Is Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Safe?

by Alina J. Content Writer

This blog intends to explain all the concerns of a trekker related to the safety of the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. The blog will enumerate the overall grade of this trek and how the trail looks on each day. But before that let us have an introduction to Kashmir Great Lake Trek.

Kashmir Great Lakes Trek – Introduction

This trek is a very much popular and quite talked-about summer trek in India. In summers, as the rest of the country gets heavy monsoon, Kashmir is the best travel place. This trek is frequented by all trekkers and it remains a dream of any seasoned trekker to go on this trek.

This trek is a summer trek of 7 days duration. The trek is situated in the Sonamarg area of Kashmir. It starts at Shitkadi which is just 3 km away from the main market of Sonamarg. The trek has the highest altitude of 4200m and is famous for its turquoise lakes like Gadsar Lake, Gangabal Lake, and Vishansar Lake. All these lakes are high-altitude lakes. One sees around 8 lakes in this trek and sees vast meadows and river streams and snow-peaked mountains. The trek has some of the best landscape views of Kashmir.

Kashmir Great Lake Trek Safety

This is the most asked question about this trek. All the trekkers want to get assured if only this trek is safe and secure. Let’s get it clear for once and all that Kashmir Great Lakes Trek is safe. It is as safe as any other trek in India. Both in terms of security and its terrain.

The trek no doubt is not easy but it is in no way a fatal trek. It has no dangerous trails, no cliffs, no life-threatening maneuvers.

The trek is moderate to difficult. This trek will surely test your endurance and fitness level. The trek has steep ascents and descents. Not only once but most of the days have either steep ascents or descents or both. Starting from the first day to the last, it does test your fitness in trekking.

In terms of security, this trek is safe and has encountered any such untoward episode. The trek has army camps at a couple of points which just ask you your id and identification and permission from the tourism department. To seek permission for this trek is a must.

On the way, you will see a lot of co trekkers walking beside you. From Indians to foreigners, all enjoy and love to come to this trek.

Highlights of Kashmir Great Lakes Trek

Trek Distance: Kashmir Great Lakes is around 70km in length.

Trek Duration: This trek is largely finished in 7 days.

Trek Gradient: This trek is not an easy trek. The difficulty level of this trek is moderate to difficult.

Highest Altitude of the Trek: Gadsar Pass is the highest altitude one reaches in this trek. The pass is around 4200m

Starting Point: The trek starts from the Shitkadi base camp of Sonamarg.

End Point: Kashmir Great Lakes trek is a circuit trek and it ends in the Naranag area of Kangan tehsil.

How to reach Shitkadi base camp: Take a cab from Srinagar and it will drop you near the base camp Shitkadi.

Mobile connectivity: There is erratic mobile connectivity for the first two days and then there is no mobile connectivity.

Best Time: The best time to do the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is between July and September.

Best Attractions: Alpine lakes like Gangabal lake, Gadsar lake, Nundkol lake, Vishansar lake. Meadows and valleys of Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal.

To sum up the safety, the Kashmir Great Lakes trek is a safe trek both in terms of trek terrain and security. The trek has no life threat or any cliff falling threat. It however is a moderate to difficult trek which needs a good fitness level. Before you start this trek, make sure you are fit and you join the gym before starting this trek.