Kashmir Diwali tour packages for 2026 and 2027: festival dates, what Kashmir is like in late October and early November, live 4N5D and 5N6D prices, flights, and how payment works for a festival-week trip.
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Quick Answer: Kashmir Diwali tour packages cover the festival week in late October or early November, when the valley is in autumn colour and nights are near freezing. Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026 and Friday 29 October 2027. Packages start at ₹18,500 per person for 4N5D and ₹20,500 for 5N6D from Srinagar.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by locals.
Diwali week is one of the busiest travel weeks in India, and Kashmir is a popular choice for families who want cool weather and autumn colour instead of crowds at a beach. Schools in Gujarat, Maharashtra and several other states close for a Diwali break, and many offices give the festival days off. This guide explains what Kashmir is really like at Diwali, what a Kashmir Diwali tour package includes, today's live prices and how to book without overpaying for flights.
Diwali dates for 2026 and 2027
| Year | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | What it means for a Kashmir trip |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 8 November | Most families travel in the week around it; flights are at their dearest on the weekend before |
| 2027 | Friday 29 October | A natural long weekend from 29 to 31 October; add 2 leave days for a 4N5D trip |
Diwali 2026 is only a few days away as we write this. Rooms are still available in Srinagar and Pahalgam for early November, but flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad cost more the closer you book. For Diwali 2027, booking two to three months ahead gets the widest choice of hotels.
What Kashmir is like at Diwali
Late October and early November are late autumn in Kashmir. Chinar trees in Srinagar's gardens and along the Boulevard turn red and gold, the sky is usually clear, and days are pleasant for sightseeing. Nights are cold.
| Place | Late October to early November | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | Days around 15 to 20°C, nights near freezing | Chinar colour, clear lake views, shikara rides in the afternoon sun |
| Gulmarg | Cold; an early snowfall is possible but not certain | Gondola runs weather permitting; meadows are brown, not green |
| Pahalgam | Cool days, cold nights | Golden poplars along the Lidder, Betaab and Aru valleys open |
| Sonamarg | Usually open in early November | Cold and quiet; check road status the day before |
Do not plan a Diwali trip around snow. Some years Gulmarg gets its first snow in November; many years it does not until December. If snow is the goal, look at December packages instead. For autumn colour, see the best chinar spots and Kashmir in November.
Related reading: Kashmir Holiday Packages 2027: Long Weekends and School Breaks
Is Diwali celebrated in Kashmir?
Quietly. Kashmir is a Muslim-majority region and Diwali is not a public spectacle here the way it is in the plains. Kashmiri Pandit families and some temples light lamps, and a few hotels that host many Indian families put up lights and serve sweets on the night, but there are no large fireworks shows. Families come for the weather, the scenery and a calm break, not the festival itself. If you want to do puja during the trip, tell us and we will plan an evening in Srinagar near a temple.
What a Kashmir Diwali tour package includes
- ✓Hotels named before you pay: Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, with an optional houseboat night on Dal or Nigeen lake.
- ✓One private car and driver for the whole trip, airport pickup and drop included.
- ✓Sightseeing: Mughal gardens, a shikara ride, the Gulmarg gondola base, Pahalgam valleys by local union taxi (paid locally).
- ✓Breakfast and dinner on most packages.
- ✓Not included: flights or trains, the gondola ticket, ponies and the Pahalgam union taxi, which you pay on the spot.
Related reading: Kohima to Kashmir: 2026-27 Tour Package Guide
Kashmir Diwali tour packages: live prices
| Package | Route | From (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 nights, 5 days | Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam | ₹18,500 |
| 5 nights, 6 days | Adds Sonamarg or a second Pahalgam night | ₹20,500 |
| Premium 4N5D with houseboat | 4-star hotels and a houseboat night | ₹22,650 |
Prices are per person from Srinagar on twin sharing, live on Via Kashmir today. Hotels often charge more for the festival week itself than for the weeks either side, so the exact quote depends on your dates. Children under 12 pay a child rate. Compare family packages, 5 nights 6 days packages and honeymoon packages.
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Flights and trains in Diwali week
- ✓Delhi to Srinagar has the most nonstop flights, about 1.5 hours. Mumbai and Ahmedabad have a few nonstops; otherwise connect via Delhi.
- ✓Fares rise sharply for the days just before Diwali and for the return the weekend after. Flying out on the festival day itself is often cheaper.
- ✓By train, the Vande Bharat runs from Katra to Srinagar in about 3 hours, so families from the plains can take a train to Katra and continue by rail. See Kashmir packages by train.
We quote flights or trains on request in the same itemised total; see packages with flight.
How payment works for a festival trip
Payment depends on how far away your trip is. For a trip 30 or more days away you pay 30% to book, 30% fifteen days later and the rest 7 days before travel. For a trip 8 to 29 days away it is 65% now and the rest 7 days before. Within 7 days of arrival, the full amount is due at booking. So a Diwali 2027 trip booked by August can use the 30% part payment plan; a trip for this week is paid in full.
A sample 5-day Diwali plan
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Srinagar. Shikara ride at sunset, night on a houseboat or lake-view hotel |
| 2 | Mughal gardens and chinar walks, old city and Hazratbal |
| 3 | Day trip to Gulmarg; gondola if weather allows |
| 4 | Drive to Pahalgam via Awantipora; evening by the Lidder |
| 5 | Betaab or Aru valley in the morning, back to Srinagar airport |
Diwali week fills up early. Send your dates and we will hold rooms and quote flights together.
Plan my Diwali trip →Via Kashmir plans autumn trips with verified hotels, houseboats on Dal and Nigeen, Kashmir packages and local cabs. Tell us your dates.
Frequently asked questions
When is Diwali in 2026 and 2027?
Sunday 8 November 2026 and Friday 29 October 2027.
Is there snow in Kashmir at Diwali?
Not reliably. Gulmarg sometimes gets a first snowfall in November, but most years the steady snow starts in December.
How cold is Kashmir at Diwali?
Days in Srinagar are around 15 to 20°C and nights fall close to freezing. Pack a warm jacket, layers and a cap.
How much is a Kashmir Diwali package?
From ₹18,500 per person for 4N5D and ₹20,500 for 5N6D from Srinagar, live today. Festival-week hotel rates can be higher, so send your dates for an exact quote.
Is Kashmir crowded at Diwali?
Busier than the rest of November, mostly with families from Gujarat, Maharashtra and the north, but far less crowded than summer.
Planning a trip to Kashmir? Via Kashmir offers custom itineraries, verified hotels, and local cab services, planned by people who live here.
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