Kashmir’s gear list changes more with season than with activity — a June trip to Gulmarg and a January one need almost nothing in common.
Summer (May–September), sightseeing and light trekking: layers over a single heavy jacket — mornings and evenings drop cold even in July. A proper pair of broken-in trekking shoes, not sneakers, for anywhere off the main road. Sunscreen and sunglasses matter more than people expect at altitude.
Winter (December–February), Gulmarg and snow travel: genuine cold-weather layering — thermal base layer, insulated mid layer, waterproof outer shell. Waterproof boots, not water-resistant. Gloves and a hat that actually cover your ears; wind chill at Gulmarg’s upper gondola station is no joke.
For any high-altitude trek (Kolahoi, Tarsar-Marsar, Kousarnag): a four-season sleeping bag rated well below what the daytime temperature suggests, a headlamp, water purification tablets or a filter, and a basic first-aid kit — the nearest help can be a full day’s walk away.
Good to know: almost everything is rentable in Srinagar or Pahalgam if you’d rather not fly with it — down jackets, trekking poles, and even sleeping bags are easy to hire by the day.