On arrival at Srinagar international airport private transfer will be provided to your private Houseboat on the Dal Lake. Post check in relax, enjoy a locally cooked meal. Meals are served on large, perfectly set walnut tables, and tea is sipped from small, delicate china teacups. Proprietors treat guests like royalty, cooking food and bringing refreshments.

After lunch and a little rest, we head out on a Shikara ride to explore the Dal Lake. This ride is a delight and best experienced at dusk. There are a number of amazing things to look out for, like The Char Chinar, Kabutar Khana, The Golden lake, Lotus Lake and many more. Apart from leisure and tourism purposes, the shikara is also used by the locals for seaweed harvesting, fishing and transportation. To watch these beautifully decorated boats, glide serenely on the lake is a treat to the eyes, and you should definitely not miss out on this experience during your holiday in Kashmir.

Dinner back at your house boat and retire for the night after a chat about bygone glory with your host. 

A typical morning on the boat starts with breakfast in the dining room, consisting of eggs, Kashmiri bread, honey, yoghurt and other delicious local produce. The local tea – Kahwa is also a must try. 

After breakfast, check out and proceed to Pahalgam. En-route to our destination one can halt at Avantipora and Anantnag to purchase local dry fruits and saffron. The sight of the saffron fields around is truly amazing.

On arrival check into your hotel and relax for the remainder of the evening. We do recommend a walk around in the valley to breath in the fresh air and click a few pictures for posterity. 

Trout Fishing: There are many streams and tributaries fed by the Lidder River, that provide a great option for fishing. The fishing season is at peak between April and October and is quite cheap as compared to other destinations known for fishing around the world. A maximum of three-day permit is issued to the enthusiasts and fishing equipment on rent, are easily available. Popular spots for trout fishing include Singh Valley, Upper Valley and Lidder Valley.

Rafting: It’s a joy ride for first time rafting enthusiasts, as the basic 2.5 km stretch offers fewer rapids. For pros there are options of a 5km and 8 km options. The grades differ as per the difficulty level, with II being the easiest and IV being the highest on the difficulty rank. These rafts are guided by a team of professional rafters and at least one professional will assist your group. Usually this trip begins at Langanbal Bridge and terminates at Ganeshpora. Rafting up to 2.5 km is suitable for children who are above 12 years of age. The joy of rafting early in the morning, as the ice-cold water drenches you from top to bottom is priceless!

After breakfast today one can explore the nearby scenic places Aru - Chandanwari - Betaab Valley. Visit to these valleys is orchestrated by the local taxi union: local vehicles must be hired from the taxi stand to visit these places. 

Aru valley is located approximately 15 kms from Pahalgam in the Pir Panjal range. The valley is a meeting point, between two branches of Lidder River, coming from north and west of the valley and is surrounded by high mountains, peaks and dense forests. The valley is also a protected wildlife sanctuary and home to distinctive animals like the bear, Musk deer, Snow leopard, wolfs, and many more. Due to the presence of high-altitude alpine lakes trout fishing is also a favourite activity here. Aru also serves as a base for many short and long, single or multiple day treks. Here one can also enjoy many Alpine adventure activities like paragliding, horse riding, trout angling, and mountaineering.

 

Chandanwari situated at an elevation of 2,895 meters is more known as the starting point of the Hindu pilgrimage – Amarnath Yatra. (weather permitting). Chandanwari is covered in snow from November till May, and the sight of glaciers melting in the Lidder River is truly lovely. One of the most gorgeous places and a must see is the Betaab Valley; a land of sheer magic, beautiful beyond dreams and words. Betaab Valley was previously known as Hagan Valley or Hagoon, but in 1983 it was renamed Betaab after the blockbuster movie of the same name that was shot here. The place is also a huge hit among campers, trekkers, adventure seekers and nature lovers. With its gorgeous greenery, rugged mountainous terrains, and crystal-clear water bodies, the place makes for a perfect destination for holidaymakers and travellers. Those visiting the valley can also go ahead and explore Baisaran, and Tulian Lake nearby. 

Once back, rest of the day is free to relax. 

After breakfast check out from your hotel and proceed to Gulmarg.

Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of Asia's premier hill resorts. Originally called 'Gaurimarg' by shepherds, Gulmarg was discovered in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. It was also a favorite resort of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Today, Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty but also the country's premier ski resort in winter when it is covered in snow and takes on the appearance of a picture postcard.

Arrive into Gulmarg and transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the evening free. 

Gulmarg is situated at the height of 2653 m, in a pine surrounded base of Pir Panjal range. The Gondola Gulmarg is the second highest cable car in the World. It goes even higher in height, than the cable car of Mount Titlis, Switzerland.  There are two phases in the lift operation. Gulmarg > Kongdoor and Kongdoor > Apharwat. Phase 1 of the Gulmarg Gondola goes to a height of 3100 meters above sea level to middle station Kongdoor Mountain, from which skiers have access to numerous easy runs through the trees and to the groomed, but narrow slopes. Phase 2 of the Gondola ride starts at Kongdoor and goes to Apharwat (3980 meters.)  This second phase ride is steeper compared to the first.

If you are acrophobic (fear of heights), then you may avoid the cable car ride and take the pony ride instead. The price is highly negotiable and flexible based on season. After about an hour we head back and explore some more.  For those interested, horse-riding is available at the Strawberry Valley, or at the Golf Course. Another attraction here is the Maharani Temple, perched atop a hillock in Gulmarg. It is reckoned to have been built by Queen Mohini Bai Sisodia, the wife of the erstwhile ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh and thus is named as Maharani Temple or Rani Temple. This red-rooftop temple along with being a sacred place, is also a famous tourist place in Gulmarg and has been featured in a Bollywood flick.

Once back rest of the day is free to relax. 

After breakfast we commence our drive back to Srinagar. Arrive and transfer to your hotel and check in. 

Post lunch we head out sightseeing. The first stop is the  Mughal Gardens visiting Chashma Shahi (Royal spring built by Shahjahan in 1628 A.D), Nishat garden (the garden of pleasure designed and built in 1633 by Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jehan) and  Shalimar Garden (Abode of love, built by emperor Jehangir in 1619 A.D on a Persian Carpet design) .

Next, we head to The Shankaracharya Temple also known as Jyesteshwara Temple, located on top of the Shankaracharya Hill, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is one of the oldest shrines in Kashmir. Next, we move to Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden which is the largest tulip garden in Asia, set in the foothills of the Zabarwan mountain range in Srinagar. The Tulip Festival organised here is an annual event arranged by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir during the onset of the spring season (between March and May).

Enjoy the beautiful flowers and we can either head back to the hotel or explore the local food scene in Srinagar. 

Today is a free day to shop, take another shikara ride or try out some more local food. For those looking at another adventure a day trip to Sonmarg cannot be ruled out. An approx. 3 hr drive each way a visit to this valley completes most of the must do places in Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 2470 meters, Sonmarg, the meadow of gold lies in the heart of a gorgeous valley, carved byte river Sindh. Snow-blanketed mountains and the leisurely wind that blows sooth the soul. Sonmarg, also has historical importance, as it was a gateway on the ancient Silk Road that connects Kashmir with China. It also provides as a base camp for Ladakh, and is militarily very important for India. In the winter, Sonmarg becomes a valley covered in white gold thereby living up to its name. Covered with alpine trees from all sides, Sonmarg has one of the loveliest flower collections in Kashmir. 

Tourist vehicles are required to stop at a certain point in Sonmarg and then you have to take a pony ride to climb the mountains to see those breathtaking views. Lakes in Sonmarg are worth a visit too. The high-altitude lakes like Vishansar and Krishnasar are beautiful. The crystal-clear waters with ice flakes, are perfectly enriching. Thajiwas Glacier is situated at a distance of 3 km from Sonmarg and can be easily reached on foot in about half an hour. One can also hire cabs or ponies to reach the glacier.

For those who chose to stay back the day is free to explore the city.