The valleys we call home, opened for you
Private, tailor-made journeys across the Himalaya’s most storied landscapes — planned in Srinagar by people who were born here.
Planned in Srinagar, travelled your way
We are a Srinagar-based team of travel designers, guides and drivers. Every journey we plan is private and built around you — the pace, the comforts, the people you’d like to meet. Houseboat mornings on Nigeen, a picnic above Aru, tea with a monk in Nubra: we know the doors to knock on because these are our valleys.
Meet the people behind CNE
Kashmir
Houseboats, Mughal gardens, and meadows ringed by snow peaks.
Ladakh
A high desert of monasteries, salt lakes and the world’s great passes.
Jammu
Temple towns, Dogra palaces and the pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi.
Journeys to begin with
Every itinerary is a starting point. We change the pace, the stays and the route until it fits you.
Kashmir: Houseboats & Alpine Meadows
Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam & Sonamarg
The classic Kashmir journey, done slowly and privately. Begin on a heritage houseboat on Nigeen Lake, then move between the three great meadows — Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg — with time t…
Ladakh: Monasteries Above the Clouds
Leh, the Indus valley, Nubra & Pangong
An acclimatisation-first journey through the high desert. Morning prayers at Thiksey, the ancient murals of Alchi, the dunes of Nubra and a night by the shifting colours of Pangong — with ox…
Houseboats & High Passes
The great road from Srinagar to Leh
One of the world’s great drives. Start on Nigeen Lake, climb through Sonamarg and over Zoji La, pause at Drass and Kargil, and descend through Lamayuru’s moonscape into Leh — letting the alt…
Gulmarg: A Winter Escape
Snow, fireplaces and Srinagar in winter
Kashmir under snow is another country. Ski or sledge in Gulmarg with a private instructor, ride the Gondola high above the tree line, then return to Srinagar for a misty houseboat night and…
Gurez: Hidden Kashmir
The Kishanganga valley and the far north
Cross the Razdan pass into a valley few travellers reach. Log-house villages, the river beneath Habba Khatoon peak, Dard-Shina hospitality and walks where you will meet shepherds rather than…
Jammu: Pilgrimage & Heritage
Vaishno Devi, Jammu & Patnitop
A calm, well-organised yatra to the holy cave at Vaishno Devi — with helicopter options where available — followed by the temples and palaces of Jammu and a restful night among the pines of…
Four seasons, four different valleys
Kashmir changes completely through the year, and Ladakh keeps a calendar of its own. Here’s what each season is best for.
March to May
Blossom season in the Kashmir valley, with Jammu pleasant and the high passes still closed.
Journeys for spring- Tulip garden, SrinagarLate March to April
- Almond blossom at BadamwariMarch
- Pahalgam & Aru meadows reopenFrom April
- Late-season skiing, GulmargUntil March
- Yusmarg and Doodhpathri picnicsApril onwards
- Vaishno Devi yatraComfortable temperatures
June to August
Ladakh opens fully and the Srinagar–Leh road is at its best. Kashmir’s meadows are green and busy.
Journeys for summer- Leh, Nubra & PangongJune to September
- Srinagar to Leh by roadJune to September
- Kashmir Great Lakes trekJuly to September
- Gurez & the far northJune to September
- Hemis festivalJune or July
- Tso Moriri & HanleJune to September
September to November
Clear skies, thinner crowds and the most beautiful colour of the year.
Journeys for autumn- Chinar trees turning, SrinagarLate October to November
- Saffron harvest, PamporeLate October to mid-November
- Ladakh Festival & golden poplarsSeptember to early October
- Apple harvest across the valleySeptember to October
- Navratri at Vaishno DeviOctober
- Photography journeysThe best light of the year
December to February
Snow transforms Kashmir. Jammu is mild, and Ladakh is for the hardy few.
Journeys for winter- Skiing & the Gondola, GulmargDecember to March
- Snowbound houseboat nightsDecember to February
- Snow-leopard tracking, LadakhJanuary to March
- Patnitop in snowDecember to February
- Jammu heritage & templesPleasant all winter
- Losar celebrations, LehDate varies
Places we know by heart
From the lakes of Srinagar to the salt flats of the Changthang.
Srinagar & Dal Lake
Shikaras, Mughal gardens and a city on water
Gulmarg
Meadow of flowers, kingdom of snow
Pahalgam
Where the Lidder runs cold and clear
Sonamarg
The meadow of gold
Gurez Valley
Kashmir before the guidebooks
Leh
A high-desert capital beneath the palace
Nubra Valley
Dunes, camels and a giant Buddha
Pangong Tso
The lake that changes colour
Moments to build a journey around
Add any of these to your itinerary, or ask us for something no one has done before.
A night on a heritage houseboat
Sleep aboard a carved-cedar houseboat on quiet Nigeen Lake, with breakfast on deck and a shikara at your door.
April to October
Dawn at the floating market
Glide out before sunrise to where farmers trade lotus stems, gourds and greens from their boats.
Year-round
The tulip garden in bloom
Walk through waves of tulips beneath the Zabarwan hills during the garden’s short, spectacular season.
Late March to April
Skiing & the Gondola in Gulmarg
Private instruction for beginners or guided off-piste days on the slopes of Apharwat.
December to March
A wazwan supper
A multi-course feast prepared by a traditional waza, shared in the Kashmiri way from a common platter.
Year-round
Old Srinagar craft trail
Meet the artisans behind pashmina, papier-mâché, walnut carving and kani weaving in their own workshops.
Year-roundHow we plan with you
We listen
Tell us when you’d like to travel, who’s coming and what matters most. A specialist calls you back within one working day.
We design
We send a private itinerary with stays, timings and a clear price, then refine it with you until it feels right.
We travel with you
Our drivers and guides are local, and our Srinagar, Leh and Jammu teams are on call around the clock while you’re away.
From the journal
When to visit Kashmir and Ladakh: a season-by-season guide
The two regions have almost opposite seasons. Here is how to time your journey for snow, blossom, meadows or high passes.
Acclimatising in Ladakh: why we never rush the first two days
Leh sits at 3,500 metres. A slow start is the single most important part of any Ladakh itinerary.
A guide to Kashmiri houseboats
Dal or Nigeen? Deluxe or heritage? What to expect from a night on the water in Srinagar.
Tell us how you’d like to travel, and we’ll shape the rest
Every CNE journey is private and planned from scratch with one of our specialists in Srinagar, Leh or Jammu. There’s no obligation and no fee to start.