Gulmarg gondola and skiing
- Private tour
- Private guide and vehicle throughout
- Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
- No payment to start planning
- Winter roads to Gulmarg can be affected by snow; check current conditions before travelling and pack accordingly.
- Skiers and snowboarders in winter, and in the warmer months, families, couples and anyone who wants a genuine high-altitude view without a trek to earn it — the gondola does the climbing for you.
- Gulmarg is an alpine town about two hours from Srinagar, built around meadows of wildflowers in summer and one of India's few genuine ski destinations in winter.
- Its gondola — the Gulmarg Gondola, run in two stages up towards Apharwat Peak — is often described as one of the highest cable cars in the world, and is locally billed as Asia's highest.
What’s included
- Private vehicle and driver from Srinagar
- A local guide
- Standard gondola tickets for both stages
What’s not included
- International and domestic flights
- Visa fees
- Ski or snowboard equipment hire and any lift-specific tickets beyond the standard gondola
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Cancellation terms are confirmed with your written quote
- No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.
Drive from Srinagar
About two hours by private car from Srinagar, through the approach towns and up into the alpine bowl.
Gondola stage one
The first stage of the gondola lifts you from Gulmarg town up to Kongdoori.
Gondola stage two (weather permitting)
The second stage continues up towards Apharwat Peak, weather and queue lengths allowing — this stage is the one most often affected by wind or cloud.
Skiing or sightseeing
In winter, ski or snowboard on Gulmarg's slopes with equipment hired locally; in summer, walk the meadows and take in the mountain views before heading back down.
Gulmarg is an alpine town about two hours from Srinagar, built around meadows of wildflowers in summer and one of India's few genuine ski destinations in winter. Its gondola — the Gulmarg Gondola, run in two stages up towards Apharwat Peak — is often described as one of the highest cable cars in the world, and is locally billed as Asia's highest. In winter it serves skiers and snowboarders; the rest of the year it carries sightseers up for the meadow and mountain views without any of the exertion of a trek.
Kashmir is a sensitive region and government travel advice varies and changes over time; check your own government's current guidance and your travel insurance policy before booking.
Good for
It is less suited to anyone hoping for a wilderness experience away from other visitors; the gondola and the ski season both draw genuine crowds.
- The gondola's second stage is weather-dependent and can be suspended in high wind or low visibility; we build flexibility into the day rather than promise the summit stage.
- Winter roads to Gulmarg can be affected by snow; check current conditions before travelling and pack accordingly.
- No acclimatisation is needed here — Gulmarg and the gondola sit at a moderate altitude reached without exertion, unlike the Ladakh trips on this site.
- Kashmir is a sensitive region; check your own government's current travel advice and your insurance policy before booking, and ask us about flexible, refundable arrangements.
Best season and starting point
December to February for skiing, when Gulmarg becomes one of India's few ski destinations; April to October for meadows and the gondola without snow. The day starts and ends in Srinagar, about two hours' drive away.
Is Gulmarg's gondola really one of the highest in the world?
It is commonly described that way and locally billed as Asia's highest, running in two stages up towards Apharwat Peak. We use that as a widely repeated description rather than an exact ranking we can verify ourselves.
Can I ski in Gulmarg without experience?
Yes — beginner slopes and instructors are available locally, and equipment hire is straightforward to arrange on arrival. We can build in lessons as part of your day.
Is Gulmarg worth visiting outside ski season?
Yes. From April to October the meadows are green and the gondola still runs, giving mountain views without any snow sport involved, and it pairs naturally with a wider Kashmir itinerary covering Pahalgam and Sonmarg too.
Do I need to acclimatise for Gulmarg?
No. Gulmarg and its gondola sit at a moderate altitude reached by road and cable car without exertion, unlike Ladakh's high passes.
Is Kashmir safe to visit for Gulmarg?
Tourism to Gulmarg and Kashmir's other main circuits operates normally, with a heavy security presence, but government travel advice varies by country and changes over time. Check your own government's current advice and your insurance policy before booking.
Reviews
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What our guests say
Vikram S
Solo · Verified trip
5/52 weeks agoClean vehicle, careful driver, and a guide who was patient with all our questions about temple etiquette. We never felt like a number. The office also called to check we had got home safely.
via Tripadvisor
Arjun M
Couple · Verified trip
4/51 month agoWell run and good value. The tea stop was a highlight and the guide's recommendations for dinner were excellent. Traffic getting back into the city was rough, but that is hardly their fault.
via Google
Charlotte B
Family · Verified trip
5/52 months agoTiming was spot on — we hit the fort in the soft morning light and were back at the hotel before the afternoon heat became unbearable. Clearly a team that has done this many, many times.
via Google
Kavya R
Friends · Verified trip
3/52 months agovia Tripadvisor
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