Kashmir Taxi Service

What does the Kashmir taxi service include?

Soun Kashmir's taxi service is a private car hire with a person who knows the roads. You get a vehicle for the time you need it and a driver-cum-guide who drives, and who also tells you what a place is, how long to stay and where to eat. There is no shared seat, no set schedule and no change of vehicle between stops, and the cab waits while you take photographs or sit down for tea.

It works for a single traveller who needs a pick-up and for a family on a week-long route, and the booking can be as small as one transfer or as large as a trip from Jammu to Leh. The nine vehicles on our car rental list cover most needs, and the quote shows exactly what you are paying for.

Which journeys do people book a taxi for?

Which cab should you choose?

The listed rate on each cab page covers fuel, parking, tolls and the driver's allowance. The final fare then depends on the route, the number of days and the season, which is why Soun Kashmir gives it in a free written quote and prints no single price for every journey.

Where does the taxi go?

• In and around Srinagar: the lake, the gardens, the old city and the airport.
• The hill stations: Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg and Doodhpathri.
• The quieter valleys: Yousmarg and Gurez, where the road and the permits need a little more planning.
• Beyond the valley: Jammu and Katra for the Vaishno Devi yatra, and Leh over the mountain passes, usually in two days with a night in Kargil.

What does a driver-cum-guide do for you?

The phrase means one person who does two jobs. On the road the driver watches the traffic, the weather and the condition of the pass, which is how a good day is kept from becoming a late one. At each stop the same person acts as a guide, explaining the place, suggesting how long it deserves, and pointing you to a clean place to eat and a fair stall to buy from.

• Knows the local rules: which viewpoints close early, and where the road is one-way at certain hours.
• Adjusts the day to the weather, swapping a hill station for a garden if rain sets in.
• Helps the elderly and the young with bags, steps and photographs.
• Stays reachable on the phone through the trip, with our office behind them.

What about early flights, late arrivals and delays?

Flights into Srinagar often land early or late in the day, so pick-ups at unusual hours are a normal request. Give us the flight number and the arrival time, and ask where the driver will meet you. If the flight is delayed, send the new time as soon as you know it. Ask the quote to say how a long wait is handled. For an early drop, agree the time with the planner the evening before.

What should you know about the last stretch at hill stations?

At some places the final stretch to a viewpoint is run by local vehicles or ponies under local rules, and your own cab cannot always drive all the way. This is a rule of the place, not a change in our service. Ask in advance what applies on your dates and what the quote covers, so that you can plan for a pony ride or a local ride where it is needed.

How do you book a taxi in Kashmir?

1. 1Send your dates, the places and the number of travellers on WhatsApp, by phone or through the contact page.
2. 2We reply with the vehicle options and a written quote at no charge.
3. 3You confirm; ask for the driver's name and number before you travel.
4. 4On the day, you travel with your driver-cum-guide; any change of plan goes through our 24×7 support.