Kashmir Honeymoon Special

Land in Srinagar and transfer by shikara to your deluxe houseboat — the better ones have a small private sit-out at the front, carved wooden panelling, and staff who bring Kashmiri kahwa unprompted within the first hour. Evening is free; many couples simply sit out on the deck as the lake empties of daytime traffic.

Deluxe houseboat on Dal Lake

A relaxed morning at Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh, the two most photogenic of Srinagar's Mughal-era gardens, both terraced down toward the lake with chinar trees framing the water channels. In the evening, a private shikara ride timed for sunset — this is the moment most people remember longest, when the light turns the Zabarwan hills pink and the lake goes almost glassy calm.

Deluxe houseboat on Dal Lake

A day trip to Gulmarg, about ninety minutes from Srinagar, for the Gondola ride up toward Kongdori — on a clear day the views stretch far enough to make the ride worth it on their own. Back in Srinagar by evening, when the houseboat crew can arrange a candlelight dinner on request, set up right on the deck if weather allows.

Deluxe houseboat on Dal Lake

One final unhurried morning on the lake — a last shikara ride past the floating vegetable sellers if you're up early enough — before transferring to Srinagar airport.