- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Package - Budget
- Sightseeing
This Kashmir family package is planned for parents, children and grandparents travelling together. In three nights and four days, you stay one night on a Dal Lake houseboat, spend the other nights in a comfortable Srinagar hotel, and visit Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg as easy day trips. Your family never has to pack and move bags every morning.
We are a registered travel agency based in Srinagar, and we look after roughly 800 to 900 families every year. They come from Mumbai, Gujarat, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and many other places, and they include young children, teenagers, grandparents and large joint families. Because we are locals, we can show you what online portals usually cannot: which hotel suits your children, which road is clear this week, and which day is best for which place.
Why families choose our Kashmir family package
- One base, no daily packing. Srinagar sits in the centre, and Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg lie 50 to 90 km away in different directions. We keep you in the same hotel and take you out and back each day. If a day gets too long, we arrange a stay closer to the place instead of a tiring late drive.
- Hotels that understand families. We choose hotels that serve vegetarian and Jain meals, and that can give children milk and less spicy food. In winter we prefer centrally heated hotels or rooms with hot and cold AC, so everyone can control their own temperature.
- Honest planning around crowds. In peak season, the Gulmarg gondola queue can take two to three hours. We plan around it and suggest alternatives, such as Sonmarg for snow.
- Local people you can call. We are a registered agency with Google reviews you can read, not a middleman who disappears after payment.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Srinagar: Arrival, Dal Lake and houseboat night
Our representative meets you at Srinagar airport or railway station and takes you by private cab to Dal Lake (about 24 km, roughly 40 minutes from the airport). Check in to your houseboat and rest after the journey. In the evening, enjoy the one-hour shikara ride on the lake, which is included in your package. Dinner and overnight stay on the houseboat. Children usually remember this night the most, so keep the camera ready.
Day 2Srinagar: Day excursion to Pahalgam
After breakfast, drive to Pahalgam, about 90 km from Srinagar. On the way, you can stop to see the Martand Sun Temple. In Pahalgam, spend the day by the Lidder River and, if time allows, visit Betaab Valley or Aru Valley. We keep the pace easy so that younger children and grandparents do not tire. In the evening, return to Srinagar for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 3Srinagar: Day excursion to Sonmarg
After breakfast, drive to Sonmarg, about 80 km from Srinagar, a wide mountain meadow along the Sindh River. In winter it is covered with snow, which many children see for the first time. You can visit the Thajiwas Glacier area (a pony ride is optional and charged extra). Return to Srinagar in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4Srinagar: Gulmarg excursion and departure
Gulmarg is about 50 km from Srinagar. Enjoy the meadows and, if you wish, the famous gondola from Kongdori to Apharwat or a pony ride (both charged extra). Please note that the gondola queue can take two to three hours in peak season. If your flight or train is in the evening, we fit the Gulmarg excursion in before your drop to Srinagar airport or railway station. If your departure is early, tell us when you book and we will rearrange the days so that Gulmarg does not clash with it.
TIP: Please leave for the airport at least 4 hours before your flight. There are several security checkpoints before the terminal, and traffic outside the airport often builds up.
Is 3 nights and 4 days enough for a Kashmir family trip?
Honestly, it is not enough to see all of Kashmir. But if your time is short, this plan works well: you see the main destinations, Dal Lake, Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Gulmarg, without rushing the children. If you can spare more days, we suggest a longer trip. Have a look at our 4 nights 5 days, 5 nights 6 days and 6 nights 7 days family packages, or browse all Kashmir family packages.
Best time for a Kashmir family package
Kashmir has four seasons, and each suits a different kind of family.
- Winter (snowfall): the most popular choice for families whose children have never seen snow. Plan for warm clothing and a hotel with proper heating.
- Spring: a good choice if you want snow on the mountains and greenery everywhere else. The tulip garden is also in bloom in this season.
- Summer and autumn: also popular for families. Tell us your travel dates and we will explain what to expect and which hotels suit you best.
If you travel in the busy winter weeks, especially after 21 December, we often suggest Sonmarg over Gulmarg. It has snow too, and you avoid the long gondola queue.
Real families, real trips
Recently, the Nawaz family from Hyderabad travelled with us on an 8-day premium package. They had eight children with them, aged 5 to 10, and the whole group enjoyed the trip. You can watch their welcome and feedback video on our YouTube channel. Mr. Sukant and his family also stayed with us, with hotel and houseboat arrangements handled by our team, and you can read reviews from families like theirs on Google.
Practical tips for families
- Food: some hotels serve only vegetarian food and some only Jain food. We pick hotels that can also give children milk and less spicy meals.
- What to pack in winter: gloves, socks, jackets and thermals for everyone, including children and elders. Also carry your regular medicines and basic ones such as a headache tablet.
- Medical help and network: medical help is available in Kashmir, and nearly all tourist destinations have mobile network coverage.
- Roads: roads are usually clear. Closures mostly happen during heavy snowfall, so keep some flexibility in winter.
- Choosing an agency: very cheap online offers often come with promises that are not kept on the ground. Book with a registered agency that has good reviews and real experience.
Inclusions
- Hotel stay in Srinagar and one night on a Dal Lake houseboat, chosen to match your budget
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Private vehicle for pick-up, drop and sightseeing as per the itinerary, from 6- or 7-seater cars up to 20-, 30- and 50-seater vehicles for larger groups
- One-hour complimentary shikara ride on Dal Lake
- Toll tax, parking and driver allowance
- The vehicle is for the itinerary only and is not at your disposal for other use
Exclusions
- Gondola tickets
- Pony rides
- Lunch and any meals not mentioned in the inclusions
- Travel insurance
- Guide charges (optional)
- Personal expenses such as tips, camera fees and drinks
- Any service not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
Ready to book this package?
Price is on request. Tell us your travel dates, number of travellers and hotel preference and we will send a quote. Cancellation terms are in our cancellation and refund policy, and general rules in the terms and conditions.
