Warwan Valley Trek

Drive: 185 km, 7-8 hrs Altitude: 5,200 ft (1,585 m) – 10,700 ft (3,261 m) You will start early in the morning from Srinagar and drive to Panikhar, which is located at a distance of around 220 km, approximately taking 8 to 9 hours to reach Panikhar. Initially, the drive will take you to Sonamarg along the beautiful view of the Indus River. Then, from Sonamarg, you proceed to Zoji La Pass, situated at an altitude of around 3,528 meters. After crossing the pass, you will pass through Dras and Kargil. If you want to purchase something, then Kargil is the last place where you can buy your essential items. After the drive, you will reach your destination, Panikhar.

Trek: 12-13 km, 8 hrs Altitude: 10,700 ft (3,261 m) – 12,375 ft (3,772 m) Accommodation: Camping (Alpine Tents) Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner After breakfast, you will start trekking towards Denora, located at an altitude of around 11,200 feet above sea level. The trek mostly follows the alongside of the river, involving a gradual ascent through meadows and forests, providing stunning views of the surrounding mountains. You will cover a distance of around 13 km and reach Denora by late afternoon. Before reaching the campsite, you have to cross the stream. The campsite is near the river, surrounded by a wide range of mountains and meadows.

Trek: 3 km, 2-3 hrs Altitude: 12,375 ft (3,772 m) – 12,850 ft (3,917 m) Accommodation: Camping (Alpine Tents) Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner The trek starts with crossing streams; take off your shoes and be ready for the cold water, which numbs your feet. The trek involves crossing the 14,100 feet Marpo La Pass, offering stunning views of the surrounding peaks. You will descend through a beautiful valley and reach the campsite at Kalahari, located at an altitude of around 12,800 feet above sea level. Today’s distance is shorter than the other days; you can take an acclimatization walk to the glacial lake.

Trek: 17 km, 12-13 hrs Altitude: 12,850 ft (3,917 m) – 14,500 ft (4,420 m) – 11,550 ft (3,520 m) Accommodation: Camping Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner Start your day with the beauty of mountains and enjoy breakfast. Begin your trek, following moderate to difficult trails with narrow ridges, long moraine sections, and steep descents. The trail starts at the Kalapari campsite and consists of asymmetrical boulders and moraines. The trek involves crossing the 14,500 feet Kalichik La Pass, offering stunning views of the Nun and Kun peaks. Descend through a beautiful valley and reach the campsite at Kaintal.

Trek: 17 km, 8 hrs Altitude: 11,550 ft (3,520 m) – 11,120 ft (3,389 m) Accommodation: Camping (Alpine Tents) Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner The trek starts with a continuous ascent and descent alongside the river, opening up the beautiful landscape of the Warwan Valley. You will cross several small streams and reach the campsite at Sukhnai, located at an altitude of around 11,400 feet above sea level.

Trek: 14 km, 8 hrs Altitude: 11,120 ft (3,389 m) – 9,320 ft (2,841 m) Accommodation: Camping (Alpine Tents) Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner The trek leads towards Sukhnai Valley, a beautiful area with lots of plant species, The trail starts with an ascent and a 4-hour descent, then continues to the junction where a river merges with Kaintal Nala, leading to Sheeshnag Lake The trail continues through the exotic Warwan Valley, crossing overhangings and gaining a stunning view of Sukhnai. The village takes 2 hours to reach, passing through farms.

Trek: 16-17 km, 6-7 hrs Altitude: 9,320 ft (2,841 m) – 8,350 ft (2,545 m) Accommodation: Camping (Alpine Tents) Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner Start your last day of the Warwan Valley trek with an eye-catching view of grasslands and the Marwah River. Today’s trek involves a gradual descent through the beautiful Warwan Valley. You will cross several small streams; the trail from Sukhnai to Bashmina is moderate compared to other days. After a couple of hours, you will see the beautiful Rekenwas village, where you can meet local people and interact with them. The people of this village are very welcoming. Then, reach the campsite at Bashmina, located at an altitude of around 10,000 feet above sea level.

Drive: 155 km, 7-8 hrs Altitude: 8,350 ft (2,545 m) – 5,200 ft (1,585 m) Accommodation: Camping (Alpine Tents) Meals: Breakfast + Lunch + Evening Snacks + Dinner After breakfast, you will start your journey back to Srinagar. You will drive through the beautiful landscapes of the Warwan Valley and reach Srinagar by late afternoon. You will spend the night in a hotel in Srinagar.

This day is kept as a buffer day to accommodate any unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather or any other reasons that may cause delays in the trek

Ans: 1 The optimal time for embarking on the Warwan Valley trek is from the second week of July to the first week of September. Prior to July, traversing the Valley becomes exceedingly challenging due to the prevailing snow conditions both before the pass and on the glacier. The snow accumulation makes the route impassable, posing difficulties for trekkers. As the trek progresses into the first week of September, the weather starts to cool down, and there’s a possibility of heavy snowfall. This shift in weather conditions can further complicate the journey. Hence, it’s crucial to plan the trek during this specific window when the weather is relatively stable, and the trail is more manageable. However, venturing on this trek after September is not recommended. The weather becomes even colder compared to August and early September. Varglass becomes a rare occurrence, and crossing rivers becomes significantly more challenging. The streams become difficult to navigate, and the chilling temperatures can lead to an uncomfortable experience, with the risk of trekkers losing sensation in their feet while crossing rivers or streams. Therefore, it is advisable to plan the Warwan Valley trek within the recommended timeframe to ensure a safe and enjoyable adventure.

Ans: 2 Warwan Valley is located in the Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir.

Ans: 3 The trek typically spans 7 to 8 days, commencing from Panikhar and concluding at Basmina, covering a distance of approximately 78 km. Each day involves hiking distances of 10 to 12 km, taking around 6 to 7 hours to complete. Before planning this trip, you must consider one or two buffer days. These will help you reduce exhaustion, especially on days when you have to trek around 16 km.

Ans: 4 Warwan Valley trek is considered a moderate-to-challenge trek that unfolds across diverse landscapes, leading adventurers from the dry mountains of Kargil to the lush greeny high-altitude meadows of Kashmir. On day 3 of the trek, you will encounter a challenging hike where you need to cross a trail near a lake. This segment requires careful consideration due to loose rocks, a scree trail, moraines, and glacier walk. Exercise caution, especially with crevasses and the potential for avalanches originating from the nearby mountain during this third-day hike. For the rest of the days be careful while crossing streams.