Kashmir Spring Special 5 Nights / 6 Days

Begin your first day in Srinagar with a gentle morning arrival and a transfer to Hotel Dal View Residency, where you can settle in and take in the surroundings before heading out. Start the city tour with a visit to the Mughal gardens of Nishat Bagh, laid out in terraces above Dal Lake, then continue to the nearby Shalimar Bagh with its shaded avenues and water channels. Break for lunch before exploring the old city, including the Jama Masjid with its wooden pillars and the shrine of Hazratbal on the lake's western shore.

In the afternoon, wander through the lanes of the old bazaar, where shops sell papier-mache, saffron, and copperware, and stop at a traditional Kashmiri house or the craft emporium to see hand-knotted carpets being made. As the light softens, take a short shikara ride on Dal Lake, gliding past floating gardens and houseboats, with the Pir Panjal range reflected in the water. Finish the evening with a stroll along the lakefront promenade before returning to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Dal View Residency.

Begin your second day with a morning drive from Srinagar to Pahalgam, winding past the saffron fields of Pampore and the apple orchards of the Lidder Valley. On arrival, take a leisurely walk along the Lidder River and enjoy the snow-covered meadows around the main town, where the winter setting offers plenty of space for snow play and quiet strolls. Continue to Betaab Valley, named after the Bollywood film shot here, where the frozen streams and pine-clad slopes make a fine spot for photographs and a packed lunch amid the snow.

In the afternoon, head to Aru Valley, a short drive from Pahalgam, to take in the wide snowy meadows ringed by forested hills. If conditions permit, enjoy a pony ride or a gentle sledge ride across the slopes, or simply walk the trails at the valley's edge. On the way back, stop at the viewpoint overlooking the Lidder River for a final round of snowball fun and pictures before the light begins to fade. Return to Pahalgam town in the evening for a warm cup of kahwa and a stroll through the local market, where you can pick up woollens and handicrafts.

As the day closes, settle in for the night at your hotel in Pahalgam.