Welcome to Kashmir & Ladakh

J&K combines three incredibly different worlds into one state. Hindu Jammu, the state's major railhead, is a busy hub for domestic pilgrims. Muslim Kashmir is India's Switzerland, attracting hoards of local tourists seeking cool summer air, alpine scenery and Srinagar’s romantic houseboat accommodation. For most foreigners, J&K’s greatest attraction is the Himalayan land of Ladakh, whose disarmingly friendly,... Read More

Top experiences in Kashmir & Ladakh

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Exploring India's remote Nubra Valley

Ladakh - the ‘Land of the High Passes’ - is among the most stunning parts of the Indian Himalayas. Wedged between Pakistan, Tibet and Xinjiang Province (China) and India’s Himachal Pradesh, it forms the eastern part of the contested state of Jammu & Kashmir. North of Leh, Ladakh’s ‘capital’, lies a far-flung and austerely beautiful enclave cradled by rugged mountains ‒ this is the Nubra Valley (often simply abbreviated to Nubra), a tuft of land on the very scalp of India.

The region actually comprises two valleys: Nubra and Shyok. Both their rivers rise amidst the remote and heavily glaciated peaks and troughs of the Karakoram Range. The Nubra joins the Shyok in ‒ as far as tourism is concerned ‒ the region’s heart near Diskit before flowing westwards into Pakistan to eventually join the mighty Indus.
Amar Grover
Lonely Planet Writer

Planning your dream Himalayan trip

For mountain lovers and the vertically inclined the Himalayas represent nothing less than the crowning apex of nature's grandeur. Here dramatic forested gorges rise to skylines of snow-capped glaciated peaks through a landscape that ranges from high-altitude desert to dripping rhododendron forest. Home to some 40 million people, this is no alpine wilderness, but rather a vibrant mosaic of peoples, cultures and communities, criss-crossed by ancient trading and pilgrimage routes that offer their own unique inspiration. Test your mettle against some of the world's most audacious and dangerous roads, or set a more measured pace on a trek through yak pastures to prayer flag-strewn passes haunted by snow leopards and red pandas. Stretching in a 2500km-long arc across Asia from Kashmir to Kathmandu, Lhasa to Ladakh, the Himalayan range is a big place. Focus your pilgrimage on one of the following dream trips.

View over the Ngozumpa Glacier from Gokyo Ri, Nepal. Image by Feng Wei Photography / Getty Images
Bradley Mayhew
Lonely Planet Writer

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Kashmir & Ladakh adventures

$470 Small group tours

4-Day Private Kashmir Paradise Package from Srinagar with Houseboat Accommodation

On this 4-day tour you will experience Kashmir, a unique destination known for its beautiful valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains that offer breath-taking views of its varying topography. On this tour, experience Kashmir's exotic beauty which is reflected in its picturesque landscapes, the lush green forests of Chinar, the deodar and pine trees, the beautiful rivers and waterfalls, and a wide range of flora and fauna. It is an ideal place for holidaymakers as well as for people who seek tranquility and serenity surrounded by nature. No wonder that Kashmir is referred to as the "Paradise of World". You will also enjoy three nights of accommodation aboard a houseboat!
$1280 Small group tours

5-Night Luxury Package Tour of Kashmir from Srinagar

Explore the beauty of Kashmir with a 5-night guided tour of its famous places, including Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg. Experience the magic of nature with a shikara ride on Dal Lake and stroll in the royal Mughal gardens. Embrace nature's beauty during a ride in the Gulmarg gondola and explore the 110-year old St. Mary's Church. Betaab Valley in Pahalgam is also a favorite campsite of travelers as it also serves as a base camp for trekking and further exploration of the surrounding mountains.
$800 Small group tours

Private 4-Night Tour of Kashmir from Srinagar

Soak yourself in the picturesque beauty of Kashmir, with a tour to its famous places, Srinagar and Gulmarg. Experience the magic of nature with a shikara ride on Dal Lake and stroll in the royal Mughal gardens. Embrace nature's beauty during a ride in the Gulmarg Gondola and then, explore the 110-year old St. Mary's Church. Thereafter, visit the much-famed Gulmarg Golf Club to witness its lush greenery and serene environs.
$1150 Small group tours

5-Day Kashmir Valley Tour from Srinagar

Join this wonderful 5-day guided tour of the breathtakingly beautiful Kashmir Valley. Stay overnight on a lovely houseboat, witness the spectacular snow-capped mountains, and visit the saffron fields in Pampore and the highest green golf course in the world in Gulmarg. Pass through the thick pine forests and see the Lidder River meandering through Pahalgam. Take a shikara ride on Dal and Nageen Lakes and take a walk in the lovely gardens in Srinagar.
$1180 Small group tours

6-Day Himalayan Ladakh Tour: Buddhist Monasteries Lakes and Yaks from Leh

Ladhak Region of the Great Northwestern Himalayas is one of the most pristine tourist destinations of the world. During your 6-day tour in Leh and other parts of Ladhak, you will see the happy faces of the local people who follow Buddhism. You will drive through snow-capped mountains on the world's highest motorable road and see some majestic monasteries and palaces and yaks and the bactrin camels.
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