7-Day Ultimate Himalayan Backcountry Skiing
Intermediate to advanced · Mt. Apharwat up to 4,300 m
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At a glance
Kashmir’s deep-powder reputation is earned on faces like these. This week is for skiers who already link confident turns on piste and want guided access to alpine bowls, ridgeline touring, and ancient pine forest runs on Mt. Apharwat — elevations reaching 4,300 metres.
Days build from Mary’s Shoulder warm-ups and transceiver drills into Phase 2 bowls with over a thousand metres of continuous vertical, a summit / ridge day, storm-friendly forest skiing, and a long wilderness descent into Drung Valley. Terrain choices always follow snowpack and avalanche assessment — not a fixed checklist.
Guiding is led by local ski lead Gullu alongside co-founders Mozim and Jawsheed. Personal skiing gear and avalanche kit are not included; bring kit you trust at altitude, or ask us for rental advice before you travel.
Led by: Gullu, Mozim & Jawsheed
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Location | Mt. Apharwat, Gulmarg, Kashmir |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced |
| Elevation | Up to 4,300 m |
| Guide ratio | 1:4 |
Highlights
What stands out
- ✓Mary’s Shoulder powder calibration and avalanche safety drills
- ✓Phase 2 high-alpine bowls (Main Bowl, Shepherd’s Bowl)
- ✓Ski-tour / boot-pack toward Mt. Apharwat summit (~4,300 m)
- ✓Forest pillow lines and storm-day stashes (Baba Reshi, Monkey Hill)
- ✓1,800 m+ continuous vertical descent into Drung Valley
- ✓Certified high-altitude guide at 1:4 · daily beacon drills
Itinerary
Day by day
Arrival & equipment calibration
Private 4×4 pickup from Srinagar Airport and scenic drive to Gulmarg Ski Village. Hotel check-in, ski setup calibration, and equipment check with the Himalayan Ibex team. Evening overview of Himalayan snow conditions, terrain navigation, and a welcome dinner.
Phase 1 & Mary’s Shoulder warm-up runs
Transceiver & powder technique
Gondola Phase 1 (~3,100 m) and chairlift access to Mary’s Shoulder. Powder technique calibration, edge work on open faces, and transceiver / avalanche safety drills. Afternoon: guided tree-line descents through mild alpine glades toward the base.
Phase 2 high-alpine powder bowls
1,000 m+ continuous vertical
Ride Gondola Phase 2 to Mt. Apharwat’s high station. Carve wide lines down Main Bowl and Shepherd’s Bowl with over 1,000 metres of continuous vertical drop. Focus on high-altitude powder technique, line selection, and mountain safety.
Mt. Apharwat summit & ridge touring
Views toward Nanga Parbat on clear days
Ski-touring / boot-pack ascent from Phase 2 top station toward the peak of Mt. Apharwat. Ski fresh lines down steep alpine chutes with panoramas overlooking Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) when visibility allows. Afternoon: continuous powder descent leading back toward Gulmarg village.
Forest slopes & pillow lines
Ideal for low-visibility days
Tree-skiing through old-growth pine and birch forests. Navigate technical tree lines and powder stashes through Baba Reshi and Monkey Hill — sheltered powder terrain that shines when the upper mountain is socked in.
Extended wilderness descent — Drung Valley
1,800 m+ vertical · Wazwan evening
Early start for a full-day backcountry ski expedition. Execute an 1,800+ metre continuous vertical descent from alpine ridgelines down into Drung Valley. Evening: traditional Kashmiri Wazwan feast and celebratory closing with the team.
Farewell & airport transfer
Breakfast at the hotel and final packing. Private 4×4 transfer back to Srinagar Airport for your return flight.
What’s included
Inclusions & exclusions
Inclusions
- •Certified local high-altitude ski guide (1:4 ratio)
- •Private 4×4 heated airport and local transfers
- •Daily avalanche risk evaluation & beacon drills
- •6 nights hotel stay (breakfast & dinner)
Exclusions
- •Flights to/from Srinagar (SXR)
- •Gondola & chairlift passes
- •Personal skiing gear (skis, boots, poles, avalanche kit)
- •Travel / emergency rescue insurance
FAQs
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