Tarsar Marsar

Tarsar Marsar — Kashmir's Secret Twin Lakes

Tarsar Marsar is one of the finest short treks in the entire Kashmir Himalayas — a six-day loop from Aru Valley near Pahalgam that visits two contrasting alpine lakes hidden in a cirque above the Lidder Valley. Tarsar (12,500 ft) is turquoise, calm, and surrounded by steep green walls; Marsar (13,000 ft), a short climb above, is darker, wilder, and fed by permanent snowfields. The approach through the Lidder Valley is one of the most beautiful forest and meadow walks in Kashmir, passing Gujjar herdsmen's summer camps and wildflower meadows rivalling the valley-of-flowers plateau.

Why choose Tarsar Marsar over Kashmir Great Lakes?

Tarsar Marsar is shorter (6 vs 7 days), less crowded, and more focused — every day builds toward the climax of the twin lakes on Days 3 and 4. Where Kashmir Great Lakes is a high-passes traverse, Tarsar Marsar is an intimate cirque trek. Photographers often prefer Tarsar Marsar for the tight framing of the Tarsar bowl. It pairs naturally with a visit to Pahalgam before or after the trek.

Best season

Mid-July to mid-September. Snow clears from the Tarsar headwall by late June in most years but the trail to Marsar can hold steep snow sections until mid-July. August is peak season with full wildflower bloom. September brings clarity and cool temperatures — excellent for photography.

Fitness and experience

Graded moderate. Day 3 (the Tarsar cirque climb) is steep but short — 1,900 ft in 5 km. Day 4 (Tarsar to Marsar to Homwas) is the hardest day at 10 km with significant elevation change. Prior trekking experience recommended but not mandatory for fit first-timers.

Srinagar is the gateway. Fly to Srinagar (SXR) from Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru.

Drive from Srinagar to Pahalgam (90 km, ~3 hours) and onward to Aru Village (11 km, 30 minutes). The trek starts and ends at Aru — we drop you at Pahalgam or Srinagar after the final day's descent.

Pahalgam is well connected to Srinagar by shared taxi (Rs 400/seat) and private cabs. We recommend arriving in Pahalgam the evening before Day 1 to ensure a relaxed morning departure.

Cancellations must be requested in writing.

- More than 30 days before the trek start date: 90% refund. - 21–30 days before: 50% refund. - 11–20 days before: 25% refund. - 10 days or fewer: no refund, but you may transfer your slot to another trekker or to any future batch within 12 months at no extra charge.

Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7-10 working days. Trip cancellations triggered by us (weather, force majeure, government restrictions) are refunded in full or moved to an alternate batch at your option.