6 days
Specific Tour
16 people
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The Kolahoi Glacier Trek is one of the most scenic and untouched trekking experiences in the Kashmir Himalayas. Revered by locals as the “Goddess of Light,” the glacier is also the primary source of the beautiful Lidder River. Surrounded by towering peaks, alpine meadows, and dense conifer forests, the trek offers an immersive journey through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Kashmir.
The adventure begins from Srinagar, from where trekkers are driven to the peaceful village of Aru Valley near Pahalgam. Nestled amidst lush meadows and pine forests, Aru serves as the starting point of the trek and offers stunning views of the surrounding Himalayan valleys.
The trail gradually winds through dense forests of tall conifer trees, wide grasslands, glacial streams, and remote shepherd settlements, creating a landscape that feels untouched and cinematic. Unlike many commercial Himalayan trails, the Kolahoi route retains its raw natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere.
Throughout the journey, the flowing Lidder River appears and disappears alongside the trail, while wooden shepherd huts, alpine pastures, waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams add to the charm of the route. Certain stretches of the trek remain relatively flat, allowing trekkers to fully absorb the surrounding beauty without constant steep ascents.
One of the highlights of the trek is the serene Dudhsar Lake, whose calm blue waters and surrounding mountains create an unforgettable high-altitude landscape. The route towards Kolahoi Pass is equally mesmerizing, with cotton-like clouds drifting across rugged Himalayan valleys and glacial streams flowing through rocky terrain.
The Kolahoi Glacier Trek offers the perfect blend of adventure, wilderness, and serenity — making it one of the most beautiful ways to experience the untouched landscapes of Kashmir.
Participants are picked up from Srinagar in the morning and driven towards the beautiful village of Aru Valley near the flowing Lidder River. The journey is conducted on a shared transport basis and takes approximately 4 hours to complete. Located close to the popular hill town of Pahalgam, Aru is surrounded by alpine meadows, pine forests, and snow-covered Himalayan peaks. During the scenic drive from Srinagar, trekkers pass through charming rural landscapes, apple orchards, saffron fields, and traditional Kashmiri villages that beautifully capture the essence of the valley. This marks the first day of the trek, with an overnight stay arranged at the campsite in Aru. Spending the first night amidst the mountains helps trekkers acclimatize to the weather and mentally prepare for the adventure ahead. Dinner will be served at the campsite, followed by an opportunity to interact with fellow trekkers and share stories before beginning the unforgettable journey deeper into the Kashmir Himalayas.
The trek begins from the beautiful campsite at Aru Valley as we make our way towards Lidderwat. Covering a distance of approximately 12 km, today’s journey takes around 6–7 hours and involves a gradual ascent without any major steep climbs, making it an ideal start to the trek. The trail passes alongside the beautiful Lidder River, which we cross using a small wooden bridge built by the local authorities. For much of the route, the river flows peacefully beside the trail, adding to the scenic beauty of the journey. After the initial climb, the landscape opens into the vast grasslands of the famous Lidder Meadows. Along the way, trekkers may also come across traditional Gujjar settlements near the Nandkei region, offering glimpses into the nomadic lifestyle of the local communities. The route winds through tall fir forests, alpine grasslands, wooden bridges, and flowing mountain streams, creating a peaceful and refreshing trekking experience. Surrounded by endless meadows and Himalayan landscapes, Lidderwat serves as a perfect campsite amidst the untouched beauty of Kashmir.
Today’s trek is comparatively steeper and more rugged as we continue deeper into the Himalayan wilderness towards Dudhsar Lake. The trail follows the beautiful Dudhsar Stream, whose milky white glacial waters give the stream its name. Much of today’s route passes through rocky terrain filled with boulders, loose gravel, and glacial debris, requiring careful footing throughout the trek. Towering mountains rise dramatically on both sides of the valley, creating an incredibly raw and majestic landscape. Along the way, we pass through scenic locations such as Susrin and Satlangan, crossing mountain streams and navigating through rugged alpine terrain. One of the major highlights of the day is the spectacular Chainbal Waterfall, which appears to cascade directly from the clouds due to the immense height from which it falls. After a few steady ascents, the trail gradually opens into the serene landscapes surrounding Dudhsar Lake — a breathtaking high-altitude lake surrounded by towering peaks and alpine meadows. The lake serves as our campsite for the night amidst the peaceful beauty of the Kashmir Himalayas.
Today’s trek covers approximately 8 km and takes around 6 hours as we make our way towards the spectacular Kolahoi Glacier viewpoint. After a gentle descent into the valley, the trail continues through vast alpine landscapes and rugged Himalayan terrain. Located at an elevation of nearly 11000 ft, the viewpoint offers the closest safe view of the magnificent Kolahoi Glacier, often referred to as the “Matterhorn of Kashmir.” This massive hanging glacier stretches for nearly five kilometers and serves as one of the primary sources feeding the Jhelum River and the Kashmir Valley. As the glacier terrain can be unstable, especially near snow-covered sections, trekkers are advised to carefully follow the instructions of the trek leaders throughout the journey. On clear days, the panoramic views of the glacier, surrounding peaks, and alpine valleys are absolutely breathtaking, making this one of the most photogenic sections of the trek. Along the trail, trekkers may occasionally encounter local shepherds grazing their livestock amidst the mountain meadows. After spending some time at the viewpoint, we descend back towards Satlangan, where the campsite for the night awaits amidst the serene Himalayan landscapes.
Today, we descend back towards Lidderwat through the beautiful valleys of the Kashmir Himalayas. Compared to the previous day, the trail is much easier and allows trekkers to walk at a relaxed pace while soaking in the surrounding scenery. The route passes through alpine meadows, flowing white glacial streams, and dense conifer forests that constantly change the landscape around the trail. Gentle ascents and descents blend naturally into the terrain, making the walk peaceful and refreshing. As the day progresses, endless shades of green forests and wide mountain grasslands accompany the journey back towards Lidderwat. The calm atmosphere and untouched wilderness make this stretch especially enjoyable after the rugged glacier terrain of earlier days. Upon reaching the meadows of Lidderwat, we once again camp amidst the vast grasslands surrounded by towering Himalayan peaks. Spend the evening relaxing and resting well before the final day of descent ahead.
The final day of the Kolahoi Glacier Trek involves a steady descent back towards Aru Valley. Since the trail drops by nearly 2500 ft in a single day, it is important to maintain a comfortable pace throughout the descent. As we walk down through forests, meadows, and river valleys one final time, trekkers get their last glimpses of the towering Himalayan peaks and untouched landscapes that define the beauty of Kashmir. Upon reaching Aru, shared vehicles will be arranged for the drive back to Srinagar. From here, trekkers may continue with their onward travel plans or spend some additional time exploring the charm of Srinagar. Whether it’s relaxing on a traditional shikara ride across Dal Lake, strolling through the beautiful Mughal gardens, enjoying authentic Kashmiri cuisine, or wandering through the local markets, Srinagar offers the perfect ending to an unforgettable Himalayan adventure.
Kolahoi Pass trek is best visited from March to October as the harshness of winter is left behind, and trails clear up considerably. The temperature ranges from 15 to 20 degrees during the daytime and dips to about -2 to 5 during nights. You can witness a collection of some of the majestic Himalayan peaks covered with pristine snow. You shall witness enthralling views if you plan to visit Kolahoi Pass during these months.
Kolahoi Pass Trek is considered to be a moderate trek with a difficulty level of 4/8. The level of this trek is moderate, which demands physical fitness, stamina, and endurance. Prior trekking experience of scaling a high mountain peak is a plus point. It can be tiring for first-timers. However, the trek is not very difficult and children and families are welcome.
Kolahoi Pass trek weather forecast explains to us that the vicinity of Kolahoi Pass usually remains pleasant and clear, almost throughout the year, except for the months of winter. During the period of March to October, the temperature ranges from 15-20 degrees during the daytime and dips to about -2 to 5 during nights.
Kolahoi Pass Trek has an accumulation of snow along the elevated part of the trails. Yes, it can be done on snow. The Kolahoi Pass trek is coated with snow, which melts steadily, as the lush green meadows, rough traverses, and brown peaks start to unleash. You can witness a collection of some of the majestic Himalayan peaks covered with pristine snow.
Kolahoi Pass trek is best visited during the months of March till October as the harshness of winter is left behind, and trials clear up considerably. The temperature ranges from 15-20 degrees during the daytime and dips to about -2 to 5 during nights. You can witness a collection of some of the majestic Himalayan peaks covered with pristine snow. Embrace yourself to witness green meadows and floating ice if you plan to visit Kolahoi Pass during these months. Alpine forests, through which your steps will be filled with an abundance of the amazing landscape of the whole valley will be an ecstatic delight.
Kolahoi Pass Trek is a high altitude trek. You need to be fully prepared for the comfortable completion of the trek. All the essential kinds of stuff required for the trek such as rucksack, 2 pairs of quick-dry T-shirts and trek pants, 2 pairs of socks, trekking shoes, fleece, sunscreen SPF 50+, towel, lip balm, headlamp/torch, water bottles of 1 liter, and personal medicines should be available with you. For a complete checklist, download the checklist from the footer. Make sure that you have all these things before the start of the trek.
Kolahoi Pass Trek package includes an experienced cook, who will be going along with the team and the batch during the journey. One thing you can be assured of is the food served on this trek will be one the best that you might have encountered throughout your life in such high altitude regions. Generally, only vegetarian food is served on the trek because non-vegetarian food has a high amount of protein which makes it difficult to digest. We have a serving of 5 meals per day which includes breakfast, lunch, evening snacks, dinner, and bedtime milk. We don't believe in compromising on the quality of the food. Hence, all you need to do is explore the beauty of the trek without worrying about the food. The pure and fresh mountain water will be provided through clean streams of the area. You can bring with you water purification pills, in case you are cautious about it, although it is not necessary.
Kolahoi Pass Trek is a 6-day long trek and hence backpacks, raincoats, and other types of equipment are necessary. Backpacks and raincoats including other items will not be available for rent by us. These are the things you need to bring on your own. You can check our website to make sure that you know about all the things that you need to carry by yourself on this trek. It is advised to carry all those things for your own convenience. The only accessories that we will provide on rent for this trek are trek poles and ponchos. All the other necessary items or equipment must be availed by the participants on their own.
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