Photo: Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: Rohit Sharma, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Photo: UnpetitproleX, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
A high-altitude trek of about 70 km in the Kashmir Himalaya, from Sonamarg over the Nichnai pass past a chain of alpine lakes to Gangabal and Naranag, usually walked in about seven days.
At a glance
- Starts in
- Sonamarg
- Ends in
- Naranag
- Length
- 70 km
- On foot
- 7 days
- Countries
India
About the trail
The Kashmir Great Lakes trek, known commercially as the Sonamarg-Vishansar-Naranag trek, is a high-altitude route of about 70 km in the Kashmir Himalaya. From its base at Sonamarg, around 80 km north of Srinagar, it winds through vast meadows, snow-covered passes, glaciers and alpine lakes, crossing the Nichnai pass at about 4,100 m on the way to Vishansar Lake.
The trek ends at Naranag after passing Gangabal, a lake sacred to Hindus below Harmukh, which rises above 5,000 m. Beginners take around seven days, there are no shops on the way, and walkers need prior permission from the tourism and forest departments as well as clearance from the police and security agencies.