Baltistan & Skardu
Skardu & Baltistan Discovery
Forts, cold deserts and the roof-of-the-world plateau
from $1,150 / person
- Duration
- 8 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Season
- May – September
- Group size
- 2-12 guests
Baltistan is the Karakoram at full scale — and this 8-day tour shows you how much of it you can reach without a single long trek. You fly from Islamabad to Skardu on one of the world's most scenic routes, then fan out by 4x4 to a different valley, lake or desert each day.
The cultural thread is 'Little Tibet': you visit the restored 17th-century Shigar Fort and the airy Khaplu Palace, both former raja's residences turned heritage hotels, and wander old Balti villages where carved wooden mosques have stood for centuries. The landscape thread runs from the white dunes of the Sarfaranga and Katpana cold deserts to the mirror-calm Kachura lakes.
The crescendo is Deosai National Park — the world's second-highest plateau, a 4,000-metre grassland of wildflowers, golden marmots and Himalayan brown bears — followed by a gentle day among the pine forests and trout streams of Basho Valley. Jeep days are long but the walking stays easy throughout.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1
Fly Islamabad → Skardu
The 50-minute flight to Skardu often passes within sight of Nanga Parbat before dropping into the wide Indus valley. Check in, acclimatise at 2,230 m, and take an easy evening walk to Kharpocho Fort viewpoint above the bazaar.
- 2
Skardu town & Katpana cold desert
A relaxed first full day: Skardu bazaar, the organic farm cafés along the Indus, and sunset among the white sand dunes of Katpana — one of the highest cold deserts in the world, with snow peaks behind the ridgelines.
- 3
Shigar Valley & Sarfaranga desert
Drive into the apricot orchards of Shigar, tour the beautifully restored 17th-century Shigar Fort (Fong Khar, the 'Palace on the Rock') and the carved Amburiq Mosque, then cross to the Sarfaranga cold desert for golden-hour dune photography.
- 4
Khaplu Valley day trip
Follow the Shyok River east to Khaplu, Baltistan's prettiest royal town. Visit the four-storey Khaplu Palace and the 700-year-old Chaqchan Mosque, lunch with views toward the Masherbrum range, and amble through terraced villages on the return.
- 5
Upper Kachura Lake & Shangrila
Morning at Upper Kachura Lake, where deep green water sits beneath rock walls — take the trail walk or a wooden rowing boat. Continue to the famous Shangrila Resort at Lower Kachura for the postcard view, with the afternoon free for kayaking or tea by the water.
- 6
Deosai National Park & Sheosar Lake
A full-day 4x4 expedition onto the world's second-highest plateau, averaging 4,114 m. Cross flower-filled grasslands to Sheosar Lake, picnic at Bara Pani, and scan the slopes for Himalayan brown bear, golden marmots and circling lammergeiers.
- 7
Basho Valley pine forests
A gentle contrast to Deosai: jeep up to Basho's alpine meadows and pine forest, walk beside the trout stream, and share a riverside barbecue lunch. Back in Skardu by evening for a farewell dinner of Balti cuisine.
- 8
Fly Skardu → Islamabad
Morning transfer for the return flight to Islamabad. If weather intervenes, we activate the overland contingency via the Skardu road and Karakoram Highway — your booking includes a buffer plan.
What’s included
- Islamabad–Skardu return domestic flights (with road contingency plan)
- 7 nights' accommodation with breakfast, including a heritage-style stay
- Private 4x4 transport for Deosai, Basho and desert excursions
- English-speaking Balti guide throughout
- Deosai National Park fees and all fort/palace entrance tickets
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Boat ride at Upper Kachura Lake
- All checkpoint formalities and local permits
Not included
- International flights and Pakistan visa fees
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Lunches, drinks and personal expenses
- Tips for guide, drivers and hotel staff
- Optional upgrades to Serena Shigar Fort or Khaplu Palace rooms
Skardu & Baltistan Discovery — frequently asked questions
Do I need to trek on the Skardu & Baltistan Discovery tour?
No. Every day is built around 4x4 drives with short, optional walks of an hour or less. The 'Moderate' grading reflects long jeep days on rough tracks — especially Deosai — rather than any hiking requirement.
Will I see a Himalayan brown bear in Deosai?
Sightings can never be guaranteed, but July and August give the best odds, when bears graze the open plateau. Even without a bear, golden marmots, abundant birdlife and Sheosar Lake make Deosai a highlight on its own.
Can I stay inside Shigar Fort or Khaplu Palace?
Yes — both restored palaces operate as Serena heritage hotels, and we can upgrade one or more nights of your tour to stay in them, subject to availability. Book early for July and August, when rooms sell out months ahead.
Is Skardu at high altitude? Will I feel it?
Skardu town sits at a moderate 2,230 m, which most travelers barely notice. The Deosai day climbs above 4,000 m, so we schedule it after several acclimatisation days, keep exertion light and carry oxygen in the vehicle.
