Vaishno Devi and KashmirKashmir in 7 nights

Seven nights from Jammu: two in Katra for darshan at Vaishno Devi, then Pahalgam, Srinagar with a day at Sonamarg, a night in Gulmarg and a last night on a Dal Lake houseboat.

Day 1

Arrive in Jammu, drive to Katra

About 50 km · 1.5 hours

Our representative meets you at Jammu or Katra railway station and drives you to Katra, the base town for the Vaishno Devi yatra in the Trikuta hills. Check in; the evening is free.

Dinner Overnight: Katra

Day 2

Darshan at Vaishno Devi

About 12 km each way on foot from Katra

An early start for the walk up to the Vaishno Devi shrine for darshan. Ponies, palkis, battery cars and the helicopter to Sanjichhat are available at extra cost. Back to Katra to rest. Night in Katra.

Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Katra

Day 3

Katra to Pahalgam

About 260 km · 7 to 8 hours

A long, scenic drive north through the mountains and the Banihal tunnel into the Kashmir valley, stopping for photographs on the way, to Pahalgam on the Lidder river. Check in for the night.

Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Pahalgam

Day 4

Pahalgam to Srinagar

About 95 km · 2.5 to 3 hours

Drive back towards Srinagar, stopping at the saffron fields and market of Pampore, a cricket-bat workshop and the Awantipora ruins. Check in at your hotel in Srinagar.

Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Srinagar

Day 5

Day trip to Sonamarg

About 80 km each way · 2.5 to 3 hours

Drive up the Sindh valley to Sonamarg, the 'meadow of gold', through villages, paddy fields and pine forest beside the river. From Sonamarg, a local taxi or pony (paid there) takes you about 4 km to the Thajiwas glacier. Back to Srinagar for the night.

Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Srinagar

Day 6

Srinagar to Gulmarg

About 50 km · 1.5 to 2 hours

Drive to Gulmarg, the 'meadow of flowers'. Ride the Gulmarg Gondola (tickets extra; book early in season) up to Kongdori and, weather permitting, to Apharwat at about 4,000 m for the Himalayan peaks. In winter Gulmarg is India's best-known ski slope; the rest of the year its meadows and the 18-hole golf course, one of the highest in the world, are green. Night in Gulmarg.

Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Gulmarg

Day 7

Gulmarg to Srinagar: Mughal gardens and a shikara ride

About 50 km · 1.5 hours

Drive down to Srinagar and check in to your houseboat on Dal Lake. In the afternoon, visit the Shankaracharya temple and the terraced Mughal gardens: Chashme Shahi, laid out around a spring in 1632; Pari Mahal, the seven-terraced 'palace of fairies' above Dal Lake; Nishat Bagh, the 'garden of pleasure'; and Shalimar Bagh, built by Emperor Jahangir for Nur Jahan. In the evening, an hour-long shikara ride on Dal Lake (included) past the floating vegetable gardens, the lotus beds and the little canal-side markets, with the Zabarwan hills behind. Night on your houseboat.

Breakfast, Dinner Overnight: Srinagar houseboat

Day 8

Srinagar to Jammu, and home

About 250 km · 7 to 8 hours

After breakfast, drive back through the mountains to Jammu railway station or airport for your journey home. Allow a full day for the drive.

Breakfast

Tour details

Accommodation

Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.

Hotels and houseboats are as listed or similar, subject to availability. Breakfast and dinner are included (MAP).

Package cost

Price per adult on twin sharing, by the number of adults travelling together. Land only.

Private vehicle with driver: a sedan for 2 adults, and an Innova, Innova Crysta or Tempo Traveller for larger groups. Point to point as per the itinerary.

Rates in INR per person on twin sharing, reconfirmed for your dates at booking. GST 5% extra. The extra-bed price is for a third person sharing the room; the child price is for a child of 5 to 12 sharing without a bed.

Optional add-ons

Not in the package price. Add them when you book.

Tour information

Read this to prepare for your holiday.

Good to know

• Prices are per person, for travellers sharing a room, and depend on how many travel together. They are for winter 2026–27 and are reconfirmed for your dates when you enquire; Christmas and New Year week may cost more.
• The vehicle is a sedan for two, and an Innova, Innova Crysta or Tempo Traveller for larger groups.
• In Pahalgam, private cars can't go into Betaab, Aru and Chandanwari; local union cabs take you, paid there. At Sonamarg, a pony or local taxi goes to the Thajiwas glacier.
• The walk to Vaishno Devi is about 12 km each way and takes most of the day; register for the yatra slip (RFID card) at Katra before you start.
• Book the Gulmarg Gondola online as soon as your dates are fixed; tickets for the upper phase sell out in season, and it closes in high wind or heavy snow.
• In winter, snow can close the roads to Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and the upper valleys at short notice; the driver may change the order of the days to keep you safe.
• Houseboats are moored on Dal Lake; a shikara takes you between the shore and the boat.
• Check-in is at 12 noon and check-out at 11 am.
• Children's rates: a third person sharing a room with an extra bed pays the extra-bed rate; a child of 5 to 12 without a bed pays the child rate. Children under 5 stay free.

When to go

April to June, and December to February for snow. Spring and early summer bring green meadows and the Srinagar tulip garden (usually late March to April). Winter turns Gulmarg white. Late October brings golden chinar trees.

Our favourite months

Cancellation policy & payment terms

• Flights, trains and houseboats are paid in full at the time of ticketing or confirmation.
• Payments by bank transfer (NEFT / RTGS / IMPS), UPI or cheque in favour of TripRoutes. Card payments may carry a convenience fee.
• GST 5% is charged on the package cost as per government rules. On international holidays, TCS also applies as per government rules.
• Cancellation charges are per person, counted from the date of departure.
• Cancellations must be sent in writing by email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
• Air and train tickets are refunded as per the airline / railway rules, plus our service charge.
• Visa fees, insurance premiums and non-refundable hotel or houseboat bookings (peak dates, special events) are not refundable.
• Refunds are processed within 15 working days of receiving supplier refunds.
• There is no refund for services not used during the holiday.
• Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
• Prices are subject to availability at the time of booking.
• TripRoutes is not liable for changes caused by weather, strikes, roadblocks, flight delays or government orders; extra costs arising are payable by the guest.

Questions about this holiday