This peaceful trek takes you through 3 alpine lakes in Kashmir, making it a great alternative to the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.

The Tarsar Marsar Lakes trek passes through beautiful high altitudes alpine lakes situated at the foothills of the highest mountain peak of Kashmir Kolhoi Peak (5400m) which is located towards the north of Basmai. The trails on the trek pass through streams, plenty of colourful meadows and cross the Basmai and Sonmasti mountain passes. The trek from Sumbal in Sind Valley to Aru in Lidder Valley over Sonmasti Pass is among the most beautiful trekking routes in the Himalayas. The vistas and mesmerising beauty of Tarsar Lake, Marsar Lake and Sundarsar Lake will leave you with memories that would last a lifetime. The turquoise water of these high-altitude lakes shimmer like a precious opal set against the lush green of the mountain meadows and panoramic views that greet you as you reach the top of mountain passes is truly breathtaking.

Situated at an elevation of 4000 meters, Basmai is a cradle shaped hanging valley in one of the remote places in the Kashmir Himalayas. It lies in the Ganderbal and Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, sharing its boundary with Zanskar to the other side and is dominated by the majestic Kohlai peak. The valley surrounded by snow-covered peaks and alpine forest flora is a treat for nature lovers and bird watchers alike. Trekking towards Basmai Pass and Tarsar Marsar Lakes, one can find trees of Pine (Chir), Oak, Deodar, Bhojpatra, along with many species of fauna.

All in all, Tarsar Marsar Lakes trek is one of the prettiest treks in India and is a great alternative to the relatively popular Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.

What to expect on the trek?

Tarsar Marsar Lakes Trek provides an opportunity to observe the daily lifestyle of the Bakarwal or shepherds and villagers in some of the remote locations in the state. It is interesting and heart-warming to observe their daily life in farms and modest houses with their ever-friendly attitude and smiles. You will be walking for average 6-7 hours (average 8 km) daily covering the total distance of approximately 50km over the period of 6 days. The maximum altitude on the trek is around 4000m. The trek involves some steep ascents and descents near the Basmai Pass and you are constantly trekking above 10,000ft for four days. You will be trekking through valley, huge grasslands, exceptionally gorgeous alpine lakes, rivers & streams and snow-capped mountain passes. Expect pleasant weather during the day with a slight possibility of heavy winds or rain as you approach the passes. Night-time temperatures could drop down to sub-zero on the higher camps.

What would the weather be like?

July to October is the best time to go for the Tarsar Marsar Lakes Trek. Kashmir receives mild rainfall around this time which makes it an ideal time to visit the lakes and the meadows covered in all shades of green. In the summer months of Mid-June to September, this is a moderate trek and a paradise for trekkers. A moderate snow cover in the month of June also adds to the virginal beauty of the valley! The daytime temperature is usually in the range of 13-18 degree and the night tie temperature is around 1-3 degree. The area receives a good amount of snowfall in winter and it is too cold to trek as the passes, trails and meadows are also buried under snow.

Who do we recommend the Tarsar Marsar Lake Trek to?

Tarsar Marsar Lake Trek is a moderate level trek and it can be taken up by amateur but fit trekkers or even some first-timers. Arduous days, steep and rocky passes and altitudes approaching 4000m all make it a challenging trek in one of the most beautiful and serene parts of Kashmir. However, prior preparation and training of at least two to three months are sufficient for anyone with average fitness and an active lifestyle.

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Brief Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrival in Srinagar and drive to Aru. (3-4 hours drive, 100km)
  • Day 2 - Trek from Aru to Lidderwat. (Camping), (10 km, 6 hours trek)
  • Day 3 - Trek from Lidderwat to Shekhwas. (Camping), (5-6 km, 5hours)
  • Day 4 - Trek from Shekwas to Tarsar Lake. (Camping), (5 km, 4 hours)
  • Day 5 - Trek from Tarsar Lake to Sundarsar Lake. (Camping), (5 km, 5 hours)
  • Day 6 - Trek from Sundarsar Lake to Homwas via Marsar Lake (Camping), (9 km, 7 hours)
  • Day 7 - Trek from Homwas to Aru and drive to Srinagar. (13 km, 6-7 hours, 3 hours drive), Stay in a Hotel.
  • Day 8 - Drop at Srinagar airport. Fly out.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Trip Cost Includes:

  • Transport: All ground transport in traveller/bus/4 by 4 vehicles from hotel to trek start point and back. Airport group transfers to and from Srinagar airport to hotel and back.
  • Accommodation: 02 nights Srinagar stay in a standard Hotel/Guesthouse on twin sharing basis and 06 nights tented camps (02 person double fly dome tents on twin sharing basis).
  • Meals: In Srinagar on bed and breakfast plan. During the Trek (All meals) Breakfast, Packed lunch, dinner, morning anf evening tea & coffee, drinking water.
  • All camping gear included (tents, sleeping bags, mats, dining tents, toilet tents (pit loo as well as western style, kitchen tents, stools, etc. 
  • Lead and assistant guides, cooking staff, campsite helpers. Horses for backpack off-loading upto 10 Kgs. 

Trip Cost DOES NOT Include:

  • Airfare 
  • Visa (For foreign nationals)
  • Travel/Trek insurance.
  • Personal clothing and equipment.
  • Any medical costs incurred by you, or costs associated with a medical incident, such as your evacuation from the mountain and/ or hospitalization.
  • Optional trips or excursions.
  • Tips for local staff and guides.
  • Lunch and dinner in Srinagar.
  • Any extra transport needed for private pickups or drops. 
  • Expenses in case of early arrivals or delayed departures for any reason. 
  • Single supplement tents or hotels. 

Things to carry

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Extreme temperature variations, high altitude, snow glare & proximity to sun are certain factors which necessitate the need to for proper mountaineering and trekking equipment. In order to enjoy your experience in the mountains, we have recommended that you carry the following with you.
 

Apparel

  • Thermal Inners - At least 1 pair of Top and Leggings
  • 6-8 t-shirts or long-sleeve shirt (cotton / dryfit)
  • 2-3 pairs of trekking pants (no denim!)
  • 1 Sweater/Sweatshirt
  • 1 Fleece Jacket
  • 1 Down Jacket
  • 1 Waterproof Layer like raincoat or wind-cheater
  • 1 pair of hiking boots
  • 1 pair of comfortable sandals/floaters/sneakers
  • 6-8 pairs of cotton socks (for day)
  • 2 pairs of thick/woollen socks (for night)
  • Gloves - liner and outer
  • Sun hat
  • Woollen cap
  • Buff

Accessories

  • Duffel bag / Rucksack (60L+)
  • Daypack / Backpack (20-30L capacity)
  • Sleeping bag (can be bought or rented in Kathmandu)
  • 2x 1L Bottles (to carry drinking water)
  • Torch + Batteries / Headlamp
  • Knee/Ankle/Wrist Guards
  • Trekking Poles
  • Sunblock
  • Sunglasses
  • Moisturiser
  • Hand Sanitiser
  • Personal Medical Kit
  • Personal Toiletries Kit
  • Snacks!

Fitness

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  • There are three main aspects of training to focus on – strength training, cardiovascular training, and trekking + trekking alternatives.
     
  • Strength training involves training different muscle groups, so that they can become stronger. There are different exercises for each muscle group, and working them all out 2x-3x a week should be enough to help you get comfortable trekking.
     
  • Legs / lower body - exercises like squats, glute bridges, step ups and leg presses with help you develop stronger muscles in the lower body. 

    Core - Exercises like planks, bicycle crunches and leg raises can help with core stability; Pilates is also a core-intensive type of workout that will help.

    Upper body - Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups and dips will help develop these muscles. You can also use resistance bands or light weights to develop them further.
     
  • It’s vital to do plenty of cardio training before your trek, so that you can get the most out of your experience
     
  • Running - This is the most recommended form of cardio activity, as it activates a lot of the same muscles as trekking. Being able to run 10km in 60 minutes will allow you to get the most out of your trek.

    Cycling / Swimming - If you have knee issues, or don’t enjoy running, you can also opt for cycling and swimming. Being able to cycling 30-50km or swim for 30-40 minutes, thrice a week, should be good to help you with treks like EBC.

    HIIT training / Crossfit - Another option to level up your cardio training is to opt for high intensity aerobic exercises like HIIT or Crossfit, 2-3 times a week
    The aim is to get your heart rate up, so you do not get winded on long days of trekking
     
  • Hiking
    Try to get outdoors and go for a hike on the weekends! Uphill trails of 4-8 kilometres are will help you get used to trekking. Make it a point to carry a loaded backpack, and walk in your trekking shoes.
     
  • Hiking Alternatives
    Climbing stairs, and using the treadmill or stairmaster on an incline, will help prepare you for treks. Make it a point to carry a loaded backpack so that you can get used to the extra weight; and use your trekking boots, so that you can break them in and walk comfortably.
     
  • If you’re confused with all this information, no need to worry! The most important thing with training is consistency, and staying injury-free. Your training week should ideally have
    Strength training - 3 sessions
    Cardio training - 3 sessions
    Hiking - 1 long session, best on the weekends
    Rest and stretching - at least 1 day

FAQs

Tarsar Marsar Lakes Trek

What are the staying arrangements for this trek?

This trekking format is often referred to as an expedition format of trekking prevalent in the Indian Himalayas. The entire trek will be self-sufficient with a separate Kitchen Tent and Staff, Dining Tent, Toilet Tent and 3- Man, Dome shaped tents in which trekkers will be accommodated on a double occupancy. On the first night, trekkers will be staying in Sonmarg in a Guest House, and on completion of the trek, we will be arranging for a night in a House Boat on Dal Lake, in Srinagar.

What kind of Physical shape do I need to be to undertake this trek?

You need to be in good physical shape to trek especially to trek over the mountain pass. It’s a challenging trek and does demand good physical fitness and some bit of prior trekking experience. Please refer to our physical fitness document for more details on this topic.

What are the entry and exit points for this trek?

One needs to fly to Srinagar Airport for the Great lakes of Kashmir trek. There are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. On your arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and driven directly to Sonmarg where an Adventure-Pulse representative will greet you. The next day, we make our way to the start point of the trek by car which is a short 30 minute drive. After the trek, we will arrange for transportation to Srinagar for a night on a House boat and the next day we transfer you back to Srinagar airport for your flight out.

Do I need any special equipment/climbing gear for this trek?

Any kind of climbing equipment or gears are not required for this trek. For list of other things and warm clothing to carry, please refer to our link - List of things to carry for the trek. You do need to make sure you have adequate warm clothes and very good Rain Gear as we do expect rainfall on this trail.

What is the communication system available on the way?

Regular phone and data services work in Srinagar. While on the trek, most days there is no network. One is disconnected on most days during the course of the trek.

What about high altitude acclimatization?

We at Adventure Pulse consider acclimatization as one of the most important aspects of trekking / climbing a mountain and spend enough time to do that. We move up the mountain slowly giving enough time to our bodies to acclimatize. Each day, we monitor each trekkers SPO2, Blood Oxygen Saturation, with a portable Oximeter, to ensure they are acclimatizing well. Our senior guide will keep monitoring the team on a daily basis to ensure that there are no problems along the way.

What are the food arrangements?

Meals will be as close to home cooked food as possible and is usually Vegetarian. Breakfasts will consist of bread, honey, jams, tea and Nescafe along with eggs, paranthas, etc. For lunch there will be a variety of local food , or a full packed lunch. Dinner will usually be a soup followed by lentils, vegetable curry. Our endeavour will be to try ensuring a daily variety in the food that we prepare so we keep the group's appetite up along with their morale.

Will I be able to take a shower or bath during the course of the climb?

Regular shower facilities will be available in the hotel, but while we are higher up on the trek, shower facility is not available for the trekking period.

What are the emergency medical precautions available for this trek?

The Adventure-Pulse staff and guides carry a fully equipped medical kit with necessary medicines and an Oxygen meter. As a standard practice, we check oxygen levels of all our clients twice a day and take necessary precautions if any irregularity is found in the oxygen reading. In case the problem persists, the client is sent down with a qualified guide. In case of an Injury where the trekker is not in a position to walk down, a Pony is organized to the closest road head where a vehicle and a doctor visit can be organized.

What happens in case of bad weather on the mountain?

Adventure-Pulse usually plans all it treks during the most favorable season on the mountain, but having said that, weather is always an unpredictable factor. We usually look at weather reports before leaving for the trek. In case the weather is unfavorable, we could delay it to the next day depending upon the Itinerary. A buffer day/s is always built in the itinerary as contingency if we get hit by unfavorable weather conditions. In the worse situation, we may have to turn back midway, but safety is always a priority which cannot be compromised on.

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Srinagar

Our team will organize group pick ups from the airport once you land and drive you to your hotel in Srinagar. Today you have the opportunity to catch on some rest as well as explore the beautiful city, experience Shikara rides, indulge into some Kashmiri delicacies and also go shopping.

Day 2

Drive from Srinagar to Aru & trek to Lidderwat (Camping), (10 km, 6 hours trek)

The drive from Srinagar to Aru takes 3 hours. We start with an easy hike towards Lidderwat on the well-marked trail with towering pine trees. Don’t miss out on the breathtaking views of the valley alongside the gushing river. It is almost a flat and easy trail up to Lidderwat and you would encounter a lot of tourists making day trips to the place. Lidderwat campsite has a confluence of streams flowing from Kohlai Peak and Tarsar streams. Overnight stay in Camp or Gujjar Huts.

Day 3

Trek from Lidderwat to Shekhwas. (Camping), (5-6 km, 5hours)

Today we embark on a long day towards Shekwass, the trail is well laid out. You would find many friendly shepherds on the route and it is a very beautiful valley, not much strenuous. Overnight stay in tents.

Day 4

Trek from Shekwas to Tarsar Lake. (Camping), (5 km, 4 hours)

From Shekwass we move towards Tarsar Lake which is a gradual ascent, it would take us around 2 hours to reach Tarsar Lake. Tarsar is a huge lake and very similar to Gangabal lake on the trek from Naranag to Ganderbal Enjoy the turquoise blue waters of Tarsar for the day.

Day 5

Trek from Tarsar Lake to Sundarsar Lake. (Camping), (5 km, 5 hours)

After the blissful stay at Tarsar Lake, we move towards Sundarsar Lake. It is a gradual hike in the grassy valley towards a small pass that leads to Sundarsar It should take us around 5 hours to reach the beautiful shores of Sundarsar.

Day 6

Trek from Sundarsar Lake to Homwas via Marsar Lake (Camping), (9 km, 7 hours)

We would make an early morning start to visit Marsar Lake just with our water bottles and snacks. It is an easy and short walk up to Marsar. Enjoy the pristine waters of Marsar Lake. Head back on the same trail to Sundarsar camp and start your way towards Homwas. The trail from Sundarsar to Homwas should take us around 4 hours.

Day 7

Trek from Homwas to Aru and drive to Srinagar. (13 km, 6-7 hours, 3 hours drive), Stay in a Hotel.

Today you are on the last leg of the trek and start towards Aru. We take the same route that we had taken to reach Lidderwat. It should take around 5 to 6 hours to reach Aru.

Day 8

Drop at Srinagar airport. Fly out.

Today we drive to the airport and say goodbye to Kashmir.

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