Kashmir Valley Classic
Dal Lake houseboats, the Gulmarg gondola and the Lidder valley at Pahalgam — the valley's three great days, without a rushed itinerary.
Srinagar (3N), Pahalgam (1N), Gulmarg (1N)
Overview
- One night on a deluxe houseboat on Dal Lake
- Gulmarg Gondola phase one to Kongdoori
- Betaab Valley and Aru at Pahalgam
- Shikara ride through the floating gardens at sunset
- Mughal Gardens — Shalimar, Nishat and Chashme Shahi
- Sonamarg day trip with the Thajiwas glacier
Dal Lake houseboats, the Gulmarg gondola and the Lidder valley at Pahalgam — the valley's three great days, without a rushed itinerary.
Kashmir Valley Classic runs for 5 nights and 6 days across Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg. Like every Elitech itinerary it carries no fixed departure date — tell us roughly when you want to travel and we confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
The route below is a starting point. Extend a city, change the hotel category, add a private guide or remove a sightseeing block, and we will re-cost the trip and send you a revised plan, usually within a working day.
No fixed departure dates. This itinerary is operated in the window that suits you. Tell us roughly when you can travel and we will confirm availability, hotels and pricing for exactly those days.
Cities covered
Best time to travel: Blossom and tulips in early spring, the greenest meadows in summer, chinar colour in autumn and snow in winter.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days are shown in sequence, not as calendar dates — your trip runs on the days you choose.
- Day1
Arrive in Srinagar
Met at Srinagar airport and transferred to your houseboat on Dal Lake. Afternoon shikara ride through the floating gardens and the lake market, finishing at sunset. Overnight on the houseboat.
- Day2
Srinagar to Pahalgam
Drive to Pahalgam through saffron fields and cricket-bat willow groves, around two and a half hours. Afternoon in the Lidder valley — Betaab Valley and Aru, with pony rides available. Overnight in Pahalgam.
- Day3
Pahalgam to Gulmarg
Drive across the valley to Gulmarg. Afternoon on the Gulmarg Gondola, phase one to Kongdoori, with phase two to Apharwat available depending on conditions. Overnight in Gulmarg.
- Day4
Gulmarg to Srinagar
Morning free in Gulmarg for the meadow walk or the golf course, then return to Srinagar. Afternoon at the Mughal Gardens — Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh and Chashme Shahi. Overnight in Srinagar.
- Day5
Sonamarg day trip
A full day to Sonamarg, the meadow of gold, around three hours each way. Pony or vehicle access to the Thajiwas glacier, then return to Srinagar. Overnight in Srinagar.
- Day6
Departure
Transfer to Srinagar airport for your onward flight, with time for a stop at the handicraft emporium.
What is included
We list exclusions as prominently as inclusions — nothing appears for the first time at the payment stage.
Inclusions
- Accommodation for 5 nights in the hotel category shown, on twin-sharing basis
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- All transfers, sightseeing and intercity travel by private air-conditioned vehicle
- All entrance fees for the sightseeing listed in the itinerary
- Driver allowance, fuel, tolls, parking and inter-state permits
- Assistance on arrival and a dedicated consultant reachable through the trip
- All applicable taxes on the services listed above
- One night on a deluxe Dal Lake houseboat with all meals
- Shikara ride of one hour on Dal Lake
- Gulmarg Gondola phase one ticket
- All Mughal Garden entry fees
Exclusions
- Airfare to and from the start and end points of the tour
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
- Lunch and dinner unless listed against a specific day
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone calls, minibar, room service and tips
- Optional excursions and activities marked as 'on request'
- Camera and video charges levied at monuments
- Any increase in government taxes or fuel surcharge after booking confirmation
- Costs arising from circumstances beyond our control — weather, roadblocks, flight rescheduling or medical evacuation
- Entry fees and camera charges at monuments not listed in the itinerary
- Pony rides, sledges and local union vehicles at Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, which are charged locally at fixed union rates
- Gulmarg Gondola phase two to Apharwat
Hotels
Properties shown as “or similar” may be substituted with an equivalent in category and location. We confirm the final property before departure.
| City | Nights | Hotel | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | 3 | Houseboat plus Hotel Grand Mumtaz or similar | 3 Star Deluxe |
| Pahalgam | 1 | Hotel Heevan Retreat or similar | 3 Star Deluxe |
| Gulmarg | 1 | Hotel Highlands Park or similar | 3 Star Deluxe |
Pricing
Rates are per person and vary by occupancy, not by departure date. Your final quotation reflects hotel availability for the days you choose.
| Occupancy | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Per person on twin sharing | ₹24,900 | — |
| Per person on triple sharing | ₹23,406 | — |
| Single occupancy | ₹34,362 | Private room throughout |
| Child with bed (5–11 years) | ₹20,418 | — |
| Child without bed (2–5 years) | ₹15,438 | — |
Terms, payment and cancellation
Terms & conditions
This itinerary is quoted on twin-sharing basis and is subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Hotels shown as 'or similar' may be substituted with a property of comparable category and location, and you will be informed before departure. Prices may change before confirmation due to currency movement, revised government taxes or supplier rate changes.
Sightseeing may be resequenced to suit local conditions, weather or monument closure days. Where an included attraction cannot operate for reasons beyond our control, we substitute a comparable alternative or refund the applicable component.
Payment policy
A booking amount of 25% of the package cost confirms your services, with the balance due before departure on the date stated in your booking confirmation. Where an airline or hotel requires earlier full payment, we tell you at the time of quoting.
We accept UPI, credit and debit cards, net banking and NEFT/RTGS transfer to our registered current account. We never request payment into a personal account — always verify account details by calling us before transferring.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations must be made in writing. Standard charges apply from the date we receive your request: the booking amount is retained more than 45 days before departure, 35% between 31 and 45 days, 60% between 16 and 30 days, 80% between 8 and 15 days, and 100% within 7 days or for a no-show.
Air tickets, cruise bookings and non-refundable hotel rates follow their own supplier terms, which are stated in your quotation before payment. A visa refusal does not waive cancellation charges.