Kashmir 8-Day Tour Package: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam

Our Kashmir 8-day tour package is our complete Kashmir 7 nights 8 days tour package and the full Srinagar Pahalgam Gulmarg Sonamarg package. Stay on a carved wooden houseboat on Dal Lake, take a Shikara ride, walk through the Mughal gardens of Srinagar, ride the Gulmarg Gondola, see Thajiwas Glacier in Sonamarg, then spend two nights beside the Lidder river in Pahalgam to see Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari. Your houseboat, hotels, airport transfers and sightseeing by private car are all planned for you.

Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator. Since 2002 we have planned private holidays across India for couples, families and groups.

Tour at a Glance

Here are the key facts of our Kashmir 8-day tour package.

Tour name: Amazing Kashmir
Duration: 8 days and 7 nights
Stay: Srinagar (4 nights: 2 on a Dal Lake houseboat and 2 in a hotel), Pahalgam (2 nights), Srinagar hotel (1 night)
Starts and ends: Srinagar airport
Tour type: private car with driver for transfers and sightseeing
Highlights: Dal Lake, a Shikara ride, Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh, Chashme Shahi, the Gulmarg Gondola, Thajiwas Glacier, the Pampore saffron fields, Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, Chandanwari and a Wazwan dinner
Best for: families, honeymooners, senior travellers and anyone who wants to see all of the Kashmir valley
Best time: April to June and September to November for meadows; December to March for snow

Why Choose This Tour

All four valleys: the Kashmir 8-day tour package covers Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam.
Two nights in Pahalgam: time for Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari.
A Dal Lake houseboat: one of the most special stays in India.
A farewell Wazwan dinner: the famous Kashmiri feast on your last night.
Private and flexible: add Doodhpathri, river rafting, skiing or an extra night anywhere.

Kashmir 8-Day Tour Package Itinerary

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

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar and Check In to Your Dal Lake Houseboat

Your Kashmir 8-day tour package begins when we meet you at Srinagar airport and take you to your houseboat on Dal Lake, with its carved cedar panels and Kashmiri carpets. Rest after your journey, and take an optional Shikara ride at sunset.

Overnight: houseboat, Dal Lake. Read our Kashmir travel guide.

Day 2: Shikara Ride and the Mughal Gardens

Day 2 of the Kashmir 8-day tour package starts with a Shikara ride on Dal Lake, past floating gardens, lotus beds and the lake markets. Then see the Mughal Heritage of Srinagar at Nishat Bagh, with its terraces stepping down to the lake, Shalimar Bagh, laid out by Emperor Jahangir, and Chashme Shahi, built around a spring: fine examples of Mughal Architecture in garden form. End the day at Polo View Market for pashmina, papier-mâché and dried fruit.

Shamrock travel tip: start early to see the gardens before the crowds, and carry a light jacket, as evenings are cool even in summer. For more advice, read our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: houseboat, Dal Lake

Day 3: Gulmarg Day Trip and the Gondola

Day 3 of the Kashmir 8-day tour package 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, for views of the Pir Panjal range. In winter, try sledge rides or a skiing lesson; in summer, walk the green meadows or take a pony ride. Return to Srinagar in the evening.

Shamrock travel tip: book gondola tickets in advance in the busy season, and wear warm layers and good shoes for the snow. See our Shamrock India Travel Tips.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Srinagar

Day 4: Sonamarg Day Trip and Thajiwas Glacier

On Day 4 of the Kashmir 8-day tour package, drive about three hours along the Sindh river to Sonamarg (Sonmarg), the meadow of gold, on the road to Ladakh. Walk or take a pony to Thajiwas Glacier, where snow lies on the slopes for much of the year, and enjoy a picnic lunch by the river. Return to Srinagar in the evening.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Srinagar

Day 5: Srinagar to Pahalgam via the Saffron Fields

Day 5 of the Kashmir 8-day tour package takes you to Pahalgam, a drive of about two and a half to three hours. Stop at Pampore, the home of Kashmiri saffron, where the fields flower in October and November. Check in to your hotel near the Lidder river and spend the afternoon on riverside walks among the pine forests.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pahalgam

Day 6: Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari

Day 6 of the Kashmir 8-day tour package is a full day in the Pahalgam valleys by local taxi. See Betaab Valley, with its meadows and clear streams, Aru Valley, a quiet village surrounded by forest, and Chandanwari, the snowy start of the Amarnath Yatra route. In summer, you can add river rafting on the Lidder.

Meals: breakfast. Overnight: hotel, Pahalgam

Day 7: Pahalgam to Srinagar and a Farewell Wazwan Dinner

On the last full day of the Kashmir 8-day tour package, drive back to Srinagar and check in to your hotel. Shop at Lal Chowk, the Bund and Goni Khan market, then enjoy a farewell Wazwan dinner with rogan josh, rista and gushtaba.

Meals: breakfast and dinner. Overnight: hotel, Srinagar

Day 8: Departure from Srinagar

Enjoy a Kashmiri breakfast with kahwa. If your flight is late, visit Shankaracharya Temple or the Hazratbal shrine, then transfer to Srinagar airport. Your Kashmir 8-day tour package ends here.

Meals: breakfast

What Is Included

Your Kashmir 8-day tour package includes:

Two nights on a Dal Lake houseboat, three nights in Srinagar hotels and two nights in Pahalgam, with breakfast
A farewell Wazwan dinner in Srinagar
A Shikara ride on Dal Lake
Gulmarg Gondola Phase 1 ticket
Airport arrival and departure transfers by private car
Srinagar sightseeing, day trips to Gulmarg and Sonamarg, and the Pahalgam transfers by private car
A local guide for the Mughal gardens, on request
Tolls, parking, driver costs and taxes

What Is Not Included

Your Kashmir 8-day tour package does not include:

Flights to and from Srinagar
Gulmarg Gondola Phase 2, local union taxis in Pahalgam and Sonamarg, pony rides and river rafting
Lunches, other dinners and garden entry tickets
Personal expenses and travel insurance

Best Time for This Tour

April to June and September to November are the best time for our Kashmir 8-day tour package, with green meadows, open roads to Sonamarg and pleasant days. October and November also bring golden chinar trees and the saffron harvest. December to March brings snow and skiing to Gulmarg, but the road to Sonamarg may close after heavy snow, so we may swap that day for Doodhpathri.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 8 days enough for Kashmir?

Yes. Eight days cover all four main places: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, at an easy pace.

How is this different from the 7-day tour?

The Kashmir 7-day tour package skips Sonamarg. This tour adds a day trip to Sonamarg and Thajiwas Glacier, and Chandanwari in Pahalgam.

How long are the drives?

Srinagar to Gulmarg takes about two hours, to Sonamarg about three hours and to Pahalgam about two and a half to three hours.

Is it good for families and seniors?

Yes. We can choose easy walks, comfortable cars and ground-floor rooms. It also works well as a Kashmir honeymoon package; see our honeymoon packages.

Will my mobile phone work?

Postpaid connections work in Srinagar and Pahalgam, but the signal can be weak in Gulmarg and Sonamarg. Prepaid SIM cards from other states do not work in Jammu and Kashmir.

How much does the Kashmir 8-day tour package cost?

The price depends on your houseboat and hotels (Standard, Premium or Luxury), the number of travellers and the season. We can add flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata or your city. Tell us your dates and we will send a clear quotation.

More Kashmir Tours

Want a different length than our Kashmir 8-day tour package?

Kashmir 5-day tour package: Srinagar with day trips to Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
Kashmir 6-day tour package: one night in Pahalgam.
Kashmir 7-day tour package: two nights in Pahalgam, without Sonamarg.
Kashmir Katra tour package: Vaishno Devi with the Kashmir valley.
Kashmir Taj Mahal tour: Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal with Kashmir.
Kashmir Ladakh tour: from Sonamarg over Zoji La to Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake.

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

Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys

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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Tell us your travel dates and we will send you a personal itinerary. Request your free quote