3 Serene Lakes:
Tarsar ( 3780m ), Marsar ( 3810m ), Sundersar ( 3941m )
1 Tranquil Rivers:
Lidder
2 Beautiful Remote Villages:
Aru, Sumbhal
1 National Parks Or Forest Reserve:
Dachigam National Park
- Day 1
- D1Srinagar
- Day 1
- Anantnag
- Day 1
- Pahelgam
- Day 2
- D2Aru
- Day 2
- Nandkei
- Day 3
- D3Lidderwat
- Day 4
- D4Shekwas
- Day 5
- D5Tarsar Lakeside
- Day 6
- D6Sundarsar
- Day 6
- Marsar
- Day 7
- D7Sonmasti
- Day 7
- Sumbhal
- Day 8
- Srinagar
Day 1Arrival In Srinagar. Drive From Srinagar To Aru, Via - Anantnag, Pahelgam ( 105 Kms,4 hours )
Activity: Drive Day
Overnight In: Aru (2489m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: Evening Snacks, Dinner
Cost Of Transport Included: YES
After reaching Srinagar, we take a picturesque drive to reach Aru. If we reach early, we can take some time out to explore the beautiful Valley. Today will be our first night on camps and wonderful fun-filled days await us.
Day 2From Aru To Lidderwat, Via - Nandkei ( 10 Kms,5 - 6 hours )
- Day 2
- 2490 - Aru
- Day 2
- 2675 - Nandkei
- Day 2
- 2790 - Lidderwat
10Km, 5 - 6hrs.Activity: Trek Day
Overnight In: Lidderwat (2790m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
A gently climbing trail following the Lidder river, mostly on flat meadows and occassionally passig through the cluster of conifers will get you to your campsite.
The campsite of Lidderwat is at the confluence of Lidder River flowing down from the Kolahoi glacier and the Tarsar Stream. Do keep an eye for the strategically built, many of the Gujjar Huts ( summer shelter for shepherds ) on the way.
After you reach, relax and enjoy the place. Its a beautiful campsite.
Day 3From Lidderwat To Shekwas ( 7 Kms,4 - 5 hours )
- Day 3
- 2790 - Lidderwat
- Day 3
- 3355 - Shekwas
7Km, 4 - 5hrs.Activity: Trek Day
Overnight In: Shekwas (3351m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Continuing our trek following the Tarsar Stream, we walk on a gently climbing trail passing by multiple openings and cluster of conifers. At a point, we reach a Y-point formed by the dividing ridge hiding the Tarsar lake. We camp there for the night.
Day 4From Shekwas To Tarsar Lakeside ( 5 Kms,3 - 4 hours )
- Day 4
- 3355 - Shekwas
- Day 4
- 3800 - Tarsar Lakeside
5Km, 3 - 4hrs.Activity: Trek Day
Overnight In: Tarsar Lakeside (3798m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
A gentle climb and a short walk of about 5 kilometers. Once we reach, we have the entire day to relish in one of the most beautiful campsites on this trek. Explore
Day 5From Tarsar Lakeside To Sundarsar ( 5 Kms,4 - 5 hours )
- Day 5
- 3800 - Tarsar Lakeside
- Day 5
- 3940 - Sundarsar
5Km, 4 - 5hrs.Activity: Trek Day
Overnight In: Sundarsar (3938m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Ascend to the top of the pass on the ridge dividing the Tarsar lake and the Sundersar. After that its a easy walk with occasional ascends which will bring you to the beautiful lake of Sundersar meaning 'beautiful lake'. Its a ideal campsite and can't get any better. Spend your day relaxing in this wonderland you have brought yourself to.
Day 6From Sundarsar To Sonmasti, Via - Marsar ( 9 Kms,5 - 6 hours )
- Day 6
- 3940 - Sundarsar
- Day 6
- 3860 - Marsar
- Day 6
- 3265 - Sonmasti
9Km, 5 - 6hrs.Activity: Trek Day
Overnight In: Sonmasti (3264m )
Accommodation: Tents
Meals Included: All Meals
Early morning, we climb up the ridge to witness the magic of sunrise on the surrounding. From here, towards your left will be the vast Marsar Lake and on your right will be the Sundersar and our beautiful campsite.
After that, we return to our campsite and head towards our destination for the day - the meadow of Sonmasti.
Day 7From Sonmasti To Srinagar, Via - Sumbhal ( 11 Kms,4 - 5 hours )
Activity: Trek, Drive Day
Accommodation: None
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Cost Of Transport Included: YES
Few river crossing makes this day interesting. As we descend back to the civilization today, we witness fast change in the scene with meadows giving away to the increasing density of the trees and slowly human beings and other signs of civilization starts to take it over.
With that a beautiful trek comes to an end. We drive back to Srinagar and savour to the delicious Kashmiri Wazwan.
- Wandering around the vast twin lakes of Tarsar and Marsar goes beyond adjectives
- The landscape of Kashmir is so unique in India with its wide-open meadows, lush green meadows and forest of conifers and birch
- Not to forget, the better half of alpine meadows - the shepherd and their flock of sheep grazing on the green grass in the background of mystical mountains are just a perfect frame and experience for any nature lover
- Kashmir is called a paradise, not just for its landscape and beautiful mountains, but also for the lovely Kashmiris. The local cultural density of this fairyland will definitely change your perspective.
Trekking in Kashmir has its own charm - after all its known as the Paradise on Earth !
The landscape of Kashmir is so unique in India with its wide open meadows, lush green meadows and forest of conifers and birch. Wandering around the vast twin lakes of Tarsar and Marsar goes beyond adjectives. The shepherd and their flock of sheep grazing on the green grass in the background of mystical mountains are just a perfect frame and experience for any nature lover. Kashmir is called a paradise, not just for its landscape and beautiful mountains, but also for the lovely Kashmiris. The local cultural density of this fairyland will definitely change your perspective.
Right from the drive to reach Aru - the starting point of the Tarsar Marsar trek, this trek wins your heart with the easily swirling road drive to one of the popular places to visit in Kashmir - Pahelgam. From Pahelgam, Aru is just few minutes drive where the beautiful meadow greets you with its full aura. Its here the beautiful scenes of the Bollywood movie Highway was filmed.
Aru Valley is a favourite destination amongst nature lovers and from here, multiple treks start. The trek to Kolahoi Glacier, Trek to Sonamarg, and offcourse, the pristine twin lakes of Tarsar and Marsar.
The trek is fairly moderate with occasional steep and tricky sections. Starting from Arru, it follows the Lidder river, which originates from the Kolahoi Glacier. The route climbs up the Lidder rivewr until Lidderwat which is at the confluence of two rivers - Lidder and another stream which originates from the Tarsar lake. Further from Lidderwat, the trail follows the Tarsar Stream to take us to its source - The Tarsar Lake, a huge lake in a picturesque settings of the green meadow which are further beautified by the blooming of various colourful flowers - namely Blue Poppy and Potentilla. The valley is dominated by the mighty pyramid of the Kolahoi peak - a black mountain. Birds love this valley and this is one of the favourite breeding ground for the migratory birds. The valley falls in the vicinity of the Dachigam National Park and is also home to the elusive Snow Leopard, brown bear and ibex.
The lake of Marsar almost forms a geographical mirror of the Tarsar lake but is smaller in size. The trek follows through the meadows and rocky terrain passing by Sundarsar, a small circular lake in a rocky setting separating it from the Marsar Lake. From Sundarsar, the trek descends to the beautiful meadow of Sonmasti and exits through Sumbhal on the Srinagar Leh highway.
The Tarsar Marsar lakes very serene and trekking is smaller groups adds to the peacefulness and beauty, thus making it the best ever experiences of your life.
Tarsar Lake (photo by Vivian Sebastian)