Delhi to Kashmir Tour Package by Tempo Traveller | Book Now

Your magical Kashmir adventure begins as your Tempo Traveller departs from the designated pickup point in Delhi at approximately 9:00 PM. This is an overnight drive to Jammu, comfortable and well-paced, with a planned halt at a roadside dhaba for refreshments and a meal break. The driver ensures a smooth ride as you leave the bustling capital behind and head northward through the flat plains of Haryana and Punjab. The excitement in the group builds with every passing kilometre as you cross through Ambala, Ludhiana, and Pathankot — each city marking your steady progress towards the mighty Himalayas. Use this night drive to rest, get acquainted with your fellow travellers, swap stories, and prepare yourself mentally for the spectacular mountain landscapes that await you in the days ahead.

Overnight: In transit — vehicle
Distance Covered: Approx. 600 km
Meals: None included (refreshments at own expense at dhaba halt)

Wake up to the foothills of the Shivalik range as you approach Jammu by early morning. After a short breakfast halt in Jammu city, the real Himalayan drama begins. The Jammu to Srinagar highway is one of the most scenic drives in all of Asia — a winding, exhilarating road that cuts through forested mountains, terraced farmland, roaring rivers, and dramatic gorges. You ascend steadily through Udhampur and Ramban, watching the landscape transform from the semi-arid plains of Jammu to the lush green mountain world of inner Jammu & Kashmir. The highlight of this drive is the Jawahar Tunnel — a 2.5-kilometre engineering marvel that pierces through the Banihal Pass at over 2,000 metres altitude. The moment you emerge on the northern side of the tunnel, the landscape undergoes a magical transformation. The lush Kashmir Valley opens before you — green, misty, impossibly beautiful — and the air becomes noticeably cooler, cleaner, and fragrant.

As you descend into the valley past Qazigund and Anantnag, the beauty intensifies with every bend in the road. Apple and walnut orchards line both sides of the highway, rows of willow trees sway gently in the breeze, and the crystal-clear waters of the Jhelum River accompany you for much of the remaining journey. Arrive in Srinagar by late afternoon. Check into your hotel or houseboat, freshen up after the long road journey, and head out for a magical golden-hour Shikara ride on Dal Lake. Glide silently past floating vegetable gardens called Rad, through lotus beds in full bloom, past colourful shikaras and wooden houseboats adorned with flower pots, as the sun sets behind the Zabarwan Mountains and paints the lake in shades of orange and gold. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight: Hotel or Houseboat, Srinagar
Distance Covered: Approx. 290 km from Jammu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After a refreshing Kashmiri breakfast — Kahwa tea, Sheermal bread, fresh bakery items and local honey — today is entirely devoted to exploring the enchanting city of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, at a relaxed and leisurely pace. Your first stop is the renowned Mughal Gardens, some of the finest examples of Mughal landscape architecture in the Indian subcontinent. Begin with Nishat Bagh — the Garden of Pleasure — commissioned in 1633 by Asif Khan, brother-in-law of Emperor Jahangir. This magnificent garden rises in 12 terraces steeply from the banks of Dal Lake and commands panoramic views of both the lake below and the Zabarwan Mountains above. Next, visit Shalimar Bagh — the Garden of Love — built by Emperor Jahangir in 1619 as a symbol of his devotion to Empress Nur Jahan. Perfectly symmetrical and serenely beautiful, it features cascading fountains, towering centuries-old chinar trees, and fragrant seasonal flowers arranged in geometric beds. The third garden, Chashme Shahi — Royal Spring — is smaller but jewel-like in its precision, and is famous for a natural spring whose water is believed to possess medicinal and digestive properties.
Overnight: Houseboat or Hotel, Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Rise early for what is arguably the most thrilling day of the entire tour — a full-day excursion to the legendary Gulmarg, which translates from Kashmiri as Meadow of Flowers. Located at a soaring altitude of 2,730 metres above sea level, Gulmarg is widely considered one of the most beautiful hill stations in Asia and is India's premier ski resort destination during winter. The drive from Srinagar to Gulmarg takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, passing through fragrant pine forests, small traditional Kashmiri villages where shepherds graze their flocks in the open meadows, and increasingly dramatic mountain scenery. The snow-capped Apharwat Peak dominates the skyline as you approach Gulmarg, giving you a taste of the Himalayan grandeur ahead.
Overnight: Hotel, Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Note: Gondola tickets and pony rides at own expense

After breakfast, depart for Pahalgam — Valley of Shepherds — located 95 kilometres southeast of Srinagar at a comfortable altitude of 2,130 metres. Pahalgam is where the turquoise Lidder River cuts its way through lush green valleys flanked on all sides by dense pine forests, soaring snow-capped mountains, and vast alpine meadows grazed by thousands of sheep and horses. It is also the traditional base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage that draws hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees each summer, and it has been a beloved filming location for Bollywood cinema for over six decades. The drive to Pahalgam is itself a visual treat, passing through the world-famous Saffron fields of Pampore (spectacular in October when in bloom), the Avantipora ruins of a 9th-century Hindu temple complex, and the charming market town of Anantnag.
Overnight: Hotel, Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Note: Union cab charges for inner valley excursions are at own expense

Today's excursion leads you to Sonamarg — the Golden Meadow — arguably the most dramatically scenic destination in all of the Kashmir Valley. Sonamarg earns its poetic name from the golden hue of its alpine meadows in autumn when the hillsides are washed in warm amber and saffron tones. Located at an altitude of 2,800 metres in Ganderbal district, Sonamarg sits at the very gateway to Ladakh on the famous Zoji La pass route, and is surrounded by some of the most spectacular Himalayan scenery found anywhere in India. The drive from Srinagar follows the Sindh River upstream through a series of traditional Kashmiri villages, dense coniferous forests that fill the air with the scent of pine, and dramatic mountain gorges where waterfalls cascade down rocky cliff faces from glaciers hidden high above. As you gain altitude, the landscape becomes increasingly wild and primordial, with vast snow fields on the peaks reflecting dazzling light.
Overnight: Hotel, Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Note: Pony rides to Thajiwas Glacier and union cabs at own expense

Today is reserved exclusively for two of Kashmir's most beautiful and least-visited destinations, perfect for travellers who wish to go beyond the standard tourist circuit and experience the raw, uncommercialized soul of Kashmir. Doodhpathri — Valley of Milk — is a pristine alpine meadow located 42 kilometres from Srinagar in the Budgam district at an altitude of 2,730 metres. The name derives from the milky-white colour of the streams that flow through this enchanting meadow, fed by glaciers hidden in the surrounding mountains. The entire valley is a sweeping, open expanse of emerald green grass, punctuated by clusters of fir and pine trees, and framed by snow-capped peaks that rise dramatically on all sides. Doodhpathri sees very few visitors compared to the main Kashmir attractions, which means you can walk its meadows in near-complete silence, broken only by the sound of wind in the pines and the tinkling of goat bells from distant herds. Local ponies are available for exploring deeper into the valley.

After a relaxed lunch at local eateries in Doodhpathri, drive to Yusmarg — the Meadow of Jesus, a name rooted in local Kashmiri tradition that speaks to the valley's otherworldly serenity — located 47 kilometres from Srinagar at 2,750 metres altitude. Yusmarg is surrounded by dense forests of pine and fir through which the Doodh Ganga River flows with milky white waters fed by nearby snowfields. This is another entirely unspoiled Kashmiri paradise where the absence of heavy commercial development allows the natural environment to speak for itself with full, undimmed voice. Horse riding across the open meadows and short nature walks along the river are popular activities. On the return journey to Srinagar, visit the sacred Kheer Bhawani Temple at Tulmul in Ganderbal — a revered Hindu shrine built around a natural spring whose waters are said, in local tradition, to change colour as a portent of events to come. The temple is set within a grove of ancient chinar trees and exudes a calm, timeless atmosphere.

Overnight: Hotel, Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

On Day 8, the tour ventures into the lesser-explored northern reaches of the Kashmir Valley — a region of vast wetlands, historic towns, apple-laden orchards, and hidden valleys of extraordinary natural beauty that most packaged Kashmir tours never reach. Depart from Srinagar driving northwest through Sopore, passing en route through what is quite simply the largest apple-growing belt in India — hundreds of kilometres of apple orchards stretching across rolling foothills, the trees heavy with fruit in summer and autumn. Your first major destination is Wular Lake — not only the largest freshwater lake in India but one of the largest in all of Asia, covering an area of over 200 square kilometres at peak water levels. Fed by the Jhelum River and ringed by wetland marshes, Wular serves as a critically important wintering and staging ground for tens of thousands of migratory water birds, including rare species such as the Bar-headed Goose, various species of diving ducks, and in winter, the occasional sighting of the endangered Siberian Crane. The scale and serenity of Wular is awe-inspiring.

Continuing north, visit Baramulla — a historic town of considerable religious and architectural heritage, positioned dramatically at the point where the Jhelum River exits the Kashmir Valley through a narrow gorge and begins its long journey toward Pakistan. The old town contains remnants of Mughal-era mosques and shrines, and the riverside setting is particularly photogenic. After Baramulla, drive into the beautiful Kupwara district toward the Lolab Valley — a secluded, forested paradise that has earned the nickname Mini Switzerland among those who have discovered it. The Lolab Valley is a wide, lush valley flanked by dense forests of fir, pine, and walnut, through which clear mountain streams rush between mossy boulders. Wildflowers bloom across every open meadow in spring and summer. The valley sees minimal tourist traffic, ensuring an atmosphere of complete peace and natural authenticity. Return to Srinagar by late evening for a final night in the valley.

Overnight: Hotel, Srinagar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

On this final morning in Kashmir, wake up early for one last, unhurried experience of paradise. Step out for a quiet walk along the banks of Dal Lake as the morning mist rises slowly off the water and the first pale light of dawn touches the peaks above Srinagar. Breathe in the cool, clean mountain air — a luxury you will miss when you return to the plains. Savour a final cup of steaming Kahwa over breakfast, do any last-minute shopping for saffron, Pashmina, or Kashmiri dry fruits, and complete hotel checkout. The Tempo Traveller departs Srinagar mid-morning for the long return drive to Delhi.

The return journey retraces the magnificent Srinagar–Jammu highway, giving you one final opportunity to drink in the towering mountain scenery, the rushing Jhelum River below, the orchards and willow groves, and the long, dramatic passage back through the Jawahar Tunnel as you cross from Kashmir into Jammu. Stop for dinner at a dhaba en route (own expense) and continue driving through the night across Punjab and Haryana. The Tempo Traveller arrives at Delhi by early morning the following day. The tour coordinator ensures every passenger is safely dropped at the designated drop-off point. As you step off the vehicle and back into the rhythm of your daily life, you carry with you a treasure that no one can take — the memory of Kashmir's saffron fields and floating gardens, the sound of Shikara oars at sunrise on Dal Lake, the sight of the Himalayan peaks above Gulmarg blazing in afternoon sunlight, the warmth of Kashmiri hospitality, and the deep, settled peace of having stood in what poets have called the closest thing to paradise on this earth.

Tour Ends. Thank you for travelling with us!
Meals: Breakfast included | Dinner at own expense en route