The Great Lakes of Kashmir trail is considered a moderately challenging route. The multi-day camping trek involves covering a distance of about 70 Kms in 7 days (including one rest/buffer day), with an average trek duration of 6-7 hours daily. With 3 high-altitude Pass crossings, there is considerable altitude gain as well and requires proper acclimatization to be factored in the itinerary. The highest altitude reached on the route is 13750 ft above mean sea level.

The fairly long route coupled with average daily trek duration along with the altitude factor makes the KGL trek an adventure that should not be taken lightly or casually. It is ideal for hikers with prior trekking and camping experience but is also suitable even for the beginners or people who are just starting to trek, provided they have good physical fitness and have prepared well before the trek departure.

The best time to hike on this route is from the beginning of July to the middle of September. The reason being in all the other months, the high passes on the route are engulfed in snow which makes them difficult to cross. Depending on the snow conditions on the trail we may also open this as early as the later half of June which generally ensures much less crowd and more pristine conditions compared to the later months.

The temperatures on the trek range from 15-20 degrees Celsius during daytime and may drop to 4-8 degrees Celsius in the night. If it rains, it may feel colder and so one needs to be prepared in terms of clothing and gear. The months of July to September is when the summers in Kashmir transition to Autumn and Kashmir is at its most vibrant during this period, exhibiting a diverse range of landscapes and the best shades of green with colourful wildflowers all over. Although rains are generally unpredictable in the mountains, it is definitely expected on this trail during this season and afternoon showers are more common offering a good window to trek during the morning.

The Great Lakes of Kashmir is a gorgeous alpine trail that many people would like to experience. But one of the first questions that comes to their minds is that, is the Kashmir Great Lakes trek safe. Kashmir has indeed been a disturbed region for quite some time and disturbances, unrest and curfews have been common in the past. These have come down significantly and whenever nowadays a situation builds up, it is invariably far away from touristy places in distant towns and villages.

The kashmir Great Lakes trail starts from the famous Sonamarg area and goes deep into the remote mountains. The local economy and the residents there are heavily dependent on tourism and trekking and in their own interest always ensure complete safety for all travellers. The security is also heightened during the Amarnath Yatra times which coincide with KGL trek season. It is also important to note that the great lakes trail has multiple army camps and posts along the way. The alert army men do continuous and strict patrolling every day ensuring a safe passage for all trekkers every year. Thousands of trekkers have traversed this route so far and there has not been a single incident on this trail. The Kashmir Great Lakes trek is therefore completely safe and must be experienced by all nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts.