Overview
Tarsar Marsar is a circuit trek in the Kashmir Himalaya that starts and ends at Aru, near Pahalgam. It climbs through the Lidderwat valley to Shekwas, then passes the twin lakes of Tarsar and Marsar and the camp at Sundarsar before returning to Aru by way of Homwas. The highest point is at about 4,020 m. Operators run it as seven days from Srinagar, including two days of driving.
Why do this trek?
- Lakes without a long pass. The route links Tarsar, Sundarsar and Marsar without a major technical crossing.
- A circuit. It starts and ends at Aru, so there is no long shuttle.
- Alpine meadows. The route passes through forest, meadows and high ridges in July and August.
- Less crowded than some Kashmir treks. Operators describe it as quieter than the Great Lakes route, though we have no visitor counts.
Who is it for?
Fit trekkers who have done at least one Himalayan trek and want a quieter lake circuit. Published guides rate it Easy to Moderate or Moderate, and one recommends previous experience on shorter Moderate treks.
Who should think twice?
Complete beginners, people who need mobile coverage on the trail, and anyone who cannot manage 5 to 7 hour days on consecutive days with some rough, boulder-filled paths.
How we rate the difficulty
We rate Tarsar Marsar Moderate using our difficulty method.
- Altitude: the highest point is about 4,020 m, and camps stay between about 2,400 m and 4,000 m.
- Effort: published totals are 46 to 51 km on foot, with days of 4 to 13 km taking 3 to 7 hours.
- Terrain: forest, meadow, boulders and a steep final descent.
- Remoteness: cell coverage is reported as almost nonexistent beyond Pahalgam.
- Cold: published night temperatures disagree, so we do not state them.
Altitude and acclimatisation
We rate AMS risk moderate. The route gains height steadily from Aru to the lakes, and operators rarely schedule a dedicated acclimatisation day. See our altitude sickness guide.
Permits
All three operators we checked include forest permits and fees in the package for Indian nationals, with extra charges for foreigners. We could not confirm the rules from an official source, so we do not state a permit requirement.
Why we do not draw an elevation profile
Published camp altitudes differ by 1 to 2 percent between sources, and the highest point ranges from about 4,010 m to 4,200 m, so we leave out the elevation profile.
Plan alongside other tools
Use Find My Trek or compare treks. Related: Kashmir Great Lakes and trekking in Kashmir. Season: August.