Kashmir Weekend Escape: Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens and Gulmarg
Duration
4 Days 3 Nights
Pickup
Srinagar Airport (SXR)
Drop
Srinagar Airport (SXR)
Type
Short-haul
Overview & Highlights
This three-night break fits Kashmir's best-known sights into a long weekend. You spend the first night on a houseboat on Dal Lake, ride a shikara, visit the Mughal gardens and make a day trip to Gulmarg for the gondola. It is a short programme, so it works best with early arrivals and late departures. A trip captain accompanies every weekly Friday departure, and breakfast and dinner are included.
- Night on a houseboat on Dal Lake
- Shikara ride on Dal Lake
- Mughal gardens: Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh
- Day trip to Gulmarg with the gondola (Phase 1 included)
- Breakfast and dinner included
- Weekly Friday departures with a trip captain
Itinerary
1Day 1: Arrival in Srinagar | Houseboat | Shikara Ride
- Arrive at Srinagar Airport in the morning and meet your trip captain.
- Transfer to your houseboat on Dal Lake and check in.
- Take a shikara ride on the lake in the afternoon or at sunset, weather permitting.
- Dinner on the houseboat.
- Overnight stay on Dal Lake, Srinagar.
2Day 2: Mughal Gardens | Srinagar Sightseeing
- After breakfast, visit Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, the terraced Mughal gardens.
- Check in to your hotel in Srinagar.
- Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure, perhaps browsing the markets for shawls and dry fruits.
- Overnight stay in Srinagar.
3Day 3: Day Trip to Gulmarg | Gondola
- After breakfast, drive to Gulmarg, about two hours from Srinagar.
- Ride the Gulmarg Gondola (Phase 1 included) and enjoy the meadow and mountain views.
- The upper phase is optional and depends on wind and weather.
- Return to Srinagar in the late afternoon.
- Overnight stay in Srinagar.
4Day 4: Free Morning | Departure
- After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
- Use the free time for last-minute shopping or a relaxed stroll by the lake.
- Transfer to Srinagar Airport for your afternoon or evening flight home.
Weather, road conditions and safety may require changes to the itinerary.
Inclusions
- 1 night on a houseboat on Dal Lake, twin sharing
- 2 nights hotel stay in Srinagar, twin sharing
- Daily breakfast and dinner at the houseboat and hotel
- AC vehicle for transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary
- Airport arrival and departure transfers in Srinagar
- Shikara ride on Dal Lake
- Visit to the Mughal gardens of Srinagar
- Day excursion to Gulmarg by AC vehicle
- Gulmarg Gondola Phase 1 ride
- Services of a trip captain throughout the tour
- Assistance from our travel experts
Exclusions
- Flights, trains or other transport to and from Srinagar
- Lunches and any meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses, laundry, tips and porterage
- Pony rides, local union cab charges, sledging, skiing and other optional activities
- Gulmarg Gondola Phase 2 ticket, which can be added on request
- Camera or video fees at monuments and gardens, where charged
- Travel insurance
- Anything not listed under inclusions
- GST as applicable
Other Info
Must carry
- Valid government photo ID for every traveller (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence)
- Return flight or train tickets
- Warm layers: thermals, jacket, gloves and a woollen cap (heavier in winter)
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and lip balm
- Some cash for ponies, local cabs, tips and small purchases
Notes
- Weekend trips are short, so flights or trains should arrive early on day 1 and depart late on the last day to make full use of the programme.
- Flights, trains or other transport to and from Srinagar are not included.
- Every traveller must carry a valid government photo ID, which is checked at hotels and security points.
- Standard hotel check-in is around 2 pm and check-out around 12 noon.
- The order of the itinerary may change due to weather, road, flight or operational conditions, without reducing the sights covered.
- Rates and availability are confirmed at the time of booking; cancellation and refund are as per our Terms & Conditions.
- This is a group departure and runs on minimum numbers; a trip captain accompanies the group.
- The Gulmarg Gondola depends on wind and weather, and the upper phase can close at short notice; if so, we will suggest an alternative where possible.
- Heavy snow, rain or landslides can close mountain roads and delay flights, mainly from December to February and in heavy monsoon rain. Keep spare time before any onward connection.
- At Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg some points are reached only by local union cab or pony; we confirm at booking what is included.
See our Terms & Conditions for payment and cancellation rules.