Best of Kashmir: Valley of Paradise & Alpine Meadows
Inbegriffene Leistungen
Übersicht
Reiseverlauf
02:00 PM – 05:00 PM (Mughal Heritage Circuit): Drive along Boulevard Road past ancient Chinar trees to explore:
Nishat Bagh (Garden of Pleasure): Built in 1633 by Asif Khan, featuring 12 terraced lawns sweeping down toward Dal Lake against the Zabarwan mountain range.
Shalimar Bagh (Abode of Love): Commissioned in 1619 by Emperor Jahangir for Empress Nur Jahan, famous for its polished black-marble pavilion (Farah Bakhsh) and stone water fountains.
Chashme Shahi: The royal natural freshwater spring garden laid out by Ali Mardan Khan in 1632.
05:30 PM – 07:00 PM (Sunset Shikara Ride): Glide across the calm waters of Dal Lake. Pass floating vegetable gardens (Radh), lotus pods, and floating handicraft markets, watching the snow-dusted Pir Panjal peaks glow gold in the twilight.
Evening: Savor an authentic dinner on the houseboat deck. Overnight stay on the Houseboat.
10:30 AM – 02:30 PM (Gulmarg Gondola to Apharwat Peak): Board the world’s second-highest operating cable car:
Phase 1 (Kongdoori - 3,050 m / 10,000 ft): Ascend through pine-clad bowls to the Kongdoori shoulder for gentle snow activities, snowmobiling, or walking through meadows.
Phase 2 (Apharwat Peak - 4,200 m / 13,780 ft): Climb above the tree line to the frozen crest of Apharwat, right beneath the Line of Control. Walk over crisp snow fields and view panoramic vistas of Nanga Parbat on clear days.
03:00 PM – 04:30 PM (St. Mary’s Church & Golf Course): Walk or hire a pony across the rolling meadow to view the 110-year-old Victorian-era St. Mary’s Church and the historic 18-hole Gulmarg Golf Course.
Evening: Drive back to Srinagar. Check into your hotel. Overnight stay in Srinagar.
Reach Pahalgam ("Valley of Shepherds" - 2,130 m / 7,000 ft): Follow the roaring turquoise waters of the glacier-fed Lidder River into Pahalgam. Check into your riverside hotel or pine-cottage resort and freshen up.
01:30 PM – 05:30 PM (Internal Valley Exploration): Switch to a local Pahalgam taxi to explore:
Betaab Valley (Hajan Valley): Famous for the Bollywood film Betaab, surrounded by snow-crested cliffs, pine woods, and green meadows flanking the Lidder.
Chandanwari (2,895 m): The starting trailhead of the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, featuring year-round snow bridges.
Aru Valley: A pristine alpine village 12 km upstream, known for log cottages and hiking trails leading to Kolahoi Glacier.
Evening: Stroll through the local Pahalgam market for embroidered Pashmina shawls and carved walnut woodwork. Dine beside the roaring river. Overnight stay in Pahalgam.
11:30 AM – 02:30 PM (Return Drive to Srinagar): Check out and drive along the river valley back to Srinagar. Check into your hotel.
03:30 PM – 06:30 PM (Shankaracharya Temple & Craft Bazaars): Climb the forested Takht-i-Suleiman hill to visit the 9th-century stone Shankaracharya Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, offering 360-degree aerial views of Dal Lake, the Jhelum River, and Srinagar city. Visit an authentic artisan workshop to watch live demonstrations of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets (Kaleen), silk shawls, and lacquer papier-mâché painting.
Evening: Savor a traditional multi-course Kashmiri Wazwan dinner (Rogan Josh, Rista, Gushtaba, and fragrant saffron rice). Overnight stay in Srinagar.
10:30 AM – 01:00 PM (Thajiwas Glacier): Take a scenic pony ride or 45-minute alpine walk to the foot of Thajiwas Glacier, where snow melts into turquoise streams beneath towering glaciated crags. Walk along snow patches and enjoy hot Maggi noodles and tea from mountain kiosks.
01:30 PM (Direct Airport Transfer): Drive back down the highway directly to Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar (SXR - 85 km / 2.5 hrs). Arrive at the airport by 04:00 PM for late-afternoon or evening flights home. (Note: For flights departing before 03:00 PM, Day 4 and Day 5 are reversed to ensure a stress-free airport drop directly from Srinagar city).