Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, Sonamarg - Timings, Accessibility, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 6 km from Sonamarg Bus Station, Kashmir Great Lakes is a high-altitude lake trek that commences from Sonamarg. It is one of the most popular treks in India and among the must-include in Sonamarg tour packages, especially for adventure enthusiasts.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek comprises 6 stunningly beautiful high-altitude lakes - Vishansar Lake, Krishansar Lake, Gadsar Lake, Satsar Lake, and Gangabal twin lakes. The trek spanning over a week requires you to walk over 72 km. During this trek, you cross high mountain passes, and witness a 360° panorama of wild, rugged mountains, rolling meadows, and turquoise alpine lakes. The range of landscape makes it a moderate-difficult trek with steep ascents and descents with no easy exit points. So, it's not meant for a beginner who hasn't been exposed to high-altitude treks.

This trek requires a good level of fitness. To register for this trek you are required to complete a 5K run in under 35 minutes. It is mandatory for trekkers to carry a photocopy of their photo id along with the mandatory documents of the Medical Certificate and Disclaimer form. This is required for trek permissions before and during the trek. The lakes are only accessible during the summer months from July to September. However, April to June is the best time to visit these lakes, as these are the most beautiful during this time & you can enjoy a variety of activities.

Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Sonamarg - Shitkadi & Trek to Nichnai (13 km)

Shitkadi is the starting point of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek, which is about 5 km from Sonamarg that can be reached by cab. From Shitkadi, one needs to trek 13 km to reach Nichnai which takes approximately 4-5 hours. It is a steep ascent and is extremely difficult due to low oxygen levels and snow-covered terrains, but it is rewarded with spectacular views. The trail is lined with maple & pine trees and is mesmerizingly beautiful during fall & autumn. One will stay the night at Nichani campsite.

Day 2: Nichnai - Vishansar Lake (15 km)

One has to trek 15 km or hire a pony from Nichnai Camp which takes a complete day to reach Vishansar Lake, the first of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. Surrounded by mountains and being hard to access, the waters of the lake are crystal clear and change color as the day proceeds. You are guaranteed to start feeling rejuvenated just sitting by the lake and listening to the lapping sounds of the water and soaking in the scenic beauty. The entire trek takes 6-7 hours to complete.

Day 3: Vishansar Lake - Gadsar Lake via Gadsar Pass (13 km)

One can visit the Krishansar Lake which is situated about 1 km from Vishansar. Later, one needs to reach Gadsar Pass, which is located at an altitude of 4, 191 km, and the trek up to Gadsar Lake is quite challenging and will put a lot of pressure on your back and legs. From the pass, you will start descending into flat meadows, that are entirely covered by wildflowers to finally reach Gadsar Lake. Considering the high altitude, Kashmir great lakes trek temperature at this height will be pretty low. The whole trek needs 7-8 hours to complete. One will stay at Gadsar campsite, which is about an hour away from the lake.

Day 4: Gadsar Lake - Satsar Lake (12 km)

Satsar Lake trek starts with a steep ascent to enter into the flatlands of Mengandob, and continue ahead crossing an army camp to Satsar Lakes. Interestingly, the Satsar Lakes are a collection of 7 lakes that are in a cascade formation. These lakes are primarily fed by the melting snow of the mountains and end up dry in summer and autumn. You can enjoy camping near the lake and admire the breathtaking views of the lake. This moderate trek is about 12 km long and takes 5-7 hours.

Day 5: Satsar Lake - Gangabal Twin Lakes (10 km)

To reach Gangbal Lake, one can start the trek from Satsar Lake campsite and cross rocky boulder terrain, cross multiple ridges, climb mountains, and continue trekking up to reach the ridge located at 3,000 m. You can get a great view of Gangbal and Nundkol lakes from here and they will look a lot like twin lakes. From the ridge, you will descent which will be rather steep into green meadows that will eventually lead you to Gangbal Lake, and camp at Nundkol Lake. This 10 km difficult trek needs approximately 6 hours to complete.

Day 6: Gangabal - Naranag (10 km)

This is the final day of the trek, and the trail passes through a tree line, meadows and enter a pine forest cover. The forest line extends for up to 6-7 km post which we descend into Narang Village. You relax for a while at Narang Village and then travel back to Srinagar. The entire trek 5-6 hours to finish.