Complete Guide · Updated 2026–27
Ski lessons, course costs, best time to visit, equipment, the gondola, accommodation and how to book — everything in one place.
Gulmarg, in Jammu and Kashmir, is the most established ski destination in India and one of the highest ski resorts in Asia. The Gulmarg Gondola — a two-stage cable car — reaches 3,980 metres, making it one of the highest gondola systems in the world. The Adventure Packers ski season runs from mid-December to the first week of April, with January and February delivering the deepest and most reliable snow.
The terrain suits every level. Beginners have wide, gentle bunny slopes where they stay until they can stop reliably. Intermediate skiers have longer groomed runs. Advanced skiers and off-piste riders have high-altitude ungroomed terrain and powder fields that attract skiers from across the world.
Adventure Packers has been teaching skiing and snowboarding in Gulmarg since 2013. Every course is taught by a private one-on-one instructor who knows this mountain. Our head coaches hold national and international medals -- Sheikh Bilal holds 20x National Gold Medals and is a former Captain of the J&K State Ski Team. Prices start at ₹16,000 for a 3-day beginner course including all equipment.
Every course includes a private one-on-one instructor, skis, boots, poles, ski wear, safety gear, bunny-slope bar tickets and a completion certificate.
| Course | Days | Best for | Price | What you learn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Learn Skiing in Gulmarg | 3 | Complete beginners | ₹16,000 | Balance, snow plough, stopping, getting up after a fall, first turns. | View → |
| 5-Day Ski Lessons in Gulmarg | 5 | Beginners moving up | ₹26,000 | All 3-day skills plus linked turns, ski lift and intermediate slopes. | View → |
| 7-Day Gulmarg Ski School Programme | 7 | Intermediate skiers | ₹36,500 | Parallel turns, carving, steeper gradients, independent intermediate skiing. | View → |
| 10-Day Professional Ski Training | 10 | Advanced skiers | ₹49,999 | Advanced technique, ungroomed snow, mogul control, professional-level skills. | View → |
Accommodation, meals, transport and gondola passes are not included. We arrange them on request.
The Gulmarg ski season usually opens in mid-December and runs to early April, though exact dates depend on snowfall each year.
The season is opening. Snow is still building up on the lower slopes. Festive weeks can be busy and prices for accommodation tend to be higher over Christmas and New Year. Good for beginners who want early-season skiing on less crowded slopes.
The best weeks of the year. Deepest snow, most reliable conditions, everything open. Book accommodation and instructors several months in advance. If you can only come once, come now.
Good snow with warmer days and longer daylight hours. The cold is less extreme, which suits beginners and families. Spring skiing starts to feel like fun rather than survival.
Late-season conditions. Snow softens lower down and spring skiing is available at higher altitude. Good for experienced skiers and last-minute visitors, but availability is weather-dependent.
Adventure Packers teaches skiing one on one. Every student gets their own instructor for the full duration of their course, not a shared group class. This is the fastest way to learn, and it is included in the course price — most ski schools charge extra for private instruction.
Courses run in 3, 5, 7 and 10-day formats. Beginners start on the bunny slopes and progress to intermediate terrain when ready. Longer courses cover parallel turns, carving, steeper gradients and, for the 10-day programme, ungroomed snow and mogul control.
You have never stood on a pair of skis. By the end of 3 days you will be linking turns and ready for an intermediate slope. By the end of 5 days you will ski independently on intermediate terrain.
Beginner course details →You can slide, stop and turn but want real control. The 5 and 7-day courses focus on linked turns, side slipping, steeper gradients and ski lift confidence.
Intermediate course details →You ski confidently and want to go further. Carving, short turns, ungroomed snow, mogul control and reading the mountain.
10-day programme details →Every course includes a private instructor as standard. No group to keep up with. The pace, drills and feedback are built entirely around you.
About private instruction →Here is a breakdown of what skiing in Gulmarg typically costs for a first-time visitor booking a course with Adventure Packers.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day beginner ski course | ₹16,000 | Includes instructor, equipment, ski wear, safety gear, bar tickets and certificate |
| 5-day ski course | ₹26,000 | Same inclusions |
| 7-day ski course | ₹36,500 | Same inclusions |
| 10-day ski course | ₹49,999 | Same inclusions |
| Gulmarg Gondola (Phase 1) | ~₹740 per ride | Not included in course; rates set by JKTDC, may change |
| Gondola Phase 2 | ~₹990 per ride | Higher altitude, for experienced skiers; rates may change |
| Accommodation | ₹1,500–₹15,000+ per night | Depends on hotel; we arrange on request at any budget |
| Airport transfer (Srinagar–Gulmarg) | ~₹2,500–₹4,000 | Arrangeable on request |
Gondola rates and other third-party costs are approximate and set by JKTDC. Confirm current rates before travel.
Every Adventure Packers course includes skis, boots, poles, ski wear and safety gear. You do not need to buy or rent anything separately before arriving.
Equipment is fitted at our base at Golf View Market, Gulmarg, on the first morning of your course. Your instructor will check the fit and adjust bindings before you take a single step on snow.
For equipment rental outside a course, see our ski rentals page.
The Gulmarg Gondola is operated by JKTDC (Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation). It runs in two phases.
Takes you from the main Gulmarg meadow to the Kongdori bowl. Good intermediate and beginner terrain. Beginners on a 3-day course may use Phase 1 from day two onwards depending on progress. Gondola tickets are not included in course prices.
The upper mountain. Off-piste terrain, deep powder and steep runs. For confident and advanced skiers only. Your instructor will advise when you are ready. Phase 2 tickets are separate and not included in any course.
Gondola queues during January and February can be long. Arrive early. We will help you plan this when you arrive.
Gulmarg is approximately 50 km from Srinagar, the nearest city with an airport. The drive takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road.
Fly into Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport, Srinagar. Direct flights connect Srinagar to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and other Indian cities. The airport is well served during the ski season.
Taxis and shared cabs run from Srinagar to Gulmarg. The fare for a private cab is approximately ₹2,500–₹4,000 one way. We can arrange airport pickup and transfer to Gulmarg on request.
Yes. Gulmarg is one of the best ski destinations in Asia. It has the highest ski lift in Asia, reliable snowfall from December to April, and terrain for all levels.
A 3-day beginner course with Adventure Packers starts at ₹16,000, including a private instructor, skis, boots, poles, ski wear and safety gear. Accommodation and gondola passes are separate.
Mid-January to February is the best time — deepest snow, most reliable conditions. March is good for beginners. The season runs mid-December to early April.
No. Complete beginners are welcome. You start on the bunny slopes with a private instructor and progress at your own pace.
Fly into Srinagar, then take a taxi or arranged transfer to Gulmarg — about 50 km, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road.
Skis, boots, poles, ski wear, gloves, goggles and safety gear are all included in every Adventure Packers course. You do not need to rent anything separately.
Tell us your dates and level. We will recommend the right course, check availability and send a full cost.
