Alpather Lake vs Kashmir Great Lakes
Pick Alpather Lake for
an easier walk, fewer days
Pick Kashmir Great Lakes for
camping, a real challenge
| Alpather Lake | Kashmir Great Lakes | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Kashmir, Gulmarg, Baramulla | Kashmir, Sonamarg, Ganderbal |
| Highest point | 4,100 m | 4,200 m |
| Difficulty | Moderate | Difficult |
| Trek distance | about 22 km | about 72 km |
| Days on the ground | 3–4 | 8–9 |
| Best months | Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | Jul, Aug |
| Snow likely | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | Rarely |
| Crowds in season | Moderate | Moderate |
| Daily spend | about ₹3,000 | about ₹3,000 |
| Gateway | Srinagar | Srinagar |
| With kids | Not advised | Not advised |
| With seniors | Not advised | Not advised |
| Permits | None, but the Gulmarg–Khilanmarg route is inside the ski area — check local rules. | Forest permit via operator; carry multiple ID copies for army checkpoints. |
Alpather Lake: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- ❄︎Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely
Kashmir Great Lakes: when to go
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely