Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Guide

Day 1 : Drive from Srinagar to Gagangir

Drive Duration: 3-4 hours | Drive Distance: 83 km

you will be picked up by our cab service in Srinagar at 10 am. The drive will take around 4 hours to reach Gagangir, which is the basecamp of this trek.

Day 2 : Drive from Gagangir to Shitkadi. Trek to Nichnai

Day 3 : Trek from Nichnai to Vishnusar via Nichnai Pass

Trek distance: 13.5  km | Trek Duration: 7 hours
Altitude gain: 11,607 ft to 12,011 ft via 13,229 ft
Trek difficulty :The trek has a moderate gradient. It starts with 1.5 hours of gradual ascent, then an hour of climbing to reach the pass. Afterward, there’s a steep descent from the pass for about an hour, which eventually levels out into a flat walk.

On the 3rd day, we start at 8:00 am, and the first milestone of the day is the Nichnai Pass or Vishnusar Berry, which is visible from the campsite, located just to the right of the twin snow-covered peaks. After walking along the river for about half an hour, cross it to reach the left bank. Follow this bank for the next hour, noting that the trail gradually begins to ascend through the meadow. The next hour involves a moderate climb to the Nichnai Pass at 13,500 feet, followed by a short descent and a long, flat walk through meadows leading to Vishnusar Lake. As you climb, you’ll spot a deep blue lake at the base of the mountains, which heightens your anticipation for the lake ahead. From the Nichnai Pass, you can view the Sonamarg Valley and the trail you have followed. BSNL phone networks usually work here, and it is also the last point on the trek where you get network coverage; the next opportunity for network is after Gangbal.

The Nichnai Pass resembles a large tunnel and represents a swift ascent by trekking standards, especially since you’re only on the second day of your trek. It is the highest point of today’s trek, located at an altitude of 13,100 feet. From this pass, the trail begins to descend. The descent starts on a rocky path, which then transitions to grassy terrain within the next hour. You’ll notice red flowers blooming around you as you walk through a vast green meadow framed by mountains. A new river flows from the pass into this meadow.

Take a moment to capture these beautiful views. To your left, observe a large waterfall cascading down the mountain and merging with the river. After the waterfall, the rapid descent ends, and you’ll continue through a wide, flat meadow. On the left, you’ll see classic snow-capped Himalayan peaks, while to your right, the grey, barren mountains resemble the Ladakh ranges.

As you walk through the lush green grass between these ranges, you will see two main streams flowing through the valley. Stay close to the left stream and prepare for another icy stream crossing in about half an hour.

Proceed through the meadow for another hour and a half until you reach the valley’s end, where a perpendicular stream flows from left to right. This stream originates from Vishnusar Lake, which is situated higher up and is not visible from the campsite. Set up your tents near the stream from the lake, where there is plenty of space.

If time allows, explore the twin lakes. Vishnusar Lake is 0.5 km to the left and 100 feet above the campsite. Follow the stream without crossing it to reach the lake in about 7 minutes. This is the first lake you will see on this trek, and as we continue the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, you will explore additional lakes later. Tonight, we’ll set up camp near Vishnusar Lake.

Day 4 : Trek from Vishnusar to Gadsar
Trek distance: 16 km | Trek Duration: 7.5 hours
Altitude gain and loss: 12,011 ft to 10,706 ft via 13,715 ft
Trek gradient: Moderately difficult: 1.5 to 2 hours of steep ascent followed by 1 hour of steep descent, ending with a flat walk

On the 4th day of our trek, we will head to Kishansar Lake via Gadsar Pass. From the campsite, you will see a thin line traversing the mountainside, which is actually the track you need to follow. After about an hour and a half of climbing, you will reach the top of a ridge. Continue climbing for another 45 minutes, and you will arrive at a spot that offers a breathtaking full view of both Kishansar and Vishnusar Lakes.

The beautiful path continues until you reach the pass. This is the Gadsar Pass, at an altitude of 13,800 feet, and it is the highest point on this trek. The trek involves a steep 2-hour ascent, followed by a steep descent, and then a gentle walk through the meadows. Beyond the Gadsar Pass, a long valley unfolds with 2-3 small lakes in view. In the far distance, a series of snow-covered peaks can be seen, located outside our Line of Control.

The descent is straightforward. The first small lake on the left is Yamsar Lake, which is not as popular as the other lakes and is associated with Lord Yama, according to locals. Beyond Yamsar is another unnamed lake. After an hour of descending, you reach flat meadows again. This valley is narrow, with mountains surrounding it on either side. Notice the colorful flowers sprouting from the green grass, starting with red and transitioning to blue and purple iris flowers.

When you reach the area with blue irises, you are near Gadsar Lake, at an altitude of 12,000 feet, one of the most beautiful and untouched lakes on this trek. Located at the base of towering snow-covered peaks, one side of the lake is adorned with snow blocks cascading down from the mountains, while the other side is graced with colorful flowers and lush greenery, creating a mesmerizing view. From Gadsar Lake, you will see a mesmerizing view of Yamsar Lake, the unknown lake, and Gadsar Lake, all connected by a stream of water that flows from the higher lake to the lower.

You can camp at Gadsar Lake, but it is usually preferred to stay near the Gadsar army camp. Continue descending from Gadsar, and within half an hour, the valley opens up. You’ll notice another blue lake on the left side of the valley. As you continue, you will lose a considerable amount of altitude. As you follow the trail, you will start noticing shepherds’ huts, and after another half an hour, you will arrive at the army camp. To move forward, you need permission from the Gadsar army camp. Report to the army post as quickly as possible, as it takes about 2 to 3 hours for the green signal to come through from the headquarters. Your ID proofs will be checked, collected, and recorded before you can proceed further.

Day 6 : Trek from Gadsar to Satsar

Trek distance: 11.5 km | Trek Duration: 4.5 hours
Altitude gain: 10,706 ft to 11,985 ft
Trek gradient: Moderate; 1.5 hours of steep ascent followed by a level walk.

From the army camp, you need to move left towards the stream to head up into the mountains. You are now above the tree line, with views of the tree cover and rivers below. The climb continues for an hour and a half, during which you gain 1,100 feet in altitude. After crossing the 11,500-foot mark, the climb transitions into a traverse and bends to the left, leaving the river valley. Once out of the valley, you will walk across a flat meadow surrounded by mountains on all sides. This section of the trail is called Maegandob, where you may also spot a few craters to your right. Soon, you will see the first of the Satsar Lakes. The name Satsar comes from ‘Sat,’ meaning seven, and ‘Sar,’ meaning lake. Satsar is a collection of seven lakes, which perfectly explains the significance of the name.

You can choose to camp at this site if you camped at Gadsar Lake. If you started from the Gadsar army camp, you can cover a little more distance today and camp near the first of the Satsar Lakes. Depending on the season, you may find 4 or 5 of the lakes filled with water. After crossing the bridge, you will come across another army check post, the third check post of this trek. The process here is similar to the Gadsar army camp, involving checking and recording your ID and information. Once the procedures are complete, you can continue on your trail. After walking for 10 minutes, you will reach the first of the Satsar Lakes. The lake is situated in a scenic landscape, surrounded by lush greenery and mountain vistas. Its emerald-blue waters shift in color over time.

Day 6 : Trek from Satsar to Gangabal via Zaj Pass

Trek distance: 9 km | Trek Duration: 6 hours
Altitude loss: 11,985 ft to 11,486 ft via 13,276 ft
Trek difficulty: Challenging. It starts with 30 minutes of gradual ascent and descent, followed by a steep 45-minute climb and then a steep descent. The trail continues with alternating ascents and descents throughout.

The trail goes up and down. Starting from our campsite, we will trek for half an hour to reach the largest and last of the Satsar Lakes. The path is mostly rocky with many boulders. After the lake, the trail descends for another half hour until we reach the first forest line. To the right is a ridge, and to the left is the forest. From here, we will climb up a zigzag path to the top of the first ridge. We need to climb two more ridges to reach the top. The terrain is barren and rocky. On the other side, you can see some Gujjar huts and greenery, which contrasts with the rocky trail.

After about a two-hour climb, you’ll reach the top of the third ridge, which is around 13,000 feet high. From there, you can see two lakes with a stream flowing from the higher lake to the lower one, creating a beautiful view. If you look closely, you’ll notice two more lakes on either side. The smaller lake’s name is unknown, but the largest lake is Gangabal, accompanied by Nandkol. The path then goes down and up again as you descend about 1,400 feet to the lake. Now our next destination is either Gangabal or Nandkol. Fill your empty water bottles and move to the next destination.

After walking an hour and a half, you will reach a meadow again. After crossing the wooden bridge on a stream, you will arrive at Nandkol, which is a camping site for the night. The Nandkol lake lies at the base of the Harmukh peak. Both Nandkol and Gadsar are famous for trout fishing. But unfortunately, many people who come here leave behind a lot of waste.

From Nandkol, the Gangbal lake is just a distance of 20 minutes; a stream connects both of them. To reach another lake, we have to cross this stream. Avoid crossing the stream at the lower levels. Instead, head to the bank of Gangabal, where you’ll find a sturdy man-made bridge on the right. Gangbal is a huge lake, and if you want to circle it, then you need at least one hour of time

Day 7 : Trek from Gangabal to Naranag and Drive back to Srinagar

Trek distance: 13 km | Trek Duration: 6 hours
Drive Distance: 2 hours | Drive Duration: 50 km
Altitude loss: 11,486 ft to 7,800 ft
Trek gradient: Moderate. A mix of ascents and descents for 6 km followed by a very steep descent all the way down.

Today’s trek is entirely downhill, but the steep descent can be tough on your knees, so be ready. From the Gangabal campsite, follow the stream down through the ridge towards the trees. After about 30 minutes, you will get Airtel network coverage and can let your family know you are alive!. When the ridge ends, you will reach a flat meadow. From here, you can look back and admire the majestic Harmukh Peak.
About an hour into the trek, you’ll enter a forest of mostly pine trees and start seeing signs of civilization, like a log hut. For the next 6 km, you’ll weave in and out of the forest without losing much altitude. After covering two-thirds of the distance, the trail begins a steep descent. This part of the trail is muddy and well-trodden, surrounded by thick pine trees. The last 4 km involve a significant drop of over 3,000 feet. You might see other trekkers heading from Naranang to Gangabal. As Naranang comes into view, there’s a bit more to go. The final stretch is quite steep and can test your endurance. Soon, you’ll reach a stone-paved path and enter the village of Naranang. From there, you’ll drive to Srinagar, expecting to arrive by 6:30 pm. You can then arrange your further travel plans

Day 8 : Buffer Day

When planning your Kashmir great lakes trek, always add an extra day to handle any bad weather or political issues that might come up during the trek. This will vary based on the specific trek and the current situation in Kashmir.