In Kashmir, pony riding exists because many places simply cannot be reached in any other way. Once a road ends, the ground turns into meadow paths, forest tracks, and narrow trails that climb toward snow and rock. Vehicles stop there. Walking becomes slow and tiring. This is where the pony ride begins. It is not set up as a staged activity. It is the way locals and visitors move through terrain that does not allow anything else.
A horse ride in Kashmir usually runs with one pony and one local handler. The person who will be overseeing the pony will continue to walk alongside. His presence is important to control the pace of the pony. The person in charge of the pony is also called the handler. He handles the decision of choosing a trail. For choosing the trail, he takes into consideration various external factors like the ground weather and the traffic on the route.
The movement of the pony is not rough. It is slow and steady. There is no need to rush with your pony ride. Due to the fun and a strong safety perspective, even families, older travellers, and people without a lot of trekking experience may get on the pony ride in Kashmir. They can travel across places such as the Baisaran, Aru Valley, Khilanmarg, etc. Do not worry about the uneven terrains. Your pony and its master are well acquainted with the ways of the terrain. You can sit relaxed.
When people ask about the exciting pony ride in Kashmir price or the pony ride in Kashmir cost, what really changes the amount is not the animal. It is the distance, slope, and time on the trail. A short meadow ride inside Pahalgam costs far less than a long climb toward snow-covered ground in Sonmarg or Gulmarg. Some routes take less than an hour. Others take half a day. This is why no single flat rate exists across Kashmir.
Pony rides are also used differently by different travellers. Families usually choose flat valleys with gentle movement. Couples often choose longer meadow trails that stay quiet. Solo travellers and trekkers prefer routes that go higher toward glaciers or ridgelines. This is why the best exciting pony ride in Kashmir means something different depending on where and how far a person wants to go.
Cost of Exciting Pony Ride in Kashmir
Pony ride in Kashmir is all about 3 main things. First, how much distance will the pony cover? The second important aspect of the pony ride is the movement of the pony along the trail. And lastly, what’s the condition of the terrain, from smooth plains to a difficult-to-navigate scale?
Your cost of pony will depend on these three aspects. In a nutshell, the distance, type of terrain and the trail of the terrain are the markers for the cost of a pony ride in Kashmir. The reasons for a fluctuating pony cost are none other than local pony unions and their control over the route points' price. Due to this system. The cost of the thrilling pony ride in Kashmir is different for each town. Also, depending on the ride itself, cost will rise or decrease. For example, for a ride in the snow, which is on a mountain and reaches higher regions, your pony ride cost will be expensive. In contrast, on a meadow ride, the cost will be lower as the plains are easy to tackle.
Pony Ride Price Ranges by Route
Location
Route
Approximate Price Range Per Person
Pahalgam
Baisaran (Mini Switzerland)
₹700 – ₹1,400
Kashmir Valley
₹1,100 – ₹1,400
Old Shikargah
₹1,500 – ₹1,800
Waterfall
₹700 – ₹900
Gulmarg
Khilanmarg
₹3,500 – ₹4,500
Alpather Lake
₹1,500 – ₹2,500
Sonmarg
Thajiwas Glacier
₹3,500 – ₹4,500
Baltal Valley
₹1,800 – ₹2,500
Doodhpathri
Palmaidan
₹500 – ₹800
Tangnar Meadows
₹300 – ₹500
People who are interested in the pony ride adventure often ask about the Kashmir ticket price. They also enquire about the pony ride in Pahalgam price. While both of these queries refer to the same question, what is the cost of taking a pony ride in Kashmir? The cost range, depending on the location chosen, has been outlined above. Longer glacier and ridge routes always sit at the higher end of the scale, while meadow and short valley rides sit lower.
Inclusions
One pony for one person
One local handler walking with the pony
Route access based on the chosen trail
Exclusions
Food or water
Photography services
Entry tickets for gardens or parks
Any vehicle transport before or after the pony trail
Top Destinations for Pony Rides in Kashmir
The pony ride in Kashmir is not limited to one destination. It is distributed across 5 different places. All the locations of the pony rides in Kashmir are in valleys surrounded by mountains.
The terrains that are covered under the pony ride in Kashmir can only be explored via a pony. No other means of transportation will be able to cover the vast lands spread across the remote areas in Kashmir except a pony.
Pahalgam
Pahalgam is a serene part of Kashmir. It is an intense location with more to offer than what meets the eye. This place is where the pony ride is a unique adventure activity. Here, you will not feel bored even for a second on your pony ride. The pony will take you across the valleys into the vast open lands of Pahalgam, Kashmir. You will be riding the pony across wide meadows, raging yet calming river banks, yet expansive slopes covered with dense forests reaching up to the sky.
In the pony ride at Pahalgam, travellers often visit the Baisaran, Aru Valley, and Betaab Valley, which are beautiful, attractive points of Kashmir. You feel extra courageous when you sit on a pony. It's the best feeling that creates an adrenaline rush. A vast open space where the grass grows free and the wind blows cold, hitting your senses in the best way possible, this is where you will be when taking the pony ride. Families can spend some stress-free time together in areas with less pollution, fewer people, and less noise, offering more freedom. Even the people who will take a pony ride for the first time will like it better in Pahalgam. Pony ride in Pahalgam price is neither too high nor too low. It is moderate as most of the trails are on meadowland and steep climbs are not frequent.
Gulmarg
Gulmarg pony routes move into higher ground. Khilanmarg, Alpather Lake, and ridge-side trails are reached by climbing steadily uphill. This is where the pony ride in Gulmarg price rises because the pony stays on the trail for several hours. The views change from grass to pine forest and then to snowfields as the ride continues.
Sonmarg
In Sonmarg, ponies are used to reach glaciers and high-altitude valleys. The pony ride in Sonmarg price reflects this because trails lead toward Thajiwas Glacier, Baltal Valley, and alpine lakes. This terrain is colder and steeper, so handlers keep the ponies slow and sure-footed.
Doodhpathri
Doodhpathri sits lower than Gulmarg and Sonmarg. The pony ride in Doodhpathri price stays lighter because routes run through wide green fields and forest edges. Palmaidan and Tangnar are common stops. These trails suit relaxed riders who want open space rather than high climbs.
Yusmarg
Yusmarg remains quieter than the other bases. Ponies move through long grasslands and gentle slopes. It is used by travellers who want wide scenery without heavy crowds.
How to Get There
All pony ride journeys in Kashmir begin by first reaching Srinagar, which acts as the entry point for the valley. From Srinagar, travellers move by road to the individual pony bases.
How to Reach Srinagar from Major Cities of India
City
Travel Route
Delhi
Flight to Srinagar or train to Jammu, followed by road
Mumbai
One-stop or seasonal direct flight
Bangalore
Flight via Delhi
Chennai
Flight via Delhi
Kolkata
Flight via Delhi
Once in Srinagar, all pony riding destinations are reached by road before the trail begins.
How to Reach Pony Bases from Srinagar
Pony Base
Road Route
Pahalgam
Srinagar-Anantnag-Pahalgam
Gulmarg
Srinagar-Tangmarg-Gulmarg
Sonmarg
Srinagar-Sonmarg on the Leh Highway
Doodhpathri
Srinagar-Budgam-Doodhpathri
Yusmarg
Srinagar-Chadoora-Yusmarg
Permissions and restrictions
Pony rides operate only during daylight
Routes close during heavy rain or snow
Glacier trails depend on the daily ground conditions
Union counters at each base control pony allocation
This route structure is what controls pony ride in Kashmir booking, how to book pony ride in Kashmir, and exciting pony ride in Kashmir timings, since every ride starts only after reaching the base town and checking trail conditions.
Best Time to Visit for a Pony Ride in Kashmir
The best time to visit for a pony ride in Kashmir depends on the weather and the condition of the ground. Ponies use a soft trail on the hard land. They take the routes that are on soily lands. Ponies travel not only on soil but also on grass, stone, and snow (occasionally). Your pony or whole ride in general will take a haul when the land turns icy due to extreme cold weather, or it becomes wet due to humid weather conditions. Ponies do not travel on wet or icy lands.
A pony’s master will not take the pony across an unsafe land, as it can increase the chances of the passenger falling off or the pony suffering problems while moving on such kind of a land. Due to the extreme weather conditions, the change in the land from dry to wet or icy, the best time to visit for a pony ride in Kashmir keeps changing throughout the year.
Kashmir has vast open lands with changing temperatures and nature. The land remains firm during the time the pony ride takes place in Kashmir. Not only does the soil on the land hold firm, but the weather remains stable when the ponies are set up for rides. Pony ride time is when the Pahalgam and Doodhpathri meadow routes remain open. Other routes that the pony can use depend on the snow level. For example, the glacier route in Sonmarg will not be functional if there is a lot of snow on it. Similarly, the Gulmarg path will also close down for ponies if there is snow on the trail.
Seasonal Trail Conditions
Season
Trail Condition
Ride Availability
Late spring to early summer
Meadows open, snow still present at higher routes
Pahalgam and Doodhpathri are fully active, Gulmarg and Sonmarg are partly active
Mid-summer
Dry trails and clear paths
All bases, including Sonmarg and Gulmarg, operate normally
Autumn
Cold mornings, stable ground
Good for longer rides, fewer crowds
Winter
Snow on most trails
Pony rides are mostly closed except for limited meadow routes
Routes like pony ride in Sonmarg toward Thajiwas Glacier depend on snow depth, while pony ride in Doodhpathri stays open longer because the land sits lower and remains grassy.
Things to Do with a Pony Ride in Kashmir
A pony ride in Kashmir is not used only for moving from one point to another. It becomes part of how people explore the valley, because the trail itself passes through landscapes that cannot be seen from the road.
People usually combine a ride with:
Visiting high meadows where walking would take too long
Reaching valleys that do not have vehicle tracks
Going close to glaciers and snowfields
Accessing forest trails that lead to quiet viewpoints
On longer routes in Gulmarg, the Khilanmarg pony ride and the Alpather Lake pony ride allow riders to move from grassland into alpine terrain. In Sonmarg, the Thajiwas Glacier pony ride takes people toward snow and ice without trekking. Shorter meadow rides in Pahalgam allow time for photography and rest without physical strain.
This is why the best exciting pony ride in Kashmir depends on what someone wants to see rather than how fast or how far the pony goes. The exciting pony ride in Kashmir price and the pony ride in Kashmir cost simply reflect how much of that terrain the rider chooses to cover.
Where to Stay
Medow entry points are the starting place for pony rides in Kashmir. Similarly, the centre of the town is also a starting location for the pony adventure ride. It is best to stay at a place that is close to the base town where the ride starts. Those who stay near the trail benefit from reaching for the ride on time and reaching back home after the ride ends on time. Choose to book your stay location in the town itself so that the pony ride is easily accessible in the early morning or late afternoon hours.
Location
Type of Stay
What It Suits
Pahalgam
Guesthouses, hotels, riverside lodges
Easy access to Baisaran, Aru, and valley trails
Gulmarg
Hotels, ski lodges
Close to Khilanmarg and ridge trails
Sonmarg
Small hotels and lodges
Quick start for glacier routes
Doodhpathri
Guesthouses and simple stays
Direct access to meadow routes
Srinagar
City hotels and houseboats
Base for day trips to all pony locations
Staying near the base town keeps the start of the ride simple and avoids long morning transfers before reaching the pony counters.
Travel Tips
Pony riding in Kashmir works smoothly when travellers understand how the system runs on the ground. The pony ride in Kashmir booking process depends on local counters and daily trail conditions rather than advance schedules.
Start early in the day because trails close before evening
Carry light eatables and some water during long rides.
Shoes with a firm grip are best for trips involving uneven ground.
Ensure you have the right time details for the start and end of your journey.
Keep a few rupees for cash for payment
The horse ride in the Kashmir system runs on daily availability rather than fixed slots, so planning your day around the ride gives better results.
Safety and Etiquette
Pony rides stay safe because handlers follow fixed movement rules on the trail. Riders who understand this avoid problems and delays.
Sit straight and avoid sudden movement.
Follow instructions during mounting and stopping
Keep bags light to maintain balance
Do not try to control the pony yourself
Let the handler choose the pace
The pony ride in Kashmir cost reflects not only the distance but also the responsibility of the handler who guides the animal and the rider through uneven terrain.
Why Choose My Tour Plans
My Tour Plans arranges pony rides as part of complete Kashmir travel planning rather than treating them as standalone sales. This approach keeps routes, transport, and daily schedules aligned, which avoids confusion at the pony bases.
Our support includes
Route planning based on real trail conditions
Help with pony ride in Kashmir booking through local coordination
Transport timing aligned with pony counters
Clear cost guidance based on current union ranges
Local handling to avoid route and timing issues
A pony ride works best when it fits into the day’s travel flow. My Tour Plans focuses on that coordination, so the ride happens at the right place, at the right time, without disruption.
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Policy
Inclusions
Only Activity
Exclusions
18% GST will be applicable
Cancellation Policy
If there are uncertain conditions like (Weather Conditions), we will refund you the full amount.
If the reservation is canceled on your end, the amount you have paid will be nonrefundable.
If you have already made the reservation due to some circumstances, you want to postpone it. You can make the reservation within 2 to 3 Days only.
Additional Information
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not recommended for travellers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travellers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Help
If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below:
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