Drive From Srinagar To Aru
- Altitude: 2,400 m/ 7,950 ft.
- Drive Distance: 112 km | 4 hrs.
- Stay in Home Stay.
The trek starts from Aru village. We will begin our journey from Srinagar and drive about 112 km from Srinagar to reach Aru. Arrive at the designated pick-up point and our representatives will pick you up and drive you to Aru. From Srinagar, we will drive to Pahalgam which is 100 km away from Srinagar and Aru village lies 12 km away from Srinagar across the Lidder River.
Aru is a fairly developed tourist spot, located on the bank of the Lidder River and is also the base camp for the popular Tarsar Marsar Trek and the Kolahoi Glacier Trek. It is also a hub for adventure activities like horse riding and heliskiing in winter. Trout fishing in the Lidder River is also a popular sport here. Network connections are not very stable in Aru and all network connections don’t work there so you need to have all your communications wrapped up at Pahalgam. We will be staying in camps at Aru and our campsite is located in a beautiful location by the Lidder River.
Trek From Aru To Araam Pathri
- Altitude(Araam Pathri): 2,950 m/ 9700 ft.
- Trek Distance: 12 km | 5-6 hrs approx.
- Stay: In camps (twin sharing).
This is our first day of trekking in Kashmir and today we will trek from Aru to Arram Pathri. The trek starts with a gentle uphill climb and after walking for about 800 meters, you will enter a forested zone. Continue walking and after some time the trek forks into two. The left trail leads to a clearing with a vantage point. It takes about 3 hrs to reach. The right path, on the other hand, leads us to our campsite.
Follow the trail on the right which will lead you to a muddy patch. There’s also a higher road that can be taken during the rainy days when there is too much mud but it is not accessible most of the time. Once you reach the muddy patch, it’s a steep uphill climb of about 500 meters at the end of which you will reach a shepherd settlement called Geerwad. From here on, you will walk on grasslands and forest covers all the way to a small riverside clearing. This is Gagad Pathri. Araam Pathri is yet a little ahead. On the way to Araam Pathri you will find an abandoned hermit’s cave and even remains of an ancient fort. Walk a little further and you will cross an wooden plank bridge to get on the right side of the river followed by another crossing that will again take you to the left side of the river. Here, you will observe a couple of mud huts that serve as the summer dwellings of the shepherds. This clearing is called Kansal Pathri. Keep walking uphill along the ridge on your left towards Aaram Pathri. Once you reach a section with a cluster of Gujjar huts, you know you have reached Aram Pathari. Upon reaching Araam Pathri, we will find a suitable location to pitch the camps.
Trek From Araam Pathri To Harnag Lake via Harnag Pass
- Altitude(Harnag Lake): 3,650 m/ 12100 ft.
- Altitude(Harnag Pass): 3800m/12500 ft.
- Trek Distance: 10 km | 6-7 hrs.
- Stay: In tents (twin-sharing).
Today we will trek from Araam Pathri to Harnag Lake via Harnag Pass. The climb up the pass is steep and also has some rocks and boulders along the way. Be very careful in the rocky section as some buolders are quite slippery due to a stream flowing from the top of the pass. As you reach the Harnag Pass, from the top you can see the wide Nafran Valley below and you will also spot the Harnag Lake. The descent to Harnag Lake has a similar terrain as during the ascent. Once you reach the Harnag Lake, sit for a while and enjoy the serenity. Tonight we will camp by this beautiful lake.
Trek From Harnag Lake to Harbhagwan Lake and back to Harnag Lake
- Altitude(Harbhagwan Lake): 4200 m/13800 ft.
- Trek Distance: 8 km(Both way) | 5-6 hrs.
- Stay: In tents (twin-sharing).
Today’s hike is going to be challenging. You’ll start on a clear trail in a wide valley, which gradually becomes more hilly. After crossing two streams about 2 km from Harnag Lake, you’ll arrive at the Kolahoi glacier viewpoint. Here, you’ll get an amazing view of the massive Kolahoi glacier at the edge of Mt. Kolahoi on your left. Take a moment to enjoy the sight of the glacier in the valley—it’s not something you see every day! You’ll also notice the east face of Mt. Kolahoi.
Look to the right of the glacier to spot a pointed peak. This is the gateway to Harbhagwan Lake. The trail gets steeper here, with a tough 2 km climb ahead. You’ll gain about 2,264 feet in altitude during this stretch, so take it slow and watch for signs of high altitude sickness. If you experience any symptoms, descend immediately.
The ascent begins on soft, grassy terrain with many boulder sections. Be careful on the boulders, as they can cause slips, falls, and ankle twists. Once you reach a flatter area on the ridge, the trail fades away. Follow the stream flowing from the top—it will lead you straight to Harbhagwan Lake. Harbhagwan Lake is incredibly beautiful, set in a stunning location. Big chunks of ice break off the hanging glacier and feed the pristine blue lake. After spending some time by the Harbhagwan Lake, we will descend back to Harnag Lake.
Trek From Harnag Lake to Dhingapani (Nafran Valley)
- Altitude(Nafran Valley): 3,200 m/10,500 ft
- Trek Distance: 8 km | 4-5 hrs approx.
- Stay: In tents (twin-sharing).
Today is the day you have been waiting for. We will finally arrive at the beautiful Nafran Valley. From Harnag Lake, we will descend down to the beautiful Nafran Valley. From Harnag Lake it's a 9 km descent to Nafran Valley. Be extra careful on your descent as it's through rock and boulders and can be quite tricky. Listen to your Trek Leaders advice carefully. Enjoy your walk along the beautiful meadows and occasionally stop by to capture the beauty of nature all around. The magnificent meadows of Nafran Valley with the rock formations and a creek running through the valley will completely capture your senses. We will spend the night in this beautiful Valley.
Trek From Dhingapani(Nafran Valley) To Bhaj Margi via Bhajmargi Pass
- Altitude(Bhajmargi): 2900 m/9,500ft.
- Trek Distance: 10 km | 7-8 hrs.
- Stay: In tents (twin sharing).
Today we will descend to Bhaj Margi, one of the most beautiful campsites on the Nafran Valley Trek. From Nafran Valley, walk down the ridge while enjoying magnificent views of the meadows and mountains around. You will cross a forested zone before arriving at the clearing of Bhaj Margi. This is our camping spot for the night. At Bhaj Margi, you will spot horses and cattle grazing leisurely, a beautiful sight to witness.
Trek From Bhaj Margi To Mondlan And Drive Back To Srinagar
- Trek Distance(Bhaj Margi to Mondlan): 8 km | 3-4 hrs.
- Drive Distance(Mondlan to Srinagar): 104 km | 4 hrs.
- An easy and gentle walk down to the valley.
- Expect to reach Srinagar by 6:00 PM.
This is the last day of trekking in the mountain and also the last day of this beautiful journey. Today we will trek back from Bhaj Margi to Mondlan and drive back to Srinagar. From the campsite, the trail keeps going southwest until you reach a large wooden gate, which marks the end of the trail. You will now follow a muddy path through a forest cover down to a small shepherd settlement called Shul Margi.
From Shul Margi, you will have to cross a small stream to move further downwards and then again you will have to cross a bigger stream and enter into a forested zone. The forest runs parallel to the road that leads you to Aru. But we will continue on this forested trail and it will lead us into a big clearing that offers a stunning view of Pahalgam.
From here, it is a short descent to Mondlan village situated beside a small mountain stream. Mondlan is 8 km away from Aru and it takes a drive of about 20 minutes to reach Aru. You can expect to reach Srinagar by 6:00 PM.
