The short answer: yes, and you'll get a warm welcome
Thousands of international travellers visit Kashmir every year. In 2025 alone, Jammu and Kashmir welcomed 36,410 foreign visitors. The main tourist areas of Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg are well policed and used to hosting guests from all over the world.
What most visitors remember is the hospitality: tea poured the moment you sit down, shikara rides at sunrise and hosts who treat you like family. With a little planning, a trip to Kashmir can be wonderfully smooth.
This guide covers everything international travellers ask us about: what to sort out before you book, where you can go, the few local rules to know and how to make the most of winter.
Why 2026-27 is a great time to visit
Kashmir's tourism is on a strong upswing, and getting around has never been easier.
Visitors are coming back. More than 5.21 lakh tourists, including 8,195 from abroad, visited the Valley between January and mid-May 2026 alone.
Favourite spots are open again. After a security review, 42 of the 48 tourist spots that were temporarily closed in 2025 had reopened by February 2026, including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri, Yousmarg and the Tulip Garden.
Sonamarg is now open all winter. The Z-Morh tunnel, opened on 13 January 2025, means the "Meadow of Gold" no longer shuts for the snow season.
There's always something on. The third Kashmir Marathon ran past Dal Lake and the Mughal Gardens on 25 October 2026, and Gulmarg's week long New Year Carnival brings music, culture and food festivals to the snow from 31 December to 6 January (Rising Kashmir).
The world is taking notice. On his first visit to Srinagar in August 2026, US Ambassador Sergio Gor called Kashmir "an incredibly beautiful place" and praised the steps taken to keep it safe.
Before you book: a quick checklist
A few simple steps before you travel make everything easier once you land in Srinagar.
Get your Indian visa. Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online. You don't need any extra permit for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg.
Pick travel insurance that covers Jammu and Kashmir. Some governments, including the US, UK and Australia, still advise against travel to Jammu and Kashmir in their official guidance, and standard policies can exclude areas on those lists (GOV.UK). The US has said it will review its advice. Choose a policy that names J&K, and add winter sports if you plan to ski.
Book a registered hotel or houseboat in advance. Every place that hosts foreign guests in India registers them with the police through a simple online form called Form C. Booking ahead with a registered property means a quick, easy check-in.
Sort out your phone. Prepaid SIM cards from elsewhere in India don't work in Jammu and Kashmir; postpaid connections do (Greater Kashmir). Check that your roaming or travel eSIM works in J&K, and you'll have hotel Wi-Fi as a backup.
Leave a little room in your plans. If you're coming in winter, keep a spare day before your flight home in case snow delays flights.
Where you can go
The classic Kashmir circuit is fully open to international travellers, and it's where most of the magic is.
Srinagar: Dal Lake and its houseboats, quieter Nigeen Lake, the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, and the old city's bazaars and shrines.
Gulmarg: India's best-known ski resort and the famous Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable cars in the world.
Pahalgam: pine forests, the Lidder River and the valleys around it.
Sonamarg: glaciers, mountain views and, thanks to the new tunnel, snow all winter long.
Easy day trips: Doodhpathri, Yousmarg and the Drung frozen waterfall near Gulmarg.
Valleys that need a permit
A few remote valleys near the border need advance permission for foreign visitors. For Gurez Valley, you apply to the Deputy Commissioner's office in Bandipora three to four days before you arrive (Outlook Traveller). Border areas in Kupwara, such as Keran, Machil and Bangus, also need prior permission, and some areas right along the Line of Control are closed to foreigners. If one of these is on your wish list, ask your hotel or travel company to check what's open before you plan around it.
Good to know once you arrive
Kashmir has a handful of local rules that are easy to follow once you know them.
Keep your passport handy. You may be asked for ID at the airport, at your hotel or at a road checkpoint. It takes a minute.
Leave satellite phones at home. They need a licence from India's Department of Telecommunications, and travellers have been held for questioning at Srinagar airport for carrying one (News On AIR).
Check before you fly a drone. Drones need permission in India, so let your travel company arrange it or keep yours packed.
Skip photos of security posts. Snap away at lakes, mountains and markets, but don't photograph army or police posts, convoys or the airport.
Buy Gondola tickets online. Book on the official J&K Cable Car Corporation website, never from someone at the base station.
Enjoying Kashmir in winter
Winter is when Kashmir feels most magical: Gulmarg under deep snow, frozen waterfalls and bowls of steaming harissa on cold mornings. These tips help you make the most of it.
Keep a spare day before your flight home. Heavy snowfall can delay flights and close the Jammu-Srinagar highway for a day or two, so a buffer day keeps things relaxed.
Let a local driver handle the mountain roads. Drivers who run to Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg every day know the snow roads and carry chains when needed.
Ski with a certified local guide if you want to go beyond the marked slopes, and check the daily avalanche advisory before heading up.
Ride the Gondola early. Book tickets online in advance and take a morning slot; the upper phase can pause in strong wind. Our Gulmarg Gondola guide has everything you need.
Take it slow at the top. The upper Gondola station is close to 4,000 metres, so give yourself time to adjust.
Pack for real cold and stay somewhere cosy. Bring thermals, waterproof boots and gloves, and choose a hotel with proper heating. Chillai Kalan, the coldest 40 days from late December, is a uniquely Kashmiri season of kangris, kahwa and harissa.
Smart travel tips
Pay fair prices
Use the official rate cards. The government has fixed rates for shikara rides, pony rides and guides (Kashmir Monitor). Rate cards are displayed at the ghats, so have a quick look before you set off.
Book your stay and transfers before you land, so you can walk past anyone offering rooms or taxis at the airport.
Buy pashmina and saffron from established shops, and ask for a receipt.
Help is always close by. Tourist Reception Centres, tourism helplines and the Tourist Police are there to help with any problem (Kashmir Life).
Money
Withdraw cash in Srinagar, as ATMs are fewer in resort towns like Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
Larger hotels and shops accept cards; shikara owners, pony operators and small stalls usually prefer cash.
Local etiquette
Ask before taking photos of people. Most will happily say yes.
Take off your shoes when you visit a shrine.
Say yes to a cup of kahwa, Kashmir's saffron and almond green tea. Sharing it is the start of many friendships.
Travelling with Stay Pattern
Stay Pattern is an award-winning, Srinagar-based hotel and travel management company, rated 4.9 across review platforms. Our local team looks after international guests across the whole Kashmir circuit, so you can relax and enjoy the trip.
Handpicked stays across Kashmir: Aurum Luxury Collection and Lake Avenue near Dal Lake, Harmukh Houseboat on peaceful Nigeen Lake, Saffron and Wood Venture Residency in the city, Gulmarg Woods and Shaw Inn in Gulmarg, Marina Drung by the Drung waterfall, Badar Resort & Spa in Sonamarg and River Dale in Pahalgam.
Comfortable private cabs: from an Innova Crysta for couples and families to Tempo Travellers for groups, with drivers who know every mountain road. See our cabs.
Local know-how, every day: which spots are best that morning, how the roads look and whether the Gondola is running.
One team for everything: hotels, airport transfers, sightseeing and activities, all planned together.
Planning your trip? Talk to a Kashmir travel expert, WhatsApp us on +91 9622 333330 or email info@staypattern.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kashmir safe for foreign tourists?
Yes. Thousands of international travellers visit every year, and the main circuit of Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg is well policed and used to welcoming guests from abroad. Book a registered stay, travel with a trusted local team and make sure your insurance covers Jammu and Kashmir.
Do foreigners need a permit to visit Kashmir?
Not for the main destinations. A valid Indian visa is all you need for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Only a few remote border valleys, such as Gurez, need advance permission.
Is Srinagar safe for foreigners?
Yes. Srinagar is the base for almost every trip, with houseboats, gardens and markets that see visitors every day. Keep your passport handy and stay in a registered hotel or houseboat.
Is Gulmarg good for foreign skiers?
Gulmarg is famous for its powder snow and the Gondola that takes skiers close to 4,000 metres. If you want to ski beyond the marked slopes, go with a certified local guide and check the daily avalanche advisory.
Can foreigners stay on a houseboat in Srinagar?
Absolutely. A night on a houseboat is one of the highlights of any trip. Choose a registered houseboat that takes your passport details at check-in.
Will my phone work in Kashmir?
Prepaid Indian SIM cards from outside Jammu and Kashmir don't work there, but postpaid connections do. Check your roaming or travel eSIM before you go, and use hotel Wi-Fi as a backup.
Is Kashmir good for solo female travellers?
Yes. Many women travel solo in Kashmir and love the warm welcome. Use registered taxis or your hotel's transport at night, as you would in any new city.
What is the best time for foreigners to visit Kashmir?
December to February is best for snow and skiing. April to June brings flowers and mild weather, and September to October brings golden autumn colours. See our guide to the best time to visit Kashmir.
Will my travel insurance cover Kashmir?
Check that your policy names Jammu and Kashmir, because some governments' official advice still lists it as an area to avoid and standard policies may exclude it. Specialist travel insurers can cover it, including winter sports.
The bottom line
Kashmir is ready to welcome you. The valleys are open, the slopes are waiting and the hospitality is as warm as ever. Sort out your visa and insurance, book a registered stay and travel with people who know the Valley, and you're set for the trip of a lifetime.
Picture it: a shikara gliding across Dal Lake at dawn, fresh powder on the Gulmarg slopes and a cup of kahwa by the fire at the end of the day.
Ready to start planning? Talk to our Kashmir travel experts or WhatsApp us on +91 9622 333330, and we'll build a trip that's comfortable, easy and unforgettable.
