Best Hotels in Skardu City
Skardu boasts more hotel options than most visitors expect. The city has rapidly grown with tourism, and now the offerings range from an international chain to heritage properties an hour away and basic guesthouses located near the bazaar. City listings are included here, but one section is dedicated to worthwhile properties outside of the city.
One caveat: city and valley. Several resorts marketed as Skardu are actually located in Shigar, which is thirty kilometers from the city and a different drive altogether. Himmel Skardu by Luxus, for instance, is actually in Wazirpur, located in the Shigar Valley. It is about 18 miles from the airport, so expect it to take you longer than you think to get to the Fort.
We book hotels across Skardu, Shigar, and Khaplu.
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Avari Xpress Skardu
College Road, Tufail Colony, Skardu city. Part of the Avari Group.
One of the first international hospitality brands to operate in this city. Avari Xpress is a bona fide four-star hotel in many respects. It has clean rooms, a good restaurant, airport pickup (request only), a 24-hour front desk, and good service in general. Located on College Road, it is more of a city hotel and does not have a resort-style setting, but it is also a short run to the bazaar, the Fort, and the morning chapshuro stalls.
Avari Xpress is ideal for: foreign visitors looking for a large brand, corporate clients looking for invoicing and account terms, and travelers looking for a hotel as quickly as possible after an evening flight. Summer bookings need to be made in advance as the hotel gets booked for expeditions.
PC Legacy Skardu
This hotel is located near the Skardu Airport and is operated by Pearl Continental Hotels.
PC Legacy is a more recent addition to the Pearl Continental hotels chain and offers 40 units consisting of rooms, suites, and chalets. There is a restaurant which serves food of varying international and local cuisines. This hotel also boasts meeting rooms and halls for banquets. The PC brand ensures the level of service that this hotel and similar hotels largely lack. The location of the hotel is convenient for travelers taking early morning flights and those arriving late at night.
This hotel reports having good food, polite staff, and new-looking rooms. The infrastructure of the hotel provides adequate facilities for a fitness center, garden, and a wedding venue, which makes it convenient for a corporate group booking the hotel for an event.
PC Legacy is suitable for corporate travel and accommodating corporate groups requiring meeting facilities. It is also convenient for travelers with early morning flights to Islamabad.
Arish Luxury Suites
Sadpara Road, Sumbul Town, Skardu. Near the Italian K2 Museum.
Our four-star hotel in the quiet area of the city offers 14 rooms, with some offering a view of the mountains. It has a garden and a restaurant. Breakfast is also offered and has been rated above average as compared to other hotels in the city. It is positioned a couple of kilometers away from Kharpocho Fort and is conveniently located near the main sights of the city, although not in the City Centre.
It offers a personal service as the staff is small enough to know each and every guest and their preferences. It has consistently good ratings by couples and smaller groups for whom the larger properties are too impersonal.
Best suited for: couples, small groups, foreign guests.
Hotel Himalaya Skardu
Skardu city. With a conference center and free airport shuttle.
One of the older established hotels in the city offers conference and meeting facilities, 24/7 front desk service, and free airport transport, which is a rarity. Rooms overlook the hotel’s garden, and guests have found the service to be professional. The hotel is positioned conveniently to the main sites of the city.
Best suited for: Groups looking for a hotel which offers meeting and conference facilities, and guests looking for a hotel which offers a free airport shuttle service and has a longer presence in the city.
Mountain Lodge Resort
On a hill above Skardu, roughly fifteen minutes from the airport.
The property sits slightly outside the flat city center and prides itself on its sweeping views over Skardu Valley. Each room has a balcony overlooking the valley or mountains. Breakfasts are consistently good, and the staff is frequently complimented. Being atop a small hill means everything is a drive rather than a walk, but for those visiting the landscape rather than the bazaar, the room views are more than worth the extra work.
Best for photographers, families who require some space and want a view, or those who think city center hotels are too close together.
Hotel Dewanekhas Skardu
Skardu City
Smaller than the above-mentioned hotels but consistently good for view accommodation and staff. Shows up next to Mountain Lodge and Avari on booking sites when satisfaction for views is considered. A good hotel for independent travelers who do not mind not having a huge common area or corporate facilities.
Best for independent travelers and travelers on a budget who still want a good view and an above-average room.
Skardu Lodge
Skardu City and close to the Fort and the Town market
Walking distance to Kharpocho Fort and the Bazaar is a selling point in a city where most hotels are a drive away. Guests appreciate the mountain views from the balcony and the helpful staff that arranges tours. An above-average breakfast, as reported by booking websites, is another plus.
Best for: Travelers looking to walk to the Fort and Bazaar, and even guests with shorter stays who don't want a resort setting, but want to have the city center.
Already Know About
Serena Shigar Fort, Shigar. An hour's drive from Skardu on the road, thirty kilometers to the east. A 17th-century restored Fort by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, now managed by the Serena Hotels. Limited rooms and books out months in advance in the summer. Staying here is unlike any City Hotel stay. Definitely worth a stay; book a night, don't even try to commute from Skardu.
Serena Khaplu Palace, Khaplu. Two hours from the city. Mid-19th-century fort with the same restoration and management. Same recommendation: book a night instead of commuting.
Himmel Skardu by Luxus, Wazirpur, Shigar Valley. About 18 miles from Skardu Airport, it takes an hour and a half to drive there. It has spa facilities, an outdoor pool, mountain views, chalets, and suites. Highly appreciated by guests. Highly misunderstood by guests who expected it to be in the city. Confirm the distance before you book for a stay that depends on daily access to Skardu.
What category your trip actually needs
Skardu is a base for day trips? Stay in the city center (burbs). Consider PC Legacy or Avari Xpress for comfort and brand standards, or look at the Mountain Lodge for awesome views, or consider Skardu Lodge for great accessibility.
If the itinerary includes Shigar? Budget one night at Shigar Fort, go check it out, but you don't need to sleep there every night.
If there is a wedding or corporate event? PC Legacy has the event facilities; Serena Khaplu has the views.
If you are in Skardu for an expedition departure? Close to where the permit offices are, consider Avari Xpress.
If budget is primary? Bazaar area guesthouses are a totally different class of accommodation from what we have previously mentioned, but they are totally usable for one night prior to Deosai or one really long drive.
What to check and what to avoid
When booking for July or August, expect to do it immediately, as booking in advance is always a must here. Expeditions and tourists mix during the summer, and the city fills up all the good rooms.
Confirm that the hotel you are trying to book is in Skardu city and not Shigar. The location is important if your day trips will include driving to the Fort.
Heating is sometimes turned off for the off-season during October and November; confirm before booking.
Also confirm that the full menu will be available during your stay, as some of the hotels will not operate the kitchen at full capacity during the off-season.
Make sure to request an evening arrival airport pickup. Some properties don't include airport pickup as an amenity, and the taxi service from Skardu airport at night is not the easiest.
Confirm if your room rate includes breakfast. This is dependent on the season and how you booked.
Tip: Do not skip researching how long it will take you to get between Skardu and Shigar Valley and still be in the city every day. If you want to stay in Shigar for days at a time, do not skip the in-between drive.
FAQs
What is the best hotel for a stay over in Skardu City? For central location and international-level amenities: Avari Xpress. For proximity to the airport and corporate guest needs: PC Legacy. For magical views: Mountain Lodge.
Is there a Serena hotel in Skardu? There are two Serena hotels in Shigar and Khaplu Valleys, but there is no Serena hotel in Skardu City.
Is Himmel in Skardu City? No, it is in Wazirpur in Shigar Valley, approximately 18 miles from the airport.
Which is the cheapest? The lower-range and mid-range options are Skardu Lodge, Dewanekhas, and guesthouses in the Bazaar area.
Do the hotels in Skardu have heating? Most of them do, but you need to confirm if the service is available for October and November bookings.
Are there any hotels in Skardu that are open during winter? Many are, and they include Avari Xpress and PC Legacy.
Which hotel in Skardu is closest to the airport? PC Legacy is the closest to the airport, with Avari Xpress being in the city on College Road.
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