Offbeat Kashmir Expedition

Arrive Srinagar. Check in and rest. Evening briefing on the Gurez expedition — route, weather, what to pack. Visit Lal Chowk market for last-minute supplies.

Early morning departure for Gurez (125 km, 4–5 hrs via Bandipora). Drive through North Kashmir's apple orchards, ascending through dense pine forests to Razdan Pass (3,450m) — where the entire Gurez Valley unfolds below. Descend to Dawar. Check in to homestay. Evening walk by the Kishanganga.

Full day in Gurez. Morning guided walk to traditional Dard villages — see extraordinary log-constructed houses built without nails. Visit the local school, ancient mosque, and bazaar. Afternoon fishing in the Kishanganga for brown trout. Evening bonfire with local music.

Full-day excursion into Tulail sub-valley — one of the most remote spots in Kashmir. Drive and trek to viewpoints above the valley where the Kishanganga snakes through an emerald corridor of meadows and forests, Habba Khatoon peak dominating the skyline. Picnic lunch in the wild.

Return drive from Gurez, crossing Razdan Pass. Drive to Sonmarg via Bandipora. Arrive by evening. Brief walk to the meadows above town.

Morning visit to Thajiwas Glacier — pony ride or easy hike. Return and drive back to Srinagar (80 km / 2 hrs). Transfer to airport.