Enjoy the Thajiwas Glacier Trek from Sonamarg in Kashmir

About Thajiwas Glacier

Thajiwas Glacier Sonmarg

Before getting into the main objective of this article, let us explain why visiting Thajiwas Glacier is a must on your trip to Sonamarg. Renowned as the 'Hidden Jewel of Kashmir,' the Thajiwas Glacier is among the most famous tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir for trekking.

This beautiful glacier remains covered in snow throughout the year. Hence, one can often find snow on the trek to the glacier, even during summer.

Besides, the area around the glacier is home to a range of flora and fauna. So, if lucky, tourists can even catch sight of some endangered animal species, such as the Musk deer and Himalayan Brown Bear, during the trek.

Best Time To Visit Thajiwas Glacier

Generally, the road to Thajiwas Glacier is made available for trekking in late March or early April. However, due to a thick snow blanket covering half of the route, it gets difficult to get to the end of the trek. So, most tourists end up returning midway.

The route generally remains open until late October or early November if the weather conditions are okay. But we recommend planning a trip in summer.

The summer season in Sonamarg lasts from May to September, offering pleasant weather. The temperature stays around 10-20°C, making it ideal for outdoor activities like trekking.

Around this time, the route from Sonamarg to Thajiwas Glacier becomes much more livelier, with lush greenery all around.

In the winter season, the route to the Thajiwas glacier remains closed due to heavy snowfall.

Different Ways To Reach The Thajiwas Glacier

Most tour packages include transportation to Sonamarg, and some even cover the fuel charges. However, if you're already in Sonmarg, there are two ways to reach Thajiwas Glacier. You can either walk to the viewpoint or ride a pony.

Different Ways To Reach The Thajiwas Glacier

Ponies are easily available in Sonamarg, and you will find many pony owners approaching you once you begin the trek. You can even request your hotel to arrange a pony ride to the glacier.

However, if you've got good stamina and the will to cover 6 km, including the return trip, we recommend walking. Trust us, it's not as difficult as it may appear at first. The starting 300-400 m may leave you breathing heavily in the beginning because of the steep climbing. But the rest of the trek involves straight walking for most of it.

You won't even need a guide as the trek follows an easy and well-marked route.

Thajiwas Glacier Entry & Pony Ride

The good thing is that this trek is free of cost, meaning there is no entry fee. However, if you choose to ride a pony, you will be paying around Rs. 700-1600 for one way during the prime season.

Pony Ride in kashmir

The rate generally comes down to Rs. 600-800 in the off-season. We recommend negotiating a bit before agreeing on the final rate.

If you're booking an online tour package with this trek, you can also get a pony ride included for a comparatively cheaper price. Generally, most hotels also have connections with pony owners, offering rides at a lower rate.

Thajiwas Glacier Trek Distance & Time 

As mentioned earlier, the trek covers a distance of about 3 km from Sonamarg to the Thajiwas Glacier Viewpoint. But if you go beyond that, you'll have to cover an additional 7-8 km before exiting via the Sarbal village.

Generally, the trek can take anywhere between 90 minutes to 2.5 hours on one way, depending on the pace of your journey. If you make several stops for photography and relaxing, it's bound to take you longer. Otherwise, you can complete the entire trek, including the return, in 4-5 hours.

One thing to note is that this trekking route lies within the Bear Valley, meaning the place is home to several bears. You wouldn't want to run into one the first thing in the morning. So, we recommend you avoid early morning treks when the bears come close to the town.

The ideal time to start the trek is around 9 am, and return by afternoon to avoid any tourist crowd and enjoy a peaceful experience.

Conclusion

Once again, this trek is a must if you're an adventure enthusiast planning an exciting trip to Sonamarg. We hope this article was able to clear any confusion that you might have had regarding this trek. For more such travel-related information, you can go through our website!