Gurez-Tulail Gangabal Trek

Introduction

Arrive: Srinagar, Kashmir
Depart: Srinagar Kashmir
Best Time: June to September
Duration: 8 Days
Trek-Distance: 41 KM
Highest Altitude: Zajibal Pass (4080m)
Activity Level:
Activity Level 3C
Level 3
PRICE
INR 29900/Per Person

Gurez-Tulail Gangabal Trek expedition is a crossover trek from Tulail in Gurez Valley to Naranag in Sind Valley crossing Zajibal Pass (4080 m). Kashmir Treks is the only local agency that lead a maiden and successful Trek-Expedition of Levison Wood’s Walking the Himalayas through this hidden valley of Kashmir in 2015 summer. Being the organizers of the trek, acquiring trek-permits was the most challenging part of the trek; as the base camp lies close to the Line of Control. Kashmir Treks started an era opening this trek for many to come.
Gurez Valley is the beautiful amalgamation of mountains, a valley, and a river. It is a valley deep located in the high Himalayas, about 86 km from Bandipora near Wular Lake and 133 km from Srinagar in the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir. Gurez was part of ancient Dardistan, stretching from Sharada Peeth in the west, Minimarg over Burzil Pass in the north, Drass in the east, and Baghtor in the south. The Gurez Valley falls along the section of the ancient Silk Route, which connected the Kashmir Valley with Gilgit continuing further to Kashgar. At present, the valley is divided by the Line of Control between India and Pakistan, Minimarg along with the Burzil Pass lies in the Pakistani side, and Dawar and Tulail lie on the Indian side.

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.

Inclusions

What’s included in the Price?

  • All road transport by private ac cars

    Airport transfers (arrival and departure), from Srinagar to Gurez, Tulail Valley base camp on Day 2 and back to Srinagar from Naranag on Day 7.

  • 5 nights of tented accommodation
    Twin sharing; 2 persons in a 3-man-tent
  • 2 nights (before and after the trek)

    Deluxe Houseboat and Hotel accommodation

  • All trekking gear included
    Tents (twin sharing), dining and kitchen tent, toilet tents, sleeping bags and mats. Trekking poles (1 per person) also included.
  • Local Guides and Cooking staff

    Languages; English, Urdu, Hindi and Kashmiri

  • All cooking utensils

    LPG stoves

  • Offloading
    Horses to carry your backpack throughout the trek (offloading) (except day sack)
  • Meal plan- Vegetarian meals including eggs and cheese, unless specified

    Trek-4 meals per day (Breakfast, Lunch, Tea snacks, Dinner). Hotel or Houseboat – 2 Meals (Dinner and Breakfast)

  • Wildlife Permits
    Trek Permits
  • Drinking Water

    Packed bottled mineral drinking water (2 ltrs per person) on first day of the trek. Boiled drinking water for the rest trek-days

  • First Aid Kit

What’s not included in the Price?

  • International or domestic flights
  • Visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal clothing and equipment
  • Any medical costs

    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

Brief Itinerary

Day 1 :- Arrival Srinagar

  • Arrive Srinagar (Alt. 1600m)
  • Pickup from Srinagar airport or Bus stand
  • 10 kms drive to Houseboat or Hotel at Dal Lake, approx 30 minutes.

(Transport from Srinagar airport or bus station to the hotel or houseboat. Tea, dinner and breakfast)

Day 2:- Srinagar to Gurez-Tulail (drive)

  • Altitude: 1600m to 2680m drive
  • 150 kms drive approx 6 hours

(lunch, tea, dinner and the breakfast)

Day 3:- Tulail (Wazrithal) to Joginai

  • Altitude: 2680m to 3600m
  • 7 kms trek, approx 6 hours

(lunch, tea, dinner and the breakfast)
Day 4:- Joginai to Satsar via Joginai Pass

  • Altitude: 3600m to 3600m via 3950m
  • 7 kms trek, approx 5 hours

(lunch, tea, dinner and the breakfast)
Day 5:- Satsar to Gangabal via Zajibal Pass

  • Altitude: 3600m to 3600m via 4080m
  • 11 kms trek, approx 6 hours

(lunch, tea, dinner and the breakfast)

Day 6:- Day at leisure

  • Explore twin lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol

(lunch, tea, dinner and the breakfast)

Day 7:- Gangabal to Naranag trek, Drive to Srinagar

  • Altitude: 3600m to 2250m
  • 15 kms trek, approx 6 hours
  • 60 kms drive, approx 2 hours

(Transport from Naranag to Srinagar Hotel. Deluxe Houseboat or Hotel accommodation (twin sharing) at Srinagar. lunch at Naranag, dinner and the breakfast at the hotel in Srinagar)

Day 8:- Srinagar Airport or Bus Stand drop.

  • 5 kms drive to bus stand, approx 20 minutes
  • 12 kms drive to Srinagar airport, approx 30 minutes

(Transport from Srinagar to the airport for departure)

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: – Arrival. Reception at Srinagar airport/bus station. On arrival at Srinagar airport or bus station, our representative will receive you and transfer you to the hotel or houseboat at Dal Lake, Srinagar for an overnight stay.

Day 2: – Srinagar – Tulail (6 hrs drive). We leave early in the morning take a car drive to Tulail Gurez. The drive itself is an adventure. We drive along with Jehlum River and Wular Lake and arrive Bandipora. From there we drive through a Hill station of Tragbal and cross Razdan Pass to enter Gurez Valley. Driving through the remote villages we arrive Badogam in Tulail. We camp at the river bank at a small hamlet of Wazrithal village for an overnight stay.

Day 3: – Wazrithal – Joginai (6 hours trek). We pack our load on horses and start our trek. Our trail a slightly steep passes through a pine/ birch forest and meadows. At Butimali a gradual descend we again start ascending to Joginai for an overnight stay.

Day 4: – Joginai – Satsar Lakes – Megandoab (6 hrs trek). We leave Joginai and immediately start ascending one of the highest passes of the trek the Joginai Pass (3950m). We ascend it down to reach Jawdara. After crossing a stream we enter into the Rasbal Valley where a flowing river disappears underground. We continue our trek through seven small lakes of Satsar and camp at Megandoab at the foothills of the second pass of Zajibal for an overnight stay.

Day 5: – Satsar – Gangabal lake (6 hrs trek). We ascend the last and the highest pass of our trek ‘Zajibal Pass (4180m)’. We forget all our tiredness when reaching atop, the views and the scenery of the Mount Haramukh (5300m) and the twin beautiful alpine lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol. We descend the pass to reach Gangabal Lake for an overnight stay.

Day 6: – Day at leisure. Explore twin lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol or take a short walk to a nearby lake of Kolesar.

Day 7: – Gangabal – Naranag. (6 hrs trek). We leave Gangabal and Nundkol Lakes and trek through the meadows of Trunkol and descend to Naranag village through the pine forest of Bodpathri. Here ends our walking. We take our car and drive back to Srinagar hotel or houseboat for an overnight stay.

Day 8: – Departure day.
Our representative will drop you at the airport or bus station. 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.

  • Please note that only postpaid Indian mobile sim cards (Jio, Airtel and BSNL) work in Kashmir Valley. There’s no cellular connectivity from Day 2 to Day 6 of the trek.
  • Please double check your passport or Aadhar numbers before submitting through booking form. These numbers are required for preparation of trek permits.
  • Passport or a valid ID card
  • 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 is the first part of the trek across alpine terrain, much of which at altitudes of above 3000m.

Minimum fitness requirements

  • Trek: up to 10km per day.
  • Daily activity: up to 5 hours’ trekking per day.
  • Carry: up to 5kg in a day sack.
  • Terrain: remote, uneven, snowy, icy, rocky, sometimes exposed terrain at up to 3600m.
  • Climate: Can be sunny in valleys and cold and windy at Gangabal. Averages are 3000m, 5 to 25C.
  • Swim: not required though there will be river crossings to make.