4 Best Day Trips from Srinagar
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Read this before booking any of these trips. Jammu & Kashmir is a security-sensitive, disputed region, and every destination on this page sits inside current do-not-travel guidance from the US and UK. On 22 April 2025, militants killed 26 people, mostly tourists, at Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, an attack that briefly escalated into an India-Pakistan military confrontation before a May 2025 ceasefire held (verify current status). The UK FCDO advises against all travel to J&K and names Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg specifically; the US advises against travel to J&K outside Ladakh. Check your own government’s current wording before booking transport or tours to any of these places. At the same time, all four are reported open and operating, with heavy security around tourist areas, so this page assumes a precaution-first day trip with a registered driver or operator, not a solo drive into unfamiliar territory.
Srinagar’s best day trips all run through the same three or four names, and each one comes with its own honest caveat right now. Here are the four worth knowing.
1. Gulmarg
About 50km, 1.5-2 hours from Srinagar by road, Gulmarg sits at roughly 2,650 meters and is best known for the Gulmarg Gondola, one of the world’s highest cable cars, run in two phases: Phase 1 from Gulmarg to Kongdori (roughly INR 740-810) and Phase 2 up to Apharwat at nearly 3,980 meters (roughly INR 920-1,010), with a combined ticket around INR 1,800. Winter brings real skiing here, one of India’s genuine ski destinations, and summer brings meadows and golf. Gulmarg is reported fully open with a stepped-up security presence since 2025. Browse Gulmarg gondola and day tour options and check the current official advisory before you book, traveling with a registered operator.
2. Pahalgam
About 90km, 2.5-3 hours from Srinagar, Pahalgam sits at roughly 2,740 meters at the head of the Lidder valley, with the Betaab and Aru valleys and Chandanwari, the traditional base for the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, nearby. This is also where the April 2025 attack happened, specifically at Baisaran meadow above the town, not in Pahalgam’s main built-up area. Verify Baisaran’s own access status separately from whether Pahalgam town itself is open when you plan this trip, since the two can differ. Search Pahalgam valley tours from Srinagar and check the current official advisory first, going only with a registered operator who has current, local information.
3. Sonamarg
About 80km, 2.5 hours from Srinagar, Sonamarg (the “meadow of gold”) sits at roughly 2,800 meters and serves as the gateway toward Zojila Pass, Ladakh, and the Amarnath trek. The main draw is the Thajiwas Glacier, reachable by a short hike or pony ride from the main road. Check the current official advisory and confirm road conditions before you go, since this route also feeds toward higher, more remote terrain.
4. Yusmarg and Doodhpathri
Quieter alpine meadows further from the standard tourist circuit, Yusmarg and Doodhpathri see a fraction of Gulmarg’s or Pahalgam’s visitor numbers. They’re a reasonable pick if you want the meadow-and-mountain scenery without the crowds, though exactly for that reason, go with a registered driver who knows current local conditions rather than heading out independently.
Is Gulmarg or Pahalgam open after the 2025 attack?
Gulmarg is reported fully open with additional security. Pahalgam town is generally reported open, but Baisaran meadow specifically, the attack site, should be verified separately before you plan a visit there. Either way, check the current US State Department India advisory and UK FCDO India advice , and travel with a registered operator rather than relying on secondhand reports.
| Day trip | Distance/time | Headline draw |
|---|---|---|
| Gulmarg | ~50km, 1.5-2 hours | Gondola, skiing (winter) |
| Pahalgam | ~90km, 2.5-3 hours | Betaab/Aru valleys, Amarnath base |
| Sonamarg | ~80km, 2.5 hours | Thajiwas Glacier |
| Yusmarg/Doodhpathri | Shorter, quieter | Meadows without the crowds |
For a fuller look at the city itself between day trips, see the Srinagar guide , and for how to sequence a day trip into a multi-day plan, see the 5-day or 7-day itineraries.
One concrete tip: pick one day trip, not two back to back, on a first visit. The drive times above are best-case, and a security checkpoint delay can turn a 2.5-hour drive into considerably longer.