Tarsar Marsar Lake Trek

• Altitude: 2,426m
• Time taken:3.5 hours drive

The trip takes around 4 hours by car. Pahalgam is around 100 kilometres away from Srinagar, while Aru Valley is located an additional 12 km to the north. Aru is often considered to be Kashmir's most beautiful valley and hamlet. This settlement has served as the starting point for many exciting hikes, including the Tarsar Marsar Trek, for as long as anybody can remember. You will be treated to a beautiful view of the Kashmir valley as you make your way towards Aru. Before arriving at Pahalgam, the journey travels along the NH1 Highway and passes by the Lidder river. You will be travelling via Pahalgam, which is quite well known. You will turn left to go towards Aru, and the road there is a gentle ascent that ultimately lowers down to the breathtaking Lidder rivers, which originate from Tarsar Lake, which you will hike to in the following days. At Aru, our campground will be ready to greet you with a welcome beverage when you arrive. There, you will meet your trek leader, who will provide you with some background information on the walk and the adventure that lies ahead. In the midst of this breathtaking valley, about seven in the evening, you will be given supper.

• Altitude: 2,426 m to 2,780 m
• Time taken:6 hours
• Distance: 11km

The slope of the day is very mild, but there is a significant distance to go on foot—approximately 11 km. The ascent into the forest is slow and steady, although it lasts for just the first half an hour. The course of the journey begins in the forest and continues through it for around 5 km. The forest is dense and only opens up in little patches here and there, but when it does, it reveals shepherd huts and deep canyons off in the distance to your left. You will come across shepherds and ponymen on the road as you go into the forest, which is teeming with birds. Following the hike through the forest, the path emerges into a large grassland with undulating edges. The expanse of the meadow is remarkable, and it has several river crossings. You will be strolling directly by the river Lidder when you reach the middle of this meadow trek. The water is moving and dancing in a lovely way. The grass in the meadow extends all the way to the edge of the river bank. You might choose to take some time to unwind and rest at any one of these breathtaking sites along the journey. Fill up your water bottles with the fresh glacial water that has been brought here directly from Tarsar Lake. This river, the Lidder, will be your travelling companion from here until you reach Tarsar Lake. After some time has passed, you will come across a wooden shack in the shape of a triangle that is off to your left. To go to the grassy area that is all around the hut, you will need to cross the bridge. You will find that your campground has been prepared for your arrival. Evening refreshments, including snacks and beverages, will be provided for your arrival. This particular campground is known as Lidderwat.

• Altitude: 2,780 m 3,360 m
• Time taken: 5 hours
• Distance: 6km

The first part of the day consists of climbing upwards, which brings you to higher ground and affords you a more comprehensive picture of the whole Lidderwat Valley. The level of difficulty for the day is low. Shortly after you have completed the first ascent, the path will begin to wind through the woodland. You will go through the bush while following the Lidder River in a parallel direction. After that, you'll find yourself walking across expansive swaths of grassland along the route. In order to go over the river, you will have to use a log bridge. The valley is covered with grass and several types of wildflowers. You will come to a Homwas at the point where the river enters the meadow; here, you may unwind and take in the breathtaking scenery. You will come across several shepherd's huts and a grove of silver birch as you go along. You will come across a boulder area not much before you reach Shekwas. Take care not to stumble while you go. You will need to go carefully through this part since the stones are large and the water that runs underneath them sometimes causes them to get wet. The campground for the night may be found immediately after the bouldering part.

• Altitude: 3,360 m to 3,790 m
• Time taken: 5 hours
• Distance: 5km

After you have finished eating, you are going to go to Tarsar Lake. The slope of the day is not very steep. The boulder and rocky segment of the path is the most prominent feature of the trail. You will be walking on the rocks as well as in the spaces between the stones that make up the route. The river is located next to you and travels in the direction to your right. The boulder part practically comes to an end as you cross the river. However, the crossover is just a few inches long despite the bride being made of wood and being slender. After a little ascent, the path will bring you to a home that formerly belonged to a shepherd. The majority of the time, the family will greet the travellers with open arms. The shepherds take their sheep on excursions throughout this area with them. After there, the path winds its way through a series of short climbs and descents. The mountain ranges are all around the path that goes through the centre of the meadow. As soon as the meadows come to an end, you will find that you are travelling in the direction of Kashmir's always stunning alpine lake. The almond-shaped Tarsar Lake is widely considered to be one of Kashmir's most beautiful lakes. As soon as you set eyes on this lake, you will experience a rush of excitement since it is so captivating; in fact, as soon as you do, you won't be able to resist the urge to crowd around it. The overnight camping spot will be prepared for use at this location.

• Altitude: 3,790 m to 3,945 m
• Time taken: 5 hours
• Distance: 5 km

The slope of the day is not very steep. The hike begins with a steep ascent that lasts for around one hour. You may reach the other side of Tarsar Valley by travelling up the hill that runs precisely parallel to the lake. Once you have scaled to the highest point of the ridge, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of Tarsar Lake. This is the vantage point that was used for all of the photographs that you have seen that provide a larger picture of Tarsar Lake. Every hiker takes a break and poses for photos and videos before continuing on their journey. Be cautious with your footing and the route as you make your way down from this crest, which is a steep descent. After descending, there is a boulder crossing, and then after that, you reach a fantastic and magnificent meadow that links Shekiwas and Sundersar. Because of the relative lack of noise in the area, the grassy area is known as Silent Valley. In the valleys that separate the two mountain ranges, there is verdant vegetation. The area is crisscrossed with meandering river streams and dotted all over with ponds. Following the meadow, there is a somewhat steep ascent followed by a moderately steep descent that will lead you to your Sundersar campsite.

• Altitude: 3,945 m to 3,505 m via Marsar Ridge 4020 m
• Time taken:7 hours
• Distance: 9km

Within half an hour of travelling from your campground, you will arrive to the breathtaking Sundersar Lake. The lake is magnificent despite its size, and the little mountains that surround it on all sides contribute to its beauty. This glacial lake is shaped like a round. You will need to make your way around to the Sundersar lake and climb a hill in order to get to the Marsar Lake. It will take you a half an hour to climb that till you reach a level area, and within minutes you will be able to see the everlasting Marsar Lake, which is placed there in all of its peace and beauty. The lake is rather large and quite alluring. When you reach the vantage point where you can see a complete lake, you will be able to see this lake there. Take in the breathtaking scenery of the lake, and don't forget to get out your camera or record some video. This is also the place along the walk that has the greatest elevation gain. You will be standing at an elevation of around 4020 metres when you get here. When you are through exploring Marsar, you will follow the same path back to Sundersar Lake and then continue your descent into Homwas. The path goes through the portion with the boulders and the meadow.

• Altitude: 3,505 m to 2,426 m
• Time taken:6 hours
• Distance: 13km

The journey's last day has finally arrived. The path is lengthy, and the most of it was covered over the first two days of your walk beginning at Aru. After passing through Lidderwat, the trail will continue on to Aru along the same path. The journey comes to a conclusion in Aru, the same place where it began. To go to Srinagar from Aru, use a taxi that leaves you off there.