Gulmarg Ski Resort

http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/India/Gulmarg/Overview/01.jpg
Gulmarg Kashmir
Gulmarg Kashmir
Ski Gulmarg India
Ski Gulmarg India
Amazing terrain accessible from the Gulmarg Ski Resort
Amazing terrain accessible from the Gulmarg Ski Resort
The legend of Bill
The legend of Bill's Trips Gulmarg
Gorgeous Gulmarg backcountry terrain
Gorgeous Gulmarg backcountry terrain
Lift accessed Gulmarg ski terrain
Lift accessed Gulmarg ski terrain
Skiing Gulmarg India
Skiing Gulmarg India
Snowboarding at Gulmarg above the tea houses
Snowboarding at Gulmarg above the tea houses
Ski Gulmarg in the Western Himalayan Mountains
Ski Gulmarg in the Western Himalayan Mountains
Having a Gulmarg guide is ideal to navigate the avalanche prone terrain
Having a Gulmarg guide is ideal to navigate the avalanche prone terrain
Gulmarg Ski Resort Kashmir
Gulmarg Ski Resort Kashmir
Visiting the kids in the Drang village
Visiting the kids in the Drang village
Gulmarg offers a fabulous cultural experience
Gulmarg offers a fabulous cultural experience
You can combine Gulmarg with some time in Srinagar on Dal Lake
You can combine Gulmarg with some time in Srinagar on Dal Lake
Skittles Rock: great Gulmarg views
Skittles Rock: great Gulmarg views
You can meet some of the locals
You can meet some of the locals
Cultural experiences Gulmarg
Cultural experiences Gulmarg
Skiing into a village
Skiing into a village
Dal Lake in Srinagar
Dal Lake in Srinagar
Would you like to go sledding?
Would you like to go sledding?

Gulmarg Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Gulmarg

Gulmarg3.5/514
Gulmarg3.5 out of 5 based on 14 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    93%

Gulmarg Ski Resort India

Think about Gulmarg in Kashmir if you’re a mad keen ski or snowboard enthusiast and you’ve chased face shots all over the globe, you’ve ticked off all the big mountain skiing in Europe, partied until dawn in the South America ski resorts, worn a snorkel whilst skiing in Japan in the cranium deep pow, nut-crackered your way through all of the New Zealand club fields, supped on all the USA action from Lake Tahoe to Colorado, and scorched the credit card whilst creaming your thermals in the deep snow that all of the Canada heli skiing & BC cat skiing operations have to offer. What’s a powder junky to do now?

You need a journey to a place that combines big mountain skiing, powder, backcountry, avalanches, men with guns, poverty, filth, driving chaos, random acts, culture, hawkers, Russians, beggars, colonialism, Ukrainians, monkeys, and culinary mysteries all into one?! Gulmarg Resort in Kashmir (the Indian part of Kashmir) is this place. One visit to Gulmarg India WILL give you stories that will be retold for the rest of your life without the need for embellishment.

Pros and Cons of Gulmarg Kashmir

Pros
  • The Gulmarg Gondola provides some fantastic in-bounds terrain for advanced to expert riders.
  • Outside the resort boundaries is a smorgasbord of amazing terrain for those who don’t mind putting in a bit of effort.
  • Gulmarg Kashmir is blessed with plenty of snow.
  • Gulmarg provides plenty of adventure packed experiences – it’s spicy.
  • You can add heli skiing with Kashmir Heliski to your Gulmarg adventures.
  • The cultural experiences are amazing, and you’ll enjoy sampling all the varied food offerings.
  • Gulmarg can easily be combined with some time in Srinagar to get the full cultural immersion, or Delhi or other parts of India.
Cons
  • Gulmarg is not well set up for international beginners, intermediates or families.
  • Communications are very limited in Kashmir. Your mobile phone from home won’t work, and the wifi goes at a snail’s pace, if at all.
  • Alcohol is not available in most of the restaurants and hotels.
  • Political unrest is commonplace in Kashmir, so you need to keep an eye on the goings-on.
  • The terrain has lots of avalanche prone slopes.
Pro or Con Depending On Your Perspective
  • Gulmarg is not a quick fix destination. It takes some commitment and time to travel there and then acclimatize.
  • The top of the Gulmarg Ski Resort is at dizzying heights and the altitude will probably slow you down for the first couple of days (especially in the bar!). At least you’ll be sleeping at only 2,700 metres, so altitude sickness is not usually a major concern for most.
  • Gulmarg Kashmir is not akin to well developed Aspen. Only a few runs are groomed and rather poorly, and the roads are not well cleared if at all. The power goes off frequently, but at least the good hotels have a back-up generator.
  • This is an adventure skiing and riding destination. Princesses need not apply and you’ll have to adjust to ish-time.

Gulmarg Ski Resort Terrain

Gulmarg Resort is a big ski hill that’s primarily serviced by two consecutive gondolas, and you are going to have to get the lungs going to make the most of it. The Gulmarg Gondola tops out at just shy of 4,000m and there’s more ski touring terrain on Mt Apharwat up to about 4,220 metres. Off the lifts, some of the bowls offer 1,330 metres of thigh-destroying vertical descent!

The amount of Gulmarg ski terrain feels virtually unlimited and includes alpine bowls, chutes, cornices, glade skiing amongst ancient pines, and glacier skiing without the glacier(!). That’s not to mention the epic ski journeys down to some of the local shrines and villages which add a whole new dimension to the terrain.

The Gulmarg skiing and snowboarding is suited to advanced and expert riders who enjoy off-piste backcountry terrain. There is a small amount of beginner and intermediate terrain that the Indian tourists enjoy, but Gulmarg Kashmir is definitely not the place for the average beginner or intermediate rider. Gulmarg is also best appreciated by those with a propensity for hiking and skinning, and laid-back riders who can cope with an “adventure”.

Gulmarg Guides & Gulmarg Ski Tours

Due the nature of the terrain, the avalanche risk, and the complexity of some of the exits, it is highly recommended to engage the services of a quality Gulmarg guide. There are many different guides available in Gulmarg and they include Australians, Americans, British, Kiwis and local Kashmiris. Most offer a variety of packages which in addition to guiding services tend to include all local transfers, accommodation, and some meals. Some operators will also provide access to snow safety equipment. See the Gulmarg ski tours for more information.

Where is Gulmarg Resort?

Gulmarg is located in Kashmir which is to the extreme north west of India. Whilst Indians call it part of India, Kashmiris definitely do not.

The top of the Gulmarg Gondola is located on Mt Apharwat, which is part of the Pir Panjal Range of the Western Himalayan Mountains.

The gateway airport for Gulmarg is Srinagar which is a couple of hours drive from Gulmarg. From the airport, tour operators provide transfers or independent travellers can catch a taxi. The journey is eye-popping to say the least! See our Gulmarg travel page for more information.

Gulmarg Hotels

Gulmarg hotels are a bit of a magical mystery tour. Choose your Gulmarg hotel poorly and you may suffer! Choose wisely – nirvana. All the basic facilities are available but remember that this is Kashmir, not Colorado, and the majority of the Gulmarg accommodation is not 5-star. See our Gulmarg hotels page for more information.

Why Snowboard or Ski Gulmarg?

Did I mention stories for the rest of your life without the need for embellishment?! The combination of the terrain, snow, culture, people and the weird and wonderful random acts make Gulmarg Resort a must do at least once while your heart’s still beating.

Gulmarg Ski Tours

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Kashmir Powder Hunter
GUIDED KASHMIR POWDER CHASER
10/15 Days | 9/14 Nights | 8/12 Days Skiing/Riding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Experience Gulmarg in Kashmir with WildSnow's experienced & qualified guides. Ski/ride some of the best terrain & snow on the planet & indulge in the local food & customs. Join a group on a 10 day or 15 day tour or get your own private group together for a customised private tour.
Price p/p From price is based on 10-day tour in twin-share room at 4-star hotel. Budget 2-star option also available.
base/invoice currency is in NZD
Displayed price might fluctuate slightly to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 2,439
View Details
 
Gulmarg Powder Week
GUIDED POWDER WEEKS
7 Nights | 6 Days GUIDED BC Skiing/Riding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Experience the incredible terrain, untracked powder, Kashmiri cuisine & culture with a guiding company that has operated in Gulmarg for many years. Standard packages are 7 days or extend to 10 days inclusive of guiding, most meals, lodging, lift tickets, avi gear rentals, ski rentals, transfers & more
Price p/p From price is per person for 7 night package twin-share
Invoice currency is Indian Rupees
Displayed prices may vary slightly to actual due to fluctuations in exchange rates
USD 1,562
View Details
 
Kashmir Powder Clinic
KASHMIR POWDER PROGRESSION TOUR
10/15 Days | 9/14 Nights | 8/12 Skiing/Riding
Ability: Intermediate to Advanced
Experience Gulmarg in Kashmir with WildSnow's experienced & qualified instructors whilst improving your powder skiing/riding skills plus indulge in the local food & customs. Join a group on a 10 day or 15 day tour or get your own private group together for a customised private tour.
Price p/p From price is based on 10-day tour in twin-share room at 4-star hotel. Budget 2-star option also available.
base/invoice currency is in NZD
Displayed price might fluctuate slightly to actual due to exchange rate fluctuations.
USD 2,897
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit Gulmarg here

Backcountry Skiing Tours

Bills Trips Gulmarg Tour
GUIDED OFF-PISTE & BC ADVENTURE
12 Nights | 10 Days of Guiding
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Experience the best of Gulmarg with Bill Barker. Premium offering with very experienced & highly qualified guides, low guest to guide ratio plus local tail guides, & stay in a charming deluxe hotel. Endless lines of fresh snow in the off-piste and backcountry. Join a fixed-date tour or enquire for a custom group tour
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share option for 2024.
Base/invoice currency is in AUD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 5,168
View Details
 
Gulmarg Powder Pilgrimage
GULMARG GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE
8 or 15 Days - 6 / 13 Days Skiing / Riding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Explore Gulmarg's famous 14k+ feet peaks & untracked terrain with Mahmood, Mushtaq and Paul, a guide team with decades of local guiding knowledge in Gulmarg in the Indian Himalaya. Accommodation to suit all budgets with durations from 8-15 days. Flexible arrival and departure dates.
Price p/p From price based on 8-day package in twin-share room at the 4-star Rosewood Hotel.
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,650
View Details
 
TAP Gulmarg Tour
GUIDED OFF-PISTE & BC ADVENTURE
10 Nights | 8 Days Skiing | Gulmarg, India
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Gulmarg has arguably the best lift-accessible side country in the world! This 10 night tour provides a solid 8 days of guided skiing & riding the best of the terrain in the best available snow on each day. Accommodation is at 4-star Rosewood Hotel and the tour includes a night on Dal Lake.
Price p/p Enquire for 2024 price
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
Enquire Enquire
View Details
 
See all Backcountry Skiing tours that visit Gulmarg here

Heli Skiing Tours

Kashmir Heliski Weeks
WEEK-LONG TRIPS
1, 3 or 6 Days Heli Skiing | 7 Nights Accom
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Kashmir is fascinating & these truly unique week-long heli skiing packages in Gulmarg can include 6 days, 3 days or 1 day of heli skiing. Non-heliski days include guided backcountry at the highly renowned Gulmarg plus 1 night on a Dal Lake houseboat to add to the cultural experience.
Price p/p Based on 3 day heliski package + 3 days backcountry guiding staying at the Hilltop in a shared room.
base/invoice currency is Indian Rupees
Displayed price may vary slightly from actual due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 4,500
View Details
 
Kashmir Heliski Day Package
DAY HELISKIING GULMARG
Choose from 5 or 9 runs
Ability: Advanced to Expert
If you'll be in Gulmarg you can add a single day or two of heli skiing with Kashmir Heliski to your itinerary.
Price p/p From price based on a 5 run heliski package with no lodging.
base/invoice currency is USD
Displayed price may vary slightly from actual due to exchange rate fluctuations
USD 750
View Details
 
See all Heli Skiing tours that visit Gulmarg here
200