Gulmarg Kongdoori Gondola and Thajiwas Glacier

Arrive at Srinagar airport where you are greeted with traditional spiced saffron Kahwa. Transfer to Dal Lake and settle into a walnut wood carved houseboat. In the late afternoon, board a private shikara to drift across the water as the sun sets over distant peaks and floating gardens. Later, take a gentle walk around Nehru Park and Boulevard Road. An optional candlelight dinner is available on the houseboat deck. Breakfast and lunch are not included; dinner is included.

Enjoy breakfast, then begin the two-hour drive past pine forests and mountain hamlets to Gulmarg. Check into your resort set among fir trees and head to the Gulmarg Gondola. The cable car takes you across Phase I to Kongdoori and Phase II towards Apharwat Peak for expansive snow and mountain views. Spend the afternoon wandering through alpine meadows or taking a pony ride. If available, unwind by a bonfire in the evening. Overnight stay in Gulmarg.

After breakfast, depart Gulmarg for Pahalgam. The route winds past saffron fields and stops at the historic stone ruins of Avantipura. Upon reaching Pahalgam, check into your riverside cottage or resort near the Lidder River. Head out to explore Betaab Valley, known for open meadows framed by snow-dusted peaks, and the quiet pine forests of Aru Valley. If time and weather allow, make a detour to Chandanwari. Return for a peaceful walk along the Lidder River before dinner.

Travel back to Srinagar after breakfast and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring Srinagar's classical Mughal Gardens, including the terraced lawns of Nishat Bagh, the cypress-lined water channels of Shalimar Bagh, and the freshwater spring of Chashme Shahi. Continue to the white marble Hazratbal Shrine by the lake and climb to Shankaracharya Temple for panoramic views across the city and Dal Lake. Conclude the day with dinner at a lakeside restaurant.

Set off on a 2.5-hour morning drive to Sonmarg, traversing mountain roads framed by the Himalayas. Upon arrival in the valley, take a horse ride towards Thajiwas Glacier, where seasonal snow activities are available among alpine meadows and pine forests. Take in the quiet scenery and crisp mountain air before beginning the drive back to Srinagar in the late afternoon. Return to your Srinagar hotel for dinner and your final night.

Have breakfast at your hotel. If your departure timing permits, visit the early morning Floating Market on Dal Lake by boat or walk through the market stalls of Lal Chowk for local handicrafts and saffron. Your driver transfers you to Srinagar airport for your return flight, bringing the trip to a close.