Kashmir earns every comparison other Himalayan destinations get measured against. Wake up on a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar, drift past floating vegetable markets on a shikara at sunrise, then head up to Gulmarg, where a gondola carries you higher than most domestic flights cruise. Pahalgam's river valleys, strung together by Aru, Betaab, and Chandanwari, and Sonamarg's glacier views round out a circuit that's been drawing travellers here for well over a century.
Most Kashmir packages you'll find are run by local Srinagar operators, custom quoted, and built for families or honeymoon couples. The Travel Story runs something different, a fixed departure group trip specifically for the 18 to 35 age bracket, with a real Delhi to Delhi option that includes the sleeper bus both ways, something a local Kashmir agency simply cannot offer since they're not based outside the valley in the first place.
If you're based in Delhi and don't want to book a flight, this trip includes an AC sleeper bus from Delhi to Jammu on Day 1, a road transfer into Srinagar on Day 2, and the same route back at the end. That's a genuine Delhi to Delhi journey, not a flight you book separately and hope connects cleanly with a local pickup. Travellers who'd rather fly can join and leave directly from Srinagar instead, at a lower price point, with airport pickup and drop arranged.
If you've read anything about Kashmir in winter, you may have come across the term Chillai Kalan, and it's worth actually understanding before you pick your dates.
Chillai Kalan is the 40 day stretch of Kashmir's harshest winter, running from around December 21st to January 31st. It's followed by the milder 20 day Chillai Khurd and the 10 day Chillai Bachha. This is the window when Gulmarg and Sonamarg see their most reliable, heaviest snowfall, when Dal Lake partially freezes at its edges, and when the valley looks the way it does in the photos that made you want to come in the first place. Travelling outside this window, October or November for instance, still brings cold weather and early snow at higher altitudes, but it's a meaningfully gentler version of the same trip.
By air, Srinagar's Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, commonly known by its code SXR, connects directly to Delhi, Mumbai, and several other major Indian cities, with flight time from Delhi generally under two hours.
By road, the route from Delhi runs via Jammu on NH44, passing through the Banihal tunnel before descending into the Kashmir valley. This is the route this trip's Delhi to Delhi option actually uses.
By rail, Jammu Tawi railway station is the nearest major railhead, connected to most of India, with onward road travel into Srinagar from there.
A practical note on winter road conditions. The Qazigund to Banihal stretch of NH44 can shut temporarily during heavy snowfall. This is routine winter travel management in the region, not an emergency closure, and it's factored into how this trip plans its routing.
What is the cost of a Kashmir winter group tour package?
The Travel Story's winter Kashmir trip starts at Rs 17,499 per person for the Srinagar to Srinagar option on triple occupancy. The Delhi to Delhi option, which includes the sleeper bus both ways, starts at Rs 21,499 plus 5 percent GST, working out to roughly Rs 22,574.
What is Chillai Kalan?
Chillai Kalan is the 40 day period of Kashmir's harshest winter, running roughly December 21st to January 31st, followed by the milder Chillai Khurd and Chillai Bachha. It's the most reliable window for heavy snowfall in Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
Is Kashmir safe to travel to right now?
Kashmir remains one of India's most visited tourist destinations, with tourism infrastructure, hotels, and local guides all actively operating. Group trips run with a dedicated trip captain present throughout, and winter specifically tends to be quieter than peak summer season.
Can I join a Kashmir trip from Delhi without flying?
Yes, the Delhi to Delhi option on both the standard winter trip and the New Year special includes an AC sleeper bus from Delhi to Jammu, with a road transfer into Srinagar, something local Kashmir based operators generally can't offer since they're not running departures from outside the state.
Is this trip suitable for solo travellers?
Yes, both Kashmir trips are built specifically for the 18 to 35 age group, and a meaningful share of travellers on each batch join solo, matched with a same gender roommate from the same age bracket.
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