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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.
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.
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.
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.
Best Time : Mid June to September
Duration : 08 Days
Max. Altitude : 4000 m
Commences At : Srinagar
Ends At : Srinagar
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 double occupancy. On the first night, trekkers will be staying in Gagangir in a Guest House, and on completion of the trek, we will be arranging for a night stay in a comfortable hotel in Srinagar.
You need to be in good physical shape to trek specially to trek over the mountain pass. Although, the altitude is not very high and there is no technical skills required to do this trek, long walking hours and the steep ascent and descent on the trek makes Tarsar Marsar Lake trek a challenging trek. The trek 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.
One needs to fly to Srinagar Airport for the Tarsar Martsar Lake 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 Gagangir where an Adventure-Pulse representative will greet you. After the trek, we will arrange for transportation to Srinagar for a night stay in Hotel and the next day we transfer you back to Srinagar airport for your flight out.
Tarsar Marsar Lake trek is a non-technical trek. Any kind of climbing equipment or gears is not required for this trek. For a 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.
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.
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.
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 soup followed by lentils, vegetable curry. Our endeavour will be to try ensuring a daily variation in the food that we prepare so we keep the group's appetite up along with their morale.
Regular shower facilities will be available in the hotel, but while we are higher up on the trek, the shower facility is not available for the trekking period.
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 the 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.
Adventure-Pulse usually plans all its treks during the most favourable season on the mountain, but having said that, the weather is always an unpredictable factor. We usually look at weather reports before leaving for the trek. In case the weather is unfavourable, we could delay it to the next day depending upon the Itinerary. A buffer day/s is always built in the itinerary as a contingency if we get hit by unfavourable weather conditions. In the worse situation, we may have to turn back midway, but safety is always a priority that cannot be compromised on.
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.
The trek to Tarsar Marsar Lakes via Basmai Pass can be steep & strenuous at some places, even though it does not require that you have any previous mountaineering experience in Particular, It’s important that you be in good physical condition and be able to hike at a comfortable pace for 5-6 hours over hilly terrain with a light day pack. Good cardio-vascular conditioning and muscles that are used to hiking will make your trip much more enjoyable. Our goal is to trek at max. Altitude of 4000 m and walk through beautiful meadows and glaciers leading to pristine lakes of Kashmir. You will spend 7 days in a land where life is simple, trails are steep and the air is thin. We recommend the following schedule to the participants:
Please remember, consistency is the Key here. Do not do anything to exert yourself or something that will increase chances of Injury. Running/Brisk walking 4-5 kms for 5 days in a week is far better than running a 20 km on one day of the week and injuring your Knee/Ligaments in the process. If you can be consistent with above mentioned schedule, The Tarsar Marsar Lakes Trek, though physically challenging, will become a pleasant and enjoyable experience for you. Feel free to call us or mail us in case you want more details on how to prepare for this trek!
Contact: [email protected]