Kashmir Great Lakes
The classic Kashmir traverse — Sonamarg to Naranag over seven to eight days, with a new alpine lake almost every day. Around 70 km of meadow, pass and blue water, crossing Gadsar Pass at 4,180 m beneath Mount Harmukh. This is the trek people come to Kashmir for; we run it small-group from the valley.
Vishansar
The first great lake, reached after Nichnai Pass — deep blue and ringed by peaks, a source of the Kishanganga. Its name means the lake of Vishnu.
Krishansar
Vishansar’s higher twin just above it, named for Krishna. From its shore the trail climbs to the highest pass of the trek.
Gadsar
The lake of fishes, reached over Gadsar Pass at 4,180 m — the high point of the trek. Wildflower meadows fringe the water, with an old local legend of a creature in its depths.
Satsar
Sat means seven — a chain of small alpine lakes spread across meadow and boulder, and the last check post before the twin lakes.
Gangabal
The largest of the great lakes, at the foot of Mount Harmukh — sacred to Kashmiri Pandits and full of brown trout.
Nundkol
Gangabal’s twin, cradled directly under the glaciers of Harmukh and joined to it by a short stream. Often the quietest camp of the trek.
Suggested route · 7 days / 6 nights
Day 1 — Kulgam to Shitkadi (Sonamarg). Drive about 150 km (5 to 6 hours via Srinagar) to the base camp near 7,800 ft. Overnight camp.
Day 2 — Shitkadi to Nichnai. About 11 to 12 km, 6 to 7 hours, climbing through forest and meadow to Nichnai (~11,900 ft).
Day 3 — Nichnai to Vishansar. Cross Nichnai Pass (~13,225 ft); about 13.5 km, 6 to 7 hours. Camp by Vishansar Lake.
Day 4 — Vishansar to Gadsar. Past Krishansar and over Gadsar Pass (~13,850 ft, the high point); about 16 km, 7 to 8 hours — the toughest day.
Day 5 — Gadsar to Satsar. About 11 km, 5 to 6 hours, to the seven interconnected Satsar lakes (~12,100 ft).
Day 6 — Satsar to Gangabal. Over Zaj Pass, past Nundkol under Mount Harmukh, to Gangabal (~11,700 ft); about 9 km, 5 to 6 hours.
Day 7 — Gangabal to Naranag, drive back. Descend about 13 km to the Naranag road head, then drive ~120 km (about 4 to 4.5 hours) back to Kulgam.
About 74 km on foot · 7 days / 6 nights · moderate to difficult · three passes (Nichnai, Gadsar, Zaj) · best July to September · highest point Gadsar Pass ~13,850 ft · base camp ~150 km / 5 to 6 hours from our Kulgam base.