Skardu sits at 2,228 metres in a broad valley carved by the Indus River, surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges that include some of the highest peaks on earth. To the north, the Karakoram rises toward K2 and the Baltoro Glacier. To the south, the Deosai Plateau stretches away at over 4,000 metres, one of the highest cold deserts on the planet. The town itself is a functional, growing place — a base rather than a destination in its own right — but what it gives access to is extraordinary.
This Skardu travel guide covers everything you need to plan and complete a trip: how to get there, when to go, what to do, where to stay, and how to organise the side trips that make Skardu worth the journey.
Why Skardu
Skardu is the gateway to the Karakoram and the administrative capital of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Skardu district. It is the launch point for expeditions to K2 (8,611m), the world’s second highest mountain, and to a cluster of other eight-thousanders — Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and II, Hidden Peak — that lie in the same massif. For most climbers and high-altitude trekkers, Skardu is where the serious business begins.
But Skardu is not exclusively for mountaineers and hardcore trekkers. The surrounding area contains accessible lakes, ancient forts, Buddhist rock carvings from the 7th century, the remarkable Shigar Valley, a cold desert plateau you can drive across, and views that justify the flight from almost anywhere. Visitors who have no intention of walking to any base camp still find plenty to fill a week.
How to Get to Skardu
There are two realistic options for reaching Skardu from within Pakistan: by air or overland. The choice depends on your time, budget, and tolerance for long mountain road journeys.
By air is the faster and more common option for international visitors. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates scheduled flights between Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport and Skardu Airport. The flight takes approximately one hour and follows a route through the Karakoram that is widely considered one of the most spectacular commercial flights in the world — on a clear day, passengers see K2, Nanga Parbat, and dozens of other major peaks at close range. The catch is that flights to Skardu are weather-dependent. The airport sits in a mountain bowl, and if visibility is poor, flights are cancelled or turned around. It is genuinely common for passengers to spend one or two extra days in Islamabad waiting for a weather window. Build flexibility into your schedule.
Flight prices vary depending on how far in advance you book, the season, and availability, but domestic fares typically range from PKR 8,000 to 20,000 one-way. During peak season (June to September), flights fill quickly and should be booked well in advance.
By road is the overland option: from Islamabad, the journey follows the Karakoram Highway to Gilgit (approximately 14 to 18 hours), then turns east on the Karakoram Highway’s Skardu branch road, which follows the Indus River for another 6 to 8 hours. The total overland journey is a full two days of driving, often done in stages with a night in Gilgit. It is demanding, but the scenery along the way — particularly through the Indus Gorge and up the Skardu branch road — is remarkable in its own right. Many travellers choose to fly one way and drive the other.
From Gilgit, shared jeeps and NATCO buses operate the Skardu route. If you have arranged a private vehicle through a tour operator, this is typically included in your package. Landslides are a real risk on the Skardu road, particularly in summer after heavy rain. Check current conditions before committing to an overland journey.
When to Go to Skardu
Skardu is accessible from late April to early November. Outside these months, many of the roads to surrounding areas are blocked by snow, and temperatures drop severely.
June to August is the peak season and corresponds with the main mountaineering expedition window for K2 and the Baltoro peaks. The weather is warmest (15 to 25 degrees Celsius during the day at Skardu town altitude), the trekking routes are clear, and most accommodation is open. The downside is that this is also the busiest and most expensive period, and cloud cover can affect mountain views.
September and October are the months many experienced travellers to this region prefer. The post-monsoon sky is cleaner and sharper, the lighting for photography is extraordinary, and the crowds thin noticeably. Temperatures drop toward freezing at night by October, so warm gear is essential, but daytime temperatures are pleasant. Most trek routes remain open through September, and early October is still viable for many.
April and May offer a transitional experience: snow is retreating, the blossom season (which peaks in late April in Skardu itself) creates extraordinary valley views, and the quiet of low season makes the place feel emptier and more personal. Some high-altitude roads and trek routes are still restricted in early May.
Skardu Town: What to Know
Skardu town has grown significantly in recent years as domestic tourism has expanded. The main bazaar along Gilgit Road has shops, restaurants, mobile phone sellers, pharmacy stalls, and the standard infrastructure of a Pakistani administrative town. There is a hospital, several banks (check for ATM availability before you head to more remote areas — carry cash), and a range of guesthouses and hotels from basic to reasonably comfortable. It is not a polished tourist destination but a working town that accommodates travellers passing through.
The Skardu Fort (also called Kharpocho Fort) sits on a rock outcrop above the town and is worth the climb. Built in the 16th century by the ruler Ali Sher Khan Anchan, it offers panoramic views of the Indus Valley and the surrounding peaks. Entry is free and the walk up takes 20 to 30 minutes from the base.
The Skardu Bazaar itself is worth walking — particularly the sections selling local dried fruit, nuts, and Balti handicrafts. Skardu district produces excellent apricots, and the dried versions are a staple across the region. Walnut oil, local honey, and traditional Balti embroidery are also available.
Satpara Lake
Seven kilometres south of Skardu town lies Satpara Lake, a deep, still body of water at 2,636 metres surrounded by brown and grey mountains. The lake is a major source of water for Skardu and has a small dam at its southern end. It is accessible by road in about 20 minutes from town and makes for a half-day excursion.
The colour of Satpara Lake changes through the day and year — sometimes a deep turquoise, other times a more muted grey-blue depending on cloud cover and the angle of light. There are boats available for hire on the lake, and the road continues past the lake toward Old Skardu and onward to the Deosai Plateau.
Near the lake, archaeologists have documented Buddhist carvings and inscriptions dating to the 7th and 8th centuries CE, when the Silk Road passed through this region and Buddhism was the dominant religion in Baltistan. The rock carvings at Manthal, close to the Satpara road, include a large seated Buddha figure and are among the more accessible examples of this historical period in the region.
The Deosai National Park
The Deosai Plateau is one of the most unusual landscapes in Pakistan and one of the highest plateaus in the world, sitting at an average elevation of around 4,115 metres. It covers approximately 3,000 square kilometres and is protected as a national park. The plateau is accessible by road from Skardu via a route that climbs out of the Satpara Valley, and the journey from Skardu to the Sheosar Lake viewpoint at the centre of the plateau takes approximately two to three hours one way.
In summer, the plateau transforms into a vast wildflower meadow — hundreds of square kilometres of rolling grassland studded with yellow, blue, and red wildflowers. The scale of it is disorienting: after hours in the tight gorges of the Indus Valley, the sudden openness of Deosai feels like being deposited on a different continent. The plateau is also habitat for the Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, and numerous bird species including golden eagles and bar-headed geese.
Sheosar Lake, at the edge of the plateau, is a shallow turquoise lake reflecting the peaks that surround it on clear days. It is the standard turnaround point for day visits from Skardu. A permit is required to enter Deosai National Park (approximately PKR 500 per person for foreign visitors) and a 4×4 vehicle is essential — the plateau road is unpaved and conditions can be challenging, particularly if there has been recent rain or snow.
If you want to spend the night on the plateau, basic camping is possible with your own equipment. Stargazing at Deosai, far from any light pollution, is one of the most extraordinary sky experiences available in Pakistan.
The Shigar Valley
The Shigar Valley runs northeast from Skardu for about 30 kilometres and is one of the most photogenic areas in Gilgit-Baltistan. The valley floor is green with irrigated fields and apricot orchards, and the villages along its length retain much of the traditional Balti architecture — flat-roofed stone houses, carved wooden mosques, and narrow irrigation channels that feed the terraces.
The centrepiece is the Shigar Fort, a 400-year-old palace that has been restored and converted into a heritage hotel by the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan. The fort complex — with its carved wooden interior, terraced gardens, and views across the valley — is one of the finest examples of traditional Balti architecture still standing. Even if you are not staying there, it is worth visiting as a day trip from Skardu (approximately 40 minutes by jeep).
The Shigar Valley also serves as the approach route to the Braldu Valley and the trek to Concordia and the Baltoro Glacier. Expeditions heading to K2 typically spend a night in Shigar or nearby Askole (the last road-accessible village) before beginning the multi-day trek to base camp.
Shangrila Resort and Lower Kachura Lake
Lower Kachura Lake, about 30 kilometres west of Skardu on the road to Gilgit, is often called Shangrila Lake after the resort that has operated on its shores since the 1970s. The lake is small and intensely blue, set among poplar trees with the bare rocky hills rising behind. The resort itself, with its famous restaurant built inside a salvaged DC-3 aircraft fuselage, is a curiosity with deep nostalgia value for Pakistani visitors.
Upper Kachura Lake is a short drive above and offers similar blue water in a quieter, less developed setting. Both lakes are accessible as a half-day excursion from Skardu and are particularly popular with domestic tourists.
Manthoka Waterfall and Khaplu
The road east from Skardu follows the Shyok River toward the Line of Control with India and passes through increasingly remote terrain. Manthoka Waterfall, about 80 kilometres east of Skardu, is one of the tallest waterfalls in Pakistan — a broad cascade visible from the main road, with a short walk to reach the base.
Khaplu, around 100 kilometres east of Skardu, is the administrative centre of the Ghanche district and another example of traditional Balti architecture and culture. The Khaplu Fort, like the Shigar Fort, has been restored by the Aga Khan Trust as a heritage hotel. The surrounding valley is fertile and beautiful, and Khaplu sees far fewer visitors than Skardu despite being highly accessible by paved road.
Trekking from Skardu: K2 Base Camp and Concordia
The Baltoro Glacier trek to Concordia and K2 Base Camp is one of the great high-altitude treks in the world. From Askole (the last road-accessible village, accessible from Skardu via Shigar), the standard route to Concordia takes seven to nine days on foot through progressively more dramatic terrain, eventually arriving at the confluence of the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers where K2 rises over 3,000 metres directly above you.
This trek is classified as high altitude and requires reasonable physical fitness, proper acclimatisation, and appropriate equipment. It is not technically difficult — no glacier climbing or roped sections are required on the standard approach route — but the altitude (Concordia sits at approximately 4,650 metres, K2 Base Camp at around 5,050 metres), the remoteness, and the exposure to rapid weather changes make proper preparation essential. A licensed guide and registered porter service is required for this trek, and all visitors must obtain a trekking permit from the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department.
Shorter treks in the Skardu area include the Hushe Valley (accessible from the road east of Skardu), with routes to base camps of Masherbrum (K1) and other peaks, and the Basha Valley north of Skardu with its Chogo Lungma Glacier approach.
Where to Stay in Skardu
Accommodation in Skardu ranges from simple guesthouses to mid-range hotels with reasonable facilities. The majority of accommodation is concentrated in Skardu town, with options also available in Shigar and Khaplu (via the Aga Khan-restored fort hotels).
In Skardu town, mid-range hotels typically offer rooms with attached bathrooms, hot water, and basic meals. Prices range from PKR 3,000 to 10,000 per night depending on the standard and season. A few more comfortable options have appeared in recent years as domestic tourism has grown, offering better rooms and more reliable services.
The Shigar Fort Hotel and the Khaplu Palace Hotel (both managed by Serena Hotels under the Aga Khan umbrella) sit at a different level entirely — these are genuinely distinguished heritage properties with excellent food and hospitality, at prices that reflect their quality (typically USD 100 to 180 per night). Booking well in advance is essential in peak season.
For trekkers departing for the Baltoro, most operators arrange basic accommodation in Askole and camping equipment for the trek itself. This is typically included in organised trek packages.
Food and Practical Matters
Food in Skardu is straightforward Pakistani mountain fare: dal, rice, chapati, naan, omelettes, and meat dishes (mutton and chicken). A few restaurants in the bazaar serve reasonable local food. The dried fruit sold in the market — particularly the Hunza-style apricots and mulberries — is excellent and makes good trail food.
Altitude is a consideration even in Skardu town itself. At 2,228 metres, visitors flying directly from sea level may feel mild headaches or fatigue on the first day. This is normal and typically resolves within 24 hours. Take it easy on arrival day, drink plenty of water, and do not plan any strenuous activity until you have acclimatised. For those proceeding to higher altitudes (Deosai, Concordia), proper acclimatisation schedules are critical.
Mobile connectivity in Skardu is present but patchy — Telenor and Jazz/Warid have coverage in the town. Beyond Skardu, connectivity drops off rapidly. Satellite communication devices are carried by expedition teams for safety in remote areas.
Cash is essential. There are ATMs in Skardu but they are not always reliably stocked. Withdraw sufficient cash before leaving Islamabad or Gilgit. Card payment is not widely available outside the larger hotels.
How Long to Spend in Skardu
A minimum of three to four nights allows time to see the main sites around Skardu town — the fort, Satpara Lake, the Buddhist carvings, and a day trip to the Shigar Valley or the Deosai Plateau. For either Deosai or Shigar alone, each merits a full day.
A week in the Skardu region allows all the major day trips comfortably, including Khaplu and Manthoka, and time to absorb the place rather than rushing through it. For trekkers heading to Concordia, the base in Skardu before and after the trek adds several days on either side.
Many visitors combine Skardu with time in Hunza, taking the Karakoram Highway north from Gilgit to Karimabad rather than returning directly to Islamabad. This creates a logical circuit through the best of Gilgit-Baltistan and is how most organised Pakistan tour packages structure the northern itinerary.
Organising Your Skardu Trip
The logistics of Skardu — flights, vehicle hire, accommodation in outlying areas, permits for Deosai and the Baltoro trek, guide and porter arrangements — are more complex than many tourist destinations and benefit from being handled by someone with local knowledge and established contacts. Flight cancellations need contingency plans. Vehicle hire to remote areas requires reliable jeeps and competent drivers. Trek permits require advance paperwork.
If you want to put together a trip to Skardu — whether a cultural and scenic visit, a trek to Deosai, or a full Baltoro expedition — get in touch with the team at Passage to Pakistan. We can arrange everything from Islamabad transport and flight backup plans to guide and porter services, permits, and accommodation throughout the region. A well-organised Skardu trip takes the stress out of the logistics and lets you concentrate on the landscape.
Find out more about our Pakistan tour packages or contact us directly to discuss a custom itinerary for your timeframe and interests.
