The Day 1 is all about arriving on time, calming your nerves, and letting the mountains slowly take control of your mind.
If you are planning Kashmir Great Lakes Trek seriously, here is the honest answer first. Reach Srinagar at least one day before your trek begins. This single decision saves you from flight delays, roadblocks, stress, and rushed mornings. Everything else goes smoothly only if you get this one step right.
Why Day 1 Matters More Than You Think
Most people assume Day 1 is just a travel day. That assumption causes more trouble than blisters ever do. This day sets the tone for your entire Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. Your body adjusts to altitude, your mind switches off city mode, and your logistics get locked in.
Kashmir does not work on tight schedules. Flights get delayed. Roads close without notice. Security checks appear unexpectedly. When you arrive early, these issue become minor stories, not trip-ending problems.
Reaching Srinagar Before Trek Day
Srinagar should be your base at least one night before the trek. Most trekkers stay near Dal Lake or close to the airport for easy pickups. This extra day allows your body to rest after travel and gives you time to buy last-minute items like sunscreen, snacks, or a rain poncho.
If you have booked a Srinagar to Srinagar Kashmir great lakes trek package, your job is simple. You relax, sleep well, and stay reachable on your phone.
If you have not booked a package, you need to be more alert with timing and transport. Day 1 planning becomes your responsibility, not the trek leader’s.
Pickup Plans for Those on a Trek Package
For trekkers who opted for a Srinagar-to-Srinagar package, transport is organised in advance. Pickup usually happens around 10 AM.
You will be picked up from your hotel in Srinagar, the airport or Srinagar railway Station. Sometimes, instead of individual pickups, there is a common meeting point. This location is usually confirmed 15-20 days before you reach Srinagar. Keep your phone active and respond promptly to WhatsApp messages.
Being late here affects everyone. One delayed person can hold up an entire vehicle heading towards Sonamarg.
Always choose your: Best Time for Kashmir Great Lakes Trek
If You Did Not Opt for the Trek Package
This is where many first-time trekkers feel confused. If you are travelling independently, you must reach Sonamarg before 5 PM on Day 1. No exceptions, no extensions.
Sonamarg is not just a scenic stop, it is your gateway to the trek. Arriving late means missing the briefing or scrambling for accommodation.
Transportation Options from Srinagar to Sonamarg
The Srinagar to Sonamarg distance is around 80 kilometres, and the drive usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic and weather. The road climbs gently, but the scenery shifts fast.
Here are your realistic transport choices if you are travelling on your own.
Shared Taxi
- Available from Srinagar taxi stands early morning
- Cost ranges between ₹500 to ₹800 per seat
- Best taken before 9 am to avoid delays
Shared taxis are budget-friendly but unpredictable. You wait until all seats are filled, and stops are frequent.
Private Taxi
- Cost ranges between ₹3,000 to ₹4,500 for the full vehicle
- Available through hotels or local drivers
- Most comfortable and reliable option
This is ideal if you are travelling in a group or carrying heavy trekking bags.
Bus
- Limited frequency and not trekker-friendly
- Cheapest option but time-consuming
- Not recommended with large backpacks
Local buses work for locals, not trekkers on a schedule.
Get a Detailed Breakdown of: Kashmir Great Lakes Trek Cost
The Srinagar to Sonamarg Journey Experience
The road from Srinagar to Sonamarg gradually strips away the layers of everyday life. Apple orchards give way to pine forests. Rivers begin to appear beside the road, clear and loud.
You pass small villages where tea stalls sell Kahwa and bread early in the day. Trucks carrying timber crawl uphill. Army checkpoints appear quietly, reminding you where you are.
The Mobile network fades in patches. This is normal. That silence is part of trekking in Kashmir.
By the time you reach Sonamarg, the air feels cooler and cleaner. Many people step out of the car and take their first deep breath here.
From Sonamarg to Shitkadi Village
Shitkadi Village sits just ahead of Sonamarg and acts as the official starting point for the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. Most organised groups drive you from Sonamarg to the campsite.
The landscape opens up dramatically here. Wide meadows stretch out with snow-fed streams cutting through them. Peaks like Kolahoi and Machoi dominate the skyline, even if you do not know their names yet.
You are not trekking today. You are arriving.
Settling Into Shitkadi Campsite
The campsite is simple yet scenic. Tents are pitched on flat grasslands with mountains rising on all sides. Evenings here feel calm, almost slow.
Before dinner, a briefing session is usually held. Trek leaders explain:
- The route overview for the next few days
- Weather expectations
- Safety rules and walking pace
- What to pack in your day bag
Listen carefully, even if you feel confident. This briefing answers questions you did not know you had.
Dinner is warm and filling. Sleep comes early. The mountains have a way of encouraging that.
What You Should Personally Do on Day 1
Day 1 is not about proving fitness. It is about preparing wisely.
Keep these things in mind:
- Drink water regularly, even if you are not thirsty
- Avoid alcohol completely in Srinagar and Sonamarg
- Eat light but enough
- Sleep early, even if excitement keeps you awake
Many strong trekkers underestimate this day and regret it later. Altitude adjustment starts quietly, not loudly.
Mental Preparation Matters
Standing in Shitkadi, most people realise something, this trek is not a picnic. It demands patience and respect.
You might feel nervous. That is normal. You might feel underprepared. That is also normal. The mountains do not expect perfection, they expect sincerity.
I have seen people with expensive gear panic here. I have also seen simple travellers smile and settle in easily. The difference is mindset, not money.
Key Takeaways to Carry Forward
- Arrive in Srinagar one day early
- Confirm your pickup or meeting point clearly
- Reach Sonamarg before 5 PM if travelling independently
- Choose transport based on reliability, not just cost
- Treat Day 1 as part of the trek, not a formality
Once you lie inside your tent at Shitkadi and hear the wind brush past, one thought usually crosses your mind.
Are you finally ready to walk into a landscape that changes you, step by step?
