Best Seller
Kashmir — Classic Valley Tour
Starting from
₹10,999
per person
per person
Your journey into the heart of Kashmir begins the moment you land at Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar. Our smartly dressed representative will be waiting at the arrival gate with a warm smile and a placard bearing your name. You will be transferred comfortably to your pre-booked Deluxe Houseboat on Dal Lake — your floating home for the first two nights.
After freshening up, step out onto the houseboat deck and take in your first real look at Dal Lake — the shimmering heart of Kashmir. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely Shikara ride across the lake, drifting past floating gardens of lotus and water chestnuts, past the famous floating vegetable market, and beneath the snow-dusted peaks of the Zabarwan range. As the sun sets and the mountains turn golden, sip on a cup of Kahwa — Kashmir's traditional saffron and almond green tea — served by your houseboat attendant.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner on board featuring traditional Kashmiri cuisine, including Rogan Josh, Yakhni, and freshly baked Kashmiri Girda bread.
Overnight: Deluxe Houseboat, Dal Lake, Srinagar.
Wake up to the gentle sound of water lapping against the hull of your houseboat and the distant call of the Azan from a lakeside mosque. After a hearty Kashmiri breakfast of Noon Chai (pink salt tea) with Bakarkhani (crispy Kashmiri bread), your day of exploration begins.
Your first stop is the famous Mughal Gardens — masterpieces of Mughal landscape architecture laid out by Emperor Jehangir and his successors in the 17th century. Shalimar Bagh, meaning "Abode of Love," is the grandest of these — a four-terraced garden with carved pavilions, cascading fountains, and rows of ancient chinar trees. Nishat Bagh, the "Garden of Bliss," sits directly on the banks of Dal Lake with twelve terraces rising sharply up the hillside, each representing a sign of the zodiac. Chashme Shahi, the "Royal Spring," is the smallest and oldest of the gardens, centred around a natural spring said to have curative properties.
After the gardens, visit the historic Shankaracharya Temple — one of the oldest shrines in Kashmir, dedicated to Lord Shiva and perched on the summit of Shankaracharya Hill at 1,000 feet above the valley floor. The climb is rewarded with a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Srinagar city, Dal Lake, and the surrounding mountain ranges that few other viewpoints can match.
In the afternoon, explore the Old City of Srinagar — a labyrinth of narrow, winding lanes flanked by traditional wooden houses with intricately carved facades. Visit the Jamia Masjid, a magnificent mosque built entirely in wood supported by 378 wooden columns, each made from a single deodar tree trunk. Nearby, the Shah Hamdan Mosque (Khanqah-e-Moula) is another architectural jewel, covered in exquisite papier-mâché work inside and out.
End your day at the famous Lal Chowk market for souvenir shopping — pick up authentic Pashmina shawls, Kashmiri walnut wood handicrafts, saffron, and dry fruits.
Overnight: Deluxe Houseboat, Dal Lake, Srinagar.
After breakfast, check out from the houseboat and drive towards Pahalgam (95 km, approximately 2.5 hours), one of Kashmir's most breathtaking destinations. The road winds through saffron fields, rice paddies, and apple orchards before climbing into the pine forests that surround the Lidder Valley.
Betaab Valley (named after the 1983 Bollywood blockbuster filmed here) is your first stop — a picture-perfect meadow cradled between dense forests of deodar and pine, with the crystal-clear Lidder River rushing through its centre. The valley is so achingly beautiful that it is easy to understand why generations of Bollywood directors have returned here time and again.
Next, visit Aru Valley, about 12 km from Pahalgam town, accessible via a winding road that passes through thick pine forests. Aru is a peaceful hamlet at the start of the Kolahoi Glacier trek route, and the views of the surrounding snow-covered peaks from here are simply stunning. The valley is dotted with wooden shepherd huts, and in summer you will see Gujjar and Bakarwal nomads camping here with their flocks of sheep and herds of horses.
Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure in Pahalgam town. Optional pony rides are available (at own cost) along the banks of the Lidder River. The trout fishing in the Lidder is world-famous — if you are a fishing enthusiast, your guide can arrange a permit.
Overnight: Hotel in Pahalgam (3-star).
Rise early (ideally by 6:00 AM) for one of the most unique experiences Kashmir has to offer — the Floating Vegetable Market on Dal Lake. Hundreds of wooden Shikara boats loaded with fresh vegetables — lotus stems, water chestnuts, leafy greens, tomatoes, and radishes grown on the famous floating gardens (called Raadh) — converge on the lake before dawn to conduct a lively, floating wholesale market. It is a centuries-old tradition that has continued unchanged, and witnessing it from your own Shikara is unforgettable.
After breakfast, drive back to Srinagar and check in to your hotel. Spend the afternoon visiting the Hazratbal Shrine — Kashmir's most revered Islamic shrine, housing a relic believed to be a hair of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), set in a stunning white marble mosque directly on the northern shores of Dal Lake.
Visit a local Papier-Mâché workshop to watch artisans at work — this ancient Kashmiri craft, brought to the valley by Persian craftsmen in the 15th century, involves moulding paper pulp into decorative objects that are then hand-painted with intricate floral and geometric designs. You can purchase directly from the artisan at workshop prices.
In the evening, take a final sunset Shikara ride — watching the Zabarwan mountains glow crimson, the houseboats reflected perfectly in the still water, and the call to prayer echoing across the lake.
Overnight: Hotel in Srinagar (3-star).
After a leisurely breakfast, complete your packing and check out. Your guide will transfer you to Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport for your onward flight, your bags heavier with Kashmiri handicrafts, your phone full of photographs, and your heart full of memories that will last a lifetime. Tour ends. Safe travels!