Gurez Valley
Best time: May to September (closed by snow in winter)
Altitude: 2,400 m
Gurez is a remote valley close to the Line of Control, opened to general tourism only in recent years, and it still feels that way — wooden Dard-Shin style houses, the Kishanganga River running a striking blue-green through the valley, and Habba Khatoon peak rising at one end, named after the 16th-century Kashmiri poet.
This is the furthest-flung destination we arrange, and it suits travellers who've already seen the more established parts of Kashmir and want something quieter and less developed.
Travel tips
- Gurez requires an Inner Line Permit for visitors due to its location near the Line of Control — this needs to be arranged in advance; talk to us early if this interests you.
- The valley is cut off by snow for roughly half the year (October–April); travel is only possible in the warmer months.
- Mobile network coverage is patchy to absent in large parts of the valley — let family know you may be unreachable for stretches.
- Accommodation is simple (guesthouses, not hotels) — set expectations accordingly.