You could spend a week in Kashmir and still feel like you have only scratched the surface. That is not a bad problem to have. Seven days is the sweet spot though: enough time to do Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam properly, catch an offbeat meadow day that most tours skip entirely, and still have a morning left to just sit by Dal Lake before your flight. This Kashmir itinerary 7 days guide is built around what actually works in 2026, with honest costs, realistic driving times, and a few updates that genuinely change how you should plan.

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Is This 7-Day Kashmir Itinerary Right for You?

This plan works best for first-time visitors, families travelling with children aged 5 and above, couples on a honeymoon or anniversary trip, and groups of four to eight people. The pacing is deliberate: not rushed, but not so slow that you feel like days are slipping by. You get the three destinations that actually matter, plus one offbeat day built in.

If you only have five days, trim the offbeat meadow stop and shorten Pahalgam to a single full day. If you want to push into Leh and Ladakh, you realistically need ten days minimum. Seven days is its own complete trip.

The Day-by-Day Kashmir Itinerary 7 Days Plan

Day 1 — Arrival in Srinagar: Dal Lake and a Shikara at Sunset

Day 1 is deliberately light. Land at Srinagar Airport, get to your houseboat or hotel, and resist overplanning the rest of the afternoon. Kashmir has a way of rewarding the traveller who slows down early. An evening Shikara ride on Dal Lake is the right move: the water catches the last of the light, the Zabarwan hills sit behind everything, and it sets the tone for the whole trip. If you arrive early, the floating vegetable market on Dal Lake wraps up by 9 AM and is worth catching. Dinner at your houseboat or along Boulevard Road.

Day 2 — Srinagar Sightseeing: Mughal Gardens, Tulip Festival and the Old City

Start at Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh before the tour groups arrive. If you are visiting between late March and mid-April, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden is the headline stop for the day. It opens for the 2026 season on March 26, with peak bloom in early to mid-April. Go at sunrise for the best light and the smallest crowds. Entry is Rs. 75 for adults and Rs. 30 for children.

The afternoon works well for the Old City: the lanes around Jamia Masjid have some of the best street food in Srinagar. Wazwan, kahwah, and Nadru dishes are the things to order. Keep the Old City to two or three hours if you are with young children, as it involves a fair amount of walking on uneven ground.

Day 3 — Gulmarg: Gondola, Snow and the Meadow

Leave Srinagar by 7:30 AM. The drive takes about 1.5 hours and the road is straightforward. One important 2026 update: Gulmarg Gondola tickets are now fully online only. There are no offline counters. Book in advance at jammukashmircablecar.com. Phase 1 to Kongdori costs Rs. 810 per person. Phase 2 up to Apharwat Peak is Rs. 1,010. If you arrive without a pre-booked ticket, same-day slots are available at the waiting hall from 9 AM to 3 PM at a small premium. Aim to be there by 8:30 AM in peak season.

Phase 2 reaches roughly 4,000 metres, so mild altitude effects like headaches or breathlessness are possible, particularly for children. Hydrate well before the ride, take it slow at the top, and come down if anyone is uncomfortable. In winter, snow activities and ski gear rental are available locally at Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,500 per day for a jacket and boots. In summer, the meadow walk around Meenmargh is quieter and genuinely lovely.

For couples: if the budget allows, one night at The Khyber means you can be at the Gondola before the queues build the next morning. For families with children under eight: Phase 1 is plenty. The views at Kongdori are spectacular and the altitude is much more manageable.

Day 4 — Drive to Pahalgam: Saffron Fields and Arrival

About 2.5 hours from Srinagar, the route passes through the saffron fields of Pampore and stretches of apple orchards. Pahalgam sits at around 2,130 metres on the banks of the Lidder River. Check in, have lunch, and spend the afternoon by the water. The pace drops here compared to the first three days, which is entirely the point. If your hotel offers an evening bonfire, take it.

Day 5 — Pahalgam: Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and a Riverside Lunch

Betaab Valley is about 15 km from town and wide open with snow-capped peaks on all sides. Aru Valley, another 12 km on, is quieter and has better walking trails. A picnic lunch between the two by the Lidder River is one of those simple moments Kashmir does very well. One note for families: one short pony ride is fine for kids who are keen, but a full day of ponies is exhausting for everyone, especially children under eight. Keep the afternoon unstructured.

If you are visiting between July and August, Pahalgam gets very busy during the Amarnath Yatra season. Book accommodation months in advance or plan your trip outside this window entirely.

Day 6 — The Offbeat Day: Yusmarg, Doodhpathri or Sonamarg

This is where a good Kashmir itinerary separates itself from a generic one. Most tours skip straight back to Srinagar here. Do not.

Yusmarg, about 47 km from Srinagar, sits in a dense pine forest and is far less commercialised than Gulmarg. Doodhpathri, roughly 2.5 hours away, is wider and more open, with clear streams running through it. Both work as day trips and both are beautiful. The important thing to know: access to Doodhpathri and Yusmarg is subject to periodic security-related restrictions that can change at short notice. Confirm status with local district tourism notices a few days before you plan to go.

If either is closed, Sonamarg is the best swap. The Z-Morh Tunnel, inaugurated in January 2025, now keeps Sonamarg accessible year-round including in winter, which was not reliably the case before 2025. Thajiwas Glacier and the river walk make it a strong day trip in its own right. Return to Srinagar for your last night.

Day 7 — Last Morning in Srinagar: Shopping and Departure

Day 7 is light by design. A morning walk along Dal Lake Boulevard, a stop at the market near Lal Chowk for saffron, Kashmiri dry fruits, and pashmina, then the airport. Confirm your flight time before planning anything fixed in the morning. Srinagar Airport is 15 to 20 minutes from the main hotel areas, but allow extra buffer in peak season.

If you’re looking for the structured overview version of this plan, you can explore our detailed 7-day Kashmir itinerary here.

The Winter Version of This Itinerary

The structure above works across all seasons with a few adjustments for December to February. On Day 2, replace the Tulip Garden visit with an Old City walk and a Bukhari tea session at a local guesthouse. Day 3 in Gulmarg becomes the centrepiece of the whole trip: snow activities and ski lessons are available locally, and the Gondola through heavy snowfall to Apharwat Peak is a genuinely memorable experience. Budget Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,500 per day for jacket and boots rental.

Day 6 swaps to Sonamarg via the Z-Morh Tunnel rather than the offbeat meadows, which are less reliable in deep winter. Build a 30 to 45-minute buffer into all mountain driving days for road conditions, and confirm with your driver on the morning of each drive. A good local driver who knows the current conditions is worth more than any navigation app in this season.

Where to Stay: A Quick Hotel Guide by Budget

For the first two nights in Srinagar, a houseboat on Dal Lake is worth the cost. It sets the tone for the trip in a way no city hotel can. Sukoon Houseboat is the most consistently recommended mid-to-premium option. It sits directly on Dal Lake and has been maintained to a standard that most Dal Lake houseboats do not match. Budget travellers will find solid guesthouses on Boulevard Road within easy walking distance of the lake. Before booking any houseboat, confirm the ghat number. Houseboats docked in backwater channels away from the main lake are a frequent source of disappointment.

In Gulmarg, families doing a day trip can skip the overnight entirely. If you want to ski early the next morning or spend more time at altitude, The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa is the top option and one of the most consistently praised properties in all of Kashmir. In Pahalgam, the Radisson Golf Resort is the top-rated property in town by a significant margin and handles families well, with spacious rooms and a setting near the Lidder River.

One pricing note for 2026: GST at 18 percent applies to stays above Rs. 7,500 per night and most luxury quotes do not include this. Winter stays at budget and mid-range hotels often add a heating surcharge of Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500 per day. Confirm both before booking. During the Tulip Festival window, Srinagar hotel prices rise roughly 30 percent across all categories.

What Does a 7-Day Kashmir Trip Cost in 2026?

For two people sharing a room and a private cab, departing from Delhi, here is what to realistically expect. Budget travellers spending carefully in March can do it for around Rs. 32,000 to Rs. 40,000 per person, covering flights, accommodation, transport, meals, and main activities. Mid-range travellers visiting in May or December should plan for Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 75,000 per person. A premium trip with luxury houseboats, Taj Dal View or equivalent, and a premium SUV will run Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 per person.

Flights are the biggest variable. Delhi to Srinagar return runs Rs. 8,500 to Rs. 12,000 in March shoulder season and Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 26,000 in peak December. Mumbai and Bangalore departures are Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 15,000 higher across all seasons. Booking 6 to 8 weeks out saves meaningful money on all routes. A private cab runs Rs. 3,500 to Rs. 4,500 per day for a standard vehicle or Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 6,500 for a premium SUV. Agree on the daily rate and confirm it covers all your planned stops before you start. Outside taxis registered in other states are not permitted for local sightseeing in Kashmir: all sightseeing must be done in registered J&K vehicles.

A few hidden costs worth accounting for: GST at 18 percent on hotel stays above Rs. 7,500 per night, the Gondola same-day Tatkal premium of Rs. 300 per ticket, and a winter heating surcharge at budget and mid-range properties. None of these are large individually, but together they add up.

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Which Season Works Best for This Itinerary?

Spring, from late March through April, is the strongest all-round option for a first visit. The Tulip Festival runs from late March into mid-April, Gulmarg still has snow in March, and prices are mid-range rather than peak. For families and couples visiting Kashmir for the first time, this window is hard to beat.

Summer, from May to June, is peak family travel season: green meadows, reliable roads, and comfortable weather throughout. It is also the most expensive time to visit, so book early. Flights and hotels both push into peak pricing and the Gondola gets busy.

Autumn, from October to November, is Kashmir at its most photogenic. The Chinar trees turn deep gold and the tourist crowds thin out significantly. Prices drop back to mid-range. For couples who want a quieter trip and for photographers, this is arguably the best time of year.

Winter, from December to February, is for snow and skiing. The itinerary shifts slightly as described above. Build flexibility into mountain driving days and book accommodation and flights well ahead, particularly around Christmas and New Year when prices spike.

Practical Booking Tips Before You Go

• Book Gulmarg Gondola tickets online before your travel date. No offline counters exist. jammukashmircablecar.com is the only legitimate source.

• Book Srinagar accommodation 6 to 8 weeks in advance for summer and December travel. For the Tulip Festival window, book as early as possible.

• Confirm Yusmarg or Doodhpathri access via local district tourism notices a few days before your visit. Keep Sonamarg ready as a backup plan.

• Pahalgam during Amarnath Yatra (July to August) gets very busy. Book months ahead or plan around this window entirely.

• Carry government-issued photo ID at all times. It is required at certain checkpoints and for some hotel check-ins.

• The Vistadome rail service now runs to Katra as of February 11, 2026. For families who find long road journeys tiring, this is a scenic and genuinely enjoyable transfer option on legs where it fits your schedule.

• Carry cash in smaller denominations. Digital payments become unreliable on mountain roads and in smaller towns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 7 days enough for Kashmir?

Yes, comfortably. It covers all three core destinations at a relaxed pace and still leaves room for an offbeat day. If you want to add Leh and Ladakh, plan for at least ten days.

What is the best time for this Kashmir itinerary?

Spring (late March to April) for tulips and mixed snow. Summer (May to June) for green meadows and families. Winter (December to February) for skiing and snow. Autumn for fewer crowds and photography.

Is Kashmir safe for families and couples in 2026?

Yes, for the main tourist circuits. Security presence is strong in Srinagar and Gulmarg. Carry your ID, stay away from political gatherings, and check local news if you are heading off the main routes.

Do I need permits for this itinerary?

No. Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Yusmarg, and Doodhpathri are all permit-free for Indian nationals. Gurez Valley, which is not part of this itinerary, requires ID at checkpoints.

Can I take kids on the Gulmarg Gondola?

Yes. Phase 1 is fine for most children. Phase 2 reaches 4,000 metres, so mild altitude symptoms are possible. Hydrate well, take it easy at the top, and come down if there is any discomfort.

How do I book the Gulmarg Gondola?

Online only at jammukashmircablecar.com. Phase 1 costs Rs. 810 per person and Phase 2 costs Rs. 1,010. Same-day Tatkal tickets are available at the waiting hall from 9 AM to 3 PM at a small premium. In peak season, pre-booking is strongly advisable.

How much does a 7-day Kashmir trip cost for a couple from Delhi?

Budget: Rs. 32,000 to Rs. 40,000 per person in March. Mid-range: Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 75,000 per person. Premium: Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 per person. See the full cost section above for a line-by-line breakdown.

What should I pack for a Kashmir trip?

Warm layers even in summer (evenings in Gulmarg and Pahalgam drop sharply), sunscreen SPF 50 or above, government-issued photo ID, cash in smaller denominations, downloaded offline maps, and basic altitude medication if you are including the Phase 2 Gondola ride. Consult your doctor before travel on the altitude medication question.

Ready to Book Your Kashmir Trip?

Kashmir in 2026 is genuinely in a good moment. New infrastructure, improving access, and better luxury options on Dal Lake make it an easier trip to plan than it has been before. The itinerary above handles the structure. The rest, Kashmir tends to take care of itself.

If this Kashmir itinerary 7 days plan feels right for you, we’ll customise it around your exact travel dates, hotel preference, and budget.

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