Flights
Hotels
HolidaysLakes, meadows and winter snow
Most Kashmir trips start and end in Srinagar and add Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg as day trips or short stays. Each is between one and a half and three hours away by road, so decide early whether you want to change hotels or come back to Srinagar every night.
Srinagar (SXR) is the only airport in the valley, and most travellers fly in from Delhi, Mumbai or Amritsar. Winter weather can delay flights, so avoid tight connections on the way home.
Best places to visit in Kashmir
You will not fit all of these into one trip, and you should not try. The itinerary that works is the one where your flights and hotel bases all point at the same route. Travelling with parents, young children or first-time international travellers? Cut the number of hotel changes and stay in areas with easier transport, even if it costs a little more per night.
Srinagar and Dal Lake
Shikara rides, the floating vegetable market early in the morning and the Mughal gardens of Nishat and Shalimar. A night on a houseboat is popular. Read recent reviews and check the exact location before you book one.
Gulmarg
Meadows in summer and snow from around December to March. The Gulmarg Gondola goes up in two phases, and tickets sell out in peak months, so book online as early as you can.
Pahalgam
A river town with the Aru and Betaab valleys nearby. Local taxi unions run most sightseeing trips inside the area, so agree the price on arrival.
Sonamarg
Close to the Thajiwas Glacier and the road towards Zoji La. Snow can close the road in winter, so check that it is open before you plan a day there.
Doodhpathri
A quieter meadow about two hours from Srinagar, good for a day trip when the better-known spots are crowded.
Suggested route from India
For six days: two nights in Srinagar, one or two in Gulmarg and two in Pahalgam, with Sonamarg as a day trip from Srinagar. In winter, focus on Srinagar and Gulmarg, because some roads and higher spots can close after snowfall.
Before you book, check whether your arrival city and departure city should be different. Open-jaw tickets can save backtracking on larger countries, while short-haul trips may work better with one simple return ticket. Also compare baggage allowance, airport transfer cost and hotel check-in timing because those details often decide whether a cheap fare is actually a good fare.
Flights, hotels and booking notes
Delhi to Srinagar flights are the most frequent, and Mumbai to Srinagar and Amritsar to Srinagar suit travellers from the west and from Punjab. Book a morning arrival if you can, so that a delay still leaves time to reach your hotel in daylight.
Prepaid mobile connections from other states usually do not work in Jammu and Kashmir, while postpaid ones do, so sort this out before you fly. Carry some cash for smaller places, and keep your ID handy for hotel check-in.
One more practical check for Kashmir: look at the local events calendar, school holidays, weather pattern and public transport hours before final payment. A destination can look affordable on the fare screen and become expensive because the best hotel area is sold out, a major festival has raised room rates, or the arrival time forces a private transfer. Build the plan in this order: entry rules, flight gateway, hotel area, local transport, then paid attractions.
Do not choose a trip only from postcard places. The useful plan is the one that connects intent to action: the right trip length, sensible transport, hotels in the correct area and flights that do not make the first day miserable.
Ready to compare fares for this trip? Search FlyX with your preferred dates, then use this guide to choose the route and hotel area that fit your travel style.
Search flights on FlyXOther travel guides from India
Planning a different destination, or comparing two? These cover the same ground - best months, trip length, routes and where the days are worth spending.