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Jagged snow-streaked rock peaks above the grey tongue of a glacier on a clear blue day above Sonamarg
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Photo: Madhrakangri · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day planFirst visitnaturebalanced

One day in Sonamarg — the Thajiwas Glacier and the road to Zoji La

A one-day summer plan for Sonamarg: the Thajiwas Glacier in the morning, then the highway towards Zoji La, with road times and the safety notes you need.
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A summer day in Sonamarg. It goes to the Thajiwas Glacier in the morning and drives the highway towards Zoji La in the afternoon. For the season and the road, read when to visit and how to reach Sonamarg.

Photos: Madhrakangri (CC BY-SA 4.0) · VinayakPhadatare (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Mohammad Iliyas khanday (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

Summer visitors with a day to spare, comfortable with a pony ride or a walk on rough ground and a long drive on a mountain road.

Day by day

Day 1

The glacier in the morning, the pass road after

3 stops · 1 h 6 min on the road

Go to the glacier early, while the weather is best, then drive up the highway towards Zoji La.

  1. 08:30
    Thajiwas valley
    viewpoint · 6 min from Sonamarg · about 1 h there
    The valley about 6 minutes from the meadow where the way to the glacier starts.
  2. 09:45
    Thajiwas Glacier
    glacier · 6 min from Sonamarg · about 2 h there
    The glacier above Sonamarg, reached on foot or by pony in summer; we have no measured walking time, and ice has collapsed here, so keep to your guide's route.
  3. ↓ 1 h 6 min by road · 26 km
    13:30
    Zoji La
    pass · 41 min from Sonamarg · about 30 min there
    The pass on the road to Ladakh, about 41 minutes up the highway; check that the road is open before you drive up.

Getting there

Sonamarg is about 80 km and 100 minutes from Srinagar by road, and is cut off by snow in winter. See how to reach Sonamarg for the arrival table and things to do in Sonamarg for more.

Where to stay

Stay in Sonamarg, or return to Srinagar the same evening. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.

Know before you go

  • Ice at the Thajiwas Glacier has collapsed; stay off snow bridges and cavities and follow your guide.
  • Check that the road is open, and the day's security and weather conditions; carry your government's travel advice.
  • We have no verified pony rates or opening hours; agree prices first.

Places on this route

Thajiwas Glacier — the ice above Sonamarg and how people reach it
Thajiwas Glacier — the ice above Sonamarg and how people reach it
glacier · 6 min from Sonamarg
Zoji La — the high pass on the road from Kashmir to Ladakh
Zoji La — the high pass on the road from Kashmir to Ladakh
pass · 41 min from Sonamarg

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

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More places nearby

All of Sonamarg →
Shalimar Bagh — the Mughal garden on Dal Lake's north shore
Shalimar Bagh — the Mughal garden on Dal Lake's north shore
monument · 40 km away
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
Nishat Bagh — the terraced Mughal garden of joy on Dal Lake
monument · 40 km away
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden
Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden — Asia's largest tulip garden
park · 42 km away
Chashme Shahi — the royal spring garden above Dal Lake
Chashme Shahi — the royal spring garden above Dal Lake
monument · 42 km away
Pari Mahal — the terraced garden of fairies above Dal Lake
Pari Mahal — the terraced garden of fairies above Dal Lake
monument · 43 km away
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
temple · 43 km away
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
Dal Lake — shikara boats, houseboats and floating gardens in Srinagar
lake · 44 km away
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
temple · 46 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
A green forested valley with a stream winding through meadows below snow-capped peaks and white clouds near Pahalgam
Pahalgam
30 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
Two shikara boats on calm Dal Lake with snow-covered mountains rising behind the far shore
Srinagar
50 km away · 3 itineraries · 12 places
Visitors walking across the snowy Kongdoori bowl beneath a ridge on a bright winter day
Gulmarg
88 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
Dalhousie hill station across its five hills
Dalhousie
206 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
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Questions people ask

What can you do in Sonamarg in one day?

Visit the Thajiwas Glacier in the morning, by foot or pony, then drive the highway towards Zoji La in the afternoon, about 41 minutes from the meadow on our routing. We have no measured walking time to the glacier, so keep a margin, and start early so the afternoon drive is not rushed.

Is Sonamarg open all year?

No. Wikipedia says it has no permanent settlement and is inaccessible in winter because of heavy snowfall and avalanches, with local traffic stopping at Gagangir. This plan is for the summer season; ask about the road before you travel, since snow can linger into early summer and return early.

Is the glacier safe to visit?

Take care. Wikipedia records two collapses of ice near the Thajiwas Glacier in May and June 2024 that killed a tourist and a labourer. Keep off snow bridges and cavities, follow a local guide and ask about the day's conditions. Turn back if the weather changes, and carry warm and waterproof layers.