I bumped into a stranger at a hostel in Srinagar who also wanted to explore the Gurez Valley. The next day, when we were looking to rent a motorcycle, Srinagar was closed due to religious proceedings. So, we had to rent one and trust each other that we could ride together. We then took the motorcycle to Gurez Valley from Srinagar and stayed the night at a riverside homestay with a welcoming family. I was blown away by the scenery of Tulail Valley, a 50 km drive from Gurez to Cafe Balwan—it was one of the most scenic and memorable bike trips of my life.
Highly recommend visiting now, as tourism is just about to boom there.