Kashmir Trip Cost – How to Calculate Cost of Kashmir Trip

How much will a Kashmir trip cost? This will depend on a lot of factors like the number of travelers, duration of the trip, mode of commute, personal preferences, etc. But with that being said, there is still an average per-person cost that can be calculated.

That is what I intend to do in the post below. While I cannot give you the exact cost of the Kashmir trip, I can still give you an idea of how you can calculate your own Kashmir trip budget.

Using the numbers below, you will get a fairly good estimate of how much you will end up spending in the valley. For any other detail like how to reach, where to stay, what to see, and itinerary planning, please take a look at How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – A Complete Travel Guide.

For getting the best hotel rates, and taxi charges, and to organize your trip to Kashmir, you can speak with Kunal @ 9910 402 252. Give him my reference and you will surely get a discounted rate.

Kashmir Trip Cost

Is Kashmir a budget-friendly place to visit? It may have been about 5 or 6 years ago but not anymore. A trip to Kashmir will cost you pretty much the same as the cost to visit any other destination in the country.

In some ways, it will actually cost you more. By saying that, I am not trying to discourage you from visiting the valley but just setting a general expectation.

The overall cost of any trip can be broken down into four major categories – accommodation, food, travel cost, and personal expenses. This is how I will also break down the estimates I provide below.

Accommodation Cost in Kashmir

On average, you will spend about Rs. 2000 per day for your stay anywhere in Kashmir. This however will vary highly depending on the season of your trip. Let me give you an idea.

Srinagar

Srinagar has the widest range of hotels in Kashmir. It is also your best shot at finding budget accommodation in the valley. If you are on a very limited-budget trip, this is where you should plan on spending most of your nights.

In the offseason, you will be able to get a room for Rs. 800 to Rs. 1500. During the peak tourist season, in the months of January, February, April, May, and June, your minimum per day cost will range between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 for average hotels and Guest houses.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg is possibly the costliest place in all of Kashmir. During the months of late December, January, and February, do not be surprised if you are asked to pay as much as Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000 for very average hotels. At the minimum, they will ask you for Rs. 5000.

During the rest of the year, the average room rent in Gulmarg ranges between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4500. In July, August, and November, it could be a little lower than this.

Sonamarg

Sonamarg remains closed during the winter season. You may be able to get there by road but it will be extremely hard to find accommodation. Most of the hotels close their doors for the season after heavy snowfall in December.

During the rest of the year, you will pay between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 for an average hotel. If you are on a tight budget, you should go to the main Sonamarg market area. You will be able to get rooms for Rs. 800 to Rs. 1200 there.

Pahalgam

Much like Gulmarg, hotels in Pahalgam tend to overcharge during the winter season. In December, January, February, and early March, the average room rent can be as high as Rs. 7500 to Rs. 15000.

During the rest of the year though, the average accommodation cost in Pahalgam will range between Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2500. Luxurious hotels will of course charge much more than this.

Gurez Valley

The average accommodation cost in Gurez Valley will range between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4000. You cannot reach there by road in the winter season so this cost is for the rest of the year, from April to November.

The other tourist attractions like Aharbal Waterfall, Doodhpathri, and Yusmarg, have JKTDC cottages that charge around Rs. 2000 per day.

There are hotels near Drung Waterfall right now. You will have to look for a hotel in either Gulmarg or Tangmarg and that will cost you Rs. 2000 on average.

Now let us talk about the second biggest cost of a trip to Kashmir, the travel cost of moving from one place to another.

Travel Cost in Kashmir

I am not going to talk about the airline charges or fuel expenses. I am sure you can calculate this on your own depending on the cost of an airline ticket or the cost of Petrol or Diesel at the time of your trip. The fuel expense will also depend on the mileage of your vehicle.

But let me give you a breakdown of how much you will end up paying if you rent a private taxi or a motorcycle to explore Kashmir valley.

Private Taxi

on average, a private taxi from Srinagar to other destinations in Kashmir will cost you between Rs. 3000 to Rs. 4000 per day. This will depend on your destination of course.

For example, a prepaid taxi from Srinagar to Gulmarg will cost you about Rs. 2600 for a drop. For a return journey, a taxi fare from Srinagar to Gulmarg and back would come out to be Rs. 2,975.

A taxi from Srinagar to Pahalgam will cost you about Rs. 3000 for a drop and Rs. 4055 for a return journey. Sonamarg will cost you Rs. 3000 for a drop and Rs. 4055 for a return journey

Visiting Gurez Valley will be an expensive affair. If you take a rent a taxi from Srinagar to drop you in Dawar in Gurez, it will cost you Rs. 9600. For a return journey of 2 days, it will cost Rs. 16500.

Srinagar taxi drivers do not usually agree to go beyond Dawar due to bad roads. For that, you may have to rent a taxi from Dawar only. Either way, if you plan to go to Chakwali as well, be ready to shed another Rs. 5000 to Rs. 7500 extra.

This was just a brief summary covering major tourist destinations. For more details on this topic, please take a look at the Latest Srinagar Taxi Rates.

Renting a Bike

If a private taxi was not within the budget or if wanted your visit to be a bike trip, you can rent a motorcycle in Srinagar. For that, you can contact Faisal at 09596 410 670. Give him my reference and he will give you the best possible rate.

How much you will pay will depend on the bike you chose. But below are the most recent rates that can help you decide.

• Royal Enfield Himalayan
  Engine Size: 411CC
  Rental: Rs. 2,000 per day
• Royal Enfield
  Engine Size: 500CC
  Rental: Rs. 1,800 per day
• Royal Enfield
  Engine Size: 350CC
  Rental: Rs. 1,500 per day
• Bajaj Avenger
  Engine Size: 220CC
  Rental: Rs.1,300 per day
• Automatic Bike / Scooty / Aprilia
  Rental: Rs. 800 per day
• Other Bikes / Pulsar / XPulse
  Engine Size: 150CC to 200CC
  Rental: Rs.1,400 per day approximately

Public Transport

Public transport is definitely the most cost-effective way to travel not just in Kashmir but anywhere for that matter. It can be a little bit of a hassle but can help you save a lot of money.

The first thing that you should know is that public transport in Kashmir is not really that organized and regular. It will be very hard to find a JKSRTC bus and you will have to mostly rely on the mini-buses operated by the locals.

The other option, if you could not find a bus, is the shared cabs. The frequency of the shared cabs is much better than the buses but it will be hard to find a cab that can take you all the way to your destination.

Your per day commute cost, by buses and shared cabs, will be less than Rs. 300 per person. This will, of course, depend on the destination but this is the most amount that you will end up paying, irrespective of whether you were going to Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, or even Gurez.

How can you manage your trip by public transport? Well, that is an entirely different topic altogether. For this information, please take a look at this page How to Plan a Kashmir Trip by Public Transport.

Food Cost in Kashmir

There is not much to say here really because it all depends on where you eat and what you eat. There are several reasonably priced restaurants/dhabas in Kashmir.

On average, you will be spending a minimum of Rs. 600 – Rs.700 per person for meals daily. Keep in mind though that I am quoting this amount for very simple vegetarian meals.

If you want to try non-vegetarian, or Kashmir Wazwan in a good restaurant, then the per-meal cost per person will be around Rs. 600 to Rs. 700. If you eat the same kind of items twice a day, this will go up to Rs. 1200 to 1500.

Other Charges / Personal Expenses

Any other charges will depend on you completely and will be in addition to the numbers I quoted above as the minimum budget for a Kashmir trip. These could be shopping or any other personal expenditure that you will have total control over.

I should add here though that shopping in Kashmir will be a costly affair. The place is best known for its handicraft items, shawls, pashmina, carpets, and dry fruits. None of these is really a cheap item to buy.

A couple of tips that I can share are to limit your shopping in Kashmir to Srinagar only. You will have a good variety to choose from and a better chance at negotiating.

If possible, and if you know someone in Kashmir, have them take you to a shop that can offer you items at a reasonable price for items like shawls, woolen clothes, pashmina, etc.

Dry fruits and Saffron mostly come at a standard price all over Kashmir, only with a little change in price at different shops. So you can check the quality at a couple of stores and try to negotiate the price.

In places like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam, you will be approached by local hawkers trying to sell you pashmina. They will call themselves artists and will try hard to sell you something. My recommendation will be to avoid them and look for a reliable store in Srinagar.

Permit Cost in Kashmir

There are no permits needed in Kashmir that you have to pay money for. Even for places like Gurez or some other sensitive regions where a permit may apply, there will be no cost associated with it.

That was really it. Those were the major cost factors that you would have to keep in mind while visiting Kashmir. Now let me explain this a little more with the help of an itinerary. Please do keep in mind though that these are the cost estimates at the time of writing this article and will definitely change in the future.

I am going to use a most common itinerary for example. If there were places that you wanted to visit but are not part of the travel plan below, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer.

How much will Kashmir Trip Cost?

For the sake of the itinerary, I am using Delhi as the starting point of this trip. If you were coming from a different city like Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, or anywhere else for that matter, you will have to calculate the cost of this day accordingly.

I am using Rs. 100 per liter as the fuel cost and 15 kilometers per liter for mileage, just as an example. For accommodation costs, the numbers I am quoting below are the minimum amount you will spend.

Delhi to Jammu to Srinagar – Day 1 & 2

• Fuel Cost – Rs. 5500 by Car or Rs. 2500 by motorcycle
• Accommodation – Rs. 3000. This includes both Jammu and Srinagar.
• Rs. 5000 per person for the flight ticket. This applies if you are reaching Srinagar by air.
• Rs. 1200 for a private taxi if you take a drop from the airport to your hotel
• Rs. 2500 per person if you are thinking about reaching Srinagar by Bus or Train. This of course will be lower if you are hopping on state buses.
• A minimum of Rs. 1500 per person for meals and other expenses

Srinagar Local Sightseeing – Day 3

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi – Rs. 2500 for sightseeing in the city
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Sightseeing in Srinagar by public transport will be extremely tough. But if you want to do that, it will cost around Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 per person.
• Shikara Ride will cost about Rs. 1200
• Rs. 800 approximate fuel cost for driving around in the city

Srinagar to Gulmarg – Day 4

• Accommodation in Gulmarg – Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 minimum. Up to Rs. 10,000 in the winter season
• Private Taxi to Gulmarg – Rs. 2600 for the rest of the year, Rs. 5000 in the winter season
• Gondola Ride Cost – Rs. 1600 per person
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Any other expenses like hiring a guide, ATV ride, sled riding, and pony riding will be in addition to this cost. This will entirely depend on your negotiation skills but if you want to do this, add another Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 per person to the cost.
• Rs. 200 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 600 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Gulmarg to Srinagar – Day 5

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi – Rs. 2600 for the rest of the year, Rs. 5000 in the winter season
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 200 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 600 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Gulmarg to Pahalgam – Day 6

• Accommodation in Pahalgam – Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500 minimum. Up to Rs. 10,000 in the winter season
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for Srinagar to Pahalgam Drop
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for local sightseeing in Pahalgam
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Ponies to Baisaran will cost Rs. 1500 per person in summer and Rs. 3500 per person in winter
• Rs. 200 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 700 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Pahalgam to Srinagar – Day 7

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for a drop to Srinagar
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 200 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 700 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Srinagar to Sonamarg – Day 8

• Accommodation in Sonamarg – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for a drop to Sonamarg
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Pony for Thajiwas Glacier – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 per pony
• Taxi for Zojila Pass – Rs. 5000
• Rs. 200 per person if you want to travel by public transport. Public transport for Zojila Pass will be very tough and time-consuming
• Rs. 700 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Sonamarg to Srinagar – Day 9

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for a drop to Srinagar
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 200 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 700 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Aharbal Day Trip – Day 10

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 4500 for a drop to round trip to Aharbal
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 300 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 800 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Yusmarg Day Trip – Day 11

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for a round trip to Yusmarg
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 300 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 800 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Doodhpathri Day Trip – Day 12

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 3000 for a round trip to Doodhpathri
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 300 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 800 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Srinagar to Gurez Valley – Day 13

• Accommodation in Dawar – Rs. 2500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 9000 for a drop to Gurez Valley
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 300 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 1000 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Gurez Valley – Day 14

• Accommodation in Dawar – Rs. 2500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 5000 for a round trip to Chakwali
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• You cannot travel by public transport in Gurez Valley because there is none available.
• Rs. 1000 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Gurez Valley to Srinagar – Day 15

• Accommodation in Srinagar – Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1500 minimum
• Private Taxi: Rs. 9000 for a drop to Srinagar
• Meals & Other Expenses – Minimum Rs. 1000 per person
• Rs. 300 per person if you want to travel by public transport
• Rs. 1000 approximate fuel cost if traveling in your own car

Please do not take these as absolute numbers. This was just a rough cost estimate to give you an idea. The itinerary can be changed in numerous other ways but this should give you an idea of how much you will end up spending during your Kashmir trip.

If you rented a taxi for the entire duration of the trip, it will cost you much less than renting a taxi every day for your journey. This is why I said initially that giving an exact cost of the trip is nearly impossible unless you were buying a package from a tour organizer.

Now last but not least, let me give some rough cost estimates, an overall number around how much a Kashmir trip usually costs. This is more like an overall journey when you hire one taxi, book the same hotel, and visit the primary tourist attractions. This does not include any of your personal expenses though.

You can speak with Kunal @ 9910 402 252 for organizing your trip. He has some good contacts in the valley and should be able to get you a good deal.

Kashmir Trip cost for Couple

Depending on the kind of hotels you want to stay at, and places you want to visit, a couple-trip to Kashmir usually costs between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000.

Kashmir Trip cost for Family

If you are a family of about 4 to 5 people and do not want to stay at costly luxury hotels, a trip to Kashmir for 6 to 7 days will cost between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000.

Kashmir Trip Cost per Person

A trip to Kashmir will cost about Rs. 12000 – 15000 per person.

Conclusion

I hope the information above related to the Kashmir trip cost was of help. If there was a specific question that you were not able to find an answer to, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.