Tarsar Marsar Trek: Explore the Breathtaking Alpine Meadows

Reason For Doing The Tarsar Marsar Trek

With this excellent trek in Kashmir, you will get to experience the real beauty of turquoise-blue lakes amidst the blooming meadows. The three alpine lakes, Tarsar, Marsar, and Sundarsar, will leave you amazed with their surreal beauty. While trekking here you will also get a chance to see Shepherd and Bakarwal herding their sheep. With the Tarsar Marsar trek, you will get a chance to learn about the lifestyle of the local tribe living in the forest. Additionally, you will see the Gujar huts in these forests.

Admire the beauty of the Lidder River, flowing through the rocks creating a picturesque backdrop. The river crossing part will give your trek an adventurous touch. Watch the colorful hills in July and capture this scenic beauty in your memory for a lifetime. The colors of these hills change according to the season. Therefore, the magnificence of this area is one of the prime reasons to do the Tarsar Marsar trek.

Best Time For The Tarsar Marsar Trek

Along with other top things to do in Kashmir, between July to September is the ideal time for the Tarsar Marsar trek. In July, there are chances that you might see some snow as Kashmir does not receive heavy rainfall. During this time the snow melts into the lake, enhancing the beauty. Monsoon is the best time for this trek, during this time the meadows are in full bloom and you will have stunning views of lush greenery with snow at higher altitudes. You might not get to see blooming flowers and greenery during July but the other three months are filled with colours.

How Challenging is The Tarsar Marsar Trek?

The total elevation you will achieve during this trek is about 4,000 m, making the a moderate-level trek. This rating is given to this trek because of its duration, the trekking days are very long. The entire trek route is easy except for the climb to Tarsar Pass, which is a steep climb. This trek is more challenging than other moderate-level treks like the Dayara Bugyal and Kedarkantha trek. You need to be physically fit. It is advised to start preparing for the trek around 4 weeks before the start date.

Tarsar Marsar Trek Itineray

Day 1: Reach The Starting Point Of Trek (Aru Located at the Height of 2,450 m)

Today you will head toward the starting point of the Tarsar Marsar Trek, which is Aru located at a height of about 2,450 m. From Dal Lake Gate number 1 this will be a journey of 2 hours and the total distance which you will cover today is 103 kilometers. During this journey, you will drive through scenic roads passing through Kashmir’s famous tourist destination. Stay in camps at Aru.

Day 2: Aru to Lidderwat at the Height of 2,750 m

Start your trek from the Aru Campsite, at the start, this will be a continuous climb for 2-3 hours and the trails will take you through beautiful pine forests. Walk along the Lidder River and enjoy some hot Tea at the tea stall. After trekking for 1 hour you will get to see the Lidder River rest house. To get to the campsite you will have to cross a bridge as it is situated on the other side of the river.

Day 3: Trek From Lidderwat to Sekhwas Located at the Height of 3,400 m

Today you will start this trek with a moderate and steep ascent for around 1 hour. After this, you can have your packed lunch by the stream and begin ascending continuously for 1 hour. After this long trek, you will reach Sekhwas at a height of 3,400 m. This point of the trek offers stunning views of surrounding peaks and the trekking path of Tarsar Lake. You can visit the Jadar Lake located just 1 hour hike away from the Sekhwas campsite. Head back to Sekhwas and retire for the day.

Day 4: For the Campsite of Sekhwas to Tarsar Lake

Today you will trek towards the first lake, The Tarsar Lake. Start your trek from the campsite and as you proceed further on the trek the views of the mountains will start getting clear and you will get to see more peaks covered in snow. After trekking for around 2 hours you will get to see the beautiful lake surrounded by beautiful mountains on 3 sides. Explore the trails near this tranquil lake and admire the beauty. This lake changes its colors according to the time of day, season, and angle from which you are looking. You will stay in camps by the lake.

Day 5: Trek to Sundersar Lake From Tarsar Lake

Today you will resume your trek from the Tarsar Lake to the Sundersar Lake. You will climb up to the top of the edge and climb down into the valley for an hour. Continue your trek along the stream that flows from Sundarsar and Admire the sights of the valley. After reaching here, place your campsite near the lake. Enjoy the views and relax for some time.

Day 6: Trek To The Tarsar Lake Located at a Height of 3,945 m and Go to Homwas

While strolling around Sundersar Lake, start trekking towards Marsar Lake located just an hour away. The trekking trails of Marsar Lake will take you to a point from where you can have stunning views of this lake. The weather at this height can’t be predicted and it can change anytime. So, after admiring the beauty of this place you will head towards Zachmargi. From here you will trek to Sekhwas and after 2-3 hours of trekking finally, you will reach Homwas. Here you can pitch your tents for the stay.

Day 7: Trek From Homwas to Aru and Then to Srinagar

Today is the last day of your trek and you will depart from Homwas’s Campsite. You will trek on the same route as earlier to reach Aru passing by the Lidderwat. This will take around 2 hours to reach Lidderwat from Homwas. During this trek back you will witness amazing views which got missed earlier. Rest for some time at Lidderwat and resume your trek towards the Aru, it will take around 4 hours to complete this journey. After reaching Aru you will drive towards Srinagar.