Tours to Skardu
Ready-made itineraries that visit this destination.
Skardu
Skardu is the gateway to the Karakoram — the town where expeditions to K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums begin, and the base for Shangrila, Upper Kachura, Shigar, Khaplu and the Deosai Plains. It sits in a wide sandy basin on the Indus in Baltistan, ringed by peaks, and feels bigger and emptier than Hunza.
How to reach Skardu
There are two routes. The Skardu Road branches off the Karakoram Highway near Jaglot and follows the Indus for about seven hours — it was rebuilt and is now far better than its reputation. From Rawalpindi that means two days of driving with a night at Chilas or Naran depending on the season and whether Babusar is open. PIA also flies Islamabad to Skardu, a stunning one-hour flight over Nanga Parbat, but it is cancelled often enough that we never make it the only plan.
Lakes, forts and the cold desert
Shangrila Resort and its heart-shaped Lower Kachura Lake are the postcard image, with Upper Kachura a short walk beyond and quieter. Sadpara Lake sits above the town on the road to Deosai. The Katpana cold desert — high-altitude sand dunes under snow peaks — is a few minutes from the airport. Shigar Fort, a restored 17th-century Raja's residence now run as a heritage hotel, is forty minutes away, and Khaplu Palace another two and a half hours east. Manthokha waterfall and the Basho valley suit travellers who want a day away from the main sights.
Deosai and the high plateau
Deosai National Park, the second-highest plateau in the world at around 4,100 m, is reached from Skardu by jeep in about three hours to Sheosar Lake. It is only open roughly late June to mid-September; outside that window snow closes it entirely. It is the reason many people combine Skardu with Astore or Rama in one loop, crossing Deosai in one direction rather than driving back the way they came.
Staying in Skardu
Skardu town has the widest range of accommodation in Baltistan, from simple guest houses to heritage properties and international-standard hotels along the Hameed Garh and airport roads. Shangrila and Shigar Fort are destinations in their own right and both need booking well ahead for July and August. Because Skardu is a trekking hub, room demand also spikes around expedition season in June and July, which is worth planning around if you are travelling as a family.
Trekking and expeditions from Skardu
Skardu is the administrative start of most Karakoram expeditions — permits, porters, rations and jeep transport to Askole are all organised here between May and August. Beyond the K2 and Concordia routes there are shorter, more accessible options: the Baltoro approach as far as Paiju, the Thalle La crossing, the Basho and Shigar side valleys, and day walks around Sadpara and Katpana. If you are not trekking, this still shapes your visit — June and July are the busiest weeks in town, and hotel rates and jeep availability reflect it.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most.
How long is the drive from Islamabad to Skardu?+
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