Things worth doing in Kashmir
The mornings and afternoons people actually remember — add them to any stay or package.
Pahalgam₹1,500Horse Riding
Ponies carry guests up forest trails to meadows that cars can't reach. The classic ride from Pahalgam climbs through pine forest to Baisaran, known as "Mini Switzerland," stopping at viewpoints along the way. Rides also run to Thajiwas Glacier in Sonamarg and across the Gulmarg meadows. Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg Price: The official Pahalgam rate list sets ₹1500 return per pony to Baisaran, including one hour of waiting. Best time: April to October
Sonamarg₹3,000Camping
Guests spend a night under the stars in a riverside meadow, with a bonfire, Kashmiri dinner and waking up to mountain views. Camps range from simple tents to glamping sites with beds and attached washrooms. Location: Aru Valley, Sonamarg, Lidder Valley and Doodhpathri Price: About ₹1,500–5,000 per person per night, including meals (est.) Best time: May to September
Gulmarg₹3,000Snowmobile Ride
Guests race across snow covered meadows on a motorized snowmobile, with pine forests and snow capped peaks all around. It is one of the most popular winter thrills for families and non skiers, and it needs no experience because a driver or guide rides along. Location: Gulmarg (including Kongdori) and Sonamarg Price: About ₹1,500–3,000 per ride. Longer tours cost more. Best time: December to March
Srinagar₹500Shikara Ride
The shikara is Kashmir's iconic wooden boat with carved canopies and cushioned seats. A ride glides past houseboats, lotus gardens and floating shops on Dal Lake, and it is most magical at sunrise or sunset. Location: Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake, Srinagar Price: The J&K Tourism rate for a one hour ride is ₹600 for a two seat boat and ₹800 for a four seat boat. This is charged per boat, not per person, which works out to roughly ₹200 300 per person. Best time: Year round
Gulmarg₹2,500Snowboarding
Gulmarg's wide open bowls and fresh powder are ideal for snowboarding. Rental shops at the Gondola base supply boards and boots, and local instructors teach first timers the basics on gentle slopes before they move on to the Kongdori runs. Location: Gulmarg Price: Board rental costs a little more than skis, at about ₹700–1,000 per day. Instructor fees are extra. ViaKashmir 🗓️ Best time: December to March
Srinagar₹3,500Paragliding
Guests glide over the Kashmir Valley on a tandem flight with a certified pilot, with no experience needed. Flights from Astanmarg near Srinagar look down over Dal Lake, Mahadev Peak, Dachigam National Park and the Mughal Gardens. Location: Astanmarg Harwan, Srinagar Price: About ₹3,500 per person in Srinagar, including transport from Harwan. Best time: May to September
Pahalgam₹2,000Rafting
River rafting is an exciting outdoor sport where people use an inflatable raft to ride fast, churning river water. Trips range from calm floating to dangerous wild water. Guides sort river speeds into grades from one to six to show how hard the waves and rocks are.
Gulmarg₹1,000Sledging
Local sledge pullers drag guests across the snow on traditional wooden sledges. Guests can also slide down the snowy slopes themselves. It is simple and fun, and children love it. Location: Thajiwas Glacier (Sonamarg), Gulmarg and Pahalgam Price: About ₹500–1,500, depending on the distance. Best time: December to April. Thajiwas Glacier has snow into early summer.
Sonamarg₹1,000Trekking
Kashmir has some of India's most beautiful treks, past alpine lakes, glaciers and wildflower meadows. The options range from half day hikes to Alpather Lake or Kolahoi viewpoints to multi day routes such as the Kashmir Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar. Location: Srinagar, Sonamarg, Aru Valley (Pahalgam) and Gulmarg Price: A guide for a day hike costs about ₹1,000–2,000. Organized multi day treks cost about ₹15,000–25,000 per person. Best time: June to September
Gulmarg₹2,000Skiing
Gulmarg is India's premier ski destination, with slopes on Mount Apharwat for every level, from gentle nursery runs near the village to long, steep descents from the top of the Gondola. Beginners can take lessons from certified instructors. Experienced skiers come from around the world for Gulmarg's deep powder and some of the most affordable skiing anywhere. Location: Gulmarg (Kongdori and Apharwat slopes) Price: A full set of skis, boots and poles costs about ₹500–800 per day to rent. Group lessons for beginners at the Gulmarg Ski School cost about ₹800–1,200 per half day session. Best time: December to March
Pahalgam₹100Saffron Field Visit
Each autumn, the fields of Pampore turn purple with saffron flowers. Guests can watch farmers hand pick the blooms and buy pure Kashmiri saffron straight from the source. Location: Pampore (about 15 km from Srinagar) Price: Free to visit. A guided visit costs about ₹500 Best time: Late October to Mid November
Doodhpathri₹100Apple Orchard Tour
Guests walk through orchards heavy with red apples during harvest season. They can pick fruit straight from the trees, taste fresh apples and walnuts, and learn how Kashmir's famous apples are grown. Location: Sopore, Shopian and orchards along the Srinagar Pahalgam highway Price: Free to about ₹500 Best time: September to October
Gulmarg₹850Gondola Cable Car
One of the highest cable cars in the world, the Gondola climbs in two stages. Phase 1 runs from Gulmarg at about 2,690 m up to Kongdori, and Phase 2 continues to Apharwat Peak at about 4,200 m. From the top, guests get sweeping views of the Himalayas and snowfields even in summer. It is Gulmarg's must do experience in every season. Location: Gulmarg Price: About ₹800 per person for Phase 1 and ₹1,000 for Phase 2. Tickets should be booked online in advance. Best time: Year round, subject to weather
Pahalgam₹1,000ATV Ride
Guests ride all terrain quad bikes over snow and mountain trails. It is an easy, fun adventure that needs no experience. Location: Gulmarg and Sonamarg Price: About ₹800–1500 Best time: Most of the year
Srinagar₹1,000Kayaking & Water Sports
Guests can paddle a kayak across the calm lake waters at their own pace or try other water sports. It is a peaceful way to explore the quieter corners of the lakes. Location: Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake and Manasbal Lake Price: About ₹500–1,000 per hour Best time: May to September
Pahalgam₹1,000Trout Fishing
Kashmir's clear, cold streams are home to brown and rainbow trout. Guests can cast a line in the scenic Lidder River or the trout waters around Kokernag. It is a peaceful experience with a long history in the valley. Location: Lidder River (Pahalgam), Kokernag and Daksum Price: About ₹1,000–2,500 per day, including the permit and gear. A licence from the Fisheries Department is required. Best time: April to September
Srinagar₹100Bird Watching
Every winter, thousands of migratory birds fly in from Central Asia and Siberia to Kashmir's wetlands. Hokersar is the best place to see ducks, geese and waders in large numbers. Location: Hokersar Wetland (near Srinagar), Wular Lake and Shallabugh Price: Free to about ₹500 with a local guide. Best time: November to February
Srinagar₹4,000Golf
Guests can tee off at some of the world's most scenic golf courses. The Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., overlooks Dal Lake. The Gulmarg Golf Course is among the highest in the world. Visitors can play without a membership by paying green fees. Location: Royal Springs (Srinagar), Gulmarg Golf Club and Pahalgam Golf Course Price: About ₹3,000–4,000 for 18 holes, plus cart and club hire. Best time: April to November
Srinagar₹500Kashmiri Handicraft Workshop Tour
Kashmir's handicrafts are known around the world, and Srinagar is recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City for crafts and folk arts. This tour takes guests behind the showroom counters and into the workshops where the work is actually done. Guests watch pashmina being spun and woven by hand on wooden looms, and learn how to tell a genuine pashmina shawl from an imitation. In a carpet workshop they see weavers tie thousands of knots by hand while following the taalim, a coded script that sets out the pattern row by row. The tour also visits papier-mâché artists who shape and paint boxes, vases and ornaments with fine floral designs, and walnut wood carvers who cut detailed chinar leaves and vines into furniture and trays. At each stop the artisans explain their tools, how long a single piece takes and how the skill has been passed down through their families. Guests can try a few simple steps themselves, ask questions and buy directly from the makers at fair prices, which supports the craft families of the valley. It is an easy, indoor friendly activity that works in every season, including rainy and snowy days.
Srinagar₹1,000Wazwan Dining Experience
No trip to Kashmir is complete without Wazwan, the traditional multi-course feast that sits at the heart of Kashmiri celebrations. It is prepared by master chefs called wazas, who learn the craft within their families and cook through the night in large copper pots over wood fires. Guests are seated in groups of four around a trami, a large copper platter heaped with rice, and the meal begins with the washing of hands from a traditional jug and basin called the tash-t-naer. The courses then arrive one after another. They include seekh kababs, tabak maaz (crisp fried lamb ribs), rogan josh, rista (meatballs in a red gravy), aab gosht cooked in milk, and yakhni in a delicate yoghurt sauce. The meal ends with gushtaba, a soft meatball in white gravy that is always served last, followed by a cup of saffron kahwa. Along the way guests learn what each dish is, how it is made and why the order of serving matters. The experience can be arranged as a full traditional feast or a shorter tasting menu, with vegetarian options such as `Dum Aloo, Nadru Yakhni and Haakh available on request. It is ideal for families, couples and groups who want to taste real Kashmiri hospitality.
Srinagar₹1,000Old City Heritage Walk
The old city of Srinagar, known locally as Downtown or Shehr-e-Khaas, is where the story of Kashmir is easiest to read. This guided walk takes guests through narrow lanes lined with timber and brick houses, carved wooden balconies and bazaars that have traded in the same goods for centuries. The route begins at Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, a 14th century mosque whose prayer hall stands on hundreds of tall deodar pillars around a quiet garden courtyard. From there guests walk to Khanqah-e-Moula on the bank of the Jhelum, one of the oldest shrines in the valley, famous for its carved woodwork and richly painted papier mache interior. The walk continues past the tomb of Budshah, the stone built Pathar Masjid and the old bridges of Zaina Kadal, with stops in the copper, spice and dried fruit markets along the way. A local guide explains the history, the architecture and the daily life of the neighbourhood, and there is time to try fresh bread from a traditional kandur bakery with a cup of noon chai. It is a slow, easy walk that suits families, photographers and anyone who wants to see the side of Srinagar beyond the lakes and gardens.
