Kashmir Short Break
A compact long-weekend version for couples or working families: gardens, one gondola day at Gulmarg and a houseboat night, skipping Pahalgam and Sonamarg to keep travel time down.
Day by day
Arrive and shikara ride
Fly Ahmedabad–Delhi–Srinagar, landing by early afternoon. Transfer to your houseboat on Dal Lake. Evening shikara ride through the floating gardens and past Nehru Park as the sun sets.
Gondola day
Early start to Gulmarg (56 km, about 1.5–2 hours) to beat the queue at the cable car. Phase 1 gondola to Kongdoori, Phase 2 to Apharwat Peak where booked and weather permits. Return to Srinagar by early evening.
Mughal Gardens and the old city
Morning at Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh (add the Tulip Garden if travelling in early-to-mid April). Afternoon at Shankaracharya Temple for the view over the lake, then a craft-emporium stop for pashmina and papier-mache before a farewell dinner on the houseboat.
Free morning, fly home
A free morning for the market at Lal Chowk or a last shikara ride, depending on your flight time. Transfer to the airport 3 hours before departure via Delhi.
What's included
- Return Ahmedabad–Srinagar flights via Delhi
- 3 nights on a Dal Lake houseboat
- Private AC vehicle for the Gulmarg day and Srinagar sightseeing
- Daily breakfast and veg dinner
- Gondola Phase 1 ticket at Gulmarg
- Airport pickup and drop
Not included
- Lunches
- Gondola Phase 2 ticket
- Shikara ride beyond the included evening rides
- Travel insurance and GST 5%
Indicative cost
Per person, twin sharing
Per person, twin sharing
Per person on twin sharing, indicative, including flights via Delhi. Best value in the shoulder months (May–June, September); winter dates cost more due to flight demand even though the trip is shorter.