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Skardu has varied and better accommodation than most travelers anticipate. The district runs from the town of Skardu to Kachura Lake and valleys and towns beyond, like Shigar and Khaplu. There are distinctive and significant variations in the resorts and hotels scattered throughout this area. Each is different in terms of location and the kind of travel activity it is suited for. In the case of Skardu, the choice of accommodation sets the tone and bent of your entire travel plan and activity.
The Skardu district has numerous resorts located in diverse areas outside Skardu City, and these are the places most visitors include in their Skardu itinerary. The resorts in Skardu city itself are mid-range and are good for breaking a long journey, or as an overnight stay on the way to or from other places. These have no travel or attractions activity of their own and are chiefly functional.
The resorts outside Skardu City typically determine the kind of travel activity and day trips you can do and the logistics of getting to and from these places. Skangrila Resort is at Kachura Lake, about 35 km from Skardu City. Shigar Fort Residence is at Shigar Valley, about 35 km from Skardu City, and Khaplu Palace is in Ghanch District, about 100 km from Skardu City. Staying at any of these places means you cannot do the day trips to the places in Skardu City.
The Shangrila Resort on Lower Kachura Lake is the largest and most established resort in Skardu. The Lake of Heaven, as Kachura Lake is called, is the focal point of many a Skardu travel dream, and Shangrila Resort is nestled next to it. The most famous landmark of the resort is a restaurant that is located in an airplane’s cockpit and body. The plane is permanently situated on the resort’s property.
Since the original construction of the resort, many additions have been made. The property has lake view cottages, and other cottages that are situated on the surrounding hills. Lake view rooms are very popular, and are typically fully booked during the peak season.
There is very little to no activity at Upper Kachura lake, and is a short 30-40 minute walk from Shangrila Resort. Most of the resort’s guests take the hike during their first or second day of their stay.
The drive from Skardu City to Shangrila takes approximately 45-60 minutes. A stay at Shangrila means a longer commute to other attractions outside of Skardu city, including the Deosai Plains. For travelers who want to stay at a lake front resort and enjoy the scenic views of Skardu, a stay at Shangrila is recommended.
Check the bookings status for next season directly or via your operator as soon as it is practical. Of all the properties, Shangrila fills first and fastest during peak season (July and August).
A restored 17th century fort in Shigar Valley, operated by Serena Hotels, with the collaboration of Aga Khan Cultural Service, Pakistan, is another example of a pioneering heritage hotel project in the country. It has a small number of rooms located in and around the renovated fort.
Being situated in the valley gives you a different experience than staying in a city hotel. Located beside the river and with plenty of surrounding orchards, the hotel itself is a fort. Rooms are a mixture of the main fort building and a guest house adjacent to it. The staff conducts guided tours of the fort, allowing the public access to the fort. As a result, some level of congestion is experienced in the public areas, especially during the peak tourism season.
It takes approximately three and a half hours to reach Shigar from Islamabad. Many travelers heading to Skardu break their journey at Shigar to stay at the fort, adding to the level of congestion during the peak season. Like other heritage hotels, Shigar Fort works best when used as a transit point on your journey to other destinations in the area, especially Skardu.
The Serena group is developing Khaplu Palace in the Ghanche district. This restored palace gives guests a look into the past as it was the residence of the Khaplu royal family. The palace is located in the Shyok valley and is off the beaten path in the district.
It takes three hours to reach Khaplu from Skardu city and the journey is not possible in a day. Khaplu palace is typically visited by travelers who are doing a longer tour of Skardu and its surroundings. A stay of 2 to 3 days is ideal to fully explore the area.
Other than the palace, there are a variety of trekking routes to peaks in the Masherbrum range that pass through Khaplu.
The hotels in Skardu are definitely improving and offer views of the valley and surrounding peaks. Many of these hotels have their own dining and bathing facilities. These hotels are great to explore surrounding sites like Katpana and Kharpocho Fort.
Staying in the Skardu city proper offers many advantages. For example, most of the day trips that leave from Skardu return through the city. Staying 35-100 kilometers away from Skardu means more time spent traveling and less time enjoying the places you've traveled to see.
Properties in this tier's consistency and quality vary the most. For example, a hotel that was run well by proper managers two years back may have been taken over by an new, unmanaged group. So, trusting an operator who has recently stayed at that property and doing an update booking is more prudent than trusting a stale, old listing.
For larger corporate groups and delegations, several mid range hotels in Skardu have the capacity to block-book, and offer meeting/conference facilities. The staff at HospitalityTours.com.pk evaluates these facilities prior to endorsing any of these hotels.
Skardu has a good number of budget guesthouses and places to stay. Some are located in or near the bazaar and others are old, government run, repeat business motels that have catered to the trekking and tours market for many years.
The PTDC Motel, Skardu is located in the budget motels/guesthouses segment, and has been providing basic motel/guesthouse services for many years. Due to variability in management and service, quality and comfort of rooms may vary.
Basic guesthouses in Skardu and Askole are a part of standard logistics for trekking and tour services to K2 and other peaks.
It depends on what you wish to do and what your end objective is.
For treks and tours to K2 and other peaks, Skardu, Askole and other places en route Concordia are a good base.
Book a room at Shangrila with a view. Phases of the resort’s development resulted in different views from guest rooms, with some being much closer to the lake than others.
Overly-touristy accommodations such as those in towns surrounding the Concordia intersection. Concordia offers stunning panoramas and should not be used as a base for visiting other attractions. Skillfully plan your route to minimize backtracking so you spend the least amount of time in the Concordia area.
Whether your hotel runs its generator all night. Load shedding is in effect in Skardu district. No electricity for several hours in the summer is very uncomfortable. Directly ask instead of assuming from the “air-conditioned” sentences in listings.
Whether non-resident visitors are allowed at Shigar Fort during your stay and what times the visiting hours are. You need to confirm with the fort directly if you want to see it during the day.
What the deal is with food at the palace in Khaplu. Since there are no other restaurants nearby, you may want to confirm if they have food you’d like and when.
Is your preferred room available at Shangrila? You may want to confirm with an operator that has better relationships with the property.
Are the Shigar and Khaplu roads open?
Do not try to visit Shangrila during the peak summer months (July and August) if you don’t have confirmed reservations. All of the reservations are snatched up during this time.
Taking Shangrila and Khaplu Palace on the same itinerary and factoring in the long driving time between the two. Shangrila and Khaplu Palace both deserve more than a quick one night stay.
Staying at a mid-range hotel in Skardu City, based on an out-dated listing, and expecting it to be the same as described.
Most tourists going to Skardu want to see Kachura Lake, and Shangrila Resort is the most established resort there. For travelers interested in heritage and culture, there is Shigar Fort Residence and Khaplu Palace, both operated by Serena Hotels.
As a lake resort, Shangrila has the most picturesque views in Skardu, however, higher elevation hotels in the city give good views of the Indus Valley. Khaplu Palace gives views up the Shyok valley.
How long is the drive to the Shangrila Resort from Skardu city?
The Shangrila resort is 35 kilometers from Skardu city. The drive takes between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the condition of the road. The drive to and from the city adds to the time it takes to get to Deosai and Katpana Plains to the north and east of Skardu city. This extends the excursion time from the resort.
Is Shigar Fort open to the public?
Shigar Fort is managed by the Serena Hotels as a property called Shigar Fort Residence. The hotel is open to the public and guests are allowed to tour the fort during the day for a fee. The fort has a limited number of rooms and books quickly, especially during the peak season.
What hotels are there in Skardu that are good for families?
The best options for families are the hotels in Skardu city, since most have family or interconnecting rooms. The Shangrila Resort also has family and group friendly accommodation. Verify specifics about your room with your booking agent, as some rooms are designated for families.
What is the hotel peak season in Skardu?
In all categories of hotels, the months of July and August are the busiest. Shangrila Resort is the first hotel to be fully booked, followed by other hotels in the mid and low ranges. The hotels in Skardu City are fully booked over the weekends and public holidays in this period. The weather in September is clear and less crowded compared to August. The peak season for hotels in Skardu ends in September.
The staff of HospitalityTours.com.pk requires your travel dates and the names and ages of travelers to create an itinerary. There is no obligation or charge until you approve the itinerary.
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