48 Hours on the Gurez Road
Gurez Valley, Kashmir
10 May 2025
“The army checkpoint officer looked at my permit, then at me, then back at the permit. 'You're going alone?' he asked. I nodded. He shook his head slowly. 'The road is bad. No phone signal for 80 km. If something happens, nobody will know.' I went anyway. The road was terrible. The valley was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. I understood, for the first time, why some places stay hidden — getting there is a filter that only the truly curious pass through.”
— Uddip
The Gurez Valley road opens in late May or early June. In 2025, it opened on June 2nd. I was at the pass on June 3rd.
Coming down from Razdan Pass into Gurez is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever experienced. The Kishanganga River - turquoise from glacial melt - runs through the center.
This scouting trip directly became our Gurez journey. Explorer-tier pricing applies - ₹42,000/person.