Namaste! We welcome you warmly at Srinagar Airport and drive you to Lake Nageen aboard a houseboat with a very cozy interior consisting of oriental rugs and finely carved walnut panels that will make you feel at home. A cardamom tea and salted butter czot bread awaits you. Night aboard a houseboat.

The authenticity of a city lies in its old neighborhoods. Srinagar is no exception to this rule: old wooden buildings crumbling under the weight of time, spices and copperware shops, bakers making the delicious Kashmiri breads in tandoori, pastries of all kinds filled with sugar, enough to tickle your senses! The ancient mosques of Srinagar are equally attractive. We will begin with the Jama Masjid Mosque, known for the originality of its construction with its quadrilateral shape and four pagoda-style minarets. We will continue to the Khanqah Shah-i-Hamadan mosque, a real gem, one of the oldest Sufi cashmere centers and we will end with the Naqshband Sahib mosque, known as ziyarat or 'the pious visit' and dedicated to the mystic saint Khwaja Syed Bha-u-Deen Naqshbandm. In the afternoon, we will stroll through the three Mughal gardens around Srinagar: Shalimar bagh, Nishat bagh and Pari Mahal or 'the fairy house' overlooking the city of Srinagar. Back on the houseboat for a salted or sweet Kashmiri tea. Night aboard a houseboat on Lake Nageen.

Early in the morning, we board on Sikhara boat to visit the floating markets of Srinagar, a feast of colours. We will return to the houseboat for breakfast and then we will go again by boat to the Hazratbal mosque which is considered the most sacred Muslim sanctuary of Kashmir. It houses a relic, the 'Moi-e-Muqqadas', which contains a hair of the beard of the Prophet Muhammad. All around the mosque, you will experience the bustling market of Dargah where all kinds of cashmere specialties await you, including the famous achaar (condiments) of lotus stalks or the czot breads. In the afternoon, we will drive towards Gulmarg, a hill station at an altitude of 2730m, nestling in the valley of Pir Panjal, famous for its splendid landscapes and a reputed ski station during the winter period. Back to Srinagar in the evening. Night aboard a houseboat on Lake Nageen.

We leave for Pahalgam, a mountain resort 90 km south of Srinagar. On the way, we will stop at the Avantiswamin temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, which was built by King Avantirvarnam at the end of the 9th century AD. Although in ruins, it has still beautiful frescoes depicting various Hindu gods, apsaras (demi-goddesses) and Greek style colonnades that are worth a look. Arrival in Pahalgam during the day. Check in at the hotel overlooking the mountains. Overnight in Pahalgam.

After breakfast, we will go for a 5 km trek through a lovely wooded path till the meadows of Baisaran. En route, we will meet shepherds in their traditional wooden homes. We will enjoy a 'pink tea' with them. Back to Srinagar in evening time. Night aboard a houseboat on Lake Nageen.

We leave for Naranag, a small village built on the left bank of the Wangath River. The beautiful surrounding landscapes consisting of meadows, lakes and mountain ranges make it an idyllic place for trekking and relaxing breaks. Arrival in Naranag late morning. We will go for a short hike to a lake and picnic there, on the way we will stop to meet local people. Back to Naranag in the late afternoon, a good meal with local products awaits you. Overnight in Naranag [Option: from Naranag, possibility to do the 7 lakes trek, for experienced hikers.]

Back to Srinagar, on the way, we will visit the Shankaracharya temple, a highly sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists. Although its current structure was probably built in the 9th century AD., the temple dates back to 200 BC; the Persians would have called it 'Sulaiman Bagh-i' or 'King Solomon's Garden'. It is also considered sacred by the Buddhists, as some historians claim that this temple was a Buddhist place during the Ashoka dynasty and was later transformed into a Hindu sanctuary by Adi Shankaracharya. We will then go to Hari Parbat, known locally as Koh-e-Maran or Sharika Peeth for Hindus. It is a hill overlooking Srinagar. At its summit, visible from Srinagar, stands the Durrani Fort. The first fortifications on the site were laid by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1590. This hill is also very important for the Sikhs: on the south face of the ramparts, there is one of the most important Gurudwaras of Kashmir. Below, there is the revered Hamza Makhdoom sanctuary dedicated to Makhdoom Sahib, a great Sufi saint, also called Sultan Hazrat, Night aboard a houseboat on Lake Nageen.

End of the trip unless you continue with us to Ladakh! Looking forward to meeting you again. Namaste.