You want to learn to ski properly. Maybe it's your first time on snow. Maybe you've skied a few days before and never felt in control. Or maybe you ski well and want someone to help you handle Gulmarg's powder and steeper terrain. Whatever your starting point, you need an instructor who knows how to teach and who knows this mountain. That is what a Gulmarg ski school is for.
Gulmarg Snowkings is a ski and snowboard school based in Gulmarg, Kashmir. We have taught and guided on Mt Apharwat since 2006. We are registered with J&K Tourism as a ski school and backcountry guiding operator (permit no. JKAT00005678). Over that time we have worked with more than 2,500 skiers from over 40 countries.
Our Gulmarg ski school teaches every level: complete beginners, children, families, intermediate skiers and advanced skiers moving into powder and off-piste terrain. We teach both skiing and snowboarding. Lessons are one-to-one as standard. Equipment, ski clothing and hotel pick-up within Gulmarg are included in our lesson packages.
What makes learning here different is the mountain itself. You start on gentle slopes in the village. As your skiing improves, the same mountain keeps opening up: the gondola to Kongdoori, the chairlift, and for strong skiers, the high alpine terrain off Phase 2. Few places let you go from your first snowplough to your first powder run without ever changing resorts.
Call or WhatsApp +91-9596300570 to enquire about ski lessons.
Ski school in Gulmarg
A good ski school in Gulmarg should give you more than someone to follow down the hill. It should give you a clear plan, correct technique and good judgment about where to ski on the day.
Here is what that looks like in practice at our Gulmarg ski school.
We assess before we teach
Every lesson starts with a conversation. Have you skied before? Where, and for how long? How do you feel about speed and steep slopes? Any old injuries? Then we watch you move on skis for a few minutes. What people say about their skiing and how they actually ski are often different. Both matter.
That short assessment decides the plan. A nervous first-timer and a confident teenager who has skied twice before need completely different first hours.
We teach in stages
Skiing is built one skill at a time. Balance comes before stopping. Stopping comes before turning. Controlled turns come before steeper slopes. If a stage is skipped, the problem shows up later, usually as fear or bad habits that take a long time to undo.
So we don't rush you up the mountain. You move to the next stage when you can do the current one with control, not when the clock says so.
We fit your equipment properly
Badly fitted boots are the most common reason a first ski day goes wrong. Too loose and you have no control. Too tight and your feet hurt so much you stop listening to the instructor. We fit your skis, boots and poles at our own ski shop in Gulmarg before your lesson, and we check them again on the snow.
We choose terrain for the conditions
Gulmarg's snow and weather change quickly. A slope that is soft and easy in the afternoon can be hard and icy the next morning. After a big snowfall, the beginner area can be deep and slow. Part of an instructor's job is choosing the right slope for you on that particular day.
Everyone is different
Some students are fit but cautious. Some are fearless but lose balance easily. Children learn differently from adults. A good ski school adapts the lesson to the person in front of it, rather than running every student through the same script.
Ski lessons in Gulmarg
Ski lessons in Gulmarg follow a natural progression. How fast you move through it depends on you: your fitness, balance, confidence, previous experience and how much you practise. Snow conditions play a part too. Here is the general path.
Your first lesson: getting used to the equipment
Before you slide anywhere, you learn how the equipment works. How to walk in ski boots. How to click in and out of your skis. How to hold your poles. How to get up after a fall, which you will do, and which is completely normal.
Stance and balance
Good skiing starts with a balanced stance: ankles and knees gently flexed, weight over the middle of your feet, hands forward where you can see them. Most beginners lean back when they feel nervous. Leaning back makes the skis run faster and harder to control. Learning to stay centred is the foundation of everything that follows.
Walking, sliding and gliding
On flat snow you learn to shuffle, side-step and glide. These small movements teach you how skis react when you shift your weight. They also build the leg strength and confidence you need for your first slope.
Stopping: the snowplough
The snowplough, or wedge, is the first way most skiers learn to control speed and stop. You push the tails of your skis apart so the tips come close together, making a wedge shape. The wider the wedge, the more you slow down. Once you can stop reliably, skiing stops being frightening.
Turning
Wedge turns come next. By pressing slightly more on one ski, you start to turn. You learn to turn left, turn right and choose where you go. This is also when you start using the drag lift at the base area.
Linking turns
Linking turns means going from one turn straight into the next, in a smooth rhythm down the slope. This is the point where you are really skiing. Linked turns let you control your speed on longer and slightly steeper runs.
Moving toward parallel skiing
As your confidence and speed grow, your skis naturally start to come together through the turn. Your instructor helps that happen with specific exercises. Parallel turns give you more control, less effort and access to more of the mountain.
Steeper terrain, when you're ready
Once you ski with control on the beginner slopes, your instructor may take you higher, first to Gondola Phase 1 and the Kongdoori area. The steeper and longer runs there build on everything you have learned. We only move up when your skiing is ready for it.
Not sure which level you are? Message us and describe your skiing. We'll help you choose the right lesson.
Learn skiing in Gulmarg
Gulmarg is a very good place to learn skiing, and a very good place to keep improving afterwards. A few reasons:
Beginner terrain close to the village. The nursery slopes sit at around 2,660 m, near the hotels, served by surface (drag) lifts. You don't lose half your day travelling to the snow.
Natural snow. Gulmarg receives heavy natural snowfall through the winter. Learning on natural snow is usually more forgiving than learning on hard, icy pistes.
A clear route up the mountain. Gulmarg's lift system gives a logical progression:
- Base area (~2,660 m): Drag lifts and gentle slopes for first-timers.
- Gondola Phase 1 to Kongdoori (~3,050 m): Longer runs and more varied terrain for progressing beginners and intermediates.
- Chairlift above Kongdoori: Steeper, longer terrain for confident intermediates.
- Gondola Phase 2 to Mt Apharwat (3,980 m): High alpine terrain for strong, experienced skiers. Most of this is off-piste.
Room to grow. Gulmarg is known worldwide for its powder, tree skiing and freeride terrain. Once you have strong fundamentals, there is a lifetime of skiing above you.
A word of caution. Much of Gulmarg's upper-mountain terrain is off-piste and steep, and it is not avalanche-controlled in the way pistes at many resorts in Europe or North America are. Beginners belong on the groomed, lower-mountain slopes. The upper mountain comes later, with the right skills, the right conditions and the right guidance.
Our ski instructors in Gulmarg
A good ski instructor does far more than demonstrate turns. Here is what our instructors bring to a lesson.
Teaching technique. Knowing how to ski and knowing how to teach skiing are different skills. Our instructors break movements into small, clear steps and use simple exercises that make the correct movement feel natural.
Clear communication. We explain things simply, without jargon, and check that you've understood. We work with many international visitors and Indian travellers, including many who have never seen snow before.
Terrain selection. Choosing the right slope for your level, on that day, in those conditions, is one of the most important decisions an instructor makes. The wrong slope destroys confidence. The right one builds it.
Safety awareness. Your instructor watches the slope, the weather, other skiers and you, all at once. They keep you in terrain you can handle and step in before small problems become big ones.
Adapting to each student. A cautious adult, an energetic eight-year-old and an ex-skier returning after ten years all need different teaching. Our instructors adjust the pace, the explanation and the terrain to suit you.
Knowing Gulmarg's snow. Our instructors are local. They have skied Mt Apharwat through many seasons. They know where the snow stays soft, where it gets icy, and how conditions change through the day.
Correcting technique. Small corrections at the right moment make the biggest difference. Your instructor spots what's holding you back and gives you one clear thing to work on at a time.
Building confidence without pushing risk. Confidence should come from real control, not from being talked into something too steep. We would rather you finish a lesson wanting more than finish it frightened.
Our instructors and guides are named, with their years on this mountain, on our guides.
Our backcountry and off-piste team holds avalanche certifications from AIARE, Avalanche Canada and the Kashmir Avalanche Association. Gulmarg Snowkings was founded by Shafat Ahmad Tantray and Bashir Ahmad Mir.
Beginner ski lessons in Gulmarg
Beginner ski lessons are for anyone who has never skied, or who has tried once or twice and never felt in control. Many of our students have never touched snow before arriving in Gulmarg. That is not a problem. It's where most people start.
What happens on your first day
You meet your instructor, usually after we pick you up from your hotel. At our ski shop you are fitted for boots, skis and poles, plus a ski jacket and ski pants. Then you head to the beginner area.
Your first hour is spent on flat or very gentle snow. You learn to move in the boots, put on your skis, walk, turn around and get up from a fall. Then you practise sliding on a very gentle slope, where the snow itself slows you down.
Once you feel balanced, you learn the snowplough and practise stopping. After that, depending on how you are doing, you may take your first ride on the drag lift.
What beginners normally learn
Over the first few days, most beginners work through:
- Comfort and balance on skis
- The snowplough stop
- Controlled wedge turns in both directions
- Using the drag lift safely
- Linking turns down a gentle slope
- Choosing a line and controlling speed
Some students move faster than this. Some need more time on each step. Both are fine.
Riding the lifts
Lifts are a skill in themselves. Your instructor shows you how to get on and off the drag lift, and later the gondola, safely and without stress. We only move to a new lift when you are ready.
Toward parallel skiing
Parallel skiing usually comes after you are comfortable with linked wedge turns on easy slopes. For many beginners this takes more than one short trip. That's normal. Good fundamentals are worth more than a quick jump to steeper terrain.
Be realistic
Skiing is physical. Your legs will be tired. You will fall. Skiing always carries some risk, even on beginner slopes. But with a patient instructor, the right slope and correctly fitted equipment, most people enjoy their first days on skis far more than they expected.
Call or WhatsApp +91-9596300570 to ask about our beginner courses. See also our beginner ski packages, which combine lessons with accommodation.
Private ski lessons in Gulmarg
Our lessons are private, one-to-one lessons as standard. You can also book a private lesson for two, which suits couples, friends or a parent and child at a similar level. For a larger family group, message us with who is coming and their ages and we will tell you what works.
What private instruction gives you
Undivided attention. Your instructor watches every turn you make. Feedback comes immediately, while the movement is still fresh.
Your own pace. If you're ready to move on, you move on. If you need longer on a step, you take longer. Nobody is waiting for you, and you are not waiting for anyone.
A lesson built around you. Your goals, your fears, your strengths. A private lesson can focus on exactly what you need: stopping with confidence, parallel turns, skiing steeper slopes, or skiing powder.
Flexible timing. Lessons are available between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, and you choose your time. We pick you up from your hotel anywhere in Gulmarg and drop you back afterwards.
Who private lessons suit
- Beginners who want a patient instructor focused only on them
- Nervous skiers who need to build confidence at their own pace
- Intermediate skiers stuck on a plateau and wanting specific technique correction
- Advanced skiers who want coaching in powder, trees and steep terrain
- Families who want their children taught individually
Private lessons don't automatically make anyone a better skier. What they do is allow the lesson to match your needs closely, which for most people makes the time on snow more productive.
Call or WhatsApp +91-9596300570 to book a private ski instructor in Gulmarg.
Intermediate & advanced ski lessons
Intermediate ski lessons
You can link turns and ski easy slopes. But when the slope gets steeper, you tense up, lean back and skid. Your turns get bigger and slower. This is the most common plateau in skiing, and good coaching makes a big difference here.
Intermediate lessons typically work on:
- Parallel skiing: getting the skis to move together through the whole turn
- Edge control: using the edges of the skis to grip and steer rather than skid
- Pole planting: timing and rhythm that make turns flow
- Speed control through turn shape: controlling speed by finishing your turns, not by braking
- Steeper groomed terrain: skiing confidently off Gondola Phase 1 and the chairlift
- Variable snow: crud, chopped-up powder, wind-affected snow and firm morning snow
Advanced ski lessons
You ski all the groomed terrain comfortably. Now you want to ski Gulmarg's natural terrain well.
Advanced coaching can cover:
- Carving: clean, high-edge turns on firm snow
- Powder technique: a more balanced stance, rhythm and speed to keep the skis floating in deep snow
- Tree skiing: reading lines, managing speed in tight spaces and always skiing with a partner in sight
- Steep skiing: short, controlled turns on steep slopes, with a strong pole plant
- Terrain awareness: reading the slope, the snow and the exit before committing to a line
- Freeride skills: skiing natural features and choosing lines on open terrain
- Backcountry preparation: transceiver use, basic companion rescue and how to travel in avalanche terrain
Coaching versus guiding
These are different jobs.
Coaching means improving your technique. Your coach watches you ski and helps you ski better.
Guiding means taking you through mountain terrain safely. Your guide chooses where to ski based on snow stability, weather and your group, and manages the avalanche risk.
When lessons go off-piste on Mt Apharwat, both are needed. Off-piste terrain in Gulmarg is not controlled for avalanches the way many resort pistes are. It requires strong skiing skills, avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe, and often an airbag pack), suitable conditions and experienced risk management.
Our backcountry team is certified through AIARE, Avalanche Canada and the Kashmir Avalanche Association. Since 2006 we have had zero avalanche accidents among our guided clients. On some days, conditions mean the right decision is to stay out of the high terrain. We make that call based on the snow, not the schedule.
If you want full days of guided off-piste skiing, see freeride and backcountry skiing in Gulmarg and our Gulmarg ski guides. You can rent a full set of avalanche safety gear from our ski shop.
Children's ski lessons in Gulmarg
Children often learn to ski faster than adults, and they usually fall more easily too. The key is keeping them safe, warm and having fun. Here's how we approach children's ski lessons in Gulmarg.
Age-appropriate teaching. Younger children learn through play and imitation rather than explanation. We use games, simple targets and following the instructor. Older children and teenagers can take more technical instruction.
Short learning stages. Children's energy and concentration come in bursts. We break the lesson into short, active pieces with breaks to warm up, rest and have a snack.
Building confidence first. A child who feels safe will try new things. A child who is frightened will not. We keep children on gentle slopes until they can stop and turn with confidence.
Balance and movement. Early lessons focus on simple balance and movement: gliding, stopping, turning and getting up. Skills come naturally once a child is comfortable on skis.
Appropriate terrain. Children stay on the gentle beginner slopes at the base until they are ready. We don't take young children into steep or off-piste terrain.
Correct equipment. Children's boots, skis and clothing are fitted at our ski shop. Boots that fit and a warm, dry child make a huge difference to how the lesson goes.
Every child is different. Some children are skiing down happily after a day or two. Others need longer before they enjoy it. We don't judge success by speed. We judge it by whether your child wants to come back tomorrow.
Age. We don't set a hard minimum age, because readiness varies enormously between children of the same age. Message us with your child's age and we'll give you an honest view on whether lessons will work.
Parents are welcome to watch from the side of the slope. You can also book a lesson for two and learn alongside your child.
Ski courses in Gulmarg
A single lesson is a good introduction. A multi-day ski course is how real progress happens. Skiing builds day on day, and working with the same instructor over several days means each lesson picks up exactly where the last one finished.
Here is a general guide to what different lengths of ski courses in Gulmarg can achieve. Every skier progresses differently, so treat this as a rough guide, not a promise.
1–3 days: introduction and fundamentals
For first-time skiers. Equipment, balance, stopping, basic turns and using the drag lifts. Many beginners are aiming to ski down confidently from Gondola Phase 1 by the end of three days. That is the goal of our 3-day lesson package.
4–6 days: skill development and confidence
Linking turns smoothly, handling longer runs and slightly steeper slopes, and starting to move from wedge turns toward parallel skiing. By this stage most students are enjoying the mountain rather than just surviving it.
7+ days: further technical development
Parallel skiing, better edge control, steeper groomed terrain and variable snow. Skiers with previous experience can work on carving, powder and first steps off-piste in suitable conditions.
Our course and package options
- Short lesson packages (1, 2 or 3 days): without accommodation, including equipment, ski clothing, safety gear, lift passes where relevant and hotel pick-up within Gulmarg.
- 6-Day Complete Skiing & Snowboarding Course: a full week of one-to-one instruction with hotel stay.
- Budget Ski Package (6 nights / 6 ski days): budget stay, with the same training as our premium packages.
- Beginner ski packages (5 and 7 nights): lessons combined with accommodation.
See prices and inclusions on our ski packages page, or message us for a plan built around your dates.
Call or WhatsApp +91-9596300570 to plan your Gulmarg ski trip.
Snowboard lessons in Gulmarg
Gulmarg Snowkings also teaches snowboarding. Gulmarg's deep snow and natural terrain make it a great place to ride, and our snowboard lessons in Gulmarg cover complete beginners through to experienced riders.
For complete beginners
The first days of snowboarding are usually harder than the first days of skiing. You fall more, and you fall differently. After that, many people progress quickly. Beginner snowboard lessons cover:
- Stance: finding out whether you ride regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward), and setting up your bindings to suit
- Balance and basic movement: skating with one foot strapped in, gliding and getting up
- Stopping: using the heel-side edge to slow down and stop
- Side-slipping and falling leaf: controlling your speed on your heel and toe edges
- Turning: your first turns from heel-side to toe-side and back
- Linking turns: riding down the slope in a smooth rhythm
- Lifts: getting on and off the drag lift and gondola safely with a board
Intermediate progression
Once you can link turns, your instructor works on carving, riding steeper slopes, switch riding and handling variable snow. Stronger riders can move on to powder and tree riding.
Mountain awareness
As with skiing, off-piste snowboarding in Gulmarg needs the right skills, equipment and guidance. We teach riders to understand terrain and conditions, not only technique. Advanced riders can join our backcountry and splitboard days.
Snowboards, boots and bindings are available from our ski shop. See snowboard packages for full-week options.
Why learn to ski with a professional instructor?
Plenty of people try to learn from a friend. Sometimes it works. Often it leads to frustration, bad habits or a fall that puts someone off skiing for good. Here's what a professional instructor adds.
Correct fundamentals. The first habits you build tend to stay with you. Learning to stay balanced and centred from day one makes everything that follows easier.
Good habits, not fixes later. Leaning back, stiff legs and skidding turns are easier to prevent than to correct after years of skiing that way.
Understanding your equipment. How boots should feel, how to carry skis, how bindings work and why fit matters.
Confidence that comes from control. Real confidence comes from knowing you can stop and turn when you need to.
Immediate feedback. You can't see yourself ski. An instructor can, and one well-timed correction can change a whole day.
The right terrain. A friend may take you somewhere too steep because it's where they want to ski. An instructor chooses terrain for your level.
Understanding mountain conditions. Snow, visibility and weather affect how and where you should ski. An instructor reads them for you and explains what they are seeing.
Learning safely. Knowing the rules of the slope, how to fall, how to stop, and when to call it a day.
Systematic progress. A structured plan gets you further in the same number of days than trial and error.
What to expect from your first ski lesson in Gulmarg
Every lesson is adapted to the student, so yours may run in a different order. But most first lessons look something like this.
- Meet your instructor. We pick you up from your hotel in Gulmarg.
- Talk about your experience. Have you skied before? What are you hoping to achieve? Any concerns or injuries?
- Get your equipment. Boots, skis and poles are fitted at our ski shop, along with a ski jacket and pants.
- Check everything on the snow. Boots buckled correctly, gloves on, goggles or sunglasses ready.
- Learn basic movement. Walking in boots, clicking into skis, side-stepping and turning around on flat snow.
- Practise balance. Finding a centred stance and gliding on very gentle terrain.
- Learn to stop. The snowplough, practised until it feels reliable.
- Practise turns. Simple wedge turns in both directions.
- Progress at your pace. Depending on how you're doing, your first drag lift ride and your first short runs.
- Review the day. Your instructor sums up what you learned and what comes next.
Wear warm layers, bring gloves and sun protection, and eat a good breakfast. Your legs will thank you.
How many days do you need to learn skiing in Gulmarg?
There is no single number. Most first-time adult skiers need around three days of lessons to ski easy slopes with basic control, and a week to build real confidence. But that varies a lot from person to person.
What makes the difference:
First-time skiers. Three days is a sensible minimum to learn the fundamentals: stopping, turning and using the lifts. A full week gives you time to consolidate them.
People who have skied before. If you've had lessons before, even a few years ago, you will usually progress faster. One or two days may be enough to get back to your previous level and start improving.
Children. Many children pick up the basics quickly, but they also tire faster. Several shorter sessions often work better than long days.
Adults. Adults tend to understand instructions quickly but can be more cautious. Confidence is often the main thing that sets the pace.
Fitness. Skiing uses your legs heavily. Fitter students usually manage longer, more productive sessions.
Confidence. A student who is relaxed learns faster than one who is tense. Your instructor will work on confidence as much as on technique.
Snow conditions. Soft, well-prepared snow makes learning easier. Very deep new snow or hard, icy mornings can slow beginners down.
Lesson frequency. Consecutive days work better than lessons spread across a trip. Your body remembers yesterday's movements.
If you have limited time, a 3-day package gives you a solid introduction. If you want to leave Gulmarg skiing with genuine confidence, a 6-day course is a better choice.
Best time for ski lessons in Gulmarg
Our season runs from 15 December to 31 March. December snow cover varies a lot from year to year, so January to March is the most dependable window to book into, and December is quiet, cheaper and perfectly good for learning in a season where the base arrives early. Ask us what the mountain is doing before you book December dates.
Here is a general picture. Conditions vary every season, so check with us for current conditions before you travel.
Early season (late December to early January). The season can start once there is enough snow, but snow cover is less dependable. Colder temperatures and shorter days.
Mid-season (January to February). Usually the most reliable snow cover of the year. January is cold, with dry snow and regular snowfall. February is often the deepest part of the season, and the busiest, so book early. Plenty of powder days for more experienced skiers.
Later season (March). Longer, milder days. Snow can be softer and more forgiving in the afternoons, which many beginners find easier. Mornings can be firm.
Weather matters. Heavy snowfall, strong wind or low visibility can close the upper gondola (Phase 2) for hours or days. Lessons on the lower mountain usually continue in these conditions. Your instructor adjusts the plan to what the mountain allows on the day.
Gulmarg village sits at around 2,660 m. Take your first day easily, drink plenty of water and give your body time to adjust to the altitude.
Ski equipment for lessons in Gulmarg
You don't need to own any ski equipment to take lessons with us. Here's what you'll use, and why fit matters.
Skis. Beginners use shorter, softer skis that turn easily. As you improve, longer and stiffer skis give more stability at speed. For powder days, wider skis float better in deep snow.
Ski boots. The most important piece of equipment. Boots should hold your foot and heel firmly without pressure points. Too big, and your skis won't respond. Too small, and the pain will ruin your day.
Poles. Beginners often start without poles or use them lightly. Correct length matters once pole planting becomes part of your turns.
Helmet. Strongly recommended for every skier and snowboarder, especially children and beginners. A helmet is part of the safety gear included in our lesson packages.
Goggles or sunglasses. Sunlight at altitude reflecting off snow is intense. Eye protection is essential, even on cloudy days.
Gloves. Waterproof, warm gloves. Cold, wet hands end lessons early.
Ski jacket and ski pants. Waterproof and insulated. These are included in our lesson packages.
Layers. Thermal base layers on top and bottom, and a warm mid-layer such as fleece. Layers let you adjust as you warm up or cool down. Avoid cotton, which stays wet and cold.
What's included in our lesson packages: skis or snowboard, boots, poles, ski jacket, ski pants and safety gear, fitted at our ski shop in Gulmarg. Send us your sizes before you arrive and we set your gear aside. See ski and snowboard rental in Gulmarg for more.
What to bring: thermal layers, warm ski socks (one pair per day), waterproof gloves, a warm hat or neck gaiter, goggles or sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen.
Ski safety in Gulmarg
Skiing is safest when you ski within your ability, on the right terrain, with good equipment and proper guidance. Here's how we approach safety.
During lessons
- Instructor supervision. Your instructor stays with you and watches the slope around you.
- Appropriate terrain. Beginners ski on gentle, groomed slopes. We move up only when your skiing is ready.
- Equipment checks. Boots, bindings and clothing checked before you ski.
- Helmet use. Strongly recommended, and especially for children.
- Weather awareness. Visibility, cold and wind all affect safety. We adjust or shorten lessons when conditions call for it.
- Snow conditions. Hard, icy snow and very deep snow both change what's safe for a beginner.
Your part
- Ski within your ability. Tiredness and overconfidence cause many ski injuries. It's fine to stop.
- Follow your instructor's guidance. If they say a slope isn't right today, there is a reason.
- Mountain etiquette. The skier below you has priority. Stop where you can be seen, not below a ridge or in the middle of a narrow run. Look uphill before setting off.
Resort lessons versus backcountry skiing
This distinction matters in Gulmarg.
Lessons on the lower mountain take place on groomed slopes around the base area, Kongdoori and the chairlift, where the terrain is suited to learning.
Off-piste and backcountry skiing is different. Much of the terrain on the upper mountain, especially off Gondola Phase 2, is steep, ungroomed and not avalanche-controlled the way resort pistes often are in Europe or North America. Skiing there requires:
- Strong skiing skills
- Avalanche safety equipment: transceiver, shovel and probe, and often an airbag (ABS) pack
- Training in how to use it
- Current knowledge of snow and weather conditions
- An experienced, qualified guide
Our backcountry team is certified through AIARE, Avalanche Canada and the Kashmir Avalanche Association. Since 2006, we have had zero avalanche accidents among our guided clients. Beginners and most intermediate skiers should stay on the lower mountain and build their skills there first.
Who can take ski lessons in Gulmarg?
Most people in reasonable health can learn to ski. Our lessons are suitable for:
- First-time skiers who have never been on snow
- Families who want to learn together, or want their children taught individually
- Children, taught individually on the gentle base-area slopes
- Teenagers, who often progress quickly and enjoy more technical challenges
- Adults of all ages starting from scratch or returning after a break
- Couples and friends, who can book a lesson for two at a similar level
- Intermediate skiers wanting to improve technique and confidence
- Advanced skiers wanting coaching in powder, trees and steep terrain
- International visitors from any country
- Indian travellers, including many learning on snow for the first time
Skiing is physically demanding and is not suitable for everyone. If you have heart or lung conditions, joint problems, a recent injury, are pregnant, or have any other medical concern, please speak to your doctor before booking. Also consider the altitude: Gulmarg village is at around 2,660 m and the upper mountain is much higher. Tell your instructor about any health issues before your lesson so they can adapt it.
Call or WhatsApp +91-9596300570 to talk through the right lesson for you.
Start your ski lessons in Gulmarg
Whether it's your first time on skis, your child's first lesson, or your first powder day off the top of Apharwat, we'll help you get there with good technique and good judgment.
Tell us your dates, your level and who's coming. We'll suggest the right lesson or course and send you a clear quote.
Call or WhatsApp +91-9596300570.