SAGG Eco Village

Mountains
Rural
Culture
Nature
Foodies

Mud hut farm stays in a Kashmiri village, with shepherd trails

SAGG Eco Village sits at Watlar in Lar, a farming village in the Himalayan foothills of Kashmir, about an hour from Srinagar. It began in 2012 as a regenerative village enterprise and now offers farm stays in hand built mud huts, a small village hostel, and a gazebo where meals of Kashmiri home cooking are served. Rooms are simple and warm rather than smart, and the point of the place is the valley around it: orchards, paddy fields, walnut trees and shepherd paths climbing into the hills.

Days are led by villagers. You can join farm work, cook with local families, walk the shepherd trails towards high pastures, take a guided cultural day out, or sit in on the education and leadership camps that SAGG runs for young people. The enterprise has been recognised at India's responsible tourism awards, and won gold at the 2025 wildlife and nature tourism awards.

Sustainability

Climate & conservation

Sustainable build, Guest huts are hand built from local earth and timber using traditional Kashmiri methods.
Local or organic food, Meals use produce from the farm and neighbouring smallholdings, and the village makes its own preserves and dried foods.
Limits plastic use, The village runs on refills, reusables and its own food products rather than packaged goods.

Community & culture

Employs local people, Farm, kitchen, guiding and hostel work is done by people from Watlar and Lar.
Education, SAGG runs leadership, mental health and ecological education camps for young Kashmiris.
Preservation of cultural heritage, Guests join village farming, cooking and craft traditions rather than staged shows.

Commercial

Sustainable procurement along supply chain, Natural food products, spices and herbs are grown and processed in the village and sold direct.
Reinvests back into the community and or environment, Revenue funds the village academy and regenerative livelihood programmes.

In brief

Price bracket: £
Type of property: Regenerative farm and cultural retreat
No. of rooms: Private farm stay rooms plus shared male and female dorm accommodation
Max guests per room: Mud huts sleep 6-8; also shared male/female dorms and camping
Facilities: Mud huts, Dorms, Tents, Garden cafe, Composting/flush toilets, Hot, Cold showers
Activities: Natural farming, Pottery, Village walks, Mountain trekking, Birdwatching, Eco-therapy
Setting: Himalayan foothills, farm

Best time to visit

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

April to September brings pleasant weather, best for sightseeing and outdoor activities

Kids

Family friendly, with recreational play areas for children and family-focused activities such as pottery and paper craft; not suited to those seeking a party atmosphere

Accessibility

A rural farm village in the Himalayan foothills; no formal accessibility statement found

£pp / night Visit website

Guide price · £ <£100 · ££ £100–300 · £££ £300–800 · ££££ £800+ pp / night