• Kounsarnag Lake
  • Sonmasti
  • Butshri Camping
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Aharbal Kounsarnag Trek (7N8D)


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Aharbal Kounsarnag Lake Trek

High Altitude Precautions

Introduction

Aharbal Kounsarnag Trek expedition is the only major trek in the Pir-Panjal Mountain range, a sub-mountain range of the Himalayas. The trek starts from Ahabal Falls the main tourist attraction in Shopian known as the Apple Bowl of Kashmir. Kounsarnag Lake is considered a sacred lake by the Hindus.

Though trekking in Kashmir is not the newest but still this expedition is no walk in the park. Arduous days, steep and rocky passes, and altitudes approaching 4200m all collide to create a challenging trek in one of the most beautiful and serene Himalayas of Kashmir.

  • Duration

    7N8D

  • Best Time

    June-September

  • Highest Altitude

    3760 Meters

  • Group Size

    2-16

  • Price Per Person

    INR 23700 (Group size 2)

    Special Group Offers & Discounts

Inclusions

What’s included in the Package?

  • All road transport by private ac cars (airport transfers/ from Srinagar to base camp and back).
  • Arrival/ departure 2 nights Deluxe Houseboat or Hotel accommodation in Srinagar (full board), unless specified.
  • 5 nights of tented accommodation (full-board) mountain camps.
  • All trekking gear including tents, sleeping bags, mats, blankets, trekking poles.
  • English Speaking Kashmiri Local Guide and a Cook.
  • All cooking utensils including cooking LPG stove.
  • Horses to carry a backpack (except day sack), group equipment (tents/ stoves/ fuel) to the higher camps.
  • Meal plan: All meals included (vegetarian meals including eggs and cheese, unless specified.
  • Trek/ Wildlife Permits.
  • First Aid.

Exclusions

What’s not included in the Package?

  • International or domestic flights
  • Visa.
  • Travel 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 (for which you should have travel insurance).
  • Optional trips or excursions.
  • Tips for local staff and guides.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival reception at Srinagar Airport.
On arrival at Srinagar airport, you will be met by our representative who will transfer you to the houseboat. During which you will have the opportunity to see around Srinagar. Overnight stay.

Day 2: Srinagar – Aharbal (3 hours drive).
Left Srinagar for Aharbal 65 km by road in a car through the apple town of Shopian. See around Aharbal waterfalls or have a short trek to Nilnag, a small lake covered in pine forests. Overnight stay.

Day 3: Aharbal – Kungwattan (5 hours trek).
Pack your load on the horses and start trekking ascend through pine forests and reach to the upper meadows of Kungwattan covered in by wildflowers and broad pastures therein are camped the local shepherds. Overnight stay.

Day 4: Kungwattan – Mahinag (5 hours trek).
Again early in the morning we pack up and proceed to ascend through the colorful meadows and trek through some treks of boulders and reach Mahinag Lake. Overnight stay.

Day 5: Mahinag – Kounsarnag (5 hours trek).
Start trekking towards the last destination of Kounsarnag again it passes through the clear atmosphere of these high altitude meadows and streams and along with us is flowing down the Vishu River with its roaring sound enough for one to get lost, forget everything of the past. Finally, we reach the highlight of our trek the Kounsarnag Lake. Overnight stay.

Day 6: Kounsarnag – Kungwattan (5 hours trek).
On our return, we descend through Mahinag to Kungwattan. Overnight stay.

Day 7: Kungwattan – Aharbal – Srinagar (4 hours trek, 3 hours drive).
Start descending to Aharbal and 3 hours drive will take us to Srinagar. Overnight stay at houseboat.

Day 8: Departure. Drop at the airport.
Our representative will drop you at Srinagar airport for departure.

What To Carry?

The trek is supported by horses. You will need to carry only a light sack, weighing about 4-6kg for your items like passport, money, and camera gear. The following is a list of the items you should carry on the trek. If you have items that can not be used on the trek, you can store them at our houseboat or our office and take them back after returning from the trek.

  • Duffel Bag 60 liters
  • One Pair Trekking Shoes
  • One Pair Trail Approach Shoes
  • Trekking Pants
  • Hooded Rain Jacket
  • Shade Hat
  • One Pair Sunglasses
  • One Pair Liner Gloves
  • Small Size Day-Pack
  • Two Pair Trekking Socks
  • One Pair Sandals
  • Extra Warm Clothes
  • Warm Hooded Down Jacket
  • Sunscreen Cream
  • Lip Balm
  • Any Personal Medication

Fitness

Kashmir Treks are achievable by anyone with a healthy lifestyle and a good level of general fitness. Team members should be willing to be part of a team working together to achieve the goal of the expedition. As a team member, you should have an adventurous and robust spirit. The biggest challenge on this expedition will be the many consecutive days of challenging trekking across alpine terrain, much of which at altitudes of above 3000m.

Minimum fitness requirements

  • Trek: up to 16km per day.
  • Daily activity: up to 6 hours trekking per day.
  • Carry: up to 5kg in a day sack.
  • Terrain: remote, uneven, snowy, icy, rocky, sometimes exposed terrain at up to 4000m.
  • Climate: Can be sunny in valleys and cold and windy at altitude. Averages are 3400m, 5 to 20C.
  • Swim: not required though there will be stream crossings to make.

Preparations

Plan Your Trek

While planning your trek, as a beginner keep the following points in consideration:-

  • you feel fit enough to trek for hours.
  • you walk two or three kilometers daily.
  • you don’t have any breathing problems.
  • you are not scared of heights.
  • get advice from your doctor.
  • or chose trekking for a few days instead.

Join Our Short Trekking Courses

The aim of our trekking courses is to make you familiar with the basics of trekking, adjust yourself with the climate, and prepare you to ascend the altitude. We offer three different courses. Each course is designed in levels so that the best can suit you, instructed by our experienced trekking staff.

  • 5 days trekking course at Gulmarg.
  • 10 days trekking course at Pahalgam.
  • 15 days trekking course at Sonamarg.