health due to the high altitude of Gulmarg.