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Board the early morning flight from Delhi to Leh. It takes a little more than an hour to get to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. On a clear day the flight offers excellent views of the mighty Himalayas. Arrive at the hotel for welcome drinks followed by breakfast. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Hotel
We spend half the day visiting Shey and Thiksey monasteries around Leh. Return to hotel for lunch and spend the day exploring the Leh market.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Hotel
Long day of driving today. Set out after an early breakfast, travelling west of Leh towards Kargil. 36 kms from Leh, we reach Nimu, the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. We pass the derelict fort at Basgo, the painted caves at Saspol to reach Khalsi where the road crosses the Indus River and slowly winds its way 27 kms upto the beautiful gompa at Lamayuru. Continue to cross the Fotu La (4108 m) and Namika La (3700 m) to reach the village of Mulbekh. 41 kms further is the town of Kargil which marks the transition to a predominantly Muslim area. Continue to drive West to Kashmir, over the Zojila (3500 m) with sheer drop on one side. Drive through Baltal to reach the meadows of Sonmarg.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
After breakfast we take a short drive to the start of our trek. Walk through maple trees, past lush meadows and rivulets till we reach Shekdur for lunch. Shekdur pasture is lined by Silver Birch trees with herder huts and the backdrop of the big mountains. Post lunch, traverse a rocky section and a very pretty meadow to reach camp.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
Our day begins with a climb over Nichnai Pass (4000 m). It’s a day of variety with a river crossing and our first small lake of this trek. Descend rapidly to be amongst mountain pasture land again. We camp by the stream fed by the Vishnusar Lake.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
Vishnusar is the lake of Lord Vishnu and is a kilometer long and half a kilometer wide, this lake is the main source of the Neelum River. We spend the day taking short walks around camp and exploring the beauty of the twin lakes of Vishnusar and Kishansar.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
We start the day with a trek to Kishansar, a steep ascent which provides great overview of Kishansar and Vishnusar lakes together, as we climb towards the Gadsar Pass at 4181 m – the highest point on the trek. We descend to a meadow with irises littered all over the hillside after passing a couple lakes en route. Camp is 4-5 km below Gadsar Lake near the army camp where everybody’s documents are checked.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
Today, we trek above the treeline. We begin with a gentle descent for about an hour, and then a steep ascent of three hours followed by a flat meadow walk. We finally reach Satsar, which literally means seven lakes. Satsar is a series of seven small lakes connected with each other in a cascade formation. The season you trek will determine how many of the lakes have water in them. We pass the Army Camp before camping by the first lake.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
We climb to the Zajibal Pass (3900 m) in about 3-4 hours. From here, we can see the Harigandan lake, Harmukh lake, Harmukh mountain (5000 m) as well as Gangbal Lake and Nandkol Lake We will start ascending towards the small Gangbal lake and camp within the lake area.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camp
A 1000 m plus descent awaits your knees! Descend to Naranag & drive 55 km to Srinagar. Overnight at houseboat.
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Houseboat
It’s an early morning flight back to Delhi. Trip ends!
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Health and Fitness Requirements
Commitment to Hygiene and Safety Protocol:
I commit to disclose my travel and quarantine history to Aquaterra Adventures, and decide to not travel should I have symptoms of infection related to Covid19 or other disease that may spread due to my participation, thereby endangering other people. I also commit to follow guidelines and protocols set up by Aquaterra Adventures, and overseen implementation by its guides, trip leaders on my journey. If I do not, I understand that I may be asked to do so or leave the trip/expedition/journey, to maintain our hygiene and safety protocol.
Participants must be in good health and reasonable physical condition. It is vital that participants with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. If you suffer from severe muscular, chest, heart or bronchial disorders, or if you are a severe asthmatic, or have high blood pressure, you are strongly advised against participating. Expeditions generally take place in remote areas where there is little or no access to normal medical services or hospital facilities for serious problems. Where necessary, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Medical and evacuation expenses will be the responsibility of the participant.
Tour Leaders
Our Tour Leaders take their responsibilities seriously and if a tour leader believes in his/her judgment that you should not participate in the trip, before your departure, even if you pass your medical, he/she may exclude you from the trip. In this circumstance, you will be offered the option of taking another trip considered suitable for you or a full refund. If during a trip the tour leader considers you should not participate further he/she may direct you not to continue and you must follow the tour leader’s instructions. In this case, you will not be entitled to any refund. Travel insurance may compensate you depending on the circumstances.
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Aquaterra Adventures India Pvt. Ltd. may for any reason change the date of departure or conclusion of the tour, or it is possible that a route change, postponement or delay (either in relation to departure or to the duration of the expedition) may become necessary due to inclement weather, snow and ice conditions, political restrictions, epidemics or pandemics or any other cause. In the event of a change, postponement or delay, participants have no right to refund of the tour price (in whole or in part) or other compensation for any injury, loss or damage. Package Prices Package prices are based on ground costs, airfares and exchange rates. Aquaterra Adventures India Pvt. Ltd. tries its utmost not to increase tour prices (in full or part), however sometimes increases are outside its control. We reserve the right to amend tour prices (or any part) without notice at any time before and including the departure date. Amendments may be necessitated for many reasons including, but not limited to, exchange rate fluctuations, increased fuel costs, airfares, airport charges etc. Any increase in tour prices must be paid prior to the departure date. Exclusions From Tour Price The following items are excluded from the tour price: visa, passport and vaccination charges; departure, airport and airline taxes; extra meals not included in the itinerary; laundry, postage, personal clothing, medical expenses, personal travel insurance and items of a personal nature; emergency evacuation charges; and tips and excess baggage charges. Refer to our trip notes for full details responsibility/liability.
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Challenging, diverse, and breathtakingly beautiful, the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is a high effort, high-reward adventure. The trail is relatively quiet compared to other Himalaya routes, meaning you’ll be able to enjoy large sections of the trek in total peace. This trek offers unparalleled views of the great lakes, making it the best option for hikers looking to see them.
Be warned, the weather in this region is unpredictable. One day it will be blisteringly hot, the next it will be cold with high winds and rain. Because of this, it's necessary to have various types of clothing.
The Great Lakes trek will take you past several Army checkpoints so make sure you've got your identity documents with you.
There are numerous types of terrain on the trail, so stretching exercises, endurance exercises, climbing stairs, and half an hour of running every day are all good ways to prepare.
You may consider taking Diamox a day before the trip to aid in acclimatization, but consult your doctor before taking it.
If you face any emergency during an adventure in Kashmir, keep the following contact details handy.
- Police- 100
- Fire- 101/132
- Ambulance- 102/108
- Police headquarters in Srinagar- 0194-2443022-23
- Police control room in Srinagar- 0194-2452092/2455883/2481628-32/2482624
- Women helpline- 1091
- CRPF Madadgaar Helpline- 14111
- Jammu and Kashmir Tourism helpline- 95607-88884
- Tourist reception center Srinagar- 95960-98882
The Great Lakes Trek can be classified as a moderate to difficult trek. The trek duration is 8 hours on average each day, which can become physically arduous and straining. The trails are steep and require high strength and fitness. However, with a dedicated amount of training and guidance, anybody can embark on the trip and witness the unmatched splendor of Kashmir.
The enchanting Satsar Lakes, a group of seven lakes, is the prime attraction of the Great Lakes Trek. But besides these seven lakes, the Great Lakes Trek oversees many other majestic alpine lakes with their turquoise blue waters and serene ambiance. They are the Vishansar lake, Krishansar lake, the twin lakes- Gangabal and Nundkol, Yamsar lake, the nameless lake (during the descent from Gadsar Pass), and the Gadsar lake.
Yes, it is safe to trek in Kashmir as long as you keep in mind some pointers and follow the directives of the tour guide or your trek leader. While in the base camp, do not stray from your group, stay in places permissible for tourists, and avoid going to downtown areas.
Even though in Kashmir itself, both these treks offer their own unique scenery, making it difficult to choose one over another. The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is a popular choice among trekkers, whereas the Tarsar Marsar Trek is more remote and secluded. The former has rocky trails and varied landscapes, but the latter offers a very diverse range of green.
However, the KGL trek is a moderate to difficult trek, whereas the latter is a moderate trek. Depending on your physical resilience as a trekker, you can decide which trek you want to do first.
You need a government photo ID proof (Aadhaar card, Passport, Driving license), a signed copy of the declaration certificate, and a medical certificate (both originals and photocopies of all the documents) for the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.
Is something not as per your expectation after your trip has started?