About this Houseboat Stay
Wake up on Dal Lake — the signature Kashmir experience
Some trips are about ticking off sights; this one is about living on the water. Three nights on a beautifully carved Dal Lake houseboat, with unhurried shikara rides, the early-morning floating market, and easy days exploring Srinagar's Mughal gardens and old city.
It's the most relaxed way to do Kashmir — perfect for a slow break or paired with a longer trip. Transfers, a handpicked houseboat and planning are all handled.
Trip Highlights
Life on the lake, at its own pace
Three nights on a Dal Lake houseboat
Sunset & sunrise shikara rides
The early-morning floating market
Srinagar's Mughal gardens
The old city & craft emporiums
Transfers & planning handled
Trip Gallery
A taste of the trip
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Four gentle days on and around Dal Lake
- Arrive at Srinagar airport and transfer to your Dal Lake houseboat.
- Settle in with Kashmiri kahwa tea on the deck.
- Sunset shikara ride; overnight on the houseboat.
- Visit the Mughal gardens — Nishat, Shalimar and Chashme Shahi.
- Shankaracharya temple viewpoint over the lake.
- Explore the old city, Jamia Masjid and the craft emporiums; overnight on the houseboat.
- Optional pre-dawn shikara to the famous floating vegetable market.
- Relaxed morning on the houseboat deck.
- Free afternoon — more shikara time, shopping or an optional Doodhpatri day trip; overnight on the houseboat.
- After a final breakfast on the deck, transfer to Srinagar airport for your flight home.
- Rested by the water — the calmest way to see Kashmir.
What's Included
Transparent pricing — no hidden surprises
- Airport pick-up & drop in Srinagar
- 3 nights on a deluxe Dal Lake houseboat
- Daily breakfast & dinner on the houseboat
- Sunset shikara ride included
- Srinagar sightseeing — Mughal gardens & old city
- Private car for local transfers & sightseeing
- 24x7 on-trip support
- Airfare / train fare (can be added)
- Lunches & personal expenses
- Gondola tickets, pony rides & entry fees
- Local union taxis to inner meadow points
- GST as applicable
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
Things to Carry
Mountain holiday essentials
Important Notes
Please read before booking
Local taxis & ponies: At Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, local union taxis and ponies are mandatory for the inner points (meadows, valleys). These are paid directly on the spot and are not part of the package.
Flights: The price is a land package. Fly into Srinagar (SXR) — we can add return flights from your city on request.
Weather: Mountain weather changes quickly and higher spots like Gulmarg and Sonamarg stay cool even in summer — carry warm layers year-round. Snow can affect road access in peak winter.
ID: Carry a valid government photo ID for hotels and houseboats. No special permit is needed for the main Kashmir tourist circuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you book
They're beautifully carved cedar-wood boats moored on Dal Lake, with cosy rooms, a lounge and a sundeck over the water. Waking up on the lake is the signature Kashmir experience.
Yes — breakfast and dinner are served on board, often home-style Kashmiri food cooked fresh by the houseboat staff.
It's a dawn gathering of produce-laden shikaras on the lake. We can arrange an early-morning shikara so you can see and photograph it just after sunrise.
Deluxe houseboats have heating and warm bedding, so they're cosy inside even in winter — though open-deck time is chilly, so pack warm layers.
Yes — this trip already includes the Srinagar gardens and old city, and it pairs easily with a Gulmarg or Pahalgam extension.
