Gulmarg Powder Weeks
By now you've heard about the intrigue of Kashmir and the amazing backcountry skiing or snowboarding off the gondola at
Gulmarg and you can explore it with Kashmir locals. Gulmarg Powder Guides provide amazing backcountry tours and quality hotels in Gulmarg in Kashmir. They will introduce you to the finest snow and make it an unforgettable skiing /snowboarding adventure.
Packages include hotel accommodation (3 standards / budgets to choose from), guided backcountry skiing, airport transfers, powder skis rentals, use of avalanche safety gear, helicopter support, breakfast & dinners, plus unforgettable impressions at a very unique place.
Gulmarg Powder Guides is owned and operated by local professionals in the ski industry. They have direct contacts to hotels and houseboats so packages can be tailored to whatever you require.
Send a request here for further information>>
You can join a group as a solo or as a couple/small group with your own private guide. Groups are normally min 2 guests. Plus you can start your tour any day of the week from Jan 10 to March 10. This sample package is based on 7 days however it can be extended or you may even choose to add in a day or more of
heli skiing from Gulmarg.
Terrain & Ability
The skiable terrain in Gulmarg is all off-piste & backcountry. There are a couple of groomed trails however these are primarily for access back to the lifts. The terrain is incredible with runs of up 4 km long with as much as 1,700m of vertical from the top of the lifted area (just under 4,000m) with a taxi pickup below the bottom of the lift. With some hiking it is possible to climb to 4,300m!
There are huge alpine bowls, steep chutes and magnificent old growth forests to ski in. See more on the
Gulmarg skiing terrain here.
These tours are suited to advanced skiers and riders who are comfortable on any type of snow, up to uber experts. About 50% of the terrain requires some touring so you also need to be reasonably fit, but at least the gondola does a lot of the uphill work, and for some drops down to villages, a taxi back up to the Gulmarg Resort also provides some ascent.
Best Gear
To enjoy this incredible area, powder skis are a must. They will enable you to ski through a wide variety of snow conditions, faster, easier and more safely.
You can bring your own gear if you prefer but these packages with Gulmarg Powder Guides include powder ski rentals (including touring skis) and avalanche safety gear (with ARB airbag backpacks).
All snowboards have a wide base which allows them to perform very well in off piste conditions and deep powder snow. Gulmarg Powder Guides recommend you use the snowboard that you normally use. A limited assortment of snowboards are available for use but these are limited so best to bring your own. If you don’t want to bring your own, you can enquire regarding the board and size you’re looking for and the guides will check to see if your needs can be met.
In addition to powder skis and powder snowboards you will require avalanche safety gear including a beacon, shovel, probe and backpack as a minimum. This is also supplied as part of the package price including an ABS-Backpack. The guides will check your knowledge and skills in handling the gear.
If you have any questions about equipment please
make a booking request.
Other Information
Weather
The weather in the Gulmarg Kashmir Himalayas can be unpredictable. Every morning Billa and his lead guides check the snow conditions and talk to the avalanche control office in Gulmarg and maintain direct radio communication with the Gulmarg Ski Patrol. Local Gulmarg ski guides and ski patrol share information on the snowpack and conditions which help to choose the safest and best terrain each day.
Transfers
The package includes airport transfers to and from Srinagar airport (approximately a 1 – 1.5 hour drive depending on the snow conditions). Information regarding flights to Srinagar can be found on the
Gulmarg travel page.
Drinks and food
In Gulmarg you can drink the water from the tap as it comes directly from the Himalayan mountains. When you're in Srinagar, you should only drink bottled mineral water.
Unlike in other parts of India, the Kashmiris have always been big meat eaters (lamb, goat and chicken). In Kashmir the cow is not holy in comparison to the rest of India so beef is also available.
Kashmiri cuisine is famous for its inclusion of exotic spices such as saffron, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom etc. The routine cooking process in Kashmir is a combination of vegetables and meat in the same type of dish. Vegetarian meals are also available everywhere in Gulmarg.
Be aware when visiting roadside eateries or food stalls to check their cleanliness and hygiene so as not to get ill. Here are more
travel tips for Gulmarg.
Visa and documents
For Kashmir you only need the normal Indian tourist visa which you would apply for at home, before your trip. There's no ability to apply for the visa at the airport. Photocopies of your passport, including the visa page, should be kept separately from your original passport, as well as a copy of your airline ticket. E-mailing scans of all the above mentioned documents is a very smart way of having them ready if you need them.
Vaccination
Kashmir doesn’t require any particular vaccinations, unless you stayed for more than six days in a fever affected area or longer then six months. Being vaccinated against hepatitis is always advisable no matter where your journey leads you to in this world. It is also advisable that you carry any medications that you might need in case of any emergency.
