5N/6DKashmirClassic Kashmir Tour with Houseboat
2N Srinagar (houseboat) · 1N Gulmarg · 2N Pahalgam- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹19,900
per person
Aru Valley, Pahalgam
A quiet meadow village and trekking base above Pahalgam
- Type
- Valley and village
- Location
- Pahalgam, Kashmir
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Best time to visit
- May to October. In winter the road can be blocked by snow.
About Aru Valley
Aru is a small village set in a wide meadow above Pahalgam, along a stream that joins the Lidder river. The road climbs through pine forest, and the meadow opens out with snow peaks behind. It is quieter than Betaab Valley and feels more like a village than a park.
Visitors walk on the meadow, take short pony rides and watch the herders who bring their animals up in summer. Aru is also the starting point for some well-known treks in Kashmir, including the routes to the Tarsar and Marsar lakes and towards the Kolahoi glacier.
A few simple guesthouses and camps stay open in season, so it is possible to spend a night here. Most travellers, though, visit as part of a half-day union taxi trip from Pahalgam. In early summer the meadow is bright green and the streams are full of snowmelt. By autumn the grass turns golden and the air is cool and clear. Weekdays are quiet, and you may share the meadow with only a few other families.
Things to do at Aru Valley
- Walk across the meadow and along the stream
- Take a short pony ride into the forest
- Start a trek to Tarsar Marsar or Kolahoi glacier
- Stay overnight in a guesthouse or camp in summer
How to reach Aru Valley
- About 12 km from Pahalgam, about 30 to 40 minutes by union taxi.
- Pahalgam is about 95 km from Srinagar.
Tips before you go
- Fix pony rates and the route before you start.
- Treks from Aru need a registered guide and proper gear. Do not attempt them on your own.
- Carry a warm layer. The weather can change quickly.
Packages that cover Aru Valley
5N/6DKashmirView
6N/7DKashmirKashmir Deluxe with Houseboat and Doodhpathri
1N Srinagar (houseboat) · 2N Srinagar · 1N Gulmarg · 2N Pahalgam- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹23,900
per person
6N/7DKashmirKashmir Honeymoon
1N Srinagar (houseboat) · 2N Gulmarg · 2N Pahalgam · 1N Srinagar- Hotels
- Meals
- Transfers
- Sightseeing
Starts from
₹27,900
per person
Nearby places to visit
Must visit
Valley town
Pahalgam
A town on the Lidder river, surrounded by pine forest. It is the base for Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari.
Time needed: 1 to 2 daysRead more →Valley · Pahalgam
Betaab Valley
A green valley on the road from Pahalgam to Chandanwari, with the Lidder river, meadows and pine forest. It takes its name from the 1983 film Betaab.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hoursRead more →Aru Valley: FAQs
Aru Valley or Betaab Valley, which is better?
Betaab Valley is an easy riverside park. Aru Valley is a quieter meadow village with longer walks. If you have one day in Pahalgam, you can see both.
Can I stay in Aru Valley?
Yes, there are a few simple guesthouses and camps in season, mostly used by trekkers.