Nafran Valley Trek

The distance is 100 kms and takes 4 hrs to reach. Aru is the basecamp for your Nafran Valley experience. The basecamp offers you a teaser of how incredible the next five days are. When you reach Aru Valley from Srinagar, you cannot help but be amazed by the sheer beauty of this quaint village. The Lidder river flows just a few metres away, the village guarded by beautiful coniferous forests, it is a perfect location before you start your experience.

Trek Distance: 12 km | 5–6 hrs

Aru to Araam Pathri. Gentle climb, then into the forest. Option for a 3-hour viewpoint detour, or straight to camp.

The main trail leads us through varied terrain – maybe a bit muddy! A short uphill to a shepherd area (Geerwad), then beautiful walks to riverside clearings (Gagad Pathri, Kansal Pathri).

Look for a hermit’s cave and old fort ruins en route. A couple of easy river crossings and the sight of shepherd huts signal our arrival at Araam Pathri.

We’ll camp here, ready for the adventure ahead.

Simple start. Real beauty.

Trek Distance: 10 km | 6–7 hrs

Araam Pathri to Harnag Lake, via Harnag Pass. Today, we ascend! The climb is steep with rocks – watch your step, some might be slippery from a stream.

Reach the top of Harnag Pass for incredible views of Nafran Valley and your first glimpse of Harnag Lake.

The way down is similar. Arrive at the serene Harnag Lake – take a moment to soak it in.

Tonight, this beautiful lake is our peaceful campsite.

Challenge. Reward. Tranquility.

Trek Distance: 8 km (both ways) | 5–6 hrs

Harnag Lake to Kolahoi Glacier viewpoint, then Harbhagwan Lake (and back to Harnag). Today, we push a bit!

Start on an open trail that gradually inclines. Cross a couple of streams, and BAM! – the impressive Kolahoi Glacier comes into view, hugging Mt. Kolahoi. Take it in – a rare sight.

Spot the pointed peak to the glacier’s right – gateway to Harbhagwan Lake. Now, a steeper, tougher 2km climb awaits, gaining significant altitude. Pace yourself, listen to your body.

The ascent: grassy sections mixed with boulders – careful footing is key. Once on the ridge, follow the stream upwards. It leads directly to the stunning Harbhagwan Lake, fed by glacial ice.

Spend time by this pristine blue wonder. Then, we descend back to the familiar beauty of Harnag Lake for the night.

Challenge. Awe. Return.

Trek Distance: 8 km | 4–5 hrs

Harnag Lake to Nafran Valley. Today, the descent begins to the valley you’ve been waiting for. It’s a 9km trek down, mostly through rocks – careful footing is crucial. Trust your leaders’ guidance.

As we descend, prepare for beauty. Picture lush meadows unfolding before you. Take moments to breathe it all in.

Then, it appears: Nafran Valley. Magnificent meadows, unique rock formations, a winding stream – it’s a feast for the senses.

Tonight, we sleep in this stunning valley.

Anticipation. Arrival. Wonder.

Trek Distance: 10 km | 7–8 hrs

Nafran Valley to Bhaj Margi. Today, we descend, with stunning meadow and mountain views all the way.

We’ll walk along a ridge before entering a peaceful forest. Emerging from the trees, we arrive at the beautiful clearing of Bhaj Margi – our campsite for the night.

Picture this: horses and cattle grazing peacefully in a picturesque setting. That’s Bhaj Margi.

Views. Descent. Tranquility.

Trek Distance: 8 km | 3–4 hrs | Drive Distance: 104 km | 4 hrs

Bhaj Margi to Mondlan, then back to Srinagar. Our last day of mountain trails.

We trek southwest, passing through a wooden gate that marks the trail’s end. A forest path leads us to a small shepherd settlement, Shul Margi.

We’ll cross a couple of streams and continue through the forest, eventually reaching a clearing with a breathtaking view of Pahalgam.

A final short descent brings us to Mondlan village. From here, a short drive takes us back to Srinagar.

Last steps. Last views. Lasting memories.

Nafran Valley Trek is approximately 56 km long. You will be hiking an average of 8-9 km a day. 

Yes, if you are a beginner with good physical fitness, you can consider the trek after consulting our Outdoor Educator. 

The trek is categorised as moderate, considering the duration and altitude of Nafran Valley. 

Nafran Valley trek temperature ranges between 14°C and 20°C. The night is colder than the day. During the nighttime, Nafran Valley records a minimum of  7°C to 4°C during early July. 

The best time to visit Nafran Valley Trek is between July-August. The weather is pleasant during these months. 

Nafran Valley trek season begins in the monsoon. You will find patches of snow at higher campsites. However, there will be no fresh snowfall on the trek. 

Nafran Valley is a 7-day long trek. This includes travel to and from the basecamp. 

The trek is in the Anantnag district of Kashmir.  

The base of Nafran Valley trek is in Aru. Aru is a quaint village frequented by tourists every year to admire the stunning natural beauty surrounded by verdant valleys and mountains.

Nafran Valley trek is at an altitude of 13,800ft. The trek starts from Aru village, located at an altitude of 7950ft.

The most important thing to do on a trek to avoid AMS is to drink water, more than your daily intake. Water is an excellent way to avoid AMS. Along with this, you should also have all the nutritious meals we provide on the trek. If you still are sceptical about getting AMS, we would advise you to carry Diamox tablets with you. However, according to the situation your Outdoor leader will advise whether or not you should take it.

We encourage everyone to trek, even if or not they have a medical condition. We have an in-house doctor at OWLS with whom you can discuss your medical condition and accordingly, we can help you better prepare you for the trek.

Please keep the following documents ready before filling out this form

1. ID proof
2. Health form (for all participants of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh treks) and (for all participants <15 and > 60 years of age)
3. RTPCR for children <15 years/Vaccination certificate for adults (for Nepal treks)

Although we provide filling breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with morning tea and evening snacks, you can carry some light snacks for munching on the trail. You can carry protein bars, dry fruits, and homemade snacks like Shakkarpara to help you give that extra energy on the trek. 

All our Outdoor Leaders are trained and experienced leaders. They have completed basic Mountaineering Course, and are equipped with basic first-aid knowledge. Our leaders are certified Wilderness First Responder course

You don’t need to carry your medical kit. If you have your prescribed medications, you need to carry them on the trek

The accommodation will be on twin sharing basis. One tent will be shared by two trekkers. 

Yes. Communicate your requirement to the trek leaders beforehand, as it will be difficult to arrange to offload at the last minute. The offloading charges will be Rs 350 per bag, and your bag should not weigh more than 9 kg. 

Note: At OWLs, we suggest our participants carry their backpacks and avoid offloading. However, in case of pressing circumstances, you can opt for offloading.

Yes, you can leave the extra luggage at the base camp. However, do not leave valuables like laptops, jewellery, or any other expensive items in the base camp. 

The OWLS team will set up a toilet tent near the campsites. The toilets will be dry toilets and you will have to use toilet paper. There will be a pit dug by the team and you will have to cover your nature’s call with dry soil. Avoid using wet wipes, as they are not biodegradable. At OWLS, we thrive to leave no trace in the mountains. 

At the base camp, you will have regular concrete toilets.

The food offered will be as per the nutritional requirements. As you will be walking every day for 4-6 hours, you will be burning a good amount of calories. The team makes sure that the food you will be offered is healthy and helps you sustain through the day. The regular meal comprises eggs, locally grown vegetables, rice, roti, and pulses. The menu changes from day to day. 

The last place with mobile network will be Pahalgam. Aru has a scanty network.

The last ATM will be in Pahalgam. 

Carry a sufficient amount of cash with them. Since the base camp is situated away from the cities and lacks basic facilities like ATMs and digital payment options, it is always better to be prepared. 

You can carry the cash for cab fare and food to and from the base camp. We suggest carrying a minimum of 5-6k to ensure you have enough funds for your journey.