The 10-Day Extreme Powder Package

The 10-Day Ultimate Powder Week (9 Nights)

The ultimate freeride holiday. Ten days provide the critical buffer needed to ride out Himalayan storm cycles, so you score deep, bluebird powder days on the upper mountain.

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival, Gear Calibration & Safety Protocol

   Your private 4x4 vehicle meets you at Srinagar International Airport (SXR) for the scenic climb to Gulmarg (2,650m). After checking into your centrally heated, premium hotel, you will undergo a gear fitting. You will then meet your senior guide for a mandatory, hands-on avalanche safety and beacon briefing so you are fully prepared for the morning.

2. 2

   Day 2

   The Phase 1 Shake-Down & Acclimatization

   To safely adjust to the 2,650m altitude, we start on the lower mountain. Using the Phase 1 Gondola, we session the powder stashes in the mid-mountain pines. This allows your guide to assess the group’s pacing and freeride style while your legs and lungs adapt to the thinner air.

3. 3

   Days 3 to 5

   High-Vertical Gondola Laps & The Alpine Bowls

   As you fully acclimatize, we push to the summit. Taking the Gondola to Phase 2 (3,980 m), the focus is purely on massive, gravity-fed freeriding. Your guide will bypass the touring routes and lead you straight to the best lift-accessible alpine bowls. We prioritize efficient lift rotations, allowing you to drop 900m to 1,300m of vertical per run, racking up massive descent numbers without the exhaustion of hiking.

4. 6

   Days 6 to 8

   Storm Riding & 4x4 Tree Laps

   Over a 10-day window, you’re almost guaranteed to hit a massive Himalayan storm cycle. When heavy snow closes the upper Gondola, our “Storm-Day Resilience” protocol activates. We deploy our private 4x4 vehicles and shift to Gulmarg’s legendary tree skiing. We will lap the deep, old-growth pine forests of Babareshi and Tangmarg, with your driver waiting at the valley bottom to shuttle you right back up for another run.

5. 9

   Day 9

   The Final Morning & Dal Lake Houseboat

   We hit the Gondola early to score one last morning of untracked lines. By mid-afternoon, we load the vehicles and descend from the snowline into Srinagar. You’ll check into a traditional luxury cedar houseboat on the mirror-like waters of Dal Lake. The powder week concludes with a private Kashmiri bonfire and a celebratory Wazwan (traditional Kashmiri feast) under the stars.

6. 10

   Day 10

   Departure

   Enjoy a quiet, restorative morning on the lake with fresh Kashmiri Kahwa (saffron tea) before your private transfer takes you to Srinagar Airport for your onward flight.

Avalanche Safety & Storm Day Protocols

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What’s Included+

• Premium Lodging: 8 nights of centrally heated accommodation at Hotel Rosewood, Hotel Hilltop, The Vintage Gulmarg, or Grand Mumtaz, plus 1 final night on a traditional luxury houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar.
• Meals: Daily hearty breakfast and multi-course alpine dinners.
• 8 Days Guided Riding: Senior local backcountry guides (strict safety ratio maintained).
• Lift Access: Daily Gondola and surface lift passes (subject to mountain operations).
• Private Transit: Dedicated 4x4 airport transfers (Srinagar ↔ Gulmarg) and local valley-bottom rescue pickups after long tree runs.
• Safety Gear: Mandatory rental of beacon, shovel, probe, and ABS airbag, plus Day 1 companion rescue briefing.
• Equipment: Premium wide-waist powder skis or snowboard (if required).
• Emergency Support: 24/7 on-call medical doctor and helicopter rescue backup (subject to availability).

What’s Not Included+

• Flights & Visas: International or domestic airfare to Srinagar (SXR) and Indian tourist visa fees.
• Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is mandatory but not included in the package price.
• Personal Expenses: Lunches, mountain snacks, alcohol, and personal souvenirs.
• Extra Activities: Any third-party activities not explicitly listed (e.g., ATV rides or separate sightseeing entry tickets).

The Terrain: Mount Apharwat+

Rising to 4,390 meters (14,403 ft), Mount Apharwat dominates the Gulmarg landscape. With our senior guides, you’ll bypass the busy groomers and access some of the region’s most thrilling backcountry terrain. Depending on the daily snow conditions, descents from the upper bowls can extend for several kilometers, with some runs offering close to 2,000 meters of continuous vertical descent down to the valley floor.

Important Mountain & Safety Information+

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are inherently dependent on the weather. Routes, terrain choices, and daily plans will adapt based on recent snowfall, visibility, avalanche risk, and Gondola operations.

Safety First: Our lead guides have final say on all terrain selection based on the daily avalanche hazard briefing.

Skill Requirement: This package is strictly intended for experienced skiers and snowboarders with proven off-piste and backcountry ability.

Mandatory Safety & Travel Insurance+

Insurance Requirements: Because Gulmarg is a remote, high-altitude destination, all guests must purchase comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers off-piste/backcountry skiing and emergency helicopter evacuation. Standard winter sports policies can quietly exclude ungroomed terrain.

Mountain Safety: Gulmarg's backcountry is largely uncontrolled. Your lead guide has absolute authority over daily terrain selection based on avalanche hazards. If the guide deems a high-alpine route unsafe, the group will ride alternative, safer terrain.