Everybody does the same thing. You sit down to plan Kashmir, open Google and start writing names including Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri, Yusmarg then your cousin says Betaab Valley is a must then some friend says don't skip Aru. In ten minutes the list has twelve places and you have only five days.
I have seen this mistake a lot. People came back from Kashmir tired, not happy, they sat in the car for hours, took photos from the window, and enjoyed very little. Kashmir is not a place to run around, let me tell you how to plan it with fewer places and more fun.
Why Too Many Places Spoil the Trip
On the map, Kashmir looks small but the roads are slow. There are turns, traffic, and sometimes road work or snow, a place that looks two hours away can take four hours. So when you add one more place, you are not adding one hour, you are adding half a day.
Then comes the tiredness. Say you leave at 6 in the morning and reach the hotel at 9 at night, day after day. By the third day, nobody wants to see anything. Kids are cranky, parents are cranky, everybody just wants to sleep.
And the worst part is this. You reach a lovely spot, but you get only thirty minutes there because the next place is waiting. You take two pictures and run then what was the use of coming so far?
Pick Only 3 or 4 Main Places
Here is a simple rule. For a 5 or 6 day trip, take three or four main places, that's enough, really.
Srinagar must be there- dal Lake, shikara ride, Mughal gardens, old city, the food. Give it two days at least, many people give Srinagar just one evening and that is a pity.
After that, choose from Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg or even just two of them. If you like snow and the gondola, go Gulmarg, if you like the river side and quiet walks, Pahalgam is better. Sonamarg has big mountain views, but it is a long day trip.
Keep the other places for next time. Kashmir is not going anywhere, a lot of people go again and again, and every time they find something new. That is better than trying to finish everything in one trip.
Give One Full Day to Each Place
This is where most people go wrong. Don't put two places in one day, give each place its own day, or most of the day.
Take Gulmarg. Reach in the morning, take the gondola, walk around, drink hot tea, and sit on the grass for some time. If you do all this slowly, the day is over, and that is fine. You came for this only.
Same with Pahalgam. Sit near the river. Do a pony ride if you want. Eat Maggi or have kehwa at a small stall. Nobody is chasing you. You will remember this day much longer than a day full of car windows.
When you give one day per place, the trip feels calm. You wake up without tension, eat a proper breakfast, and leave at a good time. You also come back before it gets too dark.
Keep Some Free Time
Don't fill every hour. Keep one half day or one evening empty, you will thank yourself later.
Why? Because things change in the mountains. It rains, a road closes, somebody falls sick. The weather is bad in Gulmarg, so you have to shift that day. If your plan is tight, one small problem spoils everything.
A free evening is also nice on its own- walk on the Boulevard road, buy some dry fruits and shawls, eat Wazwan at a good place. Many people tell me this was their favourite part, and they did not even plan it.
Plan Your First Day Properly
The first day is where many trips go wrong. You land tired, maybe the flight was very early or very late, you don't know the roads, you have bags, maybe kids or maybe old parents.
If you have not fixed your transport, you will stand outside the airport and bargain with drivers, rates change from person to person. Some ask too much because they see you are a tourist, this is a bad way to start a holiday.
So book an airport to Srinagar cab service first, even before you finalise the hotel. When a driver is standing with your name on a board, half the stress is gone. You sit in the car and go straight to the hotel, that's it.
Why a Booked Cab Is Better
Some people think they will just take a taxi from the counter. It can work, but not always, the rate is not clear and the car may be too small for your bags.
With a booked airport to Srinagar cab service, you know the price before you land. You know the car, you know the driver's name and number. If your flight is late, he waits, you don't have to call ten people.
It is safer also, mainly for families and women travelling in a group. You can send the driver details to your family at home, so they feel relaxed too.
One more thing. The airport is around 12 to 15 km from the main city, and traffic near Dal Gate can be slow. A local driver knows which road to take, he will also tell you small things, like which market to visit or where to eat.
Keep the Same Driver for the Whole Trip
Many smart travellers do this, book the driver from the airport and keep him for the other days too.
He already knows your plan. He knows you are slow on Gulmarg day and your mother cannot climb much. He knows when to start so you miss the traffic, you don't need to explain again and again.
You can also change the plan a little. If you love a place and want to stay one more hour, just say so, nobody is hurrying you.
Many people save money this way too, because one driver for many days is often cheaper than a new car every day.
What to Do When You Land
Don't plan any big activity on the first day- go to the hotel, take a rest, have lunch or dinner. If you still have energy, go for a short shikara ride or walk near the lake in the evening.
Keep warm clothes in your hand bag, not in the suitcase, even in summer the evenings are cold. Keep some cash also, because the network and ATMs can be a problem in some places.
Save your driver's number. Tell him the next day's plan so he reaches on time, a calm first day makes the whole trip better.
Final Words: Do Less And Enjoy More
If you remember only one thing, remember this. A good Kashmir trip is not about how many places you see, it is about how many moments you really enjoyed.
Pick fewer places, give each one enough time, keep some days easy and start the trip right, without any stress at the airport.
For that, book your airport to Srinagar cab service early with Imbibe Travels. Their drivers know the roads and wait for you at the airport on time. If you want a clean car, a fair price and an easy start, Imbibe Travels is the right choice for cab service. Don't waste your first day searching for a taxi.
Call today, fix your airport to Srinagar cab service, and then plan the rest of your Kashmir trip slowly.
