Camping in Naltar means either the forest around Naltar Bala, the upper village, or the ground near the lakes above it, and both give you a night in one of the greenest valleys close to Gilgit. Nights are cold even in July, the whole valley sits inside a protected wildlife sanctuary, and there is no formal campsite with facilities, so what you bring and how you camp matters more than in most places.
This guide covers where people camp, what the nights are like, and what to know about camping in a protected area.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where to camp | Forest edges near Naltar Bala, or flat ground near the lakes above it |
| Altitude | Naltar Bala around 3,000 m; the lakes a little higher |
| Season | Roughly June to September; the ground and streams are unpredictable outside this |
| Summer nights | Cold, often close to freezing even in July and August |
| Protected status | The valley sits inside the Naltar Wildlife Sanctuary, set up in 1975 |
| Facilities | None. No formal campsite, toilets or water points |
Where people camp in Naltar
There is no designated campsite in Naltar with pitches, toilets or water laid on. Camping here is informal, and two general areas are used:
- Around Naltar Bala, the upper village, where flat ground near the forest edge gives easier access to the road, to guesthouses if the weather turns, and to a night that does not depend on the jeep track being open.
- Near the lakes, on the flatter ground close to Satrangi and the other lakes above the village, for anyone who wants a night at altitude and an early start before day visitors arrive. Reaching this ground means the same rough jeep track used to visit the lakes by day, so plan the drive in with a local jeep rather than your own car.
Ask locally in Naltar Bala, at a guesthouse or with your jeep driver, about where other visitors have camped recently and what ground is currently usable; conditions by the lakes change with the snowmelt and the season.
How cold the nights are
Naltar Bala sits at roughly 3,000 metres, and the temperature drop after sunset is real even in the warmest months. Expect cool to cold nights through June, July and August, with the ground near the lakes colder again than the village. Outside high summer, night temperatures can fall towards freezing or below, and camping is a much harder proposition once the season turns in autumn.
Bring a sleeping bag rated well below what the daytime weather suggests, a proper sleeping mat rather than a thin one, and a tent that can handle wind, since the upper valley is exposed once you are away from the trees.
Camping inside a wildlife sanctuary
Naltar sits within the Naltar Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area set up in 1975 that extends from the valley floor up to the high glaciers, and is home to Astor markhor, snow leopard, brown bear and grey wolf, among other species. Camping here is informal, but it is still inside a protected area, and that carries some responsibilities even where no formal permit system is enforced on the ground:
- Ask locally before you pitch, at a guesthouse in Naltar Bala or through a local jeep driver, about where camping is currently acceptable and whether anything has changed.
- Use existing cleared ground rather than flattening new spots or camping in dense forest undergrowth.
- No open fires in the forest. If you need to cook, use a portable stove rather than gathering wood, both because it is safer in a pine forest and because the sanctuary's vegetation is part of what it protects.
- Keep well away from any wildlife you see, and never feed animals.
Rules and enforcement can change, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the current situation locally rather than assuming nothing has changed since this was written.
Take everything back down with you
There are no waste bins in the upper valley or at the lakes. Whatever you carry in, food wrappers, bottles, tissues, anything, carry back out with you. This matters more in Naltar than in most places, because the valley's appeal is exactly the clean forest and clear lakes that litter would spoil fastest, and because there is no one collecting rubbish from a campsite that does not officially exist.
Bury human waste well away from the stream and any water source, or better, use a portable toilet system if you have one.
What to bring
- A four-season or at least a well-rated three-season tent
- A sleeping bag rated for below-freezing temperatures, even in summer
- A stove and fuel, since open fires should be avoided
- Enough water or a reliable way to treat stream water
- A torch or headlamp; there is no lighting once you are away from the village
- Rubbish bags to carry everything back out
Is camping in Naltar worth it?
For anyone who enjoys being outdoors and wants the lakes without the crowds of a day trip, yes. Camping near the lakes means reaching them before the jeeps arrive from Gilgit, when the water is calmest and the light is best, and a night in the forest near Naltar Bala is a quiet, cool alternative to a guesthouse room.
It suits people who are comfortable with informal, unserviced camping and cold nights, and it does not suit anyone expecting facilities, a marked site, or warm summer nights simply because it is July. If that describes you, the guesthouses and small hotels in Naltar Bala are a more comfortable base; see our Naltar valley guide for where to stay and how the jeep track to the lakes works.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a proper campsite in Naltar Valley?
No. Camping is informal, near Naltar Bala or close to the lakes above it, with no facilities, toilets or water points provided.
Do I need permission to camp in Naltar?
There is no formal visitor permit system enforced on the ground, but the valley is inside the Naltar Wildlife Sanctuary, so ask locally before you pitch and follow basic protected-area etiquette: no open fires in the forest, no new ground cleared, and everything carried back out.
How cold does it get camping in Naltar at night?
Cool to cold even in June, July and August, with temperatures that can approach freezing, especially near the lakes. Nights are much colder outside the summer months.
Can I drive my own car to camp near the lakes?
No. The track from Naltar Bala to the lakes is for local jeeps only. Arrange a jeep and driver in Naltar Bala, Nomal or Gilgit to carry your gear in.
When is the best time to camp in Naltar?
June to September, once the jeep track to the lakes has opened and before the first autumn snow. September gives the most settled weather with fewer people around.
