Itinerary

The following itinerary is a guide only as weather & snow conditions may ultimately determine the daily activities.

Day 1 (Arrival Day):

Welcome to the winter wonderland of Gulmarg, Kashmir, India! The friendly local team will make sure you feel at home from the moment you arrive at Srinagar airport. You will be whisked away to Tangmarg Village to stock up on supplies before embarking on a thrilling 4x4 ride with chains up to the snowy Gulmarg village. As you reach the hotel, be prepared for a warm welcome with a hot Kashmir tea, followed by meeting the knowledgeable guides for an introduction to your exciting ski adventure.

Day 2:

Let the ski adventure begin! After a hearty breakfast, you will begin the day with avalanche transceiver training and familiarisation at the top of Phase 1. The experienced guides will teach you the basics of avalanche safety, including how to use a transceiver, shovel, and probe. Safety is the guides' top priority, and they want you to feel comfortable and confident when skiing off-piste. After the training, the group will head out for a day of trail and tree skiing. You will have lunch at the mid-station area where there are a dozen little food and drink stalls. After lunch, the group will split into multiple groups so those wanting to go higher (chairlift) can head further up and check out some of the more open terrain. At the end of the day, there will be a warm kawa tea waiting at the hotel.

Day 3 - 13 on 15-day tour / day 3 - 8 on the 10-day tour:

Over the next 11 / 6 days, you will have the chance to further explore the mountain, whether you are skiing Phase 1 or 2 gondolas. You will be in a small group with a 1:4 ratio of ski guide to client, allowing for personalised pacing and challenge. It's all about exploring as you make your way through unforgettable gullies and ridges down and back to the bottom of the gondola. A few examples of daily outings include:

• Explore Drang Valley by way of one of the ridges accessed via the top phase 2 gondola. The group will start by skiing the ridgeline where your mind will be blown by the views of the Himalaya. About half of the run is in alpine bowls, with some skiing in the trees and beautiful open spaces on Drang spurs. You will end your ski down the valley, visiting Drang Village along the way, skiing through the roadless village where local Kashmiri people live. You will then ski across the bridge to be picked up by the included taxi back to Tangmarg, where you will stop off for a late lunch at Mushi and Mushtaq favourite restaurant (included in the WS package)
• Ski to the tiny village/shrine of Babareshi and have lunch at the local stalls at the outside tables. Most of the slopes are about 35+ degrees with some of the best tree skiing around. Those wanting to do more ‘Babareshi’ laps can take advantage of the ‘Wild Snow’ taxi ski touring service…. You can go all day! (included in the WS Package)
• Wildsnow has many more options for enhancing your daily outings, such as snowmobile skiing or ATV skiing in Doodhpathri (note these are at an extra cost)
• Skiing the top bowls of this mountain offers endless untracked turns with your name on it. You could ski from the top every day of the trip and never repeat a run, with some trails staying untracked for days after a fresh dump of snow. The skiing here is heli-ski like terrain, and the snow - it's hard to beat.

Day 14

After a good day skiing in the morning, you will be picked up from the hotel and taken to Lake Dal in Srinagar, where you will jump onto a shikara (a small boat) and be paddled to your floating accommodation, a houseboat on the lake. Sit with a cup of Kashmiri tea as the sun sets and listen to the evening prayer echoing across the lake before enjoying your final dinner of local cuisine. These houseboats were frequented by the British in the early 20th century and became popular in the 60s. They are intricately carved and a unique experience not to be missed!

Day 15:

Savour your last morning in India with a delicious breakfast on the houseboat before taking a shikara to the floating flower and vegetable market on the lake. Capture the early morning hustle and bustle of vendors assembling their boats for the day's sale and take home some authentic saffron as a souvenir. The team will then take you to Srinagar airport for your departure home.

*Daily ski run briefings – the guides are committed to providing the best ski experience possible, and should changes to the itinerary be required, the team will make sure to offer alternative adventures that are equally exciting. All decisions will be based on local ski patrol information and mountain conditions to ensure the safety of all on tour. Trust the guides to make sure your ski adventure is a memorable and thrilling experience.

Accommodation

Khaleel Hotel (4-Star Option)

This package includes 13 nights on the 15 day tour or 8 nights on the 10-day tour staying at the ski-in/ski-out Khaleel Hotel, which sits conveniently above the gondola, making it a breeze to access the first gondola and hit the slopes.

Run by a welcoming family, the Khaleel Hotel boasts a traditional and charming décor with mesmerizing views of the surrounding landscape and is a favourite spot for Mubasha to host foreign guests. Their staff love to share the local food and Kashmiri culture with visitors.

In addition, the Khaleel Hotel is the home of the weekly avalanche safety meetings, conducted by the local ski patrol. Attending this weekly gathering is a great way to meet other adventurous skiers and characters in Gulmarg.

Breakfast & dinner is included and is served each day at the hotel.

*Please note advertised rates are based on twin-share rooms. A single room upgrade may be possible subject to availability at the time of booking for an additional fee.

Saraha Hotel (2-Star Option)

If you are on a tight budget and want to save a bit on your accommodation, the Saraha Hotel has been selected to provide the best value for money. Please see rates for this option here.

House Boat – Srinagar (1 night)

In addition to your stay in Gulmarg, the package price includes 1 night on a House Boat in Srinagar. The Srinagar Houseboats on Dal Lake are a trip into the past. The boat has traditionally carved ‘everything’ and the lounge area has some crazy decoration. The rooms are bigger than you'd expect on a houseboat and each one has its own bathroom with hot water. They even have a fire box (bukhari) in each room to keep you cozy.

Breakfast and dinner are served in the dining room on one of the boats. You can get tea, coffee, and Kawa tea anytime, and there are even vendors cruising around on boats selling stuff. Arif, the owner, is a good friend with Angus and the Wildsnow crew and can hook you up with anything you need.

Rates, Inclusions & Add-Ons

2024 Rates

10-Day Tour	Twin-Share	Single Room	Powder Clinic
2-star	$3,499	$3,999	*+$750
4-star	$3,999	$4,699	*+$750
15-Day Tour	Twin Share	Single Room	Powder Clinic
2-star	$5,199	$5,799	*+$1,100
4-star	$5,799	$6,999	*+$1,100

Notes about rates:

• base/invoice currency is in NZD
• can accept payments in USD, EURO, Pounds, AUD. Exchange rate is at the time of booking
• *powder clinic is per person for instructor for duration of tour
• room / hotel types subject to availability at time of booking

Inclusions

• Twin-share accommodation at the 4-star Khaleel Hotel - (or 2-star Saraha - see rates)
• Daily breakfast & dinner at the hotel
• Daily guiding (max group 8) guide to client ratio 1:4
• All transfers / taxis / boats
• All lift tickets
• Srinagar house boat stay and boat ride

Add-ons

• Single rooms can be arranged for an additional fee - see rates table
• Ski rental available NZ$300
• Snowmobile skiing tour – from NZ$520 pp
• ATV Skiing Doodhpathri – from NZ$310 pp

Not Included

• Lunch – can be purchased on field (inexpensive)
• International flights to/from New Delhi
• Domestic flights to/from Srinagar - India Air flight 825 is ideal
• Insurance (travel & rescue)
• Bottled water & Snacks
• Ski equipment
• Tips

Wildsnow Terms & Condition

TOUR PAYMENT OPTIONS

Wild Snow Ltd provides a variety of payment options to make booking your next active travel adventure as easy and flexible as possible. Wild Snow accepts payments by direct credit and by major credit/debit cards* (including Visa, Mastercard ). The payment pathways are automatically sent or engaged on the shop platform.

Payment;

1. On acceptance of your Booking you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $100 NZD within 14 days of such confirmation.
2. An Invoice will be sent with payment links or pay the deposit via Bank Transfer, Direct Credit or CC
3. We accept all major currencies (and have accounts for Euro, USD, UK, AUD) via Transferwise, we can supply local accounts for all major currencies. To learn more about paying by direct credit in your own currency check TransferWise.com
4. Credit cards for deposit only. (If you are wanting to pay for all of your trip on credit card you will incur a 2.5% credit card fee - (we would prefer you didn't).
5. Payment of the remainder (Balance)of the price is due 90 days prior to departure. FX will be on the date of transfer of funds.
6. All prices are in New Zealand dollars ($NZD) but we are happy to lock in your exchange rate at the time of booking / payment.
7. Prices which are advertised or otherwise quoted in respect of your trip are subject to change prior to departure. Prices are only guaranteed upon payment of the total Price.
8. Please read the full T&C's of the tour for a full understanding. 

APPLYING TO YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH WILD SNOW LTD

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully to ensure that you understand our contract of engagement.  By paying us (Wild Snow Limited) your deposit, we understand that you have read and accepted the following conditions.

CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING & DEPOSITS

For bookings from all clients, we require a fixed amount (as per the booking or offer posted on the website) deposit to start processing your booking. No booking is confirmed until full payment is received.

Confirmation should be sent within 3-5 working days of receipt of your deposit.
All our prices (other than the deposit) are based on Bank Transfer / TT payment unless stated otherwise. If you wish to pay the balance of the price by credit card, please check with us first, as payment on Credit Card will incur a surcharge of 2.5% Visa/Mastercard (this is what we are charged)

Please note that a receipt will not be issued unless otherwise requested.

 CANCELLATIONS BY THE TRAVELLER

Any cancellations must be received in writing. Minimum fees are:

• Up to 60 days prior to departure – full deposit will be forfeited.
• Between 30 and 59 days of departure – 50% of total paid will apply.
• Within 30 days of departure – 100% of total paid will apply.
• Wild Snow Limited cannot be held responsible for snow conditions. Holidays cannot be cancelled or amended on the basis of snow conditions.

No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a tour for any reason after the tour has begun. Refunds will be at the discretion of Wild Snow Limited if you are involuntarily forced to leave a tour for any reason. No refunds will be given for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, service or any component of the tour not utilised. Please note these conditions apply to Wild Snow Limited land content only.

 CANCELLATIONS BY WILD SNOW LIMITED

Wild Snow Limited reserves the right to cancel any tour before it is confirmed to run. A tour is confirmed to run once it has reached the minimum participants required as defined by Wild Snow Limited. This applies to all tours. Wild Snow Limited reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, including a confirmed tour, due to circumstances beyond our control. If this occurs, you will be given the option of changing to another tour or receiving a full refund. Wild Snow Limited is not responsible for any incidental expense you have incurred as a result of your booking. If you choose and alternative tour and it is at a lower value than your original tour you will be refunded the difference. If the alternative tour is of a higher value, then you will pay the difference in price.

TOURS & ABILITY

Wild Snow Limited reserves the right to remove a client from any tour if he or she is of an ability not suited to that tour. No refund will be due for any unused portion of the tour. The client takes full responsibility for the self-categorisation of their ability based on the following guide: Ability Level Check (talk to us first if you don’t understand the categories)

 FINAL PAYMENTS

The Balance of Payment is due 90 days prior to your departure unless stated otherwise on your confirmation.

We require a direct bank transfer if paying within 3 months of departure date.

Please note that your booking is still totally subject to currency fluctuations and changes, and this regrettably is out of Wild Snow’s control.  So, until your travel package is fully paid, you are NOT safe guarded against surcharges due to currency decline.  To avoid any price change, we would recommend that you pay for your package within 7 days of this letter to safeguard yourself from any potential increase on your travel package in the future.

* Please CALL WILD SNOW  on the day you plan to make your final payment, as we may will need to recalculate your package on that day to reflect the current exchange rates *

Currencies have been quite volatile during the last 6 months, so there is the likelihood that adjustments are required *

RESPONSIBILITIES

Wild Snow Limited is a family run Tour operator.

We will not be liable in the event that you suffer loss, injury or disappointment by reason of any acts or failing of any Principal (such as an airline).

As a part of our booking conditions, all clients are required to sign our booking terms and conditions agreement document, thus where you agree not to take any action against Wild Snow Limited for the collapse of any Principal, or their failure to provide a service. In any such case, your remedy will lie with the Principal.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel Insurance is essential for an overseas holiday.

We offer to our clients Ripcord Travel Insurance, to include full Evacuation and rescue travel insurance. If you wish to take out a policy with us, you must return a completed application form.  Should we not receive this, WILD SNOW  cannot take responsibility for any claims refused due to inaccuracies of policies issued. If you elect to take out a different insurance policy please check that it includes cover for your requirements, as many policies do not.

Check your policy carefully!  Wild Snow Limited will not accept any responsibility for the failure of any insurance company to pay out on a claim. In the event of failure or collapse of a Principal or Operator, or that travel insurance does not accept your claim, by signing our booking Terms and Conditions form, or by forwarding us your deposit, you agree that no action will be taken against Wild Snow Limited\ for failure or collapse of a principal.

Please note: As a result of the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, insurance companies no longer cover the financial collapse of airlines or operators.

You agree not to hold Wild Snow Limited financially responsible should a Principal collapse and your travel insurance policy not cover you.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

In providing our advice as to price and availability of travel, accommodation and other services we are reliant on information supplied to us by providers and other third parties and therefore prices and availability may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday or travel arrangements. Accordingly, while we will use all reasonable endeavours to ensure the information on this site is as accurate and up to date as possible, we do not provide a warranty to that effect. You acknowledge that we have no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, currency or timeliness of price and availability of information.

LIABILITY

I acknowledge & understand that skiing & snowboarding are sports that are hazardous and have inherent risks of injury &/or death. I voluntarily agree to assume all risks of injury or death that may result to me from skiing or snowboarding. I hereby release Wild Snow Limited & their employees & agents of any obligation to advise me in relation to the dangers obvious or not, inherent in the sport. I accept that I will participate in such sport(s) of my own free will & never at the direction of Wild Snow Limited &/or their employees and agents. I voluntarily take full responsibility for any damage or injury to myself or which I may cause to others.

LAW AND JURISDICTION

New Zealand law shall govern all information services and travel provided through the site. You submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts in respect of the provision of services or travel hereunder