Destinations
Distances here are short but the roads are slow. This is how we usually put a route together, and what each place is genuinely good for.
Lakes, gardens, and old city craft lanes
Srinagar is where almost every Kashmir holiday begins. Wooden houseboats line Dal Lake, Mughal gardens climb the hillsides in terraces, and the old city hides seven centuries of woodwork, shrines, and copper workshops.
April to October, and December for snow
Meadow of flowers, mountain of snow
In summer Gulmarg is a wide green bowl ringed by pine. In winter it becomes one of Asia's best known ski destinations, with the gondola lifting you to almost four thousand metres.
December to March for snow, May to September for meadows
Shepherd valleys along the Lidder
Pahalgam sits where two rivers meet, surrounded by fir forest and grazing meadows. It is the gentlest base in Kashmir for families and the starting point for several classic treks.
March to November
The meadow of gold below the glaciers
Sonmarg opens up between snow peaks and glacier fed rivers on the road towards Ladakh. Thajiwas glacier is an easy half day out, and the flower meadows in July are extraordinary.
May to September
The valley of milk, still mostly empty
Doodhpathri is a shallow bowl of grass and braided streams that stays quiet even in peak season. It works beautifully as a day trip for travellers who want space rather than crowds.
April to October