Amritsar Katra Kashmir Tour: Golden Temple, Vaishno Devi, Pahalgam, Srinagar and Gulmarg

Our Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour is a 9-day journey of faith and natural beauty across North India. Begin at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the flag ceremony at the Wagah Border, make the Mata Vaishno Devi darshan from Katra, then travel into the Kashmir valley for the meadows of Pahalgam, a Dal Lake houseboat in Srinagar, the Mughal gardens and the Gulmarg Gondola. It is our complete Kashmir Katra Amritsar tour package, with hotels, houseboat, transfers and sightseeing by private car all planned for you.

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private pilgrimages and holidays across India for families, couples and groups, and this is one of our best North India tours.

Tour at a Glance

Here are the key facts of our Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour.

Tour name: Kashmir with Katra and Amritsar
Duration: 9 days and 8 nights
Stay: Amritsar (1 night), Katra (2 nights), Pahalgam (2 nights), Srinagar (3 nights: 2 on a Dal Lake houseboat and 1 in a hotel)
Starts: Amritsar airport or railway station
Ends: Srinagar airport
Tour type: private air-conditioned car with driver for all transfers and sightseeing
Highlights: the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, the Wagah Border ceremony, Mata Vaishno Devi, Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens, the Gulmarg Gondola and the Hazratbal shrine
Best for: families, pilgrims, senior travellers and groups
Best time: March to June and September to November

Why Choose This Tour

Three journeys in one: the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour joins the Golden Temple, Vaishno Devi and the Kashmir valley.
No backtracking: start in Amritsar and fly home from Srinagar.
Two nights in Katra and Pahalgam: unhurried time for the darshan and the valleys.
A Dal Lake houseboat: one of the most special stays in India.
Private and flexible: add Delhi, Dharamshala, Sonamarg or more days in Kashmir.

Amritsar Katra Kashmir Tour Itinerary

This is the day-by-day plan of the tour.

Day 1: Arrive in Amritsar, Golden Temple and Wagah Border

Your Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour begins when we meet you at Amritsar airport or station and take you to your hotel. Visit the Golden Temple, Sri Harmandir Sahib, where the community kitchen (langar) serves free meals to thousands of visitors every day. See Jallianwala Bagh nearby, then drive to the Wagah Border for the flag-lowering ceremony before sunset. Read about Amritsar.

Shamrock travel tip: cover your head and remove your shoes at the Golden Temple. Come back after dark to see it lit up over the water. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Overnight: hotel, Amritsar

Day 2: Amritsar to Katra

Day 2 of the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour takes you north-east to Katra, a drive of about five to six hours. If you have time in the morning, visit the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum or the Partition Museum. Check in to your hotel in Katra, at the foot of the Trikuta hills, and we help you complete the yatra registration.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Katra

Day 3: Mata Vaishno Devi Darshan

Day 3 of the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour is the pilgrimage day. Start early on the trek of about 13 km to the holy cave shrine at Bhawan, past Ardhkuwari. Ponies, palkis, battery cars on part of the route and a helicopter to Sanjichhat are available at extra cost. Return to Katra in the evening.

Shamrock travel tip: carry your yatra card and photo ID, wear comfortable shoes and book the helicopter well ahead if you need it. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Katra

Day 4: Katra to Pahalgam

Day 4 of the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour is a drive of about six to seven hours through the mountains and long road tunnels into the Kashmir valley, then on to Pahalgam. Spend the evening beside the Lidder river among pine forests. Read our Kashmir travel guide.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pahalgam

Day 5: Betaab Valley and Aru Valley

On Day 5 of the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour, visit Betaab Valley, with its meadows and clear streams, and Aru Valley, a quiet village surrounded by forest, by local taxi. You can also add Chandanwari, the start of the Amarnath Yatra route.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pahalgam

Day 6: Pahalgam to Srinagar, Mughal Gardens and a Shikara Ride

On Day 6 of the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour, drive about three hours to Srinagar, stopping at the saffron fields of Pampore, which flower in October and November. See the Mughal Heritage of Srinagar at Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Chashme Shahi, fine examples of Mughal Architecture in garden form, then take a Shikara ride on Dal Lake at sunset.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: houseboat, Dal Lake

Day 7: Gulmarg Day Trip

Day 7 of the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour is a day trip to Gulmarg, the meadow of flowers, about two hours away. Ride the Gulmarg Gondola to Kongdoori, and on to Apharwat if the weather allows. Play in the snow in winter, or walk the meadows in summer. Return to Srinagar in the evening.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: houseboat, Dal Lake

Day 8: Srinagar Sightseeing

Climb to Shankaracharya Temple for views over the city, then visit the white marble Hazratbal shrine on the lake shore. Spend the afternoon shopping at Lal Chowk for pashmina, saffron and papier-mâché, or relax by the lake.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Srinagar

Day 9: Departure from Srinagar

Enjoy a Kashmiri breakfast with kahwa, then transfer to Srinagar airport. Your Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Your Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour includes:

One night in Amritsar, two in Katra, two in Pahalgam, two on a Dal Lake houseboat and one in Srinagar, with breakfast
A private air-conditioned car with driver from Amritsar to Srinagar airport
A Shikara ride on Dal Lake
Help with yatra registration and planning
Tolls, parking, driver costs and taxes

What Is Not Included

Your Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour does not include:

Flights or trains to Amritsar and flights from Srinagar
Ponies, palkis, battery cars and helicopter tickets for Vaishno Devi
The Gulmarg Gondola, local union taxis in Pahalgam and entry tickets
Lunches and dinners
Personal expenses, tips and travel insurance

Best Time for This Tour

March to June and September to November are the best time for our Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour, with pleasant weather for the trek and green valleys in Kashmir. The Navratri festivals are the busiest times at Vaishno Devi, so book early. Amritsar is very hot in May and June, and the monsoon in July and August can make the trek slippery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vaishno Devi trek suitable for all ages?

The trek is moderate. Elderly guests and young children can use ponies, palkis, battery cars or the helicopter for part of the way.

Is the Wagah Border ceremony included?

Yes, on Day 1, if you reach Amritsar by early afternoon. The ceremony is held only in the late afternoon, so if you arrive later we suggest an earlier flight or an extra night in Amritsar.

How long are the drives?

Amritsar to Katra takes about five to six hours, Katra to Pahalgam about six to seven hours, and Pahalgam to Srinagar about three hours.

Can we start from Delhi?

Yes. We can add a night in Delhi, or book your flight or train from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur or your city to Amritsar.

Is there a shorter Kashmir Katra tour package?

Yes. Our Kashmir Katra tour package starts in Jammu and covers Katra and Kashmir in 7 days, without Amritsar.

How much does the Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour cost?

The price depends on your hotels and houseboat, the number of travellers and the season. Tell us your dates and we will send a clear quotation for your Kashmir Katra Amritsar tour package.

More Kashmir Tours

Looking for a different trip than our Amritsar Katra Kashmir tour?

Kashmir Katra tour package: Vaishno Devi with the Kashmir valley in 7 days.
Kashmir 7-day tour package: Srinagar, Gulmarg and two nights in Pahalgam.
Kashmir 8-day tour package: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam.
Kashmir Taj Mahal tour: Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal with Kashmir.
Kashmir Ladakh tour: Srinagar, Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

See all our Kashmir tour packages, our India spiritual tours, our cultural tours of India, all our India tour packages and the best North India tours. Request your free quote

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Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.

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