Winter White Gulmarg
Asia's best powder, reached by the world's second-highest gondola. Two full days in Gulmarg with an instructor, and a firelit night on a frozen-edged Dal Lake to come back down to.
Gulmarg ski itinerary — day by day
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Day 1
Arrive Srinagar · a firelit night on the lake
Airport pick-up and straight to a heated houseboat on Dal Lake, ice at the edges and the bukhari lit. Kahwa on board.
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Day 2
Srinagar to Gulmarg · gondola Phase 1
Up through Tangmarg in a winter-equipped vehicle with chains. Gondola Phase 1 to Kongdoori, then an afternoon finding your feet in the snow.
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Day 3
Gulmarg · ski lesson and Phase 2
A beginner ski lesson with a certified local instructor, boots and skis included. Weather permitting, gondola Phase 2 to Apharwat at 3,980 m — above it, only sky.
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Day 4
Gulmarg · snowshoe through the pines
A snowshoe walk through the pine forest below the meadow, away from the gondola crowds. Afternoon free to ski again or sit by the fire.
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Day 5
Gulmarg to Srinagar · departure
Down the mountain and on to Srinagar airport.
What’s included
- Gondola Phase 1 & 2 tickets
- One beginner ski lesson with a certified instructor, skis and boots included
- Guided snowshoe walk
- One firelit houseboat night
- Winter-equipped vehicle with snow chains
- Accommodation on twin-sharing basis as per the itinerary
- Daily breakfast and dinner at your stay
- All transfers and sightseeing by private, non-shared vehicle
- Airport pick-up and drop at Srinagar (SXR)
- Driver allowance, tolls, parking and fuel
- A dedicated trip manager on WhatsApp for the whole trip
- 24x7 on-ground support from our Srinagar office
Not included
- Flights to and from Srinagar
- Lunches, and anything not listed under inclusions
- Gondola, pony, sledge and shikara tickets unless stated
- Union taxis inside Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg (fixed local rates)
- Entry fees at monuments and gardens
- Travel insurance, tips and personal expenses
Best time for a Gulmarg ski trip
Mid-December to mid-March. January and February are the most reliable for deep snow.
Good to know
Snow is weather, not a schedule
Gulmarg is reliably under snow from mid-December to March, but no operator can promise fresh powder on a given date. We build slack into the itinerary so a closed road or a wind-held gondola costs you a slow morning rather than a lost day.
What to pack
Thermals, a proper insulated jacket, waterproof gloves and snow boots. Ski gear and boots come with your lesson, but personal kit does not — and goggles and high-factor sunscreen matter more than people expect, because snow glare at altitude is fierce.
Skill level
The included lesson assumes no experience at all. Kongdoori's beginner slopes are gentle and forgiving. Apharwat, reached by gondola Phase 2, is genuinely serious off-piste terrain and is not somewhere to find your feet.
Getting there
Fly into Srinagar (SXR), about two hours from Gulmarg by road. We use winter-equipped vehicles with chains for the Tangmarg climb, which is the stretch that closes briefly after heavy snowfall.
Questions people ask
Gulmarg is usually under snow from mid-December to March. January and February are the most dependable months for deep powder; December can be hit-and-miss early on.
Yes — that is what the included lesson is for. Kongdoori has gentle beginner slopes and the instructor supplies skis and boots. Apharwat's Phase 2 terrain is for experienced skiers only.
Phase 1 reaches Kongdoori at about 3,050 m and Phase 2 tops out at Apharwat around 3,980 m, making it the second-highest operating cable car in the world.
It can shut for a few hours after heavy snowfall while it is cleared. We use winter-equipped vehicles with chains and build slack into the itinerary, so a closure costs you a lie-in rather than a day.
