About the Tarsar Marsar Trek:
Kashmir the “paradise on earth” and universally proclaimed as the home to the most spectacular treks in the Himalayas. Tarsar Marsar Trek takes the cake among all of them. This breathtaking trek is literally located in the clouds, at an altitude of 13,201 feet. The trail of Tarsar Marsar crosses forests, meadows, rivers and snow-clad mountains of Kashmir, promising spellbinding views. The highlight of the trek is watching three charming alpine lakes, Tarsar, Marsar, and Sundarsar, on your way.
As you trek through these pristine lakes, you will be amazed by the lush green meadows of Kashmir. Embraced by the thick avenues of splendid Chinar tree forest and the spellbinding Lidder river, which is also known as a glacier river flowing through the Kolahoi Glacier. Throughout the whole day during the stay, you will be stunned by variable shades of snow-fed lake changing with the angle of the sun.
Tarsar Marsar Trek Quick Facts:
Duration: 7D/6N
Maximum Altitude: 13,201 ft
Tarsar Marsar Trekking Difficulty level: Moderate
Tarsar Marsar Trek Distance: 47kms
Temperature Range: During the day: 17°C - 20°C and During the night 3°C - to -4°C
Best Time for Tarsar Marsar Trek: July - September
Railway station: Jammu is the nearest station [ 260kms ]
Airport: Srinagar
Basecamp: Aru (112 km drive from Srinagar approx 4 hours)
Atm: Pahalgam [ But do not rely on the last ATM as it runs out of cash frequently. Withdraw cash at Srinagar or even before that.]
Start point / End Point: ARU
How to Reach:
The base camp for the Tarsar Marsar Trek is the lush valley of Aru. To reach Aru, you will need to travel to Srinagar. Srinagar is well-connected to most Indian towns and cities and is located around 100 kilometres from Aru. It takes around two-and-a-half hours to cover the distance between the two places.
By Air: The nearest airport from Aru, the base point of the Tarsar Marsar trek, is at Srinagar. Srinagar International Airport is around 100 kilometres away from Aru. You can reach here by hiring a cab from the airport.
By Road: Srinagar is the closest city to Aru which is connected to most Indian towns and cities. The distance between Srinagar and Aru is around 100 kilometres, which you cover by taking a cab.
By Train: The nearest railway station from Aru is at Jammu Tawi. Many trains arrive and depart from here to different cities across India. The distance between the two places is around 250 kilometres, and you can cover it by cab.
Tarsar Marsar Trek Inclusions:
Available Group Departure Dates :
July : 3,10,17, 24, 31
August : 7, 14, 21, 28
September : 4, 11, 18, 25
[ Note: If you are a group of 4 or more people then the dates can be customized]
The best time to go for the Tarsar Marsar Lake trek is from July to September. These months see warm weather conditions as the snow melts after a long winter season. Daytime temperatures range between 10 to 15 degrees Celsius, making trekking comfortable. Nights see temperatures dropping to -3 degrees to 7 degrees Celsius, so you can enjoy the chill as well. As the snow melts in July, flowers bloom and greenery covers the entire trail until September.
The Tarsar Marsar trek costs around INR 13,000 to INR 19,000 for a six-night seven-day itinerary. The experience is available only from July to September when the snow melts. This package covers transportation to and from Srinagar, trek accommodation, meals, all activities and permits, and a professional trek guide.
The nearest airport is the Srinagar airport and after your arrival at the airport, you need to board a vehicle that takes you on a 2-hour drive to Aru. The winding road trip takes you through one of Kashmir's famous tourist destinations of Pahalgam. Aru would be the base camp for the Tarsar Marsar trek which is spotted at a distance of another 12 kms ahead of Pahalgam.
If you are traveling via train then Jammu is the nearest railway station which is at a distance of 260 km and has a direct service from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, and Trivandrum. If you opt travel by bus Jammu & Kashmir road transport operates comfortable buses and the journey takes about 10 hours to reach Srinagar.
The route of Tarsar Marsar Trek will begin from the magnificent Aru Valley, which will be the base camp of this trek. From Aru Valley, you will be traveling towards Lidderwat, followed by reaching Shekiwas. From Shekiwas, you will enroute to Tarsar, which will be your final destination.
Yes, the Tarsar Marsar trek is good for beginners because this trek has a decent increase in gradient and is a moderate trek and the total distance need to cover is around 47 km which makes it less strenuous. You get to witness stunning alpine meadows, beautiful blue lakes, a mountain pass with unparalleled views, magnificent valleys, and glorious mountains.
This trek is perfect for all and all you need is decent physical and mental fitness. One has to be a bit careful with wildlife as some portion of the route passes through dense forests.
The difficulty level of the Kashmir Tarsar Marsar trek is moderate where the steep ascent will be there to pass and followed by a descent and then a gentle ascent to Sundarsar. This trek comprises two high-altitude alpine lakes, Tarsar and Marsar, situated at an altitude of 13500 ft. The trail is filled up with green meadows, natural rivers, and charming mountains and valleys in Dachigam National Park. A decent physical and mental fitness is required to move one level up with this trek.
The basic need for the Tarsar Marsar trek package is good physical and mental health. Since it is a moderate-level trek, you should start exercising at least two months in advance. You should also get quality trekking shoes with good ankle support. Remember to take proper precautions to adjust to high altitudes at least a week before trekking.
Tarsar Marsar trek is around 47 kilometres long, with its base camp at Aru Valley. The trail crosses forests, meadows, and rivers, and takes you to the beautiful lakes of Tarsar, Marsar and Sundaresar. The major stops on your way are Lidder, Shekiwas, Tarsar, Sundaresar and Homwas, and Aru is the start and end point.
The Tarsar Marsar trek itinerary lasts for six nights and seven days. The journey starts on day one from Srinagar and takes you to Aru, the base camp. From Aru, you will trek to Lidder, Shekiwas, Tarsar, Sundaresar, and Homwas over six days and nights. The last day is for the return journey from Homwas to Aru and Srinagar.
Tarsar Marsar Lake is located around 100 kilometres away from Srinagar. You can reach Srinagar from any part of India by rail, road or air and then take a cab to Aru. From Aru, you will need to trek through mountains and forests to reach the beautiful lakes of Tarsar and Marsar.
There are various things you need to carry during Kashmir Tarsar Marsar lake trek:
- A good quality backpack with comfortable shoulder straps, frame, and backpack cover
- 2 synthetic /waterproof Track Pants (avoid carrying shorts, tight jeans, Capris)
- Waterproof high ankle Trekking shoes with good grips
- 2-3 full sleeve T-Shirts
- 1 Fleece jacket or a woolen sweater
- 1 Windproof jacket
- 1 Heavy jacket
- Thermal Inners
- Extra pair of cotton and woolen socks
- Extra pair of waterproof hand gloves
- Sunscreen
- Woolen cap/ Balaclava
- Sun cap
- Sunglasses (should be U/V protected)
- People who use to wear spectacles can use contact lenses or photochromatic glasses
- Torch with extra batteries
- 2 Water bottle- one liter each
- Lip Balm/ cold cream
- Toilet kit/ toilet Paper/wipes
- Quick-dry light-weighted Towel
- Personal Medical Kit
- Mandatory Walking Stick (At least one)
July sees pleasant weather and is the month when trekking season starts in Tarsar Marsar. During this month, daytime temperatures range around 15 degrees Celsius, making it comfortable for trekking. Chances of rainfall are low, and you can see remains of snow around Sundaresar Lake. You would require three to four warm layers of clothes for trekking in July.
Yes, August is a good time to go for the Tarsar Marsar Lake trek. The best trekking season lasts from July to September when the snow melts after the winter season. Trekking in August means you will see blooming trees and flowers. You will enjoy the journey to the fullest due to dry and comfortable weather conditions.
The weather in Tarsar Marsar is comparatively colder than other locations of Kashmir due to its altitude. During the daytime, the temperature ranges around 17 degrees to 20 degree celsius and around night, it can hit as low as 3 degrees to -4 degree celsius.
Yes, the Tarsar Marsar trek sees heavy snowfall in the winter months of November to February. The trail stays covered in snow and the lakes also freeze for almost nine months of the year. Although snow trekking is not allowed, you can see remains of snow when the trekking season starts in July.
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