warwan valley - Srinagar 8 Night 9 Day

day 1: arrival/srinagar/panikhar 

after arriving on an early morning flight in srinagar, embark on a scenic drive to panikhar, experiencing the stunning beauty of kashmir. the journey through zojila pass, with its challenging switchbacks, offers breathtaking panoramic views and vast grasslands, making it an unforgettable experience.

descending from the pass, travel through dras and kargil, continuing alongside the indus river until you reach panikhar, a charming village that showcases zanskari tradition with its distinctive double-storeyed houses and personal fields.

arriving a day earlier helps with altitude acclimatization, as panikhar sits at 10,709 feet. take time to explore suru valley, where the barren mountains contrast beautifully with the lush valley below.

engage with panikhar’s unique culture—interact with locals, hear stories of their survival without vegetables in winter, and observe the flourishing summer crops. learn about the traditional practice of using the first floor for hay storage and a bunker system for vegetable preservation.

upon arrival, check into a homestay, enjoy a delicious dinner, and rest overnight, preparing for the adventures ahead.

day 2: trek from panikhar to denora 

after breakfast, follow the road past the sub-post office and mobile tower on your right, passing the village’s sheep husbandry until you reach panikhar nala or chalong nala, a sizable river.

walk along the road for about 10 minutes until you reach a bridge. cross the bridge and take a left, following the river upstream as the landscape transforms into a narrow valley.

a dirt track, formerly a trekking trail, now eases the walk. about 500 meters in, you'll reach a local authority check post, where you'll provide your details as a routine formality.

the trail ascends gradually along the dirt track, revealing barren mountains and the milky chalong nala merging with the suru river. towering cliffs and jagged ridges rise to your right.

after approximately 2.5 hours, you'll encounter a stream from the cliffs, your first drinking water source. more clear-water streams follow, leading to a lush green meadow called "doksa," perfect for resting and refilling water.

continuing on, the trail narrows to a broader walking track. after another half-hour, you'll glimpse two intersecting valleys. enjoy a packed lunch before the trail ascends a mound and crosses a stream via boulders.

further ahead, the scenery changes dramatically as the roaring chalong nala expands into a wide river basin, splitting into multiple forks and revealing lush grassy meadows.

welcome to denora, also known as sumdo, the confluence of two rivers. set up camp on the slightly higher grassy knolls for safety.

denora is an enchanting campsite, particularly in the evenings. avoid crossing the streams to kalapari in the evening when water levels rise. enjoy dinner and rest overnight in camps.

day 3: trek from denora to kalapari 

after breakfast, head left into the valley, staying to the right of the nala as it flows down, while watching for bakarwal settlements at the valley’s bottom.

ascend carefully to the right, being cautious of shepherd dogs. stream crossings, though not deep, are cold and time-consuming, so take breaks to warm your feet. the basin crossing takes about 30 minutes.

on the other side, follow the trail to the bakarwal huts, then climb a mound to the right, leading to beautiful flowery meadows. continue upwards to reach kalapari meadows, an ideal camping spot with clear brooks.

from kalapari, admire glacier-clad peaks and cascading waterfalls at the junction of two valleys. in the evening, consider an acclimatization walk to adjust to the altitude.

kalapari offers stunning views, and a four-hour climb to its summit is rewarding. the trail levels out, leading to a green lake fed by a blackish glacier. arrive in the early evening to witness breathtaking reflections.

consider using kalapari as a rest day before crossing the pass. the pass lies to the right, above a gravelly mound, currently out of sight from your campsite.

kalapari gets its name from the surrounding black rocks, signifying "black mountain" and showcasing its unique geological features. upon arrival, enjoy dinner and spend the night at the campsite.

day 4: trek from kalapari to kaintal via lomvilad pass 

after an early breakfast, begin your trek around 5 am, following the trail from your campsite through moraines and passing by a glacial lake.

ascend the moraines toward a valley opening that leads to the pass at 14,495 feet, offering breathtaking panoramic views.

descend onto snowfields, where you'll encounter a nearly frozen lake and a greyish glacier. stick to the left flank while crossing the glacier, being mindful of crevasses.

within half an hour, reach a ledge with a stunning view, then descend steeply to the bracken glacier. take a lunch break near the glacier before continuing your descent on the rocky terrain.

as you exit the glacier, navigate through rough moraines, passing by lakes and streams, making your way through the challenging landscape.

after tackling the tough terrain, you’ll finally reach the flat grassy meadows of the initial kaintal grasslands, marking the end of this demanding trek.

the beauty of these meadows makes the strenuous journey worthwhile. enjoy a well-deserved dinner and spend the night at the campsite.

day 5: trek from kaintal to humpet 

after breakfast, begin your trek by following the trail along the river’s edge, passing several gujjar huts to your left.

within minutes, cross a clear stream, the first of many on the way to humpet. beyond the stream, the trail opens into a vast river basin surrounded by lush green meadows, spanning roughly 2 km and taking about half an hour to traverse.

this grassland is a haven for freely grazing wild horses, a captivating sight. continuing past the grassland, cross another small stream before ascending a grassy hump, which offers a spectacular view.

the trail to humpet alternates between broad river basins, often adorned with meadows, and paths climbing over grassy humps. if a hump is too steep, take the alternative trail skirting its edge along the river for stunning views.

after roughly two hours and covering about 6 km, the trail descends into another enchanting grassy river basin, notable for its square-shaped rocks—an ideal spot for a brief rest.

as you climb another hump, you'll reach a cluster of gujjar huts at the summit. beyond the huts, watch for the pass opening of the bobban gully trail, a shorter but more challenging alternative route from denora, suitable only for trekkers.

descending from the hump leads to the expansive sar grasslands, often used as a campsite for those descending via the bobban gully route. expect 7-8 stream crossings, with two requiring you to wade through shallow waters.

continuing through the sar grassland, the trail curves widely northward, and the bracken glacier eventually disappears from view. the basins become shorter and more gravelly as you progress.

in the north, notice the convergence of two valleys, with humpet located at the left side of the intersection. it takes another two hours, involving three more basin crossings and skirting around humps, to reach humpet.

at humpet, the landscape transforms dramatically. across the river on the opposite bank lies thangkam, a small gujjar/bakarwal settlement.

the trail curves sharply westward, revealing the contrast between the snow-capped barren mountains of ladakh to the east and the lush green, snow-capped mountains of kashmir to the west.

humpet consists of multi-tiered grasslands, with one ledge featuring a clear stream—an ideal campsite offering views of thangkam, the kaintal river basin, and humpet’s picturesque meadows. end the day with dinner and spend the night at the campsite, possibly spotting marmots near their burrows.

day 6: trek from humpet to sukhnai 

after breakfast, begin your trek through two valleys, leading to well-preserved grasslands and the charming sukhnai village.

start by ascending the mounds behind humpet, offering splendid vistas of gujjar huts and a valley adorned with silver birch trees.

descend into the valley, following a narrow trail that closely hugs the edge and includes a crossing over a small waterfall, providing an opportunity for water refilling.

upon reaching the junction of the valleys, enter the warwan valley, heading in a southerly direction.

continue descending along the valley’s edge, often encountering steep drops leading to the river below. a wooden bridge along the path may be in disrepair, so exercise caution while crossing.

proceed downstream, keeping to the right side of the river, navigating overhangs and rocky sections with care.

as you spot sukhnai mound in the distance, the trail gradually widens, guiding you to a picturesque grassy mound and eventually to the welcoming sukhnai village.

descend further to find suitable camping grounds and explore the village’s stunning surroundings, reminiscent of a gaul village.

follow the trail to the river’s edge, cross the bridge, and set up camp near adjacent grasslands and a nearby stream. end the day with dinner and an overnight stay at the campsite.

day 7: trek from sukhnai to chaudraiman 

after breakfast, start your trail, which becomes exceptionally scenic, leading through a picturesque valley with sprawling grasslands, farms, and charming villages every 5-6 km.

these villages exude a rustic charm, seemingly frozen in time, making an early morning start essential.

if you've camped near sukhnai, you’ll need to cross two streams, possibly requiring you to remove your shoes.

the trail meanders through stunning pastures, offering glimpses of rekenwas village across the marwah river.

after an hour, you’ll encounter a wooden bridge leading to rekenwas, perched atop a hillside and emitting the delightful aroma of pine and wooden houses.

as you continue, traverse lush ferns and vibrant pastures, passing barn houses near gumbar village, where villagers riding horses add to the fairytale-like scenery.

the trail gently climbs a small mound before descending toward margi village.

upon approaching margi, cross a wooden bridge over a picturesque stream, followed by another stream with clean drinking water. beyond this, the trail splits.

one path leads into margi village, while the right trail crosses another wooden bridge over the marwah river. after crossing, turn left and join the main trail opposite margi.

with marwah on your left and basmina village in sight, trek for an hour, then cross a wooden bridge into basmina, where friendly villagers may inquire about your trek.

to continue towards chaudraiman, trek through basmina for ten minutes, enjoying scenic farms and picket fences, with the 6 km stretch taking about 1.5 hours.

at chaudraiman, you can end your trek, having completed 84 km, or continue for another 6 km to inshan, reaching a total of 90 km, before concluding with dinner and an overnight stay at the campsite.

day 8: drive from inshan to srinagar 

after breakfast, depart from inshan to srinagar, anticipating a late-night arrival due to the rugged roads and lack of infrastructure.

despite the bumpy ride, relish the scenic landscapes along the way.

keep an eye out for the margan pass, a picturesque route linking the warwan valley with anantnag.

upon arrival in srinagar, check into the hotel.

conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

day 9: srinagar / departure 

after breakfast, check out from the hotel and depart to the airport.

catch the flight for your onward journey.