Five days in Kashmir is enough to see the four places most first trips include: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. This Kashmir itinerary for 5 days uses Srinagar as the main base, with one night in Pahalgam to save a long return drive, and fits the Mughal gardens, a shikara ride and the Gulmarg Gondola around the road days.
Know before you go
- Route: Srinagar (2 nights), Pahalgam (1 night), Srinagar (1 night), with day trips to Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
- Road distances from Srinagar: Gulmarg about 50 km, Sonamarg about 80 km, Pahalgam about 95 km, by OpenStreetMap routing.
- Start and end: Srinagar, which has an airport with domestic flights.
- Gulmarg Gondola: book ahead, see our Gulmarg Gondola ticket booking guide.
- When to go: each season looks different, compare them in our best time to visit Kashmir guide.
- Last checked: 27 October 2026.
In this Article
Kashmir 5 day itinerary at a glance
| Day | Base | Plan | Road distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Srinagar | Arrive, Mughal gardens, shikara on Dal Lake | |
| 2 | Srinagar | Day trip to Gulmarg and the gondola | about 50 km each way |
| 3 | Pahalgam | Drive to Pahalgam, Lidder river walk | about 95 km |
| 4 | Srinagar | Betaab and Aru valleys, back to Srinagar | about 95 km |
| 5 | Srinagar | Day trip to Sonamarg, or old city and fly out | about 80 km each way |
Distances are road distances from OpenStreetMap routing, rounded. Mountain roads are slow, so leave early on road days.
Day 1: Srinagar, Dal Lake and the Mughal gardens
Fly into Srinagar and check into a houseboat or hotel near Dal Lake. Our Srinagar guide covers where to stay and the main sights.
In the afternoon, visit the Mughal gardens on the eastern shore of the lake. Shalimar Bagh has a long central water channel lined with fountains and old chinar trees. Nishat Bagh, a short drive south, rises in terraces from the lake towards the Zabarwan hills. Chashme Shahi, the smallest of the three, is built around a spring.
End the day with a shikara ride on Dal Lake around sunset. The boats pass houseboats, floating vegetable gardens and the lake’s small markets. Agree the price and the route with the boatman before you set off.
Day 2: Gulmarg day trip
Gulmarg is about 50 km west of Srinagar, a high meadow ringed by forest that turns into a ski area in winter. The main reason to come is the Gulmarg Gondola, a cable car in two phases. Phase 1 runs from Gulmarg to Kongdori, and Phase 2 continues higher to Apharwat.
Tickets can sell out in the busy months, so book online before the trip. Our Gulmarg Gondola ticket booking guide explains the phases and how booking works. Carry warm layers even in summer, as it is much colder at the top.
If you have time after the gondola, walk across the meadow to the small Shiva temple and St Mary’s Church, then drive back to Srinagar by evening.
Day 3: Srinagar to Pahalgam
Pahalgam is about 95 km south east of Srinagar, in the Lidder valley. On the way, you pass the saffron fields around Pampore and the Awantipora temple ruins, both easy stops.
Spend the afternoon by the Lidder river, walking along the banks or through the town’s pine forest. Our Pahalgam guide covers where to stay and what to see.
Day 4: Betaab and Aru valleys
Spend the morning in the side valleys outside Pahalgam. Local union taxis run the routes, and private cars from outside may not be allowed past the town, so ask your hotel how to book one.
Betaab Valley, on the road towards Chandanwari, is a meadow on the Lidder river surrounded by forest and mountains. Aru Valley, in the other direction, is a quieter village set in meadows that is also a base for treks. Chandanwari, further up the Betaab road, is the starting point of the Amarnath Yatra route and is busy during the yatra season.
Drive back to Srinagar in the afternoon. If you are in Kashmir in spring, check whether the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is open, since it opens for only a few weeks each year.
Day 5: Sonamarg day trip
Sonamarg is about 80 km north east of Srinagar along the Sindh river, on the road that continues over Zoji La to Ladakh. The valley is open meadow with high peaks around it.
From Sonamarg, ponies and local taxis go up towards the Thajiwas glacier, where snow can lie well into summer. Agree fares at the official stands before you start. In winter, check road conditions before you set off, as snow can affect the route.
If your flight is in the afternoon, skip Sonamarg and spend the morning in Srinagar’s old city, around the Jamia Masjid, the Shah-e-Hamadan shrine and the riverside lanes of the Jhelum.
Changing the plan
Kashmir itinerary for 5 days from Delhi
Fly from Delhi to Srinagar on Day 1 morning and back on Day 5 evening. Delhi has direct flights to Srinagar, so it is a simple starting point.
Kashmir in 5 days with an extra night in Gulmarg
If you prefer to stay in Gulmarg rather than visit for a day, swap the Day 2 return for a night in Gulmarg. You can take an early gondola the next morning before the crowds, then drive back via Srinagar.
Kashmir with kids or older travellers
Keep the long road days to a minimum. Drop Sonamarg, and spend the last day in Srinagar instead. Phase 1 of the gondola is the shorter, lower ride, which suits a family visit.
Where to stay
- Srinagar: a houseboat on Dal Lake or Nigeen Lake, or a hotel along the Boulevard Road by Dal Lake. Houseboats are reached by shikara, so pack light.
- Pahalgam: hotels along the Lidder river or near the main market, which keeps the valley taxi stands within reach.
- Gulmarg, if you add a night: hotels near the meadow and the gondola base station.
Check the cancellation terms when you book, since weather and road conditions can change plans in the mountains.
Getting around
A hired car with a local driver is the easiest way to do this route, since it covers both day trips and the Pahalgam stretch. Taxis can be arranged through hotels in Srinagar. In Pahalgam and Sonamarg, the local valley trips are run by union taxis and ponies, so your Srinagar car may wait in town.
Before you go
- Read our best time to visit Kashmir guide before choosing dates.
- Postpaid mobile connections work in Kashmir. Prepaid SIMs from outside Jammu and Kashmir may not, so check with your operator.
- Carry warm clothes in every season. Gulmarg, Sonamarg and the top of the gondola are cold even in summer.
- For more of the valley, see our Kashmir photo journey.
FAQ
Is 5 days enough for Kashmir?
Five days covers Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg if you use Srinagar as the base. Add more days for treks, a night in Gulmarg, or a trip to Doodhpathri or Yusmarg.
Where should I stay in Kashmir for 5 days?
Stay in Srinagar for most nights, in a Dal Lake houseboat or a hotel nearby, and spend one night in Pahalgam to avoid a long return drive.
How far is Gulmarg from Srinagar?
Gulmarg is about 50 km from Srinagar by road, which makes it an easy day trip.
Do I need to book the Gulmarg Gondola in advance?
Booking online before the trip is the safer choice in busy months. Our gondola booking guide explains how.
Can I see snow in Kashmir in 5 days?
In winter, Gulmarg usually has snow. In other seasons, snow is more likely at higher points such as the top of the gondola and around the Thajiwas glacier above Sonamarg.
Which is better, Pahalgam or Sonamarg?
They are different. Pahalgam has a town, a river and several side valleys to explore. Sonamarg is a smaller place with meadows and glaciers. This plan includes both.
Official resources: IMD Srinagar climatological table, 1991 to 2020; Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board
Photo credits
Featured image: Suhail Skindar Sofi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Day 1: Srinagar, Dal Lake and the Mughal gardens: Dvellakat / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Day 1: Srinagar, Dal Lake and the Mughal gardens: Pradeepkjoshi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Day 1: Srinagar, Dal Lake and the Mughal gardens: Vinayaraj / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Day 2: Gulmarg day trip: Vikas Panwar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Day 2: Gulmarg day trip: Skywayman9 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Day 3: Srinagar to Pahalgam: Mr. Debapriya Hore / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; Day 4: Betaab and Aru valleys: Nandanupadhyay / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; Day 5: Sonamarg day trip: Tony Gladvin George / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Day 5: Sonamarg day trip: Vikas Panwar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
