Tarsar Marsar Kashmir Trek
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Mountains that look like they have stepped out of a portrait.
Lakes that are brought to life by pure melting snow.
Valleys that look like a green carpet dotted with the most exotic-coloured flowers.
A constant scent in the air that pulls you towards it.
Do you really need anything more to break that monotony of your daily life? Perhaps some new friends and an adventure that will stay with you for a long time.
Presenting the Tarsar Marsar trek – the kind of trek that you might want to repeat, simply because you want to experience the sheer beauty of Kashmir.
Nestled in the heart of Kashmir, the Tarsar and Marsar lakes are the kind of places you might see in your happiest dreams. When the sun shines, the water twinkles and when the clouds descend, the lake disappears under a shroud.
At Plan The Unplanned, we don’t do random trips – we do treks that might challenge your body, but will certainly rejuvenate your mind. This alpine trek would be a change of scenery, as well as a change of mind for you, Bangaloreans!
Trek highlights
Kashmir might seem distant from Bangalore, but when you are trekking with Plan The Unplanned, no gorgeous destination is too far. Even if you are someone who is travelling that far up north for the first time, there is nothing to worry about. Not only will we chart out the entire trip, we will also help you with what you need to carry and such.
But let’s first take a look at all that you will get to experience on the Tarsar Marsar lake trek:
- From Srinagar, you will first head to charming Aru, which is where you will acclimatise and start building acquaintances
- On the first leg of the journey, you will pass the Lidder and the legendary Jhelum rivers
- Get your cameras ready, because there is simply so much to capture
- On day 2, we set out from Aru to Lidderwat, which is where we will set up camp
- Settle down within a dream, because you will have the Lidder river on one side and the Kolahoi Glacier on the other
- Homwas to Shekwas will take you across streams and deep valleys as well as expansive fields
- The mild ascent to Sundarsar lake is one that will take your breath away – from gorgeous grasslands to a mirror-like lake and wild horses
- The ascent to Marsar lake and then the descent to Homwas will challenge you, but reward you with scenic beauty beyond compare
Kashmir is known for its pristine beauty, but what you get to experience off the beaten path is a gloriousness that is unparalleled. Trek and camp with Plan The Unplanned for a journey that will find a place in your fondest memories.
Highlights
Day 0
‣ Arrive in Srinagar (recommended a day prior)
‣ Overnight stay in Srinagar (self-arranged or via PTU)
Day 1
‣ Depart from Srinagar to Aru village
‣ Acclimatization walk and group briefing
‣ Overnight stay in Aru
Day 2
‣ Begin trek from Aru to Lidderwat
‣ Trek alongside the Lidder River
‣ Witness views of the Kolahoi glacier
‣ Overnight camping at Lidderwat
Day 3
‣ Trek from Lidderwat to Shekwas
‣ Interact with locals and visit Bakerwal shelters
‣ Pass through meadows and pine forests
‣ Overnight stay at Shekwas campsite
Day 4
‣ Trek to Tarsar Lake
‣ Soak in views of the Kolahoi peaks reflecting over the lake
‣ Camp near the beautiful Tarsar Lake
Day 5
‣ Climb over Tarsar Pass
‣ Trek to Sundarsar Lake, a high-altitude gem
‣ Overnight stay at Sundarsar campsite
Day 6
‣ Early morning trek to Marsar Lake
‣ Explore the viewpoint overlooking Marsar and Dachigam National Park
‣ Return to Homwas
‣ Overnight stay at Homwas
Day 7
‣ Trek from Homwas to Aru
‣ Drive back to Srinagar
‣ Overnight stay in Srinagar (self-arranged or via PTU)
Day 8
‣ Depart from Srinagar (recommended to keep buffer day for flights)
*All timings are an estimate and subject to change
Note:
• Please schedule your flights a day before arrival and a day after departure to avoid airline delays/cancellations.
• Plan The Unplanned can assist with booking flights and accommodation.
Who should attend?
Day 1 - Commence the journey from Srinagar to Aru
Private Vehicle
Tents
Dinner
The adventure begins in Srinagar and we drive to Aru Valley located at 8,000 ft. above sea level. A 3.5 hours drive shows off beautiful views, providing us with a peek at the rivers Jhelum and Lidder- crystal clear flowing water that we are about to see even more closely in the few days to come.
When in Aru give time to acclimatise. Give your legs a stretch, feel the cool mountain air, take several clicks of pictures and bathe in the environment. Today is your day to adjust to the new surroundings and also wind down, and prepare yourself for the journey ahead.
Day 2 - Aru to Lidderwat
Trek
Tents
All Meals
Wake up and have breakfast and prepare yourself to take a beautiful trekking route of Aru to Lidderwat at 9,000 ft. The path is easy and mostly hilly up and down and takes about 7 hours of hiking through the pinewood forests and green fields.
When you arrive at the campsite you will be welcomed with a piece of paradise as down on one side flows the gurgling Lidder River and on the other the almighty Kolahoi Glacier flowing its waters. Interestingly, Lidderwat literally means a Lidder Mixture, an ideal name for this bridge of natural beauty.
Relax in a hot cup of tea, watch the beautiful scenery and have an afternoon story at the riverside and sleep under the stars.
Aru Valley
Day 3 - Lidderwat to Shekhwas
Trek
Tents
All Meals
The path starts by ascending slowly but steadily along the thick meadows and forest segments, with few unstable areas coming in its way. When you go by Homwas, and cross a river behind it, look out on a short, but sudden, ascent.
Between Homwas and Shekwas the country does fairly open out - by imagination take in broad acres, steep valleys and winding brooks. Watch out near the camp site, there is a Zadsar Lake but it is filled only early season rather it drizzles towards the month of August.
To conclude the day, indulge in stunning sunset moments at Shekwas, a place that has perfected its mood of undisturbed wilderness, and mountainous sceneries as your company.
Day 4 - Shekhwas to Tarsar Lake
Trek
Tents
All Meals
The same day trail has a gradual ascent through easy gradients and takes you to a spectacular Tarsar Lake. The turquoise water is visible after approximately four hours as it is surrounded by the magnificent mountains of Kolahai.
The approach to the lake, by a picturesque stream overlying rocks, then a broad, open scenery, is very delightful. When you get to the lake, camp and allow the calmness of the environment to engulf you. The rest is your time, you can go to the shores and relax on the water and that is what most people do or just enjoy the beauty like no other.
Tarsar Lake
Day 5 - Tarsar to Sundersar
Trek
Tents
All Meals
Rise early in the morning to have a spectacular view of Tarsar Lake and then have a trek to Sundarsar located at 12,900 ft. The hiking route starts with a steep ascent to the Tarsar Pass that grants you breathtaking views on lush grasslands extending towards the Jagmargi Plains.
Walk across crystal-clear rivers, cross meadows speckled with wild horses, and arrive at the moon shaped Sundarsar Lake - which changes view with the direction you are facing. Camp on the peaceful water and do not miss the golden sunset and sunrise colors. It is like spending the night on another planet.
Sundarsar lake. Photo by rover_with_cam
Day 6 - Trek via Marsar Lake from Sundersar to Homwas.
Trek
Tents
All Meals
The day will start with a 40 minutes ascent to the highest point of the trek and the highest point also in the whole Marsar Lake, at 13165ft. Marsar is often referred to as being the twin of Tarsar and it is as beautiful as it is alpine and feeds into the Dal Lake via the Dachigam National Park. The adjacent trail has an exciting landscape of wilderness and hilly terrain.
Having basked in the scenery, slip down through meadows and ridges to Homwas (11,300 ft), where you will spend the night admiring the serene environment.
Marsar Lake. PC: musafirbysoul
Day 7 - Homwas to Aru. Drive back to Srinagar
Multiple Modes (Trek, D)
Stay Not Applicable
Breakfast
We will close our tour with a picturesque drive, to Aru, by Lidderwat, by passing Homwas. Relive the previous few sights and then we hit back to Srinagar where you spend the night.
The week of trekking in the most clean and wild parts of Kashmir ends, full of new acquaintances, personal achievements and unpredictable impressions. You might feel sore in your legs, but your heart will fill.
This trip can have an end but the memories of the trip will last forever.
Meet your host
Plan The Unplanned
- Verified Host
- Logout's Trusted
- Traveler's Choice
What’s life without adventure? Isn’t the real purpose of life to travel, to experience new places, and witness the sunrise from new mountaintops? This thought is what united Jatin and Tarun over a cup of chai, in spite of being from two unrelated backgrounds (CA and IT). They knew each other since the time Jatin was helping Tarun learn the ways of the wilderness through weekend treks and outings with another traveling group. Their love for traveling and trekking together motivated them to start something of their own. Thus was born “Plan The Unplanned”, where travel goals come true. Under the Companies Act, Plan The Unplanned is incorporated as Unplanned Journeys Private Limited They started their journey on unsteady ground, much like any other company, but they shared an infatuation for travel and adventure with their customers, which amplified their determination, and thus, Plan the Unplanned family keeps getting bigger every day! Just about any travel idea can come alive with Plan The Unplanned…treks, adventure activities like rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, backpacking trips across the country, cultural outings, photo walks; everything that fellow travelers need, to explore the great outdoors together. Well now that the wanderlust has kicked in and you can already see a vacation in your nearest future, here’s what we have to offer!
See Plan The Unplanned's other listings
Inclusions
- Cozy tented accommodation on a triple-sharing basis
- All meals from Day 1 dinner at Sonamarg to Day 7 lunch at Naranag
- All camping fees, forest permits, and necessary permissions
- Trekking essentials: sleeping bags, mattresses, toilet tents & kitchen tents
- Experienced trek leaders, cooks, and support staff
- Basic safety equipment: first aid kit, oxygen cylinders, etc.
- Trained outdoor leader from Plan The Unplanned & a local guide
- The overall experience that you gain during the trek
Exclusions
- Any meals beyond those listed
- Any kind of personal expenses
- Accommodation at Srinagar
- Offloading charges – ₹2500/person (if you choose to offload your backpack for the full trek duration)
- Mandatory adventure insurance – ₹300/person (to be purchased separately; contact us at 8147086083)
- Any kind of personal expenses
- Trekking equipment on a rental basis
- Any expenses arising from unforeseen contingencies such as landslides, curfew, government orders, or natural disasters
- Any expenses related to medical evacuation
- Flight cancellation charges due to delays or any other reason
- Anything not expressly mentioned in the inclusions
Things to carry
✅ Soft copy of your Aadhaar or Voter ID (mandatory for permits)
✅ A comfortable pair of trekking shoes with good grip and ankle support (no sneakers or sports shoes)
✅ 40–60 litre backpack with sturdy straps and a rain cover
✅ 20-litre foldable daypack for summit day essentials
✅ Warm layers, thermals, and weather-appropriate clothing
✅ Lightweight trek pants, t-shirts, and undergarments as per your need
✅ Sunglasses, sun cap, and sunscreen for sun protection
✅ 2 pairs of regular socks + 1 pair of woollen socks
✅ Hand gloves to keep your fingers warm
✅ Torch or headlamp for visibility at night (mandatory)
✅ Trekking pole to support your walk
✅ Extra cash for any meals not covered in your itinerary
✅ Compact raincoat or backpack cover to stay dry
✅ Power bank and charging cable for your phone
✅ Portable chargers for other electronics
✅ Flip-flops for lazing around the campsite
✅ Extra pairs of clothes to change into
✅ Poly bags to pack your wet clothes
✅ 2x one litre water bottle
HOW TO REACH
We've divided out the travel based on the kind of transportation and the route you take for clarity:
TRC to Srinagar Airport
As you exit the Srinagar (Sheikh Ul-Alam) airport, the tricolour flag of India waves proudly in front of you. You must first travel to the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), which is located 12 kilometres from the airport. But getting there is simple.There are two routes to the TRC.
1. Government Bus: This is the most convenient option. Every half hour, airport shuttles transport passengers to TRC. The ticket now costs around Rs.80. If you have time on your side, this is the most dependable, safe, and cost-effective method.
The second alternative is to take a private cab. As soon as you exit the airport, you will be bombarded with them. However, choose this alternative only if you are short on time because it is costly. The cab will cost you approximately Rs.600. Please keep in mind that while vehicles are available in Srinagar city, they are not available at the airport complex. To find an auto, you must walk about a kilometre from the airport. It is not recommended.
TRC to Aru Direct Route
After arriving at TRC, you will begin your journey to Aru. The road to Aru goes through Pahalgam. As a result, the first and most visible leg of your travel will be to Pahalgam. This can be accomplished in two ways. One travels along the four-lane Jammu Highway, passing through Anantnag. The second is on the other side of the Lidder river and takes the same length of time but is a little more scenic because of the apple and apricot orchards along the way. This is the path that leads through Bijbehra.Both roads meet three kilometres before Pahalgam. The entire route takes approximately 3.5 hours.
How to Plan Your Travel ?
1. When travelling to Srinagar, we recommend arriving a day early and staying in Srinagar. Staying in Srinagar allows you to get some much-needed rest for the night. Plus some additional sightseeing.Your journey concludes at Sonarmarg when you return. We once again organise transportation for trekkers to reach Srinagar. You arrive in Srinagar between 6 and 7 p.m.
Keep a buffer day aside for emergencies. Your journey will last 7 days, but add one extra day as a buffer. This is not part of the itinerary. On a trek, it is impossible to forecast adverse weather, landslides, or political situations. If you don't use the buffer day on the trek, you may always use it to explore Srinagar.
After including the buffer day in your itinerary, always reserve your return flight/train tickets.
2. Arrange your next flight/train trip
If you are flying from Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, or any other city, book your flights for Day Zero, which is the day before Day 1 on the schedule. If your trek begins on July 24, plan your flights to Srinagar on July 23.
Policy and more
Here’s the cancellation policy for Tarsar Marsar Kashmir Trek
- If you cancel before 30 days – 90% of the amount will be refunded
- If you cancel between 20 -30 days – 75% % of the amount will be refunded
- If you cancel between 15-19 days – 50% will be refunded
- If you cancel between 7-14 days – 25 % amount will be refunded
- If you cancel between 0- 7 days before the departure date – No amount would be refunded.
Note:
- The booking fee to reserve the early bird offer is non-refundable
- The ticket can be transferred to any friend/any person provided he/she is fit for the trek. The communication of the same has to be confirmed over email.
- We do not accept any cancellations on WhatsApp or call. Please drop a mail to [email protected]
- PTU reserves the right to update the cancellation policy without any prior notice
If for a rare reason, PTU cancels the trek
Plan The Unplanned strives to ensure that our treks are not cancelled or called off. However, in the event of unforeseen circumstances or natural disasters such as continuous rain or snow, thunderstorms, snowstorms, landslides, floods, earthquakes, or any other calamity that could jeopardize the safety of our trekkers, or if there are unforeseeable circumstances like local riots, curfews, pandemics, lockdowns, government orders, or any such situations that make a safe trek impossible, we will issue a voucher equivalent to the amount paid for the trek. This voucher can be redeemed for any of our treks in the coming year. We regret any inconvenience caused by such cancellations, but our top priority is always the safety of our trekkers.
- PTU would like to clarify that vouchers will not be issued in the event of trekkers having to come down from the trek for any reason. Our trek leaders may ask a trekker to descend due to reasons such as lack of fitness, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), blood pressure, turn-around time, health issues, or non-compliance with the trek rules such as smoking/drinking. Vouchers will only be issued when the entire trek is cancelled or called off by PTU. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
- If PTU has to shift the trek: As stated earlier, weather conditions in high-altitude areas are highly unpredictable and can change without notice. Additionally, situations beyond our control such as natural disasters, political unrest, pandemics, and lockdowns may arise, making it impossible to continue with the scheduled event. In such cases, where we do not have direct control over the circumstances, we will make every effort to provide an alternative trek that is safer and more favourable for our trekkers. This means that your trek will be shifted to another trek to ensure your safety and provide an enjoyable trekking experience.
- To compensate for any difference in cost between the original trek and the alternative trek, we will issue a voucher in such circumstances. This voucher can be redeemed at any time within a year from the date of issuance. It's important to note that a refund fee or difference refund is not applicable in these situations.
Terms and Conditions
Frequently Asked Questionss
Q: I'm a solo traveller, Can I join?
A: The interesting thing about travelling alone is that you get to meet new people from diverse backgrounds, and towards the end, you are no longer strangers. Hence solo travellers are always welcome to join us on our trips.
Read more about solo travelling here and get inspired! https://www.plantheunplanned.com/solo-yet-accompanied/
Q: Is it safe for Women/Girls?
A: Safety and security are our priority at all times. Hence it is safe for women/girls to join us on our treks and travels. Our trek leaders accompany the team at all times, and our campsites are secured and safe for accommodation. We also have female trek leaders who accompany us on most of our treks.
Q: Do you have Washrooms during the trek?
A: Well, you are in the mountains and none of our trails has a washroom facility during the trek.
Q: Is the Tarsar Marsar trek challenging?
A: The Kashmir Tarsar Marsar journey is somewhat challenging; there will be a hard rise to cross, which will be followed by a dip and then a gradual ascent to Sundarsar. Two high-altitude alpine lakes, Tarsar and Marsar, located at a height of 13500 feet, are part of this expedition.
Q: Is there an aption to offload my backpack?
A: If you want to have your rucksack offloaded, you must send a request a few days before the trek so that arrangements can be made before hand. The charges for offloading being Rs 2500 for entire duration. If you choose to offload during the trek, the price would be slightly higher than the standard price.
Q: What’s the best time to do the Tarsar Marsar trek?
A: The Tarsar Marsar trek is most enjoyable from the start of July until the start of September. In the remainder of the Indian subcontinent, it is the customary monsoon season.
Q: Will I get a mobile network during the Tarsar Marsar Lakes trek?
A: Only up to Srinagar will you have access to cellphone connection. Following that, the network is shaky and practically nonexistent. Prepaid SIM cards are not functional in Kashmir.
Before beginning your journey to the basecamp, make sure all of your crucial phone conversations are finished. Let the family know that the hike will have inadequate connectivity.
Q: Can I keep extra luggage at the base camp?
A: No, you cannot keep extra luggage at the base camp.
Q: How to reach Tarsar Marsar base camp?
A: You must travel to Srinagar to start the hike. Don't forget to report to Srinagar's tourist information centre. Srinagar has excellent train and plane connections to the rest of the nation.
By air:
The Sheikh-Ul-Alam airport in Srinagar is served by the majority of airlines. Srinagar is immediately air-connected to major cities like New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
By train:
Jammu is the railroad station that is closest to Srinagar. Jammu is once more well connected to India's main junction stations.
One may choose between a quick 40-minute flight from Jammu to Srinagar or a 10-hour straight bus ride. Other choices include taxis and cabs, which take 8 to 9 hours to go to Srinagar.
Q: Is trekking safe in Kashmir
A: Yes, trekking in Kashmir is safe. In terms of Tarsar Marsar, while the trek stays unaffected during periods of instability, getting to the base camp or onto the path may raise worries during such times.
So, here are some things to take in mind as you go from Srinagar to Pahalgam and then to Aru:
1.Stay in popular places like Dal Lake or Lal Chowk if you're staying in Srinagar for the night.
In terms of clothing and behaviour, blend in with the crowd.
2.Avoid visiting downtown regions. Stick to tourist areas since they are safer and better protected during times of conflict.
3. If there is a curfew, don't freak out. Keep your cool and wait for it to pass.
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