Your Kashmir questions, answered.

While we're naturally biased, Star Gaze Heavens has been a trusted name in Kashmir tourism for over a decade. Based right in Srinagar at Taploo Complex, Soura, our team has deep local roots — we know every valley, every back-road and every reliable hotel/houseboat owner.

What sets us apart from re-sellers and big OTAs:

• We're locally owned and operated — not a website running out of another city
• Transparent itemised pricing — no surprise mark-ups
• Direct relationships with hotels, houseboats and drivers (no middleman commissions)
• 24×7 WhatsApp support during your trip — talk to a real human, not a chatbot
• 4.9 ★ rating from over 5,000 happy travellers

Kashmir tour packages vary widely based on duration, accommodation category, season, and group size. As a rough guide for our most-booked trips (per person, on twin sharing):

• Kashmir 3N/4D (Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam): from ₹15,000 – ₹35,000 depending on hotel tier
• Kashmir Honeymoon 4N/5D: from ₹22,000 – ₹55,000 (luxury houseboat & boutique stays)
• Amarnath Yatra 2N/3D: from ₹12,000 – ₹25,000 (excluding helicopter & registration fees)
• Vaishno Devi 7N/8D: from ₹35,000 – ₹70,000 (with Kashmir extension)
• Leh-Ladakh 9N/10D: from ₹40,000 – ₹85,000

Peak season (May–July, Dec–Jan) is around 20–30% higher than off-season. Send us your dates for an exact quote — usually returned within 4 hours.

Kashmir has four very distinct seasons — there's no single "best" time. It depends on what you want to see and do:

• March–May (Spring): Tulip Garden bloom (late March to mid-April), pleasant weather, cherry blossoms. Ideal for first-time visitors and honeymoons.
• June–August (Summer): Lush green meadows, perfect weather (15–30°C), open Sonamarg-Leh road. Best for families and Amarnath Yatra.
• September–November (Autumn): Famous chinar leaves turn red/gold, fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures. Photographers' favourite season.
• December–February (Winter): Heavy snowfall in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Best for skiing, snow play and dreamy snow-covered houseboats.

If you want to see Kashmir in snow, plan for late December to mid-February. For everything else, May to October is the sweet spot.

Yes — we run both standalone Leh-Ladakh packages and combined Kashmir + Ladakh circuits. The Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road (NH-1) is one of the most spectacular drives in the world, and we've been running this route for travellers since 2014.

Most travellers do a 9–11 day Kashmir + Ladakh combo covering:

• Srinagar (2–3 nights) — Dal Lake, Mughal gardens, houseboat
• Sonamarg + Kargil (1 night)
• Leh (2 nights) — acclimatisation + Leh palace, monasteries
• Pangong Lake (1 night)
• Nubra Valley (1 night) — Khardung La pass, sand dunes, camels
• Back to Leh and fly home

Ladakh is best between June and September when the high passes are open.

Yes — Kashmir is safe for tourists, including solo travellers, women and families. Tourism has been growing year after year and the government, military and local people all play an active role in keeping visitors safe.

That said, a few practical tips:

• Stick to known routes and avoid wandering off the tourist trail without a local guide
• Carry a valid government ID (Aadhaar / Passport) at all times — there are routine checkpoints
• Don't engage in or photograph political activity or protests
• Respect local culture — modest dress is appreciated, especially around religious sites
• Internet connectivity can be patchy in remote areas — keep offline maps handy

Our drivers and guides are all locals and act as informal safety net throughout your trip. We provide 24×7 WhatsApp/phone support, and we've never had a serious safety incident in over a decade of operations.

Absolutely — in fact, that's how most of our travellers book. The packages on our website are just starting points. Every trip we run is custom-shaped around the traveller's interests, pace, budget and group composition.

Common customisations we handle every week:

• Adding Sonamarg / Yousmarg / Doodhpathri as day trips
• Upgrading from standard hotels to luxury houseboats or 5-star properties
• Including helicopter rides (Vaishno Devi, Amarnath, Gulmarg)
• Combining Kashmir with Ladakh, Amritsar or Vaishno Devi
• Adding activities — skiing, river rafting, paragliding, golf, fishing
• Extending or shortening the duration

Just send us your wishlist — we'll come back with a fully customised quote within 4 hours.

Most travellers fly directly to Srinagar International Airport (SXR). Direct flights operate from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jammu, Leh and Goa. Flight time from Delhi is around 1.5 hours.

Other ways to reach:

• By train: Closest railway station is Jammu Tawi (~270 km from Srinagar, scenic 7–8 hour drive)
• By road: NH-44 connects Jammu to Srinagar via the scenic Banihal pass / Qazigund tunnel
• For Ladakh: Direct flights to Leh from Delhi, or via Srinagar by road in summer

We arrange airport pickup as part of every package — your driver will be holding a Star Gaze Heavens placard when you exit.

Houseboats are floating traditional cedarwood homes moored along the shores of Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake — a unique Kashmiri experience dating back to the British era. Staying on one is one of the most iconic things you can do in Kashmir.

What to expect:

• Beautifully carved walnut wood interiors, persian carpets, traditional Kashmiri decor
• 2–6 bedrooms, attached bathrooms, sit-out deck overlooking the lake
• Home-cooked Kashmiri meals served on board (Wazwan, Rogan Josh, Yakhni)
• Categories from "Deluxe" to "Heritage" / "Platinum" — varying levels of luxury
• Sunset and sunrise views you'll remember forever

Yes, it's worth it — we'd recommend at least one night on a houseboat in any Kashmir trip. We've vetted every houseboat we book; all have proper waste management and meet hygiene standards.

Yes — Amarnath Yatra registration is mandatory and we assist every yatri end-to-end. Here's how it works:

• Registration: Done through the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB). Requires a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) from an authorised doctor.
• Routes: Two options — Pahalgam (longer, 32 km, gentler) or Baltal (shorter, 14 km, steeper). Helicopter is also available from both base camps.
• Season: Only July to August (specific dates announced by SASB each year)
• Our role: We coordinate registration, base camp stays, transport, pony/palki arrangements, helicopter bookings (if requested), and provide an on-ground coordinator.

Please reach out at least 30 days before your travel date so registration is comfortably done. Yatra slots fill up fast in season.

Our booking and cancellation policy is straightforward:

To confirm a booking:

• 30% advance to confirm hotel & transport bookings
• Balance 70% payable 7 days before arrival
• Online transfer / UPI / credit card (Razorpay / Stripe gateway)

Cancellation refunds:

• 30+ days before travel: 90% refund
• 15–29 days before travel: 50% refund
• 7–14 days before travel: 25% refund
• Less than 7 days: No refund (we've already paid hotels/drivers)
• Force majeure events (natural disasters, govt restrictions): credit note for future travel, no cash refund

See our Terms & Conditions for the complete policy.

Yes — we offer individual services if you don't need a full package:

• Hotel & houseboat bookings only — across all categories
• Cab rentals — sedan, SUV, Tempo Traveller with experienced drivers (per day or per route)
• Day trips & sightseeing — Gulmarg day trip, Pahalgam day trip, Mughal gardens tour, etc.
• Activity bookings — gondola tickets, shikara rides, river rafting, skiing courses
• Airport transfers only

WhatsApp or call us with what you need and we'll quote — usually within an hour.

Packing depends on the season, but here are the essentials:

Summer (Apr–Sep):

• Light woollens for evenings (it's still 12–18°C at night)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sunglasses, sunscreen (the sun is strong even at altitude)
• Light rain jacket (monsoon spillover)

Winter (Nov–Mar):

• Heavy woollens, thermals, gloves, beanie, woollen socks
• Waterproof snow boots (or rent in Gulmarg)
• Heavy down jacket or pheran (traditional Kashmiri overcoat — beautiful & warm)
• Lip balm and moisturiser (the dry cold cracks skin)

Universal essentials: government ID (mandatory), prescription medication, power bank (signal can be patchy), and a small backpack for day trips. Don't worry about formal wear — Kashmir is relaxed.