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Sapphire Lake Trek
Highlights
- The Sapphire Lake trek includes a steep climb to Durinar Lake which is the highest alpine lake of Kashmir.
- The Durinar meadow is a picturesque pristine landscape nestled at the very edge of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is less explored and hence lesser exploited.
- The Sapphire Lake lies close to the Durinar Lake and is situated at the same height of 13,685 ft.
- The last day marks the longest trial stretch of the trip that takes you back to the Sarbal village from the Sapphire Lake.
Overview
It is crazy how aesthetics can please our organs quite literally. Just the sight of something beautiful ends up stirring a wave of happy emotions in us and in the next couple of moments, we find ourselves in a completely different mood. It is amazing how despite being fully conscious of ourselves we have little to no control over ourselves when it comes to being affected by the beauty of 'nature'- the homeland of aesthetics.
There has got to be something special between us humans and the wild, after all, it cannot be just some coincidence that every time we lose ourselves to it, we dread the idea of returning to the bricks and blocks. If you've been nodding in affirmation to everything mentioned above, you are most likely already missing your last vacation and currently dreaming of another. Before you get your next plan sorted, we would like to strongly pitch the Sapphire Lake trek in Kashmir, and here are the reasons why you should absolutely consider it.
Kashmir is much more than the descriptions scribbled in books, poems, and stories. It is beyond comprehension, and is truly and rightly heaven on earth which can only be captured through real experiences. While the idea of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has drastically taken a negative inclination in the past few years because of the ongoing political disparities in the region, the real face of Kashmir is actually warmer, more welcoming, and kind. In fact except for a few areas which are monitored well with a military presence, most part of the state is safe as well as friendly.
The state is rich in flora and is completely stormed with the fragrance of flowers during peak seasons. It is painted in many colors in some seasons and completely shaded into white during others. Whether you should visit Kashmir during winters or spring or summers is totally a personal call and depends on what you are precisely looking forward to. If it is fresh powdery snow that you wish to see on peaks and meadows and an exhilarating trek through it, the winter season has got to serve you right. But if it is a light trek with good panoramic, bright, colorful views of rustic landscapes that you are seeking then spring or summers should make the right choices.
The Sapphire Lake trek is one of the many treks that the state of Jammu and Kashmir offers but what makes it stand out is its easy trial and the exceptional awe-striking views that are way more worthy to be rewarded for the little struggle that takes to reach to the top. The Sapphire Lake during winters is a plain sheet of milky ice melted from the glacier while otherwise, it is bright blue, transparent, and overwhelmingly clean. It is nestled between meadows and other lakes around the little Sarbal village which in itself offers scenic pleasure to the eyes as well as overall homely comfort.
The Sarbal village marks the starting point of the Sapphire Lake trek. It is the last hamlet in Kashmir that lies at the very edge of the state and is densely covered with canopies, alpines, meadows, and glacial lakes which are every traveler's much-dreamt wealth. The trial starts from Sarbal and stretches all the way till lower Durinar which is the first pit stop of the tour. The hike from Sarbal to lower Durinar is short yet rich in scenic beauty; the Woodhouses of the locals especially complement the aura and charisma of the area. It takes about an hour for any ordinary person to reach lower Durinar from Sarbal village. Ideal treks usually make space for sufficient relaxation, acclimatization, and rest, especially if the trek is at extremely high altitudes. Since the base camp at lower Durinar is situated at a height of 9,680 ft approximately, thus it is extremely important to give your body sufficient time to adapt to the sudden changes in the environment to avoid mountain sickness or any other illness. So the first day of the tour wraps up with just little activity keeping in mind the overall well-being of the travelers. Nonetheless, despite the minimal activity, the day turns out to be very overwhelming, joyous ad soothing because of the beautiful terrain, complementing weather as well as the extra time to self-introspect and be. The next day kicks off with a steep climb to Durinar meadow that is located at a height of 11,650 ft and requires you to ascend almost 1,970 ft from lower Durinar. You will witness astonishing stretches of mesmerizing landscapes and beautiful picturesque views of the valley as you climb higher and higher. The Durinar meadow will serve as your second base camp; its serene beauty is enchanting and soul-filling. Surrounded by mighty mountain peaks, the Durinar meadow offers a tranquil space, away from the hustle and bustle of capitalism and human commercialization that makes it a much-tempted place to chill and relax. After a short break at the base camp, you will begin your trek towards the highest alpine lake of Kashmir that is the Durinar Lake which rests at a height of 13,685 ft and quietly sits in the lap of a giant granite rock. The climb from Durinar meadow to Durinar Lake is also very steep with as much as 2,035 ft ascend. The trek sure will be a tiring and exhausting one yet the reward will be totally worth every drop of your sweat. As soon as you reach the lake, you will be welcomed by the pristine beauty of the wild nature where the inky blue Durinar Lake will reflect the beautiful landscape before you. In a couple of next moments, you will be stormed with butterflies and all the pleasant emotions that you have ever known at once. You will spend the rest of your day simply admiring the scenery and camp beside the lake for the night. The third day, which will also be the last day of your trip, will include trekking to the ultimate destination of your tour; the Sapphire Lake that lies not very far from your campsite and also rests at the same height as the Durinar Lake. After an overwhelming encounter with the equally mesmerizing Sapphire Lake and spending some time along its shore, you will begin your backward trek to return to the Sarbal village; the starting point to complete the full circle.
Brief Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Drive from airport to the Sarbal village, trek from Sarbal village to lower Durinar
You will arrive at a warm reception at the airport in Srinagar; the summer capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. You will be then allotted the vehicles that will drive you all the way from the airport to the village of Sarbal. Comfortable seating and hospitality will be assured and it is also something that our team is always appreciated for. The drive will be a smooth one that shall take you through some of the most eye-capturing landscapes of Kashmir and give you plenty of chances to screen and distant-gaze the wealth of nature. You will also come across many little streams as well as dense wild landscapes with canopies of trees and rich flora along with the company of pleasing and drool-worthy weather. It will take around 3 hours from the airport for you to reach Sarbal village which is the last village of Kashmir and lies at the very corner of the state. After you reach Sarbal village and take a mini-break, you will begin trekking towards lower Durinar that is situated at a height of 9,680 ft and which will serve as your first base camp of the trek to Sapphire Lake. The trek from Sarbal to lower Durinar is short, easy, and doesn’t take more than an hour for any ordinary person to complete. The landscapes throughout this trek are refreshing as well as aesthetically pleasing. After reaching the campsite, you can hike to nearby places for sightseeing and acclimatization. One of the major reasons for the quick wrap up this day is acclimatization. You will suddenly find yourself in a completely alien atmosphere and at a high altitude, so it is important to adapt and habituate well to the environment in order to avoid any illness that may show up due to the drastic change in the climate. After a healthy lunch, relaxation, a scrumptious dinner, and a good get-together you can call off the day to rest better and energies for the activities of the next day.
Meals : L, D
Accommodation : Tents/Homestay
Time Taken : 3 hours drive, 1 hour trek
Altitude : 9,680 ft
Day 2: Trek from Lower Durinar to Durinar Lake
The second day will begin with the warm wake-up call by nature, you will open your eyes to the sun stretching across the sky and painting it to beautiful golden hues. After freshening up, you may do a bit of stretching followed by a delicious breakfast to pump up and kick off the day. This day, you will start trekking towards the Durinar Lake. The trek from lower Durinar to Durinar Lake is very steep and will require many breaks. The Durinar Meadow will be your second base camp wherein you will stop by for lunch and a quick rest break to get you to put together as well as motivated to complete the rest of the trek. The Durinar meadow is exceptionally alluring, bewitching, capturing, and everything in between. It offers different pleasantness altogether in its surroundings and hosts you with the fragrance of natural wildflowers. It will take approximately 6 hours in total to reach the desired destination from Lower Durinar. After an exhilarating and challenging trek through the meadow to the top, you will unravel the pristine beauty of the Durinar Lake and watch the magnificent art of nature reflected in the transparent dark blue Durinar Lake. You may hike to close by areas to admire the holiness and pureness of hidden, unexploited landscapes. You will then proceed to a tasty and piping hot dinner amidst the freezing cold weather in the mountains. After the delicious meal and let the awesomeness of the lake and the surrounding peaks sink in, you will retire for the day and enjoy the overwhelming experience of camping beside the highest alpine lake of Kashmir. It is an impeccable experience that remains a dream for many travelers across the globe so you may as well grab the opportunity with open arms and live each second of that fantastic dreamy night to the fullest.
Meals : B, L, D
Accommodation : Tents/ Homestay
Time Taken : 6 hours
Altitude : 13,685 ft
Day 3: Trek from Durinar Lake to Sapphire Lake and from Sapphire Lake back to Sarbal village and finally a drive from Sarbal village back to the airport
The third day will be quite tiresome as well as energy-requiting. So necessarily, you will wake up to a deliciously healthy breakfast to meet the energy requirements of the day. After opening your eyes to a bright sunny morning in your tents beside the Durinar Lake, you will quickly freshen up, have the scrumptious breakfast and begin trekking towards the ultimate destination of your trek; the Sapphire Lake. You will very quickly find yourself before the divine and enticing Sapphire Lake admiring its wealth in beauty. The view will certainly take you away by its serenity for a few seconds before you regain the momentum of yourself. You will rest along the shoreline, indulge in a few leisure activities, and shortly find yourself returning to the starting point. The trek towards the Sarbal village from the Sapphire Lake will be quite tiring as well as energy-consuming. Nonetheless, with many short breaks and rests, you will successfully descend to the final point of your trip where you will find your vehicles eagerly waiting for you. After reaching the Sarbal village, you may relax as you wish and feed yourself with the last meal at the base camp. After the wholesome lunch, you will be driven back to the airport with dozens of happy moments and memories etched in your heart.
Meals : B, L
Accommodation : Tents/ Homestay
Time Taken : 6 Hours
Altitude : 13,685 ft
How To Reach
We will arrange a cab for you from the pickup point in Srinagar. For communications purposes, we will create a Whatsapp Group before the departure date of the trek and will share the details regarding the transportation. The drop at Srinagar after the trek will be arranged in a similar way.
How To Reach Sapphire Lake Trek base camp in Kashmir:
By Air
Srinagar Airport is well connected to the major cities of the country. Frequent flights ply from Delhi, Jammu, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, and Kolkata.
By Road
Srinagar is accessible from the other parts of the country via the National Highway 1D. The Srinagar Bus Stand is well connected to Delhi, Chandigarh, and Jammu.
By Rail
The Jammu Tawi Railway station is the most convenient stop, from where frequent buses and cabs are available for Srinagar.
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