Alpather Lake Trek: Route, Best Time and Tips

About 2 km each way from the Gulmarg Gondola Phase 2 station on Apharwat. Official tourism pages put it at 1.5 to 2 km, and phone trackers often log nearer 3 km because the line zigzags over boulders. If you skip the Gondola and hike from Gulmarg via Khilanmarg, it is about 13 km one way and a 12 to 14 hour day. For the road journey from Srinagar, see how to reach Alpather Lake.

From the Phase 2 station, plan 2 to 3 hours return: about an hour up over the boulders, 30 to 45 minutes at the lake, and an hour back. Add 30 minutes for each Gondola leg and queues. The full hike from Gulmarg takes 12 to 14 hours return, so walkers start around 5 am to finish in daylight.

Not all the way. The Gondola takes you to Apharwat (Phase 2) at about 13,000 ft, and the lake is a 2 km walk from there over rock and snow patches. There is no cable car, road or vehicle to the lake itself. The Army road from Botapathri is closed to civilians.

Usually from July to September. The ice starts breaking up in April and May, floes stay into June, and the lake starts freezing again from late October or November. August is the month with the fullest open water. From December to March it is buried under snow on what becomes a ski slope.

In July to September a fit, careful walker can follow other trekkers from Phase 2, but a guide is still worth it because there is no marked path and cloud can hide the route in minutes. From April to June, when snow covers the boulders, a guide is essential. Guides quoted Rs 1,200 to 2,500 per group in 2024. Agree the price first.

No separate permit is needed for the lake. You need a valid Gondola ticket and original photo ID. Because the lake is close to the Line of Control, the Army can stop access at short notice. Follow checkpoint instructions and do not photograph military posts.