Gulmarg Skiing: The Complete Guide to Asia\'s Most Exciting Ski Resort

This is the main lift and where most skiers spend their time. It gives access to intermediate and beginner slopes with views of the Pir Panjal range. Get there by 9 AM in peak season to beat the queue. Ticket costs 900 rupees per person.

This is where things get serious. Views of Nanga Parbat, off-piste powder in the bowl below, and terrain that draws expert skiers from around the world. Only for intermediate to advanced skiers. An additional 500 rupees on top of Phase 1.

Book online at gulmarg.nic.in, ideally 2 to 3 days ahead during peak season (December to January and July to August). If you are travelling with us, your gondola tickets are pre-booked as part of the package, so you do not need to worry about queues.

Gentle slopes near the gondola base where the ski school operates. If you have never stood on skis before, this is your starting point. Equipment hire runs about 500 rupees per day for skis, boots, and poles.

Consistent gradient with well-pisted runs. Most recreational skiers spend their days here, and for good reason: 8 to 10 km of solid intermediate terrain with outstanding views.

Steep, ungroomed bowl below Phase 2. On a good powder day, you will be skiing knee-deep through dry Himalayan snow with almost nobody else around. A local guide is strongly recommended.

For expert skiers only. Helicopter access to untouched Himalayan terrain that feels like another planet. Specialist operators run these trips, and our team can arrange introductions and logistics.

Skis, boots, and poles: 500 to 800 rupees per day. Snowboard and boots: 600 to 900 rupees per day. Helmet and goggles: 200 to 400 rupees per day. Shops at the gondola base and in Gulmarg town both offer hire.

Group lessons run 800 to 1,200 rupees for a 2-hour session. Private lessons cost 1,500 to 2,500 rupees per hour. The JKAS (J&K Academy of Skiing) instructors are certified and genuinely good. Book through your hotel or through us.

Unlike most resorts around the world, Gulmarg does not require a daily ski pass. You pay per gondola ride instead, which is actually convenient if you only want to ski a few runs per day or mix skiing with other activities.

The season opens and the snow is building up. Fewer crowds than January. If there has been good early snowfall, you can find excellent powder conditions with the slopes almost to yourself.

The best powder month. Snowfall is consistent, temperatures drop to -10 degrees Celsius. This is when the serious skiers arrive. Book your accommodation well in advance because rooms fill up from December 20 onward.

Excellent snow coverage, slightly warmer than January, and often better visibility. Many of our team consider February the best all-round month for skiing in Gulmarg.

The snow starts softening but remains perfectly skiable. Fewer crowds, the gondola is still running, and Srinagar below is beginning to show the first signs of spring. A nice combination if you want skiing and sightseeing.