India is not only about the sacred Ganges River and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Nestled in the Himalayas, Kashmir is a gem of wild and majestic natural beauty. Since the time of the Mughal emperors, this place has been known as a resort paradise. Today, Kashmir attracts tourists with its clear blue lakes, colorful tulip gardens, ancient monasteries and snow-capped mountains.
Besides, tourism is also one of the important economic sectors of the region, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for Vietnamese tourists, Kashmir is still a fairly new destination, especially for nature exploration activities such as trekking or mountain climbing.
The simple little house of the nomadic people here
The stream is from melted ice, along the way people will get water from the stream to drink
Overcoming challenges, conquering Kashmir
One tiring afternoon, Vu Nguyen suddenly remembered Kashmir - a land he had longed to visit. Although he had already explored Ladakh, the beauty of Kashmir still urged him to explore. Without hesitation, he started planning the trip and quickly invited his fellow travelers. In early August, they officially departed for Kashmir, starting an exciting journey of discovery.
Initially, only Vu Nguyen and a friend had the idea of exploring the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. They began to plan in detail and look for more members with the same passion to conquer this challenging route together. However, finding enough companions was not easy. With a 10-day journey, completely cut off from the outside world, convincing everyone to join was not simple, especially when everyone's work schedule was different.
“Thanks to the chance connection of people who love to travel, we gathered into a group of 12 members,” Vu Nguyen confided.
Dal Lake (Srinagar)
Passing through endless grassy hills as if touching the sky
In contrast to the hot and stormy summer in Vietnam, Kashmir offers an ideal climate for trekking trips. With gentle yellow sunshine during the day and cool air at night, Kashmir in the summer is truly a paradise for those who love to explore nature. In particular, from July to September, the Kashmir Great Lakes route becomes famous for its beautiful emerald green lakes. With a group of friends, Vu Nguyen had the opportunity to experience this 7-day, 6-night trekking route and immerse himself in the majestic natural scenery of Kashmir.
“To ensure a safe and cost-effective trip for the group, we consulted major travel community sites and asked for opinions from some friends who had gone before. Through that, we searched for Land Tour services and local guides who were knowledgeable about the terrain to lead the group most effectively,” said Vu Nguyen.
Gadsar Lake, the glacier flows from the mountain top into the lake
Kishansar Lake
Vishansar Lake, in my opinion, is the most beautiful lake in this trek.
From Vietnam, visitors can fly directly to New Delhi, India and then transfer to Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir. After landing at Srinagar airport, it only takes about 2 hours by car to reach Sonamarg, the starting point for the trekking journey to explore this “paradise on earth”.
Vu Nguyen's group spent a summer full of experiences in the remote northern region of India with a 7-day, 6-night trip. They lived in a wild natural atmosphere, without electricity or internet, eating and sleeping entirely in mobile tents. They were immersed in the symphony of sky and earth, grass and trees, rivers and lakes, feeling their smallness in front of the majestic nature.
Summer is the season of wildflowers blooming like a love song that heals our heavy footsteps.
Watch the sunrise from Campsite Nichnai
Each day, they cover about 8-10 km on short days and 12-16 km on longer days. They pass through pristine vegetation and different climates. Some days they pass through ancient forests and deep ravines, some days they pass through green hillsides and colorful wildflower fields, sometimes they cross precarious rapids and some days they have to exert all their strength to overcome high passes like Gadsar Pass at an altitude of 4,200 m. They admire long valleys with herds of cattle celebrating and witness the magical beauty of beautiful lakes lying under the legendary Himalayas.
The most wonderful thing about the trip was not only the majestic natural scenery but also the bond between the group members. 12 people, whether they had known each other before or had just met for the first time, together overcame the challenges of the journey. From the slippery rocky slope to the nights sleeping in tents under the stars, they always stood side by side, sharing all the joys and sorrows. The stories told by the fire, the warm hugs when someone was unwell, all created a beautiful memory that Vu Nguyen will never forget. This trip not only helped him explore nature but also helped him find great friends.
Emotional bonding between group members
Watching the flocks of sheep stretch out towards the cool water
From the top of Zaj Pass looking down at the twin lakes Nund Kul Lake and Gangbal Lake
Talking to Travellive reporter, Vu Nguyen shared: “As someone who has trekked through mountains from 2,000 to 5,000 m high, I rate the difficulty of this route as medium or higher. A day in Kashmir lasts a long time, from 5:30 am when the sun just rises until 7-8 pm when the sun sets. Summer here has beautiful but unpredictable weather, daytime temperatures in July and August range from 28-33 degrees Celsius, while nights are cold from 10-15 degrees Celsius and there are often showers in the afternoon. Although some members of the group are professional trail runners, they still experience heat shock and altitude shock in the first 1-2 days due to the change in climate and high altitude during the day.”
Day 2 camped at the foot of Vishansar lake to watch the Milky Way
Kashmir Great Lakes Travel Guide from A to Z
If you are considering this route, Vu Nguyen advises you to be mentally and physically prepared. With stunning landscapes and ever-changing weather, Kashmir will reveal hidden gems for those who are patient and determined to conquer.
Yamsar Lake, is a small lake but here is filled with the most brilliant yellow flower carpets
View from the top of Gadsar Pass looking down at the twin lakes Vishansar and Kishansar
You need to bring cold medicine, stomachache medicine, altitude sickness medicine and fever reducer. You should bring more food such as canned food, pork floss, instant noodles, spices because the tour will mainly have vegetarian dishes with boiled vegetables and vegetable soup. You should choose clothes that dry quickly, suitable for trekking and breathable sports. Don't forget to bring a raincoat and good trekking shoes, preferably waterproof ones.
The cost for this trip is about 14-15 million VND, including airfare booked through trip (about 7-8 million VND), land tour fee (5 million VND), Indian visa fee (25 USD) and additional costs for food and group activities.
The cost for this trip is about 14-15 million VND.
