Two Himalayan states compared: a Dehradun to Kashmir guide covering honest routing via Delhi, real 2026-27 pricing, and a full sample itinerary.
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Uttarakhand is already Himalayan, and travellers from Dehradun, Nainital or Mussoorie do not need convincing that mountains are beautiful, they live among them. What draws Uttarakhand travellers to Kashmir tends to be a different flavour of the same range, Dal Lake's houseboat culture, saffron fields in Pampore, and broader alpine meadows at Gulmarg and Sonamarg that open up wider than most of Uttarakhand's narrower valley towns. It is less an introduction to the Himalaya and more an exploration of one of its lesser-visited corners.
Quick Answer: A Kashmir package from Uttarakhand typically runs 7D/6N, starting around ₹19,199 per person for a budget double-sharing trip, up to premium houseboat-and-private-cab packages. Most travellers from Uttarakhand route via Delhi or a connecting metro to reach Srinagar.
How to reach Kashmir from Uttarakhand
Dehradun (DED) connects to Srinagar (SXR) via a short flight to Delhi, one of the more convenient connections given the two states' relative proximity. Total journey time typically runs 4 to 6 hours including the layover. Travellers based in Nainital, Haldwani or the hills can also route through Delhi, adding a few hours of ground travel to reach the airport first.
- ✓For a no-frills 5N/6D trip in double-sharing standard hotels, budget ₹19,199 per person.
- ✓Most families land in the ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 per person mid-range band - a houseboat night, 3-star+ hotels.
- ✓At the top end, + per person buys a luxury houseboat, 4-5 star hotels, and a private cab for the whole trip.
A sample 6N/7D itinerary from Uttarakhand
- Day 1: Arrive Srinagar via Delhi, houseboat check-in, sunset shikara ride
- Day 2: Old city walking tour, Mughal gardens, Shankaracharya Temple
- Day 3: Sonamarg full day, open meadow scale to compare with home
- Day 4: Gulmarg full day, gondola ride toward Apharwat
- Day 5: Pahalgam and Betaab Valley, riverside time by the Lidder
- Day 6: Slow morning in Srinagar, saffron fields in Pampore if in season
- Day 7: Departure transfer to Srinagar airport
Travellers used to Uttarakhand's altitude generally adjust to Kashmir without any acclimatisation concerns, if your itinerary includes a Kashmir trek at higher elevation, standard Himalayan pacing rules still apply, just as they would at home.
Related reading: West Bengal to Kashmir: Complete 2026-27 Tour Package Guide
Best time to visit
Since Uttarakhand already offers cool mountain weather, the pull toward Kashmir is about a different landscape rather than temperature relief, wide saffron fields and larger alpine meadows the state's own steeper valleys do not really have. April to June brings tulip season and October brings the chinar turn, both strong windows for travellers who already appreciate seasonal Himalayan light.
Uttarakhand to Kashmir at a glance
| Distance by road | 720 km to Srinagar via Jammu (NH44) |
|---|---|
| Fastest way | Flight via Delhi, about 4-6h |
| Airlines | IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet |
| By train | To Jammu Tawi or Katra, then Vande Bharat to Srinagar (4h 50m from Jammu) |
| Packages from | ₹8,999 per person |
| Hotels from | ₹1,259/night in Srinagar |
| Houseboats from | ₹3,150/night on Dal Lake |
| Best months | April-June, September-November; December-February for snow |
| Ideal trip length | 5-7 days |
Uttarakhand to Kashmir by flight, train and road
| Mode | Route | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight with one stop | DED to Delhi, then Delhi to Srinagar (SXR) | 4-6h | IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet. Book both legs on one ticket so a delay is the airline's problem, not yours. |
| Train | Uttarakhand to Jammu Tawi or Katra, then Vande Bharat to Srinagar | Jammu-Srinagar leg 4h 50m | Scenic all-weather line over the Chenab bridge; no through train to Srinagar yet. |
| Road | Uttarakhand to Srinagar via Jammu (NH44) | 720 km, about 13-16 h driving | Plan 2 days with a night halt; Jammu is the usual last stop before the hills. |
Shorter and longer Kashmir trips from Uttarakhand
4 days: Srinagar and Gulmarg
- Day 1: Fly DED via Delhi to Srinagar; afternoon arrival, sunset shikara on Dal Lake.
- Day 2: Gulmarg day trip - gondola to Kongdoori (Phase 1) or Apharwat (Phase 2).
- Day 3: Mughal Gardens (Nishat, Shalimar), Shankaracharya hill and the old city.
- Day 4: Morning at leisure, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
8 days: the complete valley
- Day 1: Fly DED via Delhi to Srinagar; afternoon arrival, sunset shikara on Dal Lake.
- Day 2: Srinagar sightseeing and a night on a Dal Lake houseboat.
- Day 3: Sonamarg day trip - Thajiwas Glacier.
- Day 4: Gulmarg day trip with the gondola.
- Day 5: Doodhpathri meadows (or Yusmarg) day trip.
- Day 6: Drive to Pahalgam via Pampore.
- Day 7: Betaab, Aru and Chandanwari valleys.
- Day 8: Back to Srinagar and fly home.
Book for this trip
FAQs
How is Kashmir different from Uttarakhand for trekkers?
Kashmir's classic treks tend to open into broader alpine lake basins, like the Great Lakes trek, compared to Uttarakhand's often steeper, forest-heavy ascents toward peaks like Kedarnath or Valley of Flowers, both rewarding but genuinely different in character.
Is there a direct flight from Dehradun to Srinagar?
No, but the Delhi connection is quick and frequent given how close both cities are to the capital, making this one of the more convenient routes in this batch.
What is unique to Kashmir that Uttarakhand does not have?
Dal Lake's houseboat culture and the saffron fields around Pampore are genuinely distinct, neither has a real equivalent in Uttarakhand's hill stations.
How far is Kashmir from Uttarakhand?
Srinagar is about 720 km from Uttarakhand by road via Jammu (NH44) - roughly 13-16 hours of driving - or about 4-6h by air via Delhi.
Can I go from Uttarakhand to Kashmir by train?
Take a long-distance train from Uttarakhand to Jammu Tawi or SMVD Katra (book on IRCTC). The Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat takes 4h 50m (departs Jammu 06:20, reaches Srinagar 11:10, six days a week). There is no single through train to Srinagar yet, so you change at Jammu Tawi or Katra.
How many days does it take to drive from Uttarakhand to Kashmir?
Plan 2 days for the 720 km drive, with a night halt in Jammu or Katra so you drive the hill section (Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal-Srinagar) in daylight. The NH44 can close for a day after heavy snow or landslides, so keep a buffer day in winter.
How far is Gulmarg and Pahalgam from Uttarakhand?
Both are reached through Srinagar: Gulmarg is 50 km (about 1h 30m) beyond Srinagar and Pahalgam about 90 km (2h 30m), so roughly 770 km and 810 km by road from Uttarakhand. Most visitors base in Srinagar and do Gulmarg as a day trip.
How much does a Kashmir trip from Uttarakhand cost?
On Via Kashmir, a 5-day package with hotels, a private cab and sightseeing starts at ₹18,500 per person, so a couple pays from ₹37,000 for the Kashmir part of the trip. If you book stays separately, hotels start at ₹1,259 in Srinagar, ₹2,495 in Gulmarg, ₹1,512 in Pahalgam per night, and Dal Lake houseboats from ₹3,150. Add your return flights, train or drive from Uttarakhand, which vary with dates - booking 4-6 weeks ahead usually gets the better fares.
What is the Uttarakhand to Kashmir tour package price for 2 people?
The lowest-priced package two people can book on their own is Srinagar Base 4N5D - Gulmarg, Pahalgam & Sonamarg Day Trips at ₹18,500 per person (5 days), so ₹37,000 for a couple - hotels, private cab and sightseeing from Srinagar included. Some cheaper group packages need at least 4 travellers. Flights from Uttarakhand are not included - book them separately for the best fare.
How much is a Kashmir tour package from Uttarakhand for 4 people or a family?
A 5-day package starts at ₹18,500 per person (Srinagar Base 4N5D - Gulmarg, Pahalgam & Sonamarg Day Trips), about ₹74,000 for 4 travellers sharing, with hotels, a private cab and sightseeing included. Children's rates and an extra bed are quoted on request; add return travel from Uttarakhand.
How many days are enough for a Kashmir trip from Uttarakhand?
Allow at least 5-6 days so the connection from Uttarakhand doesn't eat into sightseeing: Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, with Sonamarg if you have 7-8 days.
What is the best time to visit Kashmir from Uttarakhand?
From Uttarakhand the trip is short enough for a long weekend, so time it to the season: September-November for clear skies and chinar colours, December-February for snow at Gulmarg. March-April brings the Tulip Garden; December-February is snow season.
Is there a Kashmir honeymoon package from Uttarakhand?
Yes. Honeymoon packages on Via Kashmir start at ₹22,599 per person (Kashmir Honeymoon Package - 4N5D, 5 days), with a Dal Lake houseboat night, private cab and couple-friendly stays; flights from Uttarakhand are booked separately.
Do travellers from Uttarakhand need a permit for Kashmir?
No permit is needed for Indian citizens to visit Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg - carry a government photo ID for hotel check-in and the airport. Prepaid SIM cards from outside Jammu & Kashmir generally do not work there, so use a postpaid connection or buy a local SIM.
If you already know Himalayan travel well, ViaKashmir can help you plan the Uttarakhand to Kashmir leg with an itinerary built around what makes Kashmir different, not just more of the same mountains.
What is included in the Kashmir package price from Uttarakhand?
Every ViaKashmir package from Uttarakhand includes hotel or houseboat accommodation, daily breakfast and dinner, all transfers and sightseeing by private cab, and airport/railway pickup and drop - priced with no hidden city tax, resort fee, or service charge added at checkout.
How far in advance should Uttarakhand travellers book a Kashmir trip?
For peak season (April-June and December-January), book at least 3-4 weeks ahead since hotels and cabs fill up fast. For other months, 1-2 weeks is usually enough for a Uttarakhand to Kashmir booking.
Kashmir tour packages from cities in Uttarakhand
Planning more than this? Get a full itemised Kashmir quote