Which day trip from Srinagar should you take?
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and Yusmarg compared, with 2026 taxi fares.
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and Yusmarg compared, with 2026 taxi fares.
From Srinagar, pick Gulmarg for snow and the Gondola, Sonamarg for the Sindh river and Thajiwas walk, and Doodhpathri or Yusmarg for a short, quiet meadow day; Pahalgam is the longest drive and better with a night there. A same-day return taxi with Travel Etios Kashmir to any of the five costs ₹2,500 in a Toyota Etios or Swift Dzire and ₹3,500 in an Innova Crysta, tolls and parking included.
| Day trip | From Srinagar | What you go for | Paid on the spot / watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulmarg | About 51 km, about 1.5 h | Gondola, snow in winter, meadow in summer | Gondola tickets; winter chains or 4×4 from Tangmarg |
| Pahalgam | About 95 km, 2.5–3 h | Lidder river, Betaab and Aru valleys | Union taxi for Aru, Betaab, Chandanwari |
| Sonamarg | About 80 km, under 3 h | Sindh river, Thajiwas glacier walk | Ponies and union taxis at the meadow |
| Doodhpathri | About 42 km, under 1.5 h | Quiet meadow walk, no gondola | Very few places to stay |
| Yusmarg | About 47 km, under 2 h | Pine meadow, walk or pony to Nilnag | Road can close after heavy snow |
Every one of these is ₹2,500 for a same-day return in a Toyota Etios or Swift Dzire and ₹3,500 in an Innova Crysta with us, tolls and parking included. Distances and times are from the route pages and district websites.
Gulmarg. In winter it is the snow day, and the Gondola is the main reason to go; tickets are extra and weather-dependent. Read Gulmarg Gondola booking before you pick a date. Sonamarg also gets snow, and the Sonamarg tunnel opened on 13 January 2025 keeps the road usable in most winter weather, though heavy snow can still close it for a short time.
Doodhpathri or Yusmarg. Both are under two hours from Srinagar, quieter than Gulmarg, and good for a walk on the grass with the driver waiting at the parking.
Pahalgam is the longest drive of the five, so many guests stay one or two nights there instead. Our Pahalgam 5D/4N package (₹19,999 per person, 2 sharing, 5% GST included) gives the valleys a full day.
Most guests base themselves in Srinagar and pick one or two. Our Srinagar 4D/3N package (₹12,999 per person, 2 sharing, 5% GST included) includes one day trip. Fares for each route are on Kashmir taxi rates.
Gulmarg for snow and the Gondola, Sonamarg for the river and glacier walk, Doodhpathri or Yusmarg for a short quiet meadow day. Pahalgam is better with a night or two there.
A same-day return to Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri or Yusmarg costs ₹2,500 in a Toyota Etios or Swift Dzire and ₹3,500 in an Innova Crysta, tolls and parking included.
Doodhpathri, at about 42 km via Budgam. Yusmarg is about 47 km and Gulmarg about 51 km.
No. They are on different roads out of Srinagar, so each needs its own day.
No. Gondola tickets are bought separately and depend on the weather.
Travel Etios Kashmir, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar 191101. J&K Tourism Reg. No. JKEA00005366. Rated 4.9 from 136 Google reviews. Call or WhatsApp +91 70060 85655 / +91 95960 44418, email enquiry@traveletioskashmir.com.
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₹2,500
Same-day return from Srinagar, tolls and parking included.
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