Day 1 — Srinagar. Arrive, settle into a houseboat on Dal Lake, evening shikara ride. Keep it slow; you’ll want the rest.
Day 2 — Srinagar. Morning at the floating vegetable market, then the Mughal gardens — Nishat, Shalimar, Chashme Shahi — in that order, finishing at Chashme Shahi for the light.
Day 3 — Srinagar to Gulmarg. Roughly two hours by road. Afternoon gondola ride up to Kongdoori, or Apharwat in clear weather. Overnight in Gulmarg.
Day 4 — Gulmarg. A slower day: the golf course walk in summer, or ski/snowboard lessons if you’re there in winter. Sunset from the meadow above the main market.
Day 5 — Back to Srinagar. Depart late morning, one more stop at a Mughal garden or Hazratbal on the way, fly out in the evening.
Good to know: this route needs no permits and works comfortably by shared or private taxi — no need to self-drive.