All You Need to Know About Tarsar Marsar Trek

If I rewind to one of the most thrilling trekking experiences I had before Tarsar Marsar, it would be my Kedarkantha summit. My feet were hurting, the temperature was in the negatives, but my heart still felt warm. That same feeling returned during the Tarsar Marsar trek — a trek I gifted myself on my 25th birthday. And trust me, it couldn’t have been any better.

Living in the pastel colours of blue, green, and white felt like fulfilling a childhood dream, one painted in my landscape sketches. I saw a few of the most stunning lakes I had never imagined existed. I watched sunsets and sunrises while sipping on kahwa, experienced snowfall in October, watched clouds dancing around the sun, and made lifelong friendships with down-to-earth, incredible people. I saw an emerald lake and another that changed colour with the sky. I pushed myself with every step, and if you know me, you know how much I crave a good challenge.

In this blog, I’ve put together a guide to help you plan your own trek to Tarsar Marsar.

Location

Tarsar and Marsar are two alpine lakes located in the Pahalgam region of Kashmir. To reach them, you’ll pass through lush meadows, dense forests, and cross several streams.

Tarsar Lake – Located at an altitude of 12,450 ft (3,795 m), the colour of this lake changes with the sky, quite literally! I saw it shift from grey to brown, green, and then blue all in a single day. Reaching here takes a minimum of two trekking days.

Marsar Lake – A little ahead of Tarsar lies Marsar, another stunning lake cloaked in local folklore and mystery (ask your guide!). Most people don’t camp here. Instead, they get a bird’s eye view after hiking for an hour from Tarsar or after trekking to Sundarsar Lake and climbing up another hour (we, unfortunately, missed this second route).

Difficulty

This trek is challenging, not because of extreme ascents or boulder crossings, but due to its length and altitude. I carried my backpack the whole way, and one day, we walked 22 km straight as we skipped a camp on the descent. We faced hail, rain, and snowfall — adventurous, yes, but mentally and physically exhausting.

One day, my shoulder pain was so intense that I wanted to give up. That’s when Vignesh, our trek leader, took my backpack without letting me protest.

Though some trekking sites call it a moderate-level trek, I’d suggest preparing for all weather conditions and stamina challenges. Some days are easier (only 5 km), but if you camp at Sundarsar, you’ll have to descend 18 km to Camp 1 — be ready!

Best Time to do the Tarsar Marsar Trek

You can do this trek from June to September. June–July is ideal for clear skies and blooming meadows. I went in late September and got to witness early snowfall — magical! Our guide mentioned that in winter, foreigners even visit this region for skiing. But for the most rewarding views, I’d still suggest going during summer.

How To Reach

There are several routes that you can opt for. I chose to fly to Srinagar, where I spent two days on a houseboat and then moved to Pahalgam’s Aru Valley, the base camp of the trek. 

Below, I am providing all the alternate routes you can take to reach Aru Valley.

Delhi to Srinagar

• By Air: Flights take about 1 hour. Book early for better deals and consider round-trip bookings.
• By Train: Take a train to Jammu, then a shared taxi or bus to Srinagar (approx. 10–12 hours). Buses from Jammu are less frequent. However, you can easily get a shared taxi.

Srinagar to Aru Valley

• Take a shared taxi directly to Aru Valley. If you’re trekking with a group, they usually arrange this.
• Budget travellers: From TRC in Srinagar, take a shared taxi to Anantnag, then another to Pahalgam, and finally hitchhike or take a taxi to Aru.

Itinerary

We followed a different itinerary due to snowfall and bad weather towards the end. Below, I will let you know what we opted for and what you can choose otherwise in good weather. In my opinion, both of them are perfect! 

Day 1 – Srinagar to Aru Valley

2414 metres – 104 km, 4 hours

To reach Aru Valley, it will take you around 4-5 hours via a direct, shared taxi from Srinagar to Aru. We crossed beautiful landscapes, apple lanes, a breathtaking Pahalgam and a view of the Lidder River with a lighter shade of blue colour, which is really soothing to see.

Aru Valley is on the outskirts of Pahalgam, where you get no network. We were glad that we were finally out of the network zone because the calm was very welcoming. All of us were soaking in the view around us, and I? Well, I was busy recording a time-lapse of the dancing clouds.

Accommodation 

We stayed at Friend’s Guest House, and the hospitality of the people was amazing. It had everything, from hot water to home-cooked food. We snuggled inside the comfort of our warm blankets as the temperature dropped.

Day 2 – Aru Valley to Lidderwat

2,700 metres – 9.5 km, 6 hours

The next day, after having breakfast, we left for Lidderwat. The trail was right next to our guest house. The hike at the beginning was a little difficult as the pathway is really steep; however, after about 45 minutes, we entered a forest area of pines where the walk became smooth. We came out of the forest area after a while to witness the beautiful meadows. Only the initial hike was a little difficult, and after that, the walk was smooth.

In between, we also sat down in between to have our lunch when it suddenly started to rain. This is when we realised the importance of our ponchos/raincoats! We also crossed a bridge and were greeted by many locals on our way. After a trek of about 6 hours, we reached the campsite by 2 PM.

Do note,

• To keep at least 2 litres of water with you on Day 1, as the water sources are really far off
• Stay away from mountain dogs, at least in Kashmir

Day 3 – Lidderwatt to Shekwas

3,365 metres – 6 km, 5 hours

The next day, we got up to witness a glorious sunrise and chilly weather. Honestly, the early mornings are quite difficult during the treks, as it is quite a task to get out of your sleeping bag into the extreme cold weather. But this is also the time when you get the most glorious views of all time.

We took our cup of tea to sit on the edge of the valley to see the blue, calm river of Lidder, and the snow-peaked mountains in the distance. Ravens were flying beside us and enjoying the freshness as much as we were.

After this, we again started to trek to our other camp called Shekwas. The trek is not difficult except for the part when you have to cross the boulders. There are so many boulders, and all you can do is concentrate and jump from one rock to another.

Shekwas to Jadar Lake

We reached Shekwas at 2 PM, and after having lunch, we quickly moved to our exploration – Jadar Lake. This is a small lake and not many tourists go here, but I honestly consider myself lucky to witness one of the glorious views of my life. This small emerald coloured lake lies deep hidden amidst the mountains, and if you are lucky, you will witness marmots playing around the lake. 

(Tip: approach the lake silently, else the marmots run away.)

We could hear the marmots’ voices from far off, and as soon as we reached the place, we stood there for a moment truly in awe!

Days 4 and 5 – Shekwas to Tarsar Lake to Marsar Lake

Tarsar Lake: 3,800 metres – 5 km, 4 hours

Marsar Lake: 4,024 metres – 1 hour

Day 4 was a fairly simple trek to Tarsar Lake. The ascent was not a difficult one, although the weather was challenging. We faced a hailstorm and rain on the trail. Upon reaching, we started to pitch our tents, and that is when it started snowing. This was not only a challenging experience for us but a thrilling one as well. We danced and fought in the snow and made a snowman. The lake was all the more gorgeous, surrounded by white, all around. It was quite literally heaven on Earth.

The next day, we had to leave for Sundarsar Lake, and the trek to this place was really challenging. The ascent is really steep, and since it snowed, the path was difficult to climb. So, we changed the plans and trekked to another point to see both Marsar Lake and Tarsar Lake together. However, we could only get a partial view of the beautiful Marsar Lake.

Alternatively, Day 5 – Tarsar Lake to Sundarsar Lake

Trekkers usually hike to Sunder Sar Lake and then trek further to see Marsar Lake. In the initial half, the ascent is steep and on snowfall, it becomes all the more challenging. This is followed by a gradual descent and then a gradual hike to Sundar Sar Lake. After resting in the camp, trekkers usually go to Marsar Lake, which takes about 40 minutes to reach. From Marsar Lake, you would again have to return to Sundarser Lake.

Day 6 – Tarsar Lake to Lidderwat to Aru Valley

The next day was the most challenging day. We walked 22.5 km from Tarsar Lake to Aru Valley. Coming down from such a height and walking the entire day took a toll on our legs. After reaching, all we could think of was a hot shower and a warm bed. However, if covering 22.5 km in a single day is quite difficult, you can camp in Lidderwat and then hike back down on Day 7.

If you are in Sundarsar Lake, then you would have to cover a 17 km stretch to camp at Lidderwat.

Day 7 – Aru Valley to Srinagar

Depending on the choice you make for the camp, you can return from Lidderwat to Aru Valley first by following the same path that was taken on Day 1 (Aru Valley to Lidderwat). From Aru Valley, we took a shared taxi again to come back to Srinagar. You will reach Srinagar by evening. Do not forget to book the hotel for the night.

ATM and Mobile Connectivity

In Kashmir, you would need a postpaid SIM or a prepaid local SIM. The last signal in your mobile can only be received till Pahalgam, so make sure to call your loved ones before that.

The last ATM is in Pahalgam itself. I suggest you withdraw cash in Srinagar as you will get many ATM options.

Typical Cost

Srinagar to Aru Valley

Per taxi costs about INR 2,500 to INR 2,700. If there are six people in one cab, it could easily come down to INR 420 on one side. The travel from Srinagar to Aru Valley and back can be done for INR 1,000.

Trek Package

You can get several options for the Tarsar Marsar trek, and each package varies from one another. The entire package from Aru Valley and back, which includes accommodation in Aru Valley, camps during all the days, three times meals every single day, tea, sleeping bags, etc., costs between INR 12,000 to INR 15,000 depending on which company you book with.

Accommodation in Srinagar

You can easily get a room for as cheap as INR 200/- or stay in a Zostel that costs about INR 600/-. Staying in a houseboat will cost around INR 1,5000. It depends on your budget and your preference for the night.

Local Guide

There are many trekking communities online that take travellers on Tarsar Marsar. However, if you want a local experience with a local guide, you can contact Vani Bhaiya on 09469461214 (Gowher Ahmad).

If you are still speculating whether to go on this trek or not! Do. Not. Think. Just go!!!