Kashmir is home to some of the most exhilarating mountains, lakes, alpine meadows, and snow-covered valleys. However, do you know that the region is also home to one of India’s longest and arguably the most beautiful treks – the Kashmir Great Lakes trek! The trek, of a total of 74 kilometers (km), offers panoramic views of some of Kashmir Valley’s most pristine lakes. If we got you excited, continue reading and start planning for your Great Lakes Kashmir Trek.
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek: Distance, Route, Difficulty, Fitness, Best Time
Lakes Of Kashmir: Trek Overview, Route, And Distance
The Great Lakes Kashmir Trek is a 74-km trek that begins from Shitkadi and ends at Naranag. In this 74-km long trek route, you’ll be making your way through three high-altitude passes located at an elevation of more than 13,000 ft! Plus, the average elevation throughout the trek will be about 7,200 to 13,800 ft.
To cover the entire distance in about 7 days, trekkers walk about 7 to 9 hours (sometimes non-stop) daily. The trek is considered to be a moderately difficult trek as it involves a long distance and a broad elevation range.
The Lakes of Kashmir trek begins at the Shitkadi Base Camp, about 75 to 80 km away from Srinagar. Many trek organizers begin their trek from here. The route that this trek follows is as mentioned below:
Srinagar – Shitkadi – Nichnai – Vishansar Lake via Nichnai Pass – Gadsar Lake via Gadsar Pass – Satsar Lake – Gangbal Lake via Zaj Pass – Naranag – Srinagar
Also, did you know that the word ‘Sar’ in the local language translates to ‘lake’? This explains why all the lakes in the Great Lakes Kashmir Trek have names ending with -sar! Isn’t that interesting?
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek: Rough Itinerary
Day 1
Reach Shitkadi from Srinagar by covering a road distance of about 70-80 km. If you’re trekking with a trek organizer, you’ll likely camp here overnight.
Altitude: About 9,000 ft
Day 2
From Shitkadi, you’ll then start your trek towards Nichnai. The trek route goes through scenic cedar and pine forests as well as lush green meadows and is a gradual ascent. You’ll pass through Shekdur and cover a trek distance of about 8.5 km, after which you’ll halt at Nichnai. And yes, you guessed it right! Nichnai is home to the first lake of the Great Lakes Kashmir Trek – Nichnai Lake!
Altitude: 11,600 ft at Nichnai
Day 3
From Nichnai, it’s time to pass through the Nichnai Pass and head towards the second lake of the trek – the Vishansar Lake. The Nichnai Pass gains altitude (13,580 ft), however, it gradually descends as you reach the Vishansar Lake. En route for Vishansar, you’ll come across a few small lakes, eventually reaching the pristine Vishansar Lake.
Altitude: 12,132 ft at Vishansar Lake
Day 4
Day 4 will be exciting as you’ll see not one, but two lakes. As you continue ahead from Vishansar, you’ll come across the calm Krishansar Lake. Continue a little further ahead and you’ll be passing through the Gadsar Pass, the highest point in the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek (13,800 ft). The descent from Gadsar Lake can be a bit challenging, but to compensate for that, you’ll have the expansive Gadsar Lake right in front of your eyes! Enjoy the beauty of the lake, head a little further ahead, and set up your overnight camp at Gadsar.
Altitude: 13,800 ft at Gadsar Pass
Day 5
From Gadsar Lake, it’s now time to head towards Satsar Lake. On your way, you’ll have to hike through a few descents and ascents, pass along the Watal Sar alpine lake, and hike your way to the Satsar Lake.
Altitude: 12,093 ft at Satsar Lake
Day 6
As you leave Satsar after an overnight stay, your trek towards Gangabal Lake will be a little more difficult than the previous days. The ascents and descents in this part of the trek route are steep, requiring you to be physically capable of taking charge of yourself. As you cross the Zaj Pass, you’ll be blessed with the stunning view of the twin lakes – Gangbal Lake and Nandkol Lake. These two lakes are situated just a few feet away from each other, explaining why they’re called by the name of the ‘twin lakes’.
Altitude: 11,715 ft at Gangabal Lake
Day 7
On your seventh day, you’ll make your way from Gangbal to Naranag. The trek route from Gangbal to Narang is 10 km long, however, this distance will help acclimatize you to the lowering elevation. From Naranag, Srinagar is only about 50 km away. The Kashmir Great Lakes trek route ends here at Naranag, after which you can drive to Srinagar.
Altitude: 7,415 ft at Naranag
Fitness And Precaution: How To Prepare For Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek will definitely be a physically demanding trek, especially if you’re a beginner or a first-time trekker. If you fall in these categories, we highly recommend skipping this trek or preparing weeks in advance. This is because the entire trek takes about 7 to 8 days to complete and covers an exhausting route going through valleys, passes, and difficult terrain. If you’re physically unfit, unprepared, or under-prepared for the trek, you might not be able to complete it.
Make sure to prepare at least 6 weeks in advance for the trek. Practice walking 3 to 4 km daily, maintain a regular exercise routine, and follow a healthy diet and water intake. Abstain from smoking and drinking at least a few weeks before the trek. These habits will physically prepare you for the trek at least in some capacity.
Also, note that this is the kind of trek we do not recommend going solo. This is because the trek is a long-distance journey through some of the most climatically dynamic terrains in India. If you’re a beginner or completely new to trekking, you might face difficulty adjusting to the changing environment and suffer physical exertion.
Chances are that you might even face symptoms of altitude sickness. It is best recommended to have a guide or go on a trek with tour operators and trek-organizing companies like Capture A Trip, Himalayan Hikers, India Hikes, TrekYaari, and Tripver.
Best Time To Participate In The Lakes Of Kashmir Trek
The best time to set out on the Lakes of Kashmir trek is between July and September. This is when the trek route is open, whereas the route is covered by snow almost entirely in other months.
July to September is also the period when this region receives rainfall. Plants, flowers, and lakes flourish as they receive rain, resulting in mesmerizing and colorful views sprawling wide in front of your eyes. Average daytime temperatures remain between 10°C to 20°C, while those at night remain between 2°C to 8°C.
The air is humid and the weather is quite pleasant, especially for people who are not accustomed to extreme cold weather conditions. The skies, both during the day and night, can many times become clear, allowing you to see rainbows in the day and stargaze in the night!
So, if you wish to experience this trek in its most beautiful form, we recommend trekking in the months of July to September!
Summing Up
Overall, the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is not for everyone – you must achieve a decent fitness level to take part in this exhilarating trek. The 74-km long trek is one of India’s most beautiful treks as you get to experience the beauty of plenty of Kashmir’s lakes all in one go. With pristine lake views, alpine meadows, vibrant flower patches, and adrenaline-pumping adventures, the Great Lakes Kashmir trek is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re sure you do not want to miss it, do you?
FAQs
How Long Is The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek?
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek is 74 km long. It takes about 7 to 8 days to complete the exciting trek.
What Are Some Of The Hardest Treks In India?
Here are some of the hardest treks in India:
- Lamkhaga Pass trek
- Dhumdhar Kandi Pass trek
- Pin Parvati Pass trek
- Warwan Valley trek
- Goechala trek
Can A Beginner Do The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek?
While a beginner can do a Kashmir Great Lakes trek after weeks of rigorous training, we recommend that the trek is not for beginners or first-time trekkers. The trek requires considerable physical and mental fitness, resilience, and endurance.
