Kashmir Itinerary: 3 to 7 Day Plans

Day-by-day Kashmir trip itinerary plans, and a Kashmir tour plan for every length, from our team in Srinagar. These are the routes our guests actually take, from a 3 day houseboat break to a 7 day tour of the whole valley.

By the Jiya Travels team in Srinagar. Reviewed November 2026.

A mountain road winding through the Kashmir valley

Which Kashmir Trip Itinerary Is Right for You?

Every Kashmir tour itinerary below starts and ends in Srinagar, because it has the airport and is the base for day trips. The more days you have, the fewer long drives you do in one day. See our 5 nights 6 days Kashmir package.

Trip length	Route	Best for
3 Days (2 Nights)	2 nights in Srinagar, with a houseboat	Short breaks, weekends and first-timers with little time.
4 Days (3 Nights)	Srinagar base, day trips to Gulmarg and Pahalgam	Budget trips and travellers who want the two famous hill stations.
5 Days (4 Nights)	Srinagar, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg, with a houseboat night	Most first trips: the four main places with time to enjoy them.
6 Days (5 Nights)	Adds a night in Pahalgam, so the drives feel shorter	Couples, families with older parents, and anyone who wants a slower pace.
7 Days (6 Nights)	The whole valley: Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, Sonamarg and old Srinagar	Families and travellers who want to see everything without rushing.

Kashmir Itinerary for 3 Days (2 Nights)

Route: 2 nights in Srinagar, with a houseboat. Best for: Short breaks, weekends and first-timers with little time.

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar. Check in to your Dal Lake houseboat. Sunset shikara ride on the lake.
Day 2: Srinagar sightseeing. Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, the Boulevard and the old city. Or swap this day for a Gulmarg day trip.
Day 3: Morning on the lake. An early shikara ride or craft shopping, then drop at Srinagar Airport.

See the full Srinagar Houseboat Getaway with stays and inclusions · Change this plan in our trip builder

Kashmir Itinerary for 4 Days (3 Nights)

Route: Srinagar base, day trips to Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Best for: Budget trips and travellers who want the two famous hill stations.

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar. Mughal gardens, then check in to a Dal Lake houseboat.
Day 2: Gulmarg day trip. Gondola ride (tickets booked online in advance), snow in winter, meadows in summer.
Day 3: Pahalgam day trip. Lidder River and Betaab Valley. Inner valleys use the local union taxi.
Day 4: Shopping and departure. Pashmina, saffron and dry fruit shopping, then the airport.

See the full Kashmir Budget Tour with stays and inclusions · Change this plan in our trip builder

Kashmir Itinerary for 5 Days (4 Nights)

Route: Srinagar, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg, with a houseboat night. Best for: Most first trips: the four main places with time to enjoy them.

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar. Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and an evening on the Boulevard.
Day 2: Pahalgam day trip. Lidder River, Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari.
Day 3: Sonamarg day trip. The Meadow of Gold and Thajiwas Glacier.
Day 4: Gulmarg, then the houseboat. Gondola ride at Gulmarg, then back to Srinagar for a night on Dal Lake.
Day 5: Departure. Morning shikara views, craft shopping and drop at the airport.

See the full Kashmir Classic Tour with stays and inclusions · Change this plan in our trip builder

Kashmir Itinerary for 6 Days (5 Nights)

Route: Adds a night in Pahalgam, so the drives feel shorter. Best for: Couples, families with older parents, and anyone who wants a slower pace.

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar. Mughal gardens and the Boulevard.
Day 2: Gulmarg day trip. Gondola ride towards Apharwat, snow or meadows depending on the season.
Day 3: Srinagar to Pahalgam. Lidder River, Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari. Stay the night in Pahalgam.
Day 4: Pahalgam to Srinagar. Drive back and check in to a Dal Lake houseboat. Sunset shikara ride.
Day 5: Sonamarg day trip. The Meadow of Gold and Thajiwas Glacier.
Day 6: Departure. Saffron kahwa, pashmina shopping and drop at the airport.

See the full Kashmir Luxury Tour with stays and inclusions · Change this plan in our trip builder

Kashmir Itinerary for 7 Days (6 Nights)

Route: The whole valley: Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Doodhpathri, Sonamarg and old Srinagar. Best for: Families and travellers who want to see everything without rushing.

Day 1: Arrive in Srinagar. Mughal gardens and the Boulevard.
Day 2: Gulmarg day trip. Gondola ride towards Apharwat Peak.
Day 3: Srinagar to Pahalgam. Lidder River, Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari. Night in Pahalgam.
Day 4: Pahalgam to Doodhpathri. Baisaran in the morning, then the meadows of Doodhpathri on the way back.
Day 5: Sonamarg day trip. The Meadow of Gold and Thajiwas Glacier.
Day 6: Old Srinagar and the houseboat. A heritage walk in the old city, then a houseboat night with a sunset shikara ride.
Day 7: Departure. Morning lake views, craft souvenirs and drop at the airport.

See the full Kashmir Grand Tour with stays and inclusions · Change this plan in our trip builder

Kashmir Trip Planning Tips

Book the Gulmarg Gondola early. Tickets are sold online only and often sell out two to four weeks ahead.
Use local taxis in Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Outside cars cannot enter places like Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Thajiwas, so a local union taxi takes you in.
Carry warm clothes in every season. Gulmarg and Sonamarg are cold even in summer.
Postpaid SIMs work, prepaid from other states do not. Bring a postpaid number or buy a local SIM on arrival.
Choose your season. April has tulips, summer is green, autumn is golden and winter has snow. See the best time to visit Kashmir.

Kashmir Itinerary FAQs

How many days are enough for Kashmir?

Five days (four nights) is enough for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Six or seven days lets you add a night in Pahalgam and Doodhpathri, so the drives feel easier.

Is a 5 day Kashmir itinerary enough?

Yes, for a first trip. A 5 day plan covers the four main places with day trips from Srinagar and one houseboat night. You will not have time for offbeat places like Gurez.

Should I stay in Pahalgam or visit as a day trip?

A day trip works, but Pahalgam is 2.5 to 3 hours each way. If you have 6 days or more, stay one night there so you can see Betaab and Aru valleys without rushing.

What is the best Kashmir itinerary in winter?

From December to February, plan more time in Gulmarg for snow and keep a spare half day, because snow can close roads. Some high places are hard to reach after heavy snowfall. See our winter snow tour.

Can I add Vaishno Devi to a Kashmir trip?

Yes. Start in Katra for the darshan, then drive to Srinagar. Our Vaishno Devi with Kashmir tour does this in 8 days.

Can I combine Kashmir and Ladakh?

Yes, by road from June to September. Our Kashmir and Ladakh tour goes from Srinagar via Sonamarg and Kargil to Leh in 10 days.

Can you change these itineraries?

Yes. These are starting points. We change hotels, days and places for every guest, and send the final plan with the price within 24 hours.

Can you plan a Jammu and Kashmir trip plan with Vaishno Devi?

Yes. Add two nights in Katra before Srinagar. Our Vaishno Devi with Kashmir tour does this in 8 days.

Do you have a 10 day Kashmir itinerary?

Yes. For 10 days, add Gurez Valley or Ladakh to the 7 day plan, or slow down with more nights in Pahalgam and Gulmarg. Tell us your dates and we will plan it.

Send us your dates and we will turn any of these plans into your itinerary, with prices, within 24 hours.

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