Kashmir's packing problem is that it isn't one climate — it's several, depending on when you come and how high you go. A summer valley evening still turns cool; a winter day in Gulmarg is a different planet. The list below flexes by season, but the core idea is always the same: layers you can add and shed.
Warm layers regardless of month — the mornings and evenings cool down even in summer. A fleece or light down mid-layer, a windproof jacket, and a warm cap and gloves earn their place year-round up high. Comfortable walking shoes with grip; you'll be on uneven ground and boat jetties. Sunglasses and sunscreen — mountain and snow glare is real.
This is where it gets serious. A proper insulated, waterproof jacket and trousers, thermals as a base layer, waterproof snow boots with grip (not fashion boots), warm waterproof gloves, thick socks, and a woollen cap and neck gaiter. Cold at Gulmarg altitude is not the cold of the plains, and cotton that gets wet will make you miserable — dress for wet cold, not dry cold.
Spring and autumn can throw rain and sudden chill, so pack a compact rain layer and one more warm layer than you think you need. Quick-dry clothing beats cotton when the weather turns.
Lip balm and moisturiser (the air is dry), any personal medication, a power bank, and physical copies of your ID alongside digital ones. Cash, since card and network coverage thins out away from Srinagar.
Pack for the season you're actually travelling in and Kashmir is pure pleasure. Book with GoRaahi and we'll send you a season-specific list before you go, so nothing catches you cold.
Read next: Kashmir: The Valley, Honestly · Your First Time in the Snow
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