By Duke Kashmir Travels Team · Reviewed by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, Founder · Updated
Kashmir Travel Packages – Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam Tours are ready-made holiday itineraries sold by Duke Kashmir Travels, a Srinagar-based travel agency registered with the Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir (JKTA00003978) since 2011. Each package covers hotels or houseboats, private transport with a driver, airport transfers and guided sightseeing across the four main destinations of the Kashmir valley — Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg — priced per person from about ₹6,300 for a two-night trip and running up to six nights.
Key takeaways
- Best time: April to June for gardens and meadows; October for autumn colour; December to February for snow and skiing.
- Base: Srinagar (1,585 m); Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg are each 1.5–2.5 hours away.
- Trip length: 4–6 nights covers the four main destinations.
- Getting there: fly to Srinagar (SXR), 1.5 hours from Delhi; or train to Jammu/Katra and onward by road or the Banihal line.
- Local taxis: inside Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg the sightseeing circuits run on local union taxis; your Srinagar vehicle waits at the stand.
- Packages: from about ₹6,300 per person (2 nights) with hotels, transport, transfers and sightseeing included.
This guide answers the questions we are asked most before a booking.
What is Kashmir like as a destination?
The Kashmir valley lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal ranges. Srinagar, the summer capital, sits at about 1,585 metres beside Dal Lake. The hill stations are within a half-day drive of Srinagar.
Driving times from Srinagar. Add time in the snow months.
| From Srinagar to | Distance | Driving time | Altitude | Best for |
|---|
| Gulmarg | 50 km | 1.5 hours | 2,650 m | Snow, skiing, the Gondola |
| Pahalgam | 90 km | 2.5 hours | 2,740 m | Valleys, river walks, Amarnath route |
| Sonmarg | 80 km | 2.5 hours | 2,730 m | Glacier, alpine meadows, Ladakh road |
| Doodh Pathri | 42 km | 1.5 hours | 2,730 m | Quiet meadows, day trip |
| Yousmarg | 50 km | 2 hours | 2,400 m | Quiet meadows, day trip |
Most first visits run 4 to 6 nights. A week adds quieter valleys such as Doodh Pathri, Yousmarg or Lolab.
When is the best time to visit Kashmir?
Any month works. Each season is a different holiday.
| Season | Months | Weather in Srinagar | What is on | Package rates |
|---|
| Spring | March – April | 10–20 °C, showers | Almond and cherry blossom; Tulip Garden (about 1.5 million bulbs, Asia’s largest) open 3–4 weeks from late March | Mid |
| Summer | May – June | 20–32 °C, dry | Peak season; all roads and the Gulmarg Gondola open; cool evenings in Pahalgam and Sonmarg | Highest |
| Autumn | October – November | 8–22 °C, clear | Chinar leaves turn gold and red; apple and saffron harvests | 20–40% below summer |
| Winter | December – February | −5 to 8 °C, snow | Snow in Srinagar, heavy snow in Gulmarg; skiing, snowboarding, snow Gondola; allow for weather delays | Lowest, except Christmas–New Year |
Package prices change with the season. See the current Kashmir tour ideas for dates and rates.
What are the top places to visit in Kashmir?
Srinagar and Dal Lake
Srinagar is the base for every itinerary. Dal Lake covers about 18 square kilometres. A night on a houseboat and an evening Shikara ride are the two experiences most visitors come for. The Mughal Gardens — Nishat Bagh (1633), Shalimar Bagh (1619) and Chashma Shahi (1632) — sit on the eastern shore. Pari Mahal, the Shankaracharya Temple, Hazratbal shrine and the old city around Jamia Masjid fit into one day with a car and driver.
Gulmarg
Gulmarg is Kashmir’s ski resort in winter and a pine-ringed meadow in summer. The Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable cars in the world, climbs from the meadow towards Apharwat peak. The shrine of Baba Reshi and St. Mary’s Church are short detours.
Booking the Gulmarg Gondola
The Gondola runs in two stages. Phase 1 climbs from Gulmarg to Kongdoori at about 3,050 m. Phase 2 continues to Apharwat at about 3,980 m, which is where the snow lasts longest. They are ticketed separately, and a separate chair lift runs from Kongdoori.
Book online, in advance, through the Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation, the official operator. In peak season – the December to February snow weeks and the April to June holidays – slots are taken well ahead, and counter tickets on the day frequently sell out. Phase 2 also closes at short notice in high wind or poor visibility, and tickets are refunded or rescheduled by the corporation rather than by us. Gondola and chair lift tickets are not included in our package prices.
Pahalgam
Pahalgam sits on the Lidder River in south Kashmir. Betaab Valley, Aru and Chandanwari are day trips by road or pony. The Lidder offers river rafting from April to October.
Sonmarg
Sonmarg, the “meadow of gold”, lies below the Thajiwas Glacier on the road to Ladakh. It is a day trip from Srinagar for glacier walks, pony rides and, in season, rafting on the Sindh.
Our places guide covers Verinag, Kokernag, Achabal, Manasbal, Naranag, the Mughal Road and Tosa Maidan.
Does one vehicle cover the whole trip?
Not for the sightseeing inside the hill stations, and this surprises most first-time visitors. Your Srinagar vehicle carries you for the full trip – airport, hotels, and the run out to Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg and back. Once you arrive, local taxi unions hold the right to run sightseeing within each of those areas, and Srinagar-registered commercial vehicles are not permitted to do it.
It is a long-standing local arrangement, not a charge invented for tourists. What it means in practice:
- Pahalgam. Your vehicle stops at the Pahalgam taxi stand. Aru valley, Betaab valley and Chandanwari are covered by local union taxis, usually sold as one circuit of the three.
- Sonmarg. Your vehicle reaches Sonmarg itself. Thajiwas glacier is reached by pony or on foot, and Zero Point, further up the Zojila road, needs a local vehicle. Zero Point is seasonal and closes with snow and road conditions.
- Gulmarg. Your vehicle parks at the main stand. Gulmarg is walked, or taken by Gondola, so there is less local transport to arrange – but ponies and sledges are handled by their own union, at rates agreed on the spot.
These local fares are set by the unions and revised each season, so we do not fold them into the package price – quoting a figure that changes would leave you paying a difference on the day. Ask us before you travel and we will tell you the current rate for the circuits you plan to do.
What can you do in Kashmir?
Adventure runs all year. Summer brings trekking to the Great Lakes, Kolahoi Glacier and Vishansar. Winter brings skiing and snowboarding in Gulmarg. In between there is paragliding, pony riding, trout fishing, golf and mountain cycling. The Shikara ride is complimentary on every tour booked with us.
Kashmir is also its craft and its food. Srinagar’s markets sell Pashmina shawls, Tilla and Aari embroidery, papier-mâché, walnut-wood carving and hand-knotted carpets. See our guide to the handicrafts of Kashmir. Wazwan is the multi-course Kashmiri feast to plan a day around. Harissa is the winter breakfast to try. Kahwa (saffron green tea) and Noon Chai (salted pink tea) come with every welcome. Apples, walnuts, almonds and Pampore saffron are the things to carry home; more in our note on the orchards of Kashmir.
How do you reach Kashmir?
- By air: Srinagar International Airport (SXR) is about 12 km from the city. Delhi is a 1.5-hour flight; Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Jammu and Leh also have direct services. Every package includes airport pick-up.
- By rail: Srinagar is connected to Jammu and Katra by train through the Banihal line. Jammu Tawi remains the main railhead for connections from across India.
- By road: the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH44) is about 270 km and takes 7 to 9 hours. It is open all year. The Mughal Road from Poonch and the Srinagar–Leh highway via Sonmarg open in summer.
What do Kashmir Travel Packages include?
Every package is an itinerary we run ourselves, not a resale. Prices on this page are per person for two adults sharing a double room, and they change with the season. Here is what that figure covers.
| Item | What you get |
|---|
| Accommodation | Hotels and houseboats we have inspected ourselves, in the category you choose. |
| Meal plan | Breakfast and dinner at the hotel every day (MAP, in trade terms). |
| Vehicle | Our own vehicles and drivers for the whole trip. The vehicle is private to your party and sized to your group – it is shared only if you book a group tour. |
| Tolls, fuel, parking, driver allowance | Included. Nothing to pay the driver on the road. |
| Airport transfers | Arrival and departure transfers at Srinagar (SXR). |
| Sightseeing | Sightseeing in Srinagar and the run to each hill station, arranged around your dates. |
| Taxes | GST is included in the price shown. No tax is added at invoice. |
Not included: flights and train fares; local union taxis inside Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg; Gondola and chair lift tickets; pony, sledge and shikara rides taken on the spot; monument and garden entry fees; anything personal.
Pick a ready itinerary from the list on this page, or send us your dates, group size and hotel category and we will build one. Families, honeymoon couples, groups and B2B partners are all handled.
Why book with Duke Kashmir Travels?
- Registered travel agency, Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, since March 2011 (JKTA00003978).
- Allied Member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) since 2016. Active Member of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK). Co-founder of the JK Tourism Council.
- Award of Excellence, Best Emerging Travel Agency — TAAK, 2011.
- Own office in Srinagar (Shah Complex, Nowhatta Chowk) with local staff on call throughout your trip.
- Payments only to the official company bank account, never to a personal account.
Hotels and huts run by the state can be booked through JKTDC; we include them in packages where they fit. Questions about dates, weather or what to pack? The FAQs below cover the ones we hear most, or contact us on +91 9018 44 0000 or info@dukekashmirtravels.com.
About the founder
Duke Kashmir Travels was founded in Srinagar in 2011 by Rayies Ahmad Zargar, who still owns and runs it. He is a founder-member of the JK Tourism Council and a member of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir. The team writes the destination guides on this site from the itineraries the agency operates every season, and he reviews each one before it is published. Rayies on LinkedIn.