Basho Valley Jeep Rent: Prices from Skardu and Basho Bridge

Basho Valley jeep rent for a round trip from Skardu typically costs about PKR 10,000 to 20,000 in 2026, depending on who quotes it, the season and how hard you bargain. Most guides give PKR 10,000 to 15,000, and a few quote PKR 15,000 to 20,000 or more. You can hire a jeep in Skardu city or, cheaper and simpler for many people, at Basho Bridge itself, where the paved road ends.

You need a jeep because only locally registered 4x4 vehicles are permitted on the track. This guide covers what the fare buys, where to arrange it, how long each part takes and what to settle before you set off. Prices change, so treat every figure here as a guide rather than a quote.

How much does a Basho Valley jeep cost?

The figures below come from 2025 and 2026 travel guides and operators, and they do not agree. That is normal for a fare that is agreed on the spot rather than printed on a board.

• PKR 10,000 to 15,000 for a round trip from Skardu is the most commonly quoted range.
• PKR 10,000 to 14,000 is given by another guide for the round trip.
• About PKR 17,000 is quoted by one source for the trip to the valley and back.
• PKR 15,000 to 20,000 is the range given by a trekking site, which also puts a one-night trip for a group of five at PKR 30,000 to 45,000 including camping.
• About PKR 10,000 is the price listed by one Skardu rental company for a short run from a parking point on the main road.

Our reading is that PKR 10,000 to 15,000 is a reasonable thing to expect for a day trip, and that anything above PKR 20,000 should make you ask what is included. Camping adds roughly PKR 1,000 to 5,000 per night according to the same guides.

A jeep is hired by the vehicle, not by the seat. Guides describe a full-day 4x4 as seating five or six passengers, so the cost per person falls quickly with a full car: PKR 15,000 split five ways is PKR 3,000 each.

Skardu or Basho Bridge: where to hire

You can negotiate in two places.

In Skardu. Hotels, rent-a-car offices and tour operators can arrange a jeep that meets you or takes you the whole way. It is more convenient, and it usually costs more because the fare includes the drive on the paved section. Our guide to renting a car in Skardu covers the options.

At Basho Bridge. If you have your own car or a hired car with a driver, you can drive the paved road to the bridge, leave your vehicle there and pay a local jeep for the track only. Local guides say only registered local vehicles are allowed on the track, so personal cars are not an option beyond the bridge. This is the cheaper route, but you are negotiating on the spot.

Basho Bridge is a narrow suspension bridge of about 450 feet. It is said to take up to 1.5 tonnes, so one jeep crosses at a time and the other waits. Allow for that in the queue on a busy day.

What the track is like

The jeep track is about 10 km long and climbs roughly 3,500 feet (about 1,000 m). It is steep, narrow and bumpy in places, with irrigated fields, wooden bridges and small shops selling apricots and walnuts on the way. Plan on one and a half to two hours each way, which is why most guides put the whole day at three to four hours of driving plus whatever time you spend in the valley.

Heavy rain or snow makes the track unpleasant and risky, and travel guides advise against going then. Ask your driver about the current state of the road. For general advice on this kind of ride, see our notes on jeep track safety in the northern areas.

What the fare buys, and what to agree first

Before you set off, agree these with the driver:

1. Round trip or one way. Most quotes are round trip, with the driver waiting. Confirm it.
2. Waiting time. Ask how long the driver will wait at the top and what happens if you want to stay longer.
3. Passengers and luggage. Agree the number of people, and that camping gear is included.
4. Overnight plan. If you are camping, agree a pick-up day and time, and what the extra night costs.
5. Start point. Be clear whether the price starts at Skardu, the viewpoint on the main road or Basho Bridge.
6. Payment. Pay at the end, in cash. The valley has no ATMs, fuel stations or medical facilities, according to one local guide.

When to go

June to September is the reliable window, with green meadows and daytime temperatures around the low to mid twenties Celsius, falling to about 5 to 10 degrees at night even in summer. May and October can work. From November to April snow closes the valley for most visitors, and anyone who goes then should treat it as a day trip with local advice.

If you want to see the valley in the best light, leave Skardu early. Our page on day trips from Skardu shows how Basho fits alongside Shigar and Kachura.

What there is to see

The track climbs to meadows around Sultanabad, where most campers stay, with a short hike to a rock formation known as Camel Rock. Travel guides also mention a two-day trek to the Basho lakes for people with a guide. The valley is quiet and has very little light pollution, which is why some visitors choose a night under the stars. Mobile signal is limited and often absent, so tell someone your plan.

If you are comparing jeep trips across the region, see our guides to jeep rent in Gilgit-Baltistan, jeep hire costs across the northern areas and Deosai jeep rent.

Is the trip worth the fare?

For a family or a group of friends with a free day around Skardu, yes. The paved road to the bridge is short and the jeep ride itself is a good part of the day. It is less suited to anyone who dislikes steep, narrow tracks, to very young children on a bumpy ride, or to anyone with only a few hours in Skardu. If you are short on time, Shigar and Upper Kachura give you more for less effort.

Skardu itself is a base for many trips; our Skardu page and the Skardu and Deosai tour show how Basho can be added to a longer route.

Frequently asked questions