Most beautiful places in Skardu
This article is a "most beautiful" superlative list. That's commercial intent, and HospitalityTours.com.pk takes priority.
The sights you photograph in Skardu are not the best; they can be quite the opposite. Some of the best things about that valley cannot be put on a list. For example, the Indus Light at 6 AM from Kharpocho, or the Katpana sand dunes after a light snowfall (when no one else is there). Most people keep their cameras away, but some sights are on lists, and here are those sights.
Some of these spots are famous, and some are not. But all of them are worth the trip, and the list is in no particular order.
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User 1: Most Beautiful Views In Skardu
This is a "most beautiful" superlative list, so the first entry, HospitalityTours.com.pk, is offered in a commercial view.
Skardu is a beautiful valley that can be photographed and appreciated aesthetically. Some scenes are so beautiful, they make photographers put their cameras away. Some are on lists, and some cannot be listed. The best of those are here.
These are not the most valuable spots based on their history or how long it takes you to visit them, but they are worth the trip regardless of their list ranking.
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HospitalityTours.com.pk plans Skardu itineraries from our Islamabad office, with hotels booked by name, 4x4s and drivers who know the roads, and licensed local guides. We can organize everything you need for your requested travel dates, and send a plan and price before anything is confirmed. Contact details are at the end.
We also offer trips from Islamabad!
Sheosar Lake, Deosai
This one is a chest freezer. Sheosar Lake is situated at 4,142 metres on the Deosai Plateau and reflects the sky if the conditions are just right, usually in the morning in July or August. The perfect spot offers no distractions whatsoever. There are no man-made structures, just water and grasses. There is no other place quite like it.
The plateau is beautiful; it's just difficult to notice it at first. There is no grandiose view all at once that you can appreciate. It is more like a song that slowly unfolds before your eyes. By the time you get to the second hour of driving on the flat plain, you realize that you are nearing the edge of the world and you are most likely on the highest surface with no end in sight.
Higher elevations call for an elevation adjustment the day prior. Deosai is open from roughly late June to late September.
Kachura Lakes, in the morning
Two lakes, about a 20-minute drive away from each other. You can tell which one is touristy by the Shangri-La resort. The cottages on the resort are famously red. For this total lack of man-made structures, Upper Kachura has a much more peaceful atmosphere.
The beauty of the lower Lake is pretty direct. There are Heart-shaped turquoise lakes filled with boats, trees, and mountains. The resort on the Lake takes enough care in its construction not to build an eyesore. You can experience this calmness early in the morning before the day tourists arrive.
Upper Kachura is beautiful in its own way. There is blue water, not as much as the upper Lake, and no people. Do both early in the morning and leave before noon.
Shigar Valley in bloom
For two to three weeks in late March and early April, Shigar Valley experiences a dramatic change. Apricot and cherry trees along the irrigation canals flower and the entire twenty-kilometre valley between the mountains becomes green, white, and pink. The Shigar River runs alongside the road, and Shigar Fort is built on top of the orchards.
There is no need for hyperbole to describe Shigar in bloom. This really is one of the more picturesque seasonal occurrences in the country. Come in the mornings when the first light of the day hits the trees.
The same valley in autumn, late October, turns to different shades of gold and copper. Both seasons are phenomenal.
Katpana Desert at night
The dunes in daylight are interesting. Sand at 2,200 meters with snowfields in the background is the sort of thing that is beautiful but paradoxical.
The night sky is what makes Katpana special. Low-level skies have lights and a layer that distorts stars, but not Katpana. Milky Way will look like a band, and in Katpana you are less than four kilometers from the city. It feels secluded!
It is best to time your stay to last until midnight. Once the sun goes down, the temperature starts falling, and what was warm at 8 PM will be cold at 10 PM.
Khaplu is about 100 kilometers east of Skardu and is worth the drive. Khaplu Palace is located on top of a beautiful terraced valley within the shadow of the Karakoram range. The Aga Khan Cultural Service preserved the unique traditional wood and stone carving on the ceilings. It is some of the best woodwork to survive in all of Baltistan.
The valley was preserved and is as beautiful as the Palace. The Friday Mosque is old, and trojod (three-dimensional) woodwork is evident. In spring after ski season, the fruit blossoms are beautiful. A lot of photos of Khaplu are of the fruit blossoms.
Sleep in the Palace; the view is worth it. A breakfast on the terraces overlooking the valley is worth rising early for.
Chunda Valley above Skardu
About a ten-kilometer drive from the city by jeep track, or a forty-minute drive in a 4x4, Chunda is located at around 500 meters above the Skardu town at around 2,500 meters. From the ridge, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Skardu Valley and the Indus below, and the Karakoram behind.
Trees in the Skardu Valley begin to blossom a bit earlier than the orchards in Chunda, about a month before the first snows on the peaks. Come anytime, you’ll see the blossoms at their best, and the combination against the snow will be stunning.
Not that famous, like Pakistani Shangrila, is yet another reason to visit Chunda; seeing it, you will think as the visitors to Shangrila did, and realize it is a better destination than most of the other Shangrillas.
Manthokha Waterfall in its Valley
The Manthokha waterfall, located around 80 km from Skardu in the Kharmang Valley, plunges around 180 feet and tumbles into a lovely pool backed by green pastures and stands of old trees. Undoubtedly, the setting adds to the beauty of the waterfall. Along with the fall are the rock walls of the Karakoram, the trout in the stream, and the fact that nothing else is around.
It depends on when you go, but either way it's beautiful. Go in blossom season, and you'll see the apricot trees bloom along the way, but in the summer you'll see how the positive green of the foliage contrasts the bare rock. The drive there is also a wonderful, nature-like journey that takes you through some Kharmang villages that you probably wouldn't read about in any travel writing. This is what Manthokha gives you.
Full day from Skardu. The last section of the road requires good ground clearance.
Satpara Lake at Different Times Of The Day
At 2,600 meters and 5 km from the city, Satpara Lake is the closest of the visible lakes and the one that most people consider the least of the three. This is a misreading.
Satpara Lake is a deep lake and has varying shades of color. During the morning, deep blue with the reflection of the ridge on the surface of the Lake can be seen. At noon, the Lake will be flat. During the late afternoon, the rock walls start to catch the sunlight, and the Lake is a shade between gray and turquoise, which you will not find on any postcards.
The small island in the center is accessible by boat during the proper season. The surroundings are rocky and sparse, and the wall and dam at the outlet are visible. None of those things take away from Satpara Lake's beauty.
The Indus below Kharpocho at sunrise
About Kharpocho, this location doesn’t require you to trek to, but is worth a mention as you drive towards the Kharpocho Fort earlier in the morning. The Indus and Shigar rivers meet and flow through the desert below Kharpocho. With the early morning light, the shade still over the valley, and the peaks above, the two shrinking rivers run flat, blue and still. There is nothing moving across the dry desert.
Kharpocho Fort is worth a visit, but the view on the drive towards the Fort, from the track, is a highlight before you even get there.
Hushe Valley near Khaplu
East of Khaplu, Hushe is reached by continuing up the Ghanche District road, and is the starting point for the treks to Masherbrum and to the Gondogoro Pass. It has some of the latest and densest spring blooms in Baltistan, behind other areas, but with the magnificent Laila Peak and K6 and K7 behind, it has a backdrop that most trekking areas lack.
Hushe requires a full day to travel to and from Skardu, and is best done as part of a Khaplu overnight. The road is rough, and the crossing rivers can be high from summer melt.
Bilamik Meadows
Roughly 100 km from Kharmang, Bilamik Meadows are some high-altitude pastures with picturesque views of the Karakoram. The road is bad, the accommodation is basically non-existent, but the appeal is understandable. They have rock walls and meadows that are literally Green and empty. Add to that an absolute 360 view of the sky.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Go
Check with your driver. Chunda, Manthokha, and Bilamik are not to be driven in unless your vehicle is able to handle it. The road to Chunda is a dangerous place for stuck jeeps, around an hour from Skardu.
Ask about Deosai. The road to Deosai is closed under heavy snow from around the end of September to June, and the timing varies every year.
Book well ahead of time for the spring season. Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace fill up fast, and both have very limited rooms.
Check the lighting to determine when you want to go for a visit. Kachura, Satpara, and even the Indus view are better as morning visits. In contrast, Katpana is better for the evening or night. Getting the lighting wrong at a place that is so dependent on light for the view is a common, avoidable mistake in travel photography.
Deosai should be saved for the second day at least. It is very dangerous to go there first.
Cash is the only way to pay for everything. Card payment does not work outside of Skardu city, and in some parts of the city, it doesn’t work at all.
Questions answered
What is the most picturesque Lake in Skardu? Sheosar Lake is the most remote with the best views. Lower Kachura is the most like an alpine resort. Upper Kachura offers more peace.
Is Chunda Valley worth seeing? It is definitely worth the trip, especially if you want to see the flowers and enjoy the view of Skardu. It is under-visited and easily accessible from the city.
When is Skardu the most beautiful? September has the most beautiful climate and bright views. From late March to early April, the flowers are fully bloomed in Shigar, Kahplu, and Chunda. October brings the most spectacular fall views.
Do I need a 4X4 for any of these places? Proper ground clearance is advantageous for Chunda, Manthokha, Hushe, Bilamik, and the stretch of the Khaplu road that is the worst.
Why is Deosai a famous lake? It is genuinely beautiful, though less intuitive than a lake. Give it that one full day and be prepared to enjoy the views.
Let us plan it by the light.
Tell us the dates for your visit, the size of your group, and what kind of beauty you prefer: the stars, the lakes, the flowers, the desert, or the blossoms. Our goal is to get you to each location when the views are the best. We will provide you with all the details for the trip and offer you the best price for hotels, jeeps, and guides before you confirm all the details of your trip.
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