Tarsar Marsar Trek
6 Days
Trek Duration
Kashmir
Location
13,500 ft.
Altitude
60 kms
Distance
8-10 pax
People
Details
Two glacial lakes in Kashmir Valley, nestled away in the lap of Pir Panjal Range. During the trek, you get to see Tarsar and Sundersar lakes; also, the very elusive Marsar Lake. Trekking along the lakes with lucid blue sky gives an amazing view and the chance to camp next to the emerald blue lake of Tarsar. It is the best alternative to Kashmir Great Lakes trek. One also gets to experience the beautiful landscape and grasslands in the Kashmir Valley. Also, the beauty of this trek is that we have some of the best and picturesque camp sites.
The best months to visit are from July to October. One will witness the miracles of nature in the form of green lush meadows, inverted waterfalls, snow-fed rivers, snow-capped mountains, tall pine trees, gypsy life, wildflowers, valleys, and the open view of the lesser Himalayas including high mountain peak of Kashmir, Mt. Kolahoi.
Package Inclusion
- Airport and all road transfers
- Meals during trek (Veg/Non-veg)
- Off-loading of 10 kgs backpack per person
- Tents on triple sharing basis with mattresses, sleeping bags, camping pillows and camp lights
- Rain ponchos, trekking poles and head torches
- Trek leaders, porters and guides
- Passes and permits
- Medical fitness certificates
- Basic first-aid kit
Package Exclusion
- Lunch before the onset of trek
- Trekking shoes
- Personal toiletries
- Backpack
- Videography, photography or any related equipment charges
- Personal expenses
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary specifically
Gallery
Itinerary
Srinagar (drive) – Aru
3 hrs
110 kms
7,920 ft
The clients will be picked up from Srinagar in a cab and the same cab would take you to Aru valley. We shall be spending the night in Aru valley, which is the famous base camp for so many treks in the valley. The Overa-Aru Biosphere Reserve is a famous destination for horseback riding and heliskiing in the winters. The last point where you would be getting any network would be Pahalgam. Our camp site would be right next to the mighty Lidder river in Aru.
Aru (trek begins) – Lidderwat
6-7 hrs
12 kms
9,131 ft
This day we would encounter approximately 12 kms of meandering trails of moderate incline through the thick conifer forest except for the steep initial ascent for 30-40 minutes. After a 30-40 minutes hike we would be having a panoramic view of the entire Aru valley. We would encounter a lot of people from the shepherd tribes aka “Gujjar” community especially in the spring and summer season. As soon as the thicket of fir trees becomes a distant image, we will be entering a grassland meadow where there would be a lot of settlements of “Gujjars”. After a steep ascent of 2-3 kms we reach a makeshift log bridge to cross the valley stream. The camp site at Lidderwat is still an hour’s hike from this point. The camp site is situated in densely populated Fir tree
and right next to the river which becomes a lullaby at night.
Lidderwat – Shekwas
4-5 hrs
7-8 kms
11,160 ft
The trek basically starts behind the PDA huts near our Lidderwat camp site. The first 2-3 hours of the climb are quite steep, and we shall see a lot of valley streams along the way. Until we reach Homwas, a quaint little village of “Gujjar” people living in harmony with the nature. One can’t really miss their warmth and hospitality. We cross another rudimentary log bridge at Homwas. After crossing the small settlement, we hike up to a higher camping ground and pitch our tents under the blanket of stars.
Shekwas – Tarsar (1st lake visit)
4-5 hrs
5 kms
12,500 ft
On this day we move from Shekwas 10,500 ft to Tarsar 12,500 ft, most of our way is of moderate incline and would approximately take us 4-5 hours. We must move up a humpbacked hill and cross a few ridges to have the first peek of the magical blue waters of Tarsar Lake. The entire hike up the hill is very exciting, and everyone is walking in anticipation to have the first glimpses of the infamous Tarsar Lake. We would be camping right next to the outlet of the lake. We could spend the evening exploring the Tarsar Lake. One would be astounded by the sheer beauty and the tranquility.
Tarsar – Sundersar (2nd lake visit)
4-5 hrs
5 kms
13,100 ft
It would be a moderate to difficult climb from Tarsar to Sundersar Valley and we would be gaining an altitude of 600 ft. We would be crossing the Tarsar pass to reach Sundersar and then to Sundersar valley. But the way through the pass offers a breathtaking view of the twin lakes. On our way down, we would come across a lot of livestock grazing along the banks of the lake. We would also be greeted by people of the nomadic shepherd tribe colloquially known as the “Bakkarwals”. Finally, we reach Sundersar and pitch our camps near the lake. This entire day is just a visual overload and a perfect camp site to just process all the beauty this trek has to offer.
Sundersar – Marsar (3rd lake) – Homwas
6-7 hrs
10 kms
13,500 ft
This day we would be gaining more height to witness the infamous Marsar Lake known for a lot of spooky stories and fables. We start our quite tedious trek through the Marsar ridge (13,500 ft) and we would be facing some snow patches and rock crevasses on our way until we finally reach the pass. This is where we get the first glimpses of the blue colored Tarsar lake. Lake is surrounded by snow clad mountains and has an outlet from one side which ultimately reaches to the Dachigam Forest Reserve. One can even trek from there to, another unknown location Kashmir valley has to offer, Mahadev Glacier. Then we descend to Homwas where we camp for the night and rest after a tiring day.
Homwas – Aru
6-7 hrs
15 kms
7,920 ft
Finally, we descend from Homwas and cross through familiar forests and trails. Our first stop is at Lidderwat where we have our lunch and then continue our descend to Aru. The clients may choose to stay back to explore Pahalgam or drive back from Aru and reach Srinagar on the same day.
Packing List
Clients may required to bring a list of essentials for a 3-5 days group camping activity as per season.
Why Us?
We practice sustainable and responsible tourism. Opting Zabarwan Adventures lets you feel proud about leaving a positive impact on the environment, society and the economy of Kashmir.
We are safe. Our handpicked professionals come from the valley itself and ensure that your trip is truly inspiring, a huge amount of fun and frolic while ensuring safety. We ensure a smooth experience with all paperwork and permits already pre-arranged.
We are locals. Aware of every unseen and breathtaking sights in Kashmir, our team will ensure that you see much more than what has been on your social media feed about Kashmir, so far!
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date – 30% deduction
- Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure – 50% deduction
- Less than 15 days of departure – No Cash Refund