SKARDU VALLEY TRAVEL GUIDE
Lakes, Cold Deserts and Forts of Baltistan
Lakes, Cold Deserts and Forts of Baltistan
Skardu is the main town of Baltistan in Gilgit-Baltistan, set in a wide valley where the Shigar River meets the Indus. It is a place of contrasts — clear blue lakes, sand dunes under snowy peaks, old forts and the high plains of Deosai — and the starting point for expeditions to K2 and the great peaks of the Karakoram.
Skardu town sits at about 2,228 metres. Most visitors stay in or near the town and take day trips to the lakes at Kachura, the Shigar Valley, Katpana and Deosai. Balti is the local language, and Urdu is widely spoken.
Getting There
The quickest way is to fly. Flights from Islamabad take about an hour, weather permitting, and there are sometimes direct flights from Lahore and Karachi. Flights can be cancelled in bad weather, so keep a spare day in your plans.
By road, Skardu is a long, scenic drive of two days from Islamabad. The year-round route follows the Karakoram Highway via Besham and Chilas, then the Skardu road along the Indus. In summer you can also go via Naran and Babusar Top, with a night in Naran or Chilas on the way.
Road Conditions
The road from the Karakoram Highway to Skardu runs through a deep gorge beside the Indus. It is narrow in places, and rain can bring landslides, so an experienced driver and a comfortable vehicle make a real difference. Deosai and the Sarfaranga Cold Desert are best reached by jeep, which can be hired locally in Skardu.
Skardu Weather
Summer days are warm and sunny, but nights are cool, and Deosai is cold even in July. Spring brings cherry and apricot blossom, and autumn turns the trees gold. Winters are very cold, with snow on the hills and frozen lakes — Deosai and the Naran route close, but Skardu is still open by air and by the Karakoram Highway.
Things to Do in Skardu
- Go boating and walk around Upper Kachura Lake and Shangri-La
- Take a jeep ride across the Deosai Plains in summer
- See the sand dunes of the Katpana and Sarfaranga cold deserts
- Visit Shigar Fort and Kharpocho Fort above Skardu town
- Take a day trip to Manthoka Waterfall in Kharmang
- Add Khaplu, Basho Valley or Soq Valley on a longer trip
Where to Stay
Skardu town has hotels from budget-friendly to luxury, and there are lakeside resorts at Kachura and heritage stays in Shigar. Book early for June to August and the autumn season. Our tour packages include your hotel stays, chosen to suit your budget.
Plan Your Trip
See our Skardu tour packages — private trips by air or by road for families and honeymoon couples, with transport, hotels and an experienced driver — or rent a car with driver in Skardu. For routes and places, read how to reach Skardu and our guide to the top places to visit in Skardu.
Places to See in Skardu Valley
Shangri-La and Upper Kachura Lake
Two lakes at Kachura, with boating, lakeside walks and the famous Shangri-La Resort.
Deosai Plains
High plains above Sadpara Lake, reached by jeep from Skardu. Open in summer only.
Shigar Fort
The restored royal fort of the Shigar Valley, with the Sarfaranga Cold Desert nearby.
Katpana Cold Desert
Sand dunes under snowy peaks, close to Skardu Airport, with Katpana Lake.
Kharpocho Fort
The old fort on the rock above Skardu town, with views over the Indus.
Manthoka Waterfall
A tall waterfall in Kharmang and a popular day trip from Skardu.
Best Time to Visit Skardu Valley
Cherry and apricot blossom across the valleys. Cool days and cold nights.
Warm days and green valleys, and Deosai opens in summer. The best time for families.
Golden trees and clear skies, and a favourite time for honeymoon couples. Nights turn cold.
Snow and frozen lakes. Deosai and the Naran route close, so travel by air or the Karakoram Highway.
Skardu Valley Tour Packages
7 Days Skardu Autumn Tour Package By Road
Islamabad → Mansehra → Besham → Dasu → Chilas → Jaglot → Skardu → Shigar → Khaplu → Kachura → Chilas → Islamabad
5 Days Skardu Tour Package From Dubai
Skardu Airport → Kachura Lakes → Soq Valley → Khaplu → Katpana → Shigar → Basho Valley → Skardu Airport
7 Days Skardu Honeymoon Trip Via Naran
Islamabad → Mansehra → Balakot → Naran → Babusar Top → Chilas → Skardu → Shigar → Khaplu → Naran → Islamabad
10 Days Skardu & Hunza Winter Tour Package
Islamabad → Mansehra → Besham → Dasu → Chilas → Jaglot → Skardu → Shigar → Gilgit → Karimabad → Attabad → Passu → Sost → Chilas → Islamabad
7 Days Skardu Deluxe Honeymoon Via Babusar Top
Islamabad → Mansehra → Balakot → Naran → Babusar Top → Chilas → Skardu → Basho → Shigar → Batakundi → Islamabad
8 Days Naran & Skardu Family Tour Package
Islamabad → Mansehra → Balakot → Shogran → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Khaplu → Manthoka → Shigar → Naran → Islamabad
8 Days Naran & Skardu Premium Honeymoon Package
Islamabad → Mansehra → Balakot → Shogran → Naran → Babusar Top → Chilas → Skardu → Batakundi → Islamabad
8 Days Naran & Skardu Deluxe Honeymoon Trip
Islamabad → Mansehra → Balakot → Shogran → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Shigar → Manthoka → Naran → Islamabad
7 Days Skardu Tour Package From Islamabad
Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Basho Valley → Kharmang → Khaplu → Shigar → Naran → Islamabad
7 Days Skardu Premium Honeymoon Via Besham
Islamabad → Mansehra → Besham → Chilas → Jaglot → Gilgit → Skardu → Basho → Khaplu → Chilas → Islamabad
9 Days Skardu & Hunza Honeymoon Package
Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Khaplu → Deosai → Gilgit → Hunza → Batakundi → Islamabad
12 Days Skardu & Hunza Deluxe Family Summer Tour
Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Basho → Shigar → Deosai → Manthoka → Gilgit → Hunza → Batakundi → Islamabad
12 Days Skardu & Hunza Economy Family Summer Tour
Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Shigar → Basho → Deosai → Manthoka → Gilgit → Hunza → Batakundi → Islamabad
12 Days Kashmir To Skardu Deluxe Family Tour
Islamabad → Muzaffarabad → Keran → Sharda → Taobutt → Arang Kel → Kutton → Naran → Skardu → Deosai → Khaplu → Shigar → Naran → Islamabad
12 Days Hunza & Skardu Deluxe Tour By Karakoram Highway
Islamabad → Karakoram Highway → Chilas → Karimabad → Khunjerab Pass → Naltar → Gilgit → Skardu → Khaplu → Shigar → Basho Valley → Chunda Valley → Besham → Islamabad
8 Days Skardu Deluxe Tour Package By Road
Islamabad → Balakot → Naran → Babusar Top → Chilas → Skardu → Basho Valley → Shigar → Deosai → Naran → Islamabad
10 Days Premium Hunza & Skardu Family Tour
Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Top → Skardu → Basho Valley → Shigar → Karimabad → Khunjerab Pass → Naltar → Gilgit → Naran → Islamabad