Top famous places in Skardu
Skardu is located at roughly 2228 metres and is situated in a large sandy bowl where the Indus and Shigar rivers meet. The area is found behind the Karakoram and is the biggest town in Baltistan; the beginning of K2 and the Baltoro area. The area also has a variety of different landscapes in a day's drive compared to almost anywhere else in Pakistan: mountain lakes, a high-altitude cold desert with sand dunes, a Buddhist rock carving from the 8th or 9th century, a fort built on a rock in the 16th century, glaciers an hour away, and a high-altitude treeless plateau that stays without snow for 3 months.
Most people use Skardu as a base. The following are the things that are worth getting out from the base.
We arrange Skardu tours from Islamabad.
HospitalityTours.com.pk organizes Skardu trips from our office in Sector H-13, Islamabad. This includes arrangements for hotels in Skardu, Shigar, and Khaplu; rental of 4x4s and drivers who know local roads; local licensed guides; and planning of itineraries to discover what is available in that particular season. Feel free to contact us for our travel Package offers by sending travel dates and the size of your group on WhatsApp. Our contact details are at the end.
1. Kharpocho Fort
Also known as the King of Forts, this structure lies on a rock spur above the meeting point of the Indus and Shigar Rivers. It was built in the late 16th century by the Maqpon dynasty's Ali Sher Khan Anchan. It is a fine exemplar of Balti military architecture that has survived the test of time. A preceding ancient mosque is found in the fort's courtyard.
It takes roughly thirty minutes to reach the fort from the main road. The way is steep, with precipitous drops on one side and the two rivers far below. From the summit, one can see the Skardu valley and a stretch of the Indus as it begins to wind its way to the Karakoram. To avoid the summer midday heat, come early.
The fort is mostly unrestored, which is both a limitation and part of its charm. It is free to learn about its use by Dogra General Zorawar Singh as a military position during the campaigns in Baltistan in the 19th century.
2. Shangrila Resort and Lower Kachura Lake
At around 2,500 meters, Lower Kachura Lake is also known as Shangrila Lake. It is the picture most people think of when a photograph is taken of Skardu. The resort has been around since 1983. The red colored roofs of the cottages on the lakeside over the well-kept fruit orchards are what most imagine when they think of Skardu.
Here is some info on the lakes that make up Skardu, including Upper Kachura Lake, which is known to have exceptional views. As for the walk to reach Upper Kachura Lake, it’s a short thirty-kilometer trek from Towhill. Looking to the side of the road on your way to Upper Kachura Lake will show you an odd, yet interesting sight - a small, yet prominent restaurant situated in a plane that crashed while passing through the area.
Upper Kachura Lake is relaxed and has calming effects while offering stunning views thanks to its proximity to surrounding mountains and its crystal-clear, beautiful waters. Because there are no resorts, it gets much less traffic than the lake below.
Both of these lakes offer plenty to offer and are must-see stops, as are Lower Kachura Lake and Shangrila Resort.
Lastly, Sadpara Lake lies at approximately 2,600 meters and is a main source of drinking water for the residents of Skardu. Think of a lake with a calm flow, clear, deep water, and easy access; Sadpara Lake is relaxing and offers a really beautiful, remote setting. Minus the luxury and serene resort built by Shangrila, Sadpara Lake offers fishing and boating.
Satpara is along the same route as Deosai, so, naturally, people stop there.
5. Katpana Cold Desert
The Katpana desert is a spectacular sight covered in sand and sitting at almost 2,000 meters. Not far from Skardu city, the Katpana desert may just be one of the highest cold deserts in the world.
What is so unique about the Katpana Desert is that one can view desert sand dunes mixed with green patches of irrigated farmland, a lake at its edge, snowfields, and rocky peaks. None of those elements should coexist. And yet Katpana Desert has all of them at once.
Skardu may well have some of the best stargazing in Pakistan due to its altitude, dry air, and complete lack of major city lights.
6. Manthal Buddha Rock
One of the important pre-Islamic relics in Baltistan is the Manthal Buddha rock. Three kilometers out from Skardu on the road towards Satpara, you can find the Manthal Buddha. Carved onto a granite boulder is a relief of Buddha in a seated position. Sources document its age to be either the 8th or 9th century.
It is free and will only take you fifteen minutes to get there. Most people drive right by it. Don’t be one of those people; go!
7. Deosai Plains
A reason people travel to Skardu is Deosai. The high-altitude plains average around 4,114 meters, making them among the world’s highest plateaus. Deosai is accessed via Skardu along Satpara between June and September.
Deosai National Park is located on the plateau and was created to protect the Himalayan brown bear. In the center of the park is a high-altitude lake that is the source of a river that flows down to Astore. One of the best road trips in the country is the journey across Deosai from Skardu to Astore, where the road is generally flat grassland speckled with wildflowers, void of trees, and has occasional bear sightings.
Plan on spending a full day traveling to and from Deosai because of the altitude. Travel slowly and take breaks to acclimate to the high altitude and drink lots of water to avoid exacerbating the effects of altitude sickness.
8. Shigar Valley and Shigar Fort
Shigar can be found thirty kilometers down a valley from Skardu with lots of poplar trees and apricot groves. It is the route that ultimately leads to Askole and the head of the Baltoro trek.
Shigar Fort was built by the Raja of Shigar in the 17th century. Now owned by the Serena Hotels, it has been restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to be one of the best heritage hotels in Pakistan. The interiors still show the Buddhist and Tibetan designs and patterns from the centuries before Islam. This is one of the finest places to spend a night in Pakistan.
Shigar Fort is such a great hotel that you can easily justify a 1-night stay. Take a room with a view and enjoy an early walk to explore the old town of Shigar. The Aga Khan’s dedicated cultural work in the Baltistan region has preserved numerous structures, and this is the best amongst them.
9. Khaplu and Khaplu Palace
Driving to Khaplu, which is around 100 km east of Skardu, takes over 2 hours and is totally worth the drive.
Khaplu Palace, locally known as Yabgo Khar or the Fort on the Roof, was constructed in the 19th century as the official residence of the Raja of Khaplu. Like many of the other restorations done by the Aga Khan Cultural Service, Khaplu Palace is a heritage hotel managed by Serena Hotels. The valley below the palace has terraces with apricot trees, a historic market, and a centuries-old Friday Mosque with a beautifully carved wooden interior.
Beyond Khaplu, the next village of Hushe takes you to the Masherbrum and Gondogoro trekking routes, and the village has the Chaqchan Mosque whose wooden architecture resembles the old mosques in Hunza.
10. K2 and the Baltoro Glacier approach
Traveling to K2 from Skardu involves first organizing your porters and travelling to Askole, the end of the road and the beginning of the trek to Base Camp. The Baltoro Glacier stretches nearly 62 km through the Trango Towers and Broad Peak to Concordia below K2. Unlike most glacier treks, this walk takes about two weeks and properly organizing a trek to K2 Base Camp requires permits, guides, porters, a cook and specialized gear for high-altitude trekking. However, the beginning of your adventure is in Skardu and, before you even go trekking, the bazaar provides a clear indication of your surroundings with the traffic of porters preparing to set out on expeditions.
11. Chunda and Basho Valley
Located near Skardu and visited by very few travelers, Chunda is known for its spectacular blossoms in the spring and fall, and is just a spur road off the main Skardu highway. Basho Valley is nearby and only a few hours from Skardu, making it very accessible.
A fine addition to the thread of your itinerary when you want to do your own thing without a crowd.
Practical section: things to look out for and what to avoid
Flights to Skardu from Islamabad tend to get cancelled, especially during cloudy and winter days. You should have a road plan and a spare day to accommodate any onward connections. Many travelers go up by flight and return by road, which helps to avoid the issues.
Carry cash, as the ATMs in Skardu do not work consistently and are especially a problem on long days on the Deosai road.
Confirm Deosai is open for the dates you intend to travel. Snow closes the route from about October to June or so, and the dates may vary.
Book your stays at Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace well in advance for the summer. They offer heritage stays with a limited number of rooms, and are usually booked in advance.
Ask your driver/guide if they have done the Khaplu road this year. The road is good and tarmacked for most of it.
Do not try to drive to Deosai without a guide/driver. It looks rather flat on the map, but is far more complex.
Altitude in Deosai is real. Most people are hit by it, even if you have driven directly from Skardu, and there is no chance to acclimatize.
Frequently asked
What is Skardu known for? The Baltoro Glacier, K2, the Kharpocho Fort, the Shangrila Resort, the cold desert, Deosai plains, Shigar Fort and the heritage forts and mosques of Baltistan.
How many nights should you plan to spend in Skardu? 4 nights are enough to cover all main sites. 6 Nights will give you the chance to do a night in Shigar and a day trip to Khaplu. With 8 nights, you can do Deosai joins and Baltoro approaches.
Is Skardu better than Hunza? They are both different. Skardu is spread out and perfect for going on more serious treks. It is larger and more varied. Hunza is perfect for shorter treks and has more tourist-related services. People usually do both on their trips.
When is the ideal time to go to Skardu? Deosai and treks are done best during June to September. The best time for Shigar and Khaplu is April for the blossoms. Clear skies and colors are the best during September and October.
Can you fly from Islamabad to Skardu directly? Yes. Private airlines and PIA both offer flights. The flight takes about 1 hour and is cancellable due to bad weather.
Is Skardu reachable in winter? The city is. Many side roads close, along with Deosai and Baltoro, due to the snow.
We can book the trip to Skardu for you. Just give us your travel dates, the number of people travelling, and what options you want to choose from. We will put a trip together, book hotels by name, organize jeeps and drivers, give you the price with the inclusions and confirm everything.
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