Kashmir Great Lakes Trek – A Travel Guide

I mean every word when I say that Kashmir Great Lakes Trek has been the most adventurous and thrilling time of my life. It was an experience of a lifetime. Last year, in July, I embarked upon this journey which was challenging with every bit of it but the rewards in the form of serene lakes, those vast landscapes with magnificent peaks were worth it. I felt so satisfied ticking it off my bucket list. The trek is for every adrenaline buff out there. More than six glacial lakes are found as you move further. It is in the name itself.

It all started with taking a flight to Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport, otherwise known as Srinagar Airport. From there, I took a Kashmir taxi service and reached Srinagar. You can also reach Srinagar via train. The nearest railway station is Jammu Tawi Station and on arriving there, take a bus to the city or hire a cab.

I was in Srinagar two days before the trek began. It was my own decision to keep buffer days. It was the perfect opportunity for acclimatisation before going to higher altitudes. I spent the afternoon exploring the city and evening was pleasantly spent, enjoying the Shikara ride at Dal Lake.

Day one of the Kashmir Great Lakes trek started with driving to Sonamarg from Srinagar. We covered a distance of about 80 kilometres in 4 hours. In Sonamarg, Shitkadi was our basecamp where we were offered a welcome drink and some snacks and later on, dinner by night. We camped there, nestled amidst towering peaks. The actual trek began the next day. From Sonamarg to Nichnai Pass, reaching beautiful and calm lakes like Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar Lake, Gangabal and many more, we reached the end of it at a stunning village called Naranag. 

We completed the trek in exactly 7 days including the arrival at the basecamp and the departure. I can’t describe in words the beauty I saw throughout the journey.  We trekked on rugged plains, in dense forests, by the shores of endless streams and what not. Each day presented a different kind of skill to go ahead. But when we used to reach our desired sights and finally to the camps, we felt satisfied with the day. 

I will not say that it was all easy. It was not. The grade of the trek was definitely moderate to difficult and even lack of oxygen in the alpine regions troubled the trekkers. The altitude gain as we progressed further was by far the most troubling. You can’t plan Kashmir Great Lakes Trek with a weak heart and low endurance. We felt exhausted at some points and felt like giving up. The trails were no bed of roses either. They were uneven, rough and slippery sometimes. Sometimes, the wind was so high that we felt like flying away with it had we not had our trekking poles. The last day was the most challenging. The gradient was physically tiring. Afterall, it was a long trek. We walked almost 70 kilometres or maybe more in a week. We were on foot for 15 kilometres daily. 

It is safe to say that a fit trekker is the best trekker. You have to be physically and mentally ready to be on this trip. Some advice that I would give to future trekkers is to prepare for it 1-2 months before at least. You can go jogging everyday, do some strength training and eat clean. This is the least you can do to have a pleasant time, trekking in the Himalayas. 

Keep hydrating yourself. Drink water even when you are not hungry. If you feel any pain in part of your body, do tell your trek leader and the doctors with you will act accordingly. 

The campsites on the trek: 

One of the highlights of the trek, personally, were the campsites. Camping near a gushing lake or in lush meadows where there is greenery as far as the eyes can see. It was so overwhelming and mesmerising. We would pitch our tents and sit around a bonfire, chatting, enjoying our dinner. Whenever we reached our camps earlier, we would go for strolls and the grasses on the bare feet felt soothing and relaxing. 

The basecamp, Shitkadi is itself the best start of the trek. It is an ideal place for camping. 

Next we have, Nichnai campsite, which presents ethereal views with snow-touching mountains. We set up our camps in a vast-spread meadows where the natural beauty is at its peak. You will be camping at 11,500 ft. here which is amazing in itself. 

The rest of the camping sites include the wonderful lakes namely Vishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and more. These pristine lakes will be in your mind for years and years. They also act as a water source where you can refill your bottles. Relaxing and rejuvenating by these breathtaking water bodies is a cathartic experience. Stargazing is one of the favourite things to do while lying under the star-studded sky. The setting there is top-tier. You walk up in the morning with out-of-the-world sights in front of you. You can do meditation and light yoga by the banks of the lake or maybe go for nature walks. 

Best time for Kashmir Great Lakes trek: 

I undertook it in the summer season, July specifically. The weather was so favourable and pleasant. It was neither too cool nor too hot. The temperature ranged somewhere from 20°C to 25°C and we would wear light cotton clothes during the day while trekking. By night, a jacket was necessary to be worn as it used to get comparatively colder.

The climate also depended on the region we were trekking on a particular day. It got chilly on some days in higher-altitudes like at Gadsar Lake. As I was there at the start of July, it did not rain very much. We experienced light drizzling for about half an hour, only once in the entire week. So, that did not ruin our plans either.

Other than that, the best time to do Kashmir Great Lakes trek is from June to September. 

In July, it was definitely crowded. We saw plenty of trek groups on our way. 

The monsoon season starts in late July and is at its peak in August. But fortunately, it does not rain cats and dogs in Kashmir Valley unlike the rest of Northern India.

You can plan it too in the balmy weather of Summer and I am pretty sure that weather in no way will cause any kinds of problems or difficulty in moving further on the trails.  

Things to carry on Kashmir Great Lakes trek:

A backpack with all the essential items will be your best friend on this trek. Here are some things listed below that I took with me and other packing tips and you can’t miss any of them. 

1.  Put on full-sleeved clothes to be protected from insects or mosquitos. Carry cotton clothes and some warm ones too like thermals, jackets, and other accessories like beanies, gloves, a pair of socks etc. Wear comfortable and sturdy trekking boots. 

2. A rain-coat is unmissable. If it rains, you can simply put it over your clothes. Try to pack clothes that are quick-dry.

3. Some other important things to carry are reusable water bottles, some power snacks, moisturiser, sunscreen. Have a personal first-aid kit with necessary medicines like painkillers and other to cure high-altitude sickness and personal ones if any. 

4. Important electronic gadgets include a satellite phone, a reusable charger, power bank, torch and a camera if you are into photography. 

5. Carry camping gears like a sturdy tent, a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat. 

Conclusion: 

By now, you must have got an overview of the trek. A little disclaimer would be that it was a personal experience. People have had many different ones. However, it would pleasantly surprise you. If you ask me if you should do the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, the answer would always be YES! 

With some preparation, you can definitely add the feather of completing the Kashmir Great Lakes trek to your travelling cap. You will feel every ounce of accomplishment after completing it.