Top 10 Places to Visit in Skardu
This is a top list; hence, the commercial placement rule puts your block first.
Skardu is called a base camp for K2. That’s not wrong, but it leaves so much unsaid. This city is set in a 10 km-wide valley at 2,228 m elevation, where the Indus and Shigar rivers meet beneath Kharpocho Fort. Within minutes, one can reach a frozen desert with sand dunes, three different alpine lakes, remnants of the Buddhist culture of over 800 years ago, a fort from the 17th century that currently offers lodging to guests, a high plateau national park, and the road that goes to K2. The average tourist takes 4 to 5 days to see only a portion of what Skardu has to offer.
We’ll tell you about the top 10 places. Each location. How long it should take to cover it. Things to know before you go.
We arrange Skardu trips from Islamabad.
At HospitalityTours.com.pk, we prepare Skardu packages from our office in Sector H-13, Islamabad. We have hotels in Skardu, as well as Shigar and Khaplu, 4x4s with driver-guides who know the region, and licensed local guides. We make itineraries based on what’s open and the dates you plan to travel. Just send your travel dates and the size of your group to us via WhatsApp. We provide contact details below.
1. Kharpocho Fort
It means King of Forts in Balti, and the name was earned. Kharpocho sits on a rock spur above where the Indus and Shigar rivers meet, built by Ali Sher Khan Anchan of the Maqpon dynasty in the late 16th century. The hike up from the road takes about thirty minutes, with steep drops on one side and the two rivers far below.
What you get at the top is the full Skardu Valley stretched out below and the Karakoram beyond that in every direction, and an ancient mosque in the old courtyard that predates the present structure. The fort has not been heavily restored, which is admirable and part of its charm.
According to most sources, there is no entry fee. Go early to avoid the midday heat and to have the fort to yourself.
2. Shangrila Resort and Lower Kachura Lake
Lower Kachura Lake, nestled some 30 kilometres from Skardu City at around 2500 metres above sea level, is the most emblematic site for what most people picture when they see Skardu. The Shangrila Resort has been built on the lake's bank since 1983, with its red-tiled buildings in an optimal location along the dense footprint of the orchard and within sight of the majestic snow-capped mountains.
The lake is shaped like a heart and has water flowing down from Upper Kachura Lake. One of the unique features of the lake is a small restaurant built from a piece of a crashed aircraft. The restaurant still stands. Boating is available during the season.
Shangrila is worth a stay. The light on the lake in the early morning is unlike what you can capture in a photo.
3. Upper Kachura Lake
Approximately 28km from Skardu city and at the exact same elevation as its twin lake below, Upper Kachura is more serene and not photographed as much as the other lake, with a resort located downhill. The blue waters are surrounded by not-as-high slopes of land and have virtually no development.
Do the lakes on the same day and drive between them. You can’t appreciate one without the other.
4. Satpara Lake
Five kilometers from Skardu city at about 2,636 meters is Satpara, which is the drinking water supply for the entire valley. A dam is built on one side of the lake to control the outflow. A small island is located in the middle of the lake. The water is a deep turquoise and has a rocky surrounding as opposed to a forested one.
It is also close; it opens the day early, and the road goes past it to Deosai. Trout fishing and boating are both available. Most Deosai day trips stop here on the way up and again coming down, which is the natural thing to do.
5: Katpana Cold Desert
Katpana covers a terrain just under 2,226 meters and is one of the highest cold deserts. The area is breathtaking and unique, as during the wintertime snow blankets the cold desert sands. Katpana is one of the few places in the world where the combination of snow and cold desert sands is even possible.
From a high point along the Katpana Cold Desert, ladies can spot snow, rock and sand. The desert, green plots, Katpana Lake, and bare rock and snow peaks make a perfect contrast. It is about a twenty-minute drive from Skardu City.
Dark skies offer the best opportunity to view the stars in South Asia. Katpana's Dry and dark skies, combined with high elevation, make for a perfect stargazing spot. If you are visiting Katpana, be sure to stay around after sunset; you never know what you may see.
6. Manthal Buddha Rock
Along the Satpara road, three kilometers from Skardu, is the Manthal Buddha, an 8th or 9th century relief carving of the Buddha in a seated position on a larger boulder of granite. It is one of the important pre-Islamic artifacts of Baltistan, and a representation of the Buddhist period in Baltistan before the advent of Islam.
It is a fifteen-minute, free drive, and the carving can be viewed from a site that is open and unprotected. A lot of people pass through the site on their way to Satpara without pause. Seize the opportunity and stop.
Deosai Plains
At 4,114 meters, Deosai Plateau is the second highest in the world after the Tibetan Plateau. It is located between the Skardu and Astore districts, and the road that traverses it from Satpara usually opens in late June and stays open until late September, depending on the amount of snowfall in a given year.
The park was made to protect the Himalayan brown bear, and there is Sheosar Lake, at approximately 4,142 meters, in the middle of the grass. The drive is around an hour on extremely flat land with zero trees, with streams crossing the road, frequent bear sightings, and pretty wildflowers in July. It is where you feel the most like you are on a high plateau instead of in a valley.
Take a full day to get there from Skardu. Get used to the elevation and don’t even think about trying to go there on the first day you get to that city!
Shigar Valley and Shigar Fort
Another 30 km from Skardu on the route to Askole, Shigar has beautiful poplar and apricot orchards and is one of the main routes heading to the Baltoro trekking route.
Fong Khar (meaning 'Fort on the Rock') is a hotel situated on a rock platform and was built in the 17th century by the local ruler, the Raja of Shigar. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture undertook a lengthy restoration project to return it to its original appearance. It is now managed as a heritage hotel by Serena Hotels. The carved wooden interiors of the hotel house guests in rooms filled with influences from Buddhism and Tibetan-influenced decor. The Buddhist influences are pre-Islamic, and the original structure is in excellent condition.
Shigar is a beautiful place to spend the night. Serena Hotel is the best accommodation in the valley, and the sunrise over Shigar village is well worth the stay.
9. Khaplu Valley and Khaplu Palace
Effectively two hours' driving time from Skardu (about 100 kilometers), you can visit Khaplu for a full day, or spend the night there. Khaplu has preserved Friday Mosques with beautiful wooden bazaars and an ancient Tibetan-style decor where the carvings date back many centuries.
Built in the mid-19th century as a Royal residence of the Raja of Khaplu, Yabgo Khar (or Khaplu Palace) was restored by the Aga Khan Cultural Services and is now a heritage hotel run by Serena Hotels. Museum rooms are open to guests for a tour during the day.
Beyond Khaplu, the road towards Hushe offers treks for Masherbrum and the Gondogoro route. The drive itself is worth it for the amazing views of the valley and the changing light on the Karakoram walls.
10. K2 Base Camp and the Baltoro Glacier
While Skardu is where all expeditions to K2 commence, watching the preparations is an integral part of understanding Skardu and hence its inclusion here.
The Baltoro Glacier, spanning sixty-two kilometers from its terminus at Askole to K2, passes through the Trango Towers, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum to Concordia. This trek takes about a week to complete in either direction, departing from Askole at around 5,100 meters.
This trek is certainly not an afternoon trip.
Skardu is the launching city for the Baltoro trek, so including it here is justified. Watching the expedition teams in the summer from the bazaar provides value to the trekker's visit. It inspires a better understanding of the surrounding mountains than a photograph can.
This trek is a serious trek without the commitment of a full-scale expedition. The Baltoro Glacier is seen along with the towers, and a licensed guide along with proper camping gear is required.
Days needed
For city sites such as Kharpocho, Katpana, Manthal, and Satpara, with or without Shangrila, you will need 2 full days. Without rushing, it can be done in 1 long day.
Deosai: 1 full day, absolutely no compromising on that day.
For Shigar, with a night at the fort, it takes 2 days in and out from Skardu.
Khaplu: 1 long day or an overnight.
K2 and the Baltoro need at least a week from Askole, and much more if you want to do the full trek.
For the city sites, Deosai, and Shigar, a 5-night trip is enough. You will need a 6th night for Khaplu. Baltoro needs its own trip.
What to expect and what to avoid
Make sure you check the status of Deosai before you finalize your plans. The road closes to traffic under snow and is usually closed from late September or October till end of June in normal years, which can be much later.
Flights to and from Skardu are canceled very easily due to clouds, and you should plan a road backup, especially during winter. Do not book a same-day international connection on the way back.
During summer, plan ahead to get reservations at Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace, as both get reserved heritage hotel rooms for the season.
Bring cash. ATMs in Skardu are unreliable and not at all on the day trip routes.
Make sure you ask your driver specifically whether he has done the Khaplu road this year. Most of the road is good tarmac, but there are a lot of sections that are not.
You shouldn't drive to Deosai on your own. The crossings and conditions of the tracks are different from what a map shows. It looks flat, but the altitude of Deosai is rapid and real, and your trip from Skardu will be above 4,000 meters without any acclimatization. Rest for a day in the city before going up.
The altitude of Deosai is high, so be sure to bring sunscreen. People are underestimating how fast the combination of altitude and UV radiation at over 2,000 meters burns even on suboptimal weather days, like overcast days.
How many days is a good length for a trip to Skardu? Five nights should be adequate. If you add Khaplu, aim for six. Anything less than four and you will have a frustrating trip due to time constraints.
In a subjective judgment, which do you prefer, Skardu or Hunza? Skardu has a wider scope of activities as it is more spread out. Deosai and high-mountain activities are headquartered there. Hunza is more appealing because of the more famous concentration of valleys. Most people who go on longer trips include both.
When is the ideal time to visit Skardu? Go between late June and September for main tourist activities in Deosai and trekking. For blooms in Shigar and Khaplu, go between late March and April. The best time to go for clear weather is September and October.
Is it possible to see all 10 places on just one trip? Yes, but don't try for seven days. It’ll take at least that to see all the main tourist sites, including Deosai, Shigar, Khaplu and Skardu.
Are permits required for these? You will not require permits for the city sites, Katpana, Shangrila or Shigar. For the permit declarations, Deosai has a national park entry fee, and permits are required through a licensed operator for trekking to K2 base camp.
Concerning safety in Skardu, families may also visit the city sites, Shangrila, Katpana, and Deosai, as they are all accessible as non-technical sites. The rest of the Baltoro and Khaplu require more planning.
Tell us what you want to see.
Please give us the dates, the number of people, and please mark which of these ten you are not willing to miss. We will let you know honestly whether the itinerary will work in the time frame you have. If it does not, we will let you know what you need to remove and return with hotels confirmed, jeeps booked, and a full price for the guided tour before it is all confirmed.
WhatsApp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Head office: Office No. 2 & 3, Ground Floor, Parish Rose Plaza, Opposite NUST Gate 4, Sector H-13, Islamabad