Kolahoi peak, 17,799 ft of steep rock and ice, is called the Matterhorn of Kashmir — and the Kolahoi Glacier trek takes you to the snout of the glacier at its feet. It is a true crossover: you enter from the Sind valley at Gagangeer, cross the 13,780 ft Basmai Pass into the Lidder's headwaters, stand where the Lidder river is born, and walk out through the classic meadows of Lidderwat and Aru. This is the most demanding trek TrekNova runs in the Valley, and the most rewarding for trekkers ready for it.
What is the Kolahoi Glacier trek route?
Day 1 is arrival and briefing in Srinagar, including a health once-over — this crossover deserves a careful start. Day 2 drives 75 km up the Sind valley to Gagangeer, then climbs 5 km into the quiet Basmai drainage to camp among birches at 9,200 ft. Day 3 is the big one: a nine-hour, 12 km push over scree and snow to Basmai Pass, the divide between two great valleys, followed by a steep, careful descent to Satlanjan.
Day 4 is the glacier excursion — an out-and-back up a widening amphitheatre of rock and ice until Kolahoi's pyramid fills the sky above the glacier snout at around 12,140 ft. Day 5 ambles gently down the river to Lidderwat. Day 6 finishes through pine forest to Aru and drives back to Srinagar, and day 7 is a built-in buffer for the mountains' moods.
When is the best time for the Kolahoi Glacier trek?
June through September. June and early July mean more snow on the pass and a harder, more alpine crossing; August and September give drier trails and the clearest views of the peak. Either way, the pass day starts early and adjusts to conditions.
How difficult is the Kolahoi Glacier trek?
It is graded Difficult, and one prior Himalayan trek is required — that is a booking condition, not a suggestion. The pass day alone is nine hours at altitude on scree and snow, with micro-spikes and ropes in play where needed. Train for it: loaded pack walks, stairs, and enough cardio that a long day leaves you tired but not wrecked.
What does the Kolahoi Glacier trek cost?
₹22,999 plus 5% GST, against an MRP of ₹29,500. The inclusions reflect the terrain: all meals, expedition tents with sleeping bags and mats, a trek leader plus a technical guide for the pass, micro-spikes, ropes and safety gear, ponies for camp equipment, all camping fees and permits, and oxygen backup with twice-daily health checks. Transport between Srinagar and Gagangeer or Aru, your Srinagar stays on days 1 and 7, offloading and insurance are excluded.
How to reach, permits and safety
Fly into Srinagar airport; the trailhead at Gagangeer is a short drive up the Sonamarg road and the exit at Aru returns you via Pahalgam. Army and police ID checks are routine in both the Sind and Lidder valleys — carry an original government photo ID; foreign nationals must carry their passport. The pass day adjusts to weather and local advisories, and your leader's call is final.
Earn the Matterhorn view
If you have a Himalayan trek behind you and a crossover itch to scratch, the Kolahoi Glacier trek page has this summer's batches. Bring your fitness — the glacier does the rest.
