IISM Gulmarg — Everything You Need to Know
If you’ve ever dreamt of learning skiing in India, you’ve probably already heard of IISM Gulmarg – The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, India’s leading skiing institute, offering subsidized skiing courses in the country’s skiing capital – Gulmarg, Kashmir.
But here’s the question everyone asks:
Are these courses really as good as they sound, or are they just another government-run program with average facilities?
Well, I recently completed my Basic Snow Skiing Course at IISM Gulmarg, and in this blog, I’ll share my complete experience — what it’s like to learn skiing there, the fees, how to reach, and the IISM Skiing Courses 2025–2026 schedule so you can plan your own adventure.
My Journey to IISM Gulmarg
I first came across IISM through a creator named “Where is Himashi”.
As someone who was already keen to experience snow skiing, finding out that IISM offers highly subsidized courses was the cherry on top! (I’ll share the exact pricing below.)
However, there’s one catch, since the course is subsidized and offers five-star-level facilities, the seats get filled within minutes!
Yes, literally minutes. When I visited in January 2025, the principal told us that all the skiing course slots for 2024–25 got filled in under 3 minutes! You have to book it like a tatkal IRCTC ticket, quick reflexes are key.
Luckily, I managed to secure a spot, even though it wasn’t the batch I initially wanted.
At that time, I was actually in Andaman, learning scuba diving. So I had to rush straight from the tropical beaches of Andaman to the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir, talk about a climate switch!
By the way, if you’d like to learn scuba diving too, click here for more info – Scuba diving
First Impressions: IISM Gulmarg
The moment I reached IISM Gulmarg, I was blown away.
This place is on another level, the building feels more like a 5-star hotel than a government institution.
The entire campus is centrally heated, with cozy dorm rooms (3 bunk beds per room), two bathrooms, cupboards, and breathtaking views of the snow-covered mountains. They have a snooker table, TT table, chess, carrom, and serve amazing food (both veg and non-veg).
Honestly, I never expected this kind of comfort from an adventure institute. Usually, adventure training means “roughing it out” – but IISM makes sure you stay as warm and comfortable as possible. That’s when I realized why people go crazy trying to get a seat here!
IISM Snow Skiing & Snowboarding Courses
I enrolled in the Basic Snow Skiing Course, and IISM provided all the essential skiing gear – skis, boots, poles, and a windcheater.
You’ll need to arrange your own ski pants, socks, and goggles, though.
Snowboarding Program
IISM also offers a snowboarding course, but it’s much more limited, only one or two batch per year, with 20–40 seats maximum.
They don’t promote it as widely as skiing, so it fills up fast.
Snow Skiing Program
For skiing, they take around 80 students per batch, running 6–8 batches every season.
The instructor-to-student ratio is roughly 1:8–10, which may sound high, but I never felt neglected.
My instructor, Mr. Limbu Ustad, was phenomenal.
A former Army man, his dedication and teaching style were unmatched. Some students in my group struggled to learn even after 8–10 days, but he never gave up, giving them personal attention until they succeeded.
Seeing them pass the final exam because of his effort was honestly heartwarming. That’s when I realized how passionate and committed the IISM instructors truly are.
Even the principal keeps a close eye to ensure everyone gets proper guidance. Every instructor there gives their 100%.
(For a complete experience and property tour, check out my vlog here)
IISM Gulmarg Skiing Course Fees
As mentioned earlier, these courses are heavily subsidized – here’s the price breakdown for IISM Gulmarg Snow skiing courses:
- Below 25 years: ₹10,000
- Above 25 years: ₹20,000
However, this year’s Kargil course has a slightly different structure:
- Ladakh residents: ₹5,000
- Others: ₹10,000
In ₹20,000, they cover Stay for 14 days, All meals, Professional Instructor, Essential ski gears like Ski/Snowboard, boots, poles, and a wind cheater. Honestly, this is nothing compared to private skiing schools in Gulmarg, which can cost upwards of 1-2 Lakhs for similar training.
The only real challenge? The course runs for 14 days, which can be tough for corporate professionals to manage.
If you can’t commit to two weeks but still want to learn skiing in India, you can check out our shorter skiing programs in Gulmarg and Manali (Solang Valley). – Go Careless Snow skiing and snowboarding program.
IISM Gulmarg Skiing Courses 2025–2026 Schedule
This season, IISM is conducting courses at two locations — Kargil and Gulmarg, Kashmir.
Kargil Snow Skiing Courses
- Batch 1: Feb 8 – Feb 21, 2026
- Batch 2: Feb 22 – Mar 7, 2026
Gulmarg Snow Skiing Courses
- Batch 1: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026
- Batch 2: Jan 3 – Jan 16, 2026
- Batch 3: Jan 17 – Jan 30, 2026
- Batch 4: Jan 31 – Feb 13, 2026
- Batch 5: Feb 14 – Feb 27, 2026
- Batch 6: Feb 28 – Mar 13, 2026
Snowboarding Course – Gulmarg
Only one batch this year:
- Jan 31 – Feb 13, 2026
(Only 20 seats available!)
Registrations for the Kargil course opened on October 28, 2026.
The Gulmarg course registration is scheduled on 14th Nov, 2025 – 10 AM – Click here for registrations.
How to Reach IISM Gulmarg
Nearest Airport: Srinagar
Nearest Major Railway Station: Jammu (trains available from Jammu to Srinagar)
Bus Route: Srinagar
From Srinagar to Gulmarg, you can either:
- Hire a private cab, or
- Take public transport up to Tangmarg, and then hop on a 4×4 jeep to reach Gulmarg.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, IISM Gulmarg is worth every bit of the hype.
The infrastructure, slopes, instructors, and facilities — all exceed expectations, especially considering the nominal fees.
But beyond skiing, what I loved most was the hostel life – bunk beds, shared rooms, late-night chats, and the amazing people you meet. In those 14 days, I made memories and friendships that still mean a lot to me.
If you get a seat at IISM – go for it!
And if not, don’t lose heart – we’re always here to help you experience adventure sports in India in other incredible destinations.
So keep pushing your limits, stay adventurous, and maybe, I’ll see you on the slopes someday!
Aakash Jain
Did you get the seat in IISM?
Sachin
Hey Bro
Thanks for the information, really liked your blogs and vlogs.
Can you add few information on on boarding, check-in, checkout, what to carry , What not to carry and best time to travel from srinagar to gulmarg.
I have registered for the February months last batch.
Thanks in advance