How to plan your next Kashmir tour package? This question cannot be answered briefly. You have to consider a lot of factors like how to reach, places to stay, sightseeing places to cover, what to pack, budget for the trip, tour itinerary, etc.

If you want a detailed answer, these questions cannot be answered in a single post. Not only for Kashmir but whenever you plan a trip to any destination, you have to carefully study each and every aspect of the journey, for a smooth experience.

Having visited Kashmir a few times, I have some useful tips that can help you plan your Kashmir tour package. Let’s have a look at the factors that you need to look into while planning your Kashmir trip:

Best Time to Visit Kashmir

This can be a very tricky question as every season in Kashmir has its own charm and unique features. It is the kind of experience that you want on your Kashmir trip which decides the best time to visit Kashmir

Tourists looking to enjoy snowfall should visit during January and February which are considered ideal months to experience snowfall in Kashmir. To get charming views of lush green meadows of Kashmir, September is the best time to visit. Couples planning Kashmir honeymoon tour packages should book during from April to September.

Tourists wanting to enchant themselves with the beauty of Tulip Garden should visit during April. The Apple orchards of Kashmir get prettier from August to September so it is the best time to witness the beauty of Kashmir valley.

August to November is a dry season so it is a good opportunity for budget travellers to take that Cheapest Tour Packages for Kashmir.

Mobile Network and Data Connectivity

Only postpaid connections work in the valley irrespective of the network you are subscribed to. Phones with prepaid connections will be dead as soon as you enter Jammu and Kashmir territory.

Widest network is provided by BSNL in the valley but quality is average. Airtel is better when it comes to quality of the network. Jio works well for most of the time but services of Vodafone and Idea were not at par.

The reception and data connectivity is good in Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam. Tourists planning visit to offbeat places in Kashmir can face difficulty depending on the service provider.

Clothes to Pack for Kashmir Trip

The next question is what kind of clothes you should pack for trip to Kashmir. The season and month you will be visiting Kashmir will decide the clothes that you should be packing for the trip. It will also depend on the places you will be visiting. For instance if you are visiting Gulmarg, you will need warm clothing to protect yourself from the harsh winter there.

Public Transport in Kashmir

Transport is a major question at any tourist destination. The best way to explore best tourist places in Kashmir is by private taxi which you can book with local drivers and tour operators. Budget travellers can opt to travel by buses or shared taxis and save some money but the problem is frequency of these modes of transport is limited.

JKSRTC buses are hard to find. You will need to rely on mini-buses and shared taxis operated by the locals which mostly lack a timetable but operate throughout the day.

Taxi Rates

Another question is how much you should pay for renting a taxi in Kashmir? I will give you an estimated cost for hiring a taxi for sightseeing in Kashmir valley. You can do sightseeing of local Srinagar by renting a private cab from Srinagar at around Rs. 1,500 per day inclusive of fuel charges. Pahalgam and Sonamarg have taxi unions which means you can do sightseeing only in union approved cabs.

So if you rent a cab from Srinagar to Pahalgam, the driver will only drop you in Pahalgam. You will have to rent a cab from the union to explore sightseeing places in Pahalgam like Betaab Valley, Chandanwari, and Aru Valley. The charges are approximately Rs. 2,200/- per car.

Similarly for Sonamarg, you need to rent a taxi from union for sightseeing of Zero Point.

Food to Try in Kashmir

One important aspect of any trip is trying the local cuisine and is the best part according to my opinion. You can try from a variety of mouth-watering local food in Kashmir. This is one experience you definitely should not miss.

A common question people ask is if vegetarian food is easily available in Kashmir. Well you do not have to worry about it as pure vegetarian and Jain food is served at a lot of places all over Kashmir.

Conclusion

I believe I have covered most of the essential information needed to plan an enjoyable and hassle-free trip to Kashmir. Do comment if you have any suggestions or questions!