Deosai in October is cold, quiet and open only until the first heavy snow closes the track, which most years happens somewhere in the month. Deosai weather in October means days a few degrees above freezing and nights well below it, often minus 5 to minus 15 °C by the second half of the month. You can still go in the first week or two if the track is clear, but treat it as a bonus day that may not happen, not the centre of a trip.
This guide covers what the weather actually does through October, how the closure works on the Skardu and Astore sides, whether jeeps still run, what the plateau looks like in autumn, and who should try it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | Average 4,114 m |
| Daytime in October | Roughly 0 to 8 °C early in the month, near or below freezing later |
| Nights in October | Below freezing; minus 10 °C or colder is common after mid-month |
| First snow | Usually in October; some years in the first week |
| Closure | With the first heavy fall; no fixed date |
| Jeeps from Skardu | Still run while the track is open |
| Overnight stay | Night camping and seasonal hotels banned as of 2026 |
| Best part of the month | The first ten days |
Weather now in Deosai Plains 4,000 m
Live weather loads here.
When it snows: Snow from October; deep snow covers the whole plateau through winter, and the road usually opens some time in June. More on the seasons
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), updated every 30 minutes. Mountain weather changes fast: check again before you set off.
What is Deosai weather like in October?
There is no official weather station on the plateau, so published figures for Deosai are estimates. The most useful numbers we found come from reanalysis data (a weather model rebuilt from observations) for a point on the plateau at about 3,900 metres, which we pulled for October in each year from 2021 to 2025. Treat them as a guide to the pattern, not a forecast.
| Part of October | Typical daytime high | Typical night low |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 October | About 3 to 8 °C | About minus 2 to minus 8 °C |
| 11 to 20 October | About 0 to 5 °C | About minus 6 to minus 12 °C |
| 21 to 31 October | About minus 6 to plus 4 °C | About minus 6 to minus 18 °C |
The coldest night in that five-year data was about minus 21 °C, in late October 2022. In every one of the five years the model recorded some snow in the first ten days of the month, though usually only a few centimetres at a time. Wind makes all of this feel colder, because there is nothing on the plateau to break it.
For comparison, Skardu town sits at about 2,200 metres and is many degrees warmer. A sunny morning in Skardu tells you very little about conditions on top. Our Deosai weather guide explains the gap between the valley and the plateau through the whole season.
When does Deosai close in October?
Deosai closes when a heavy snowfall buries the track, and that date moves every year. Some recent examples show the range:
- October 2018: heavy snow on 16 October trapped ten people on the plateau, including a foreign cyclist, four Pakistani tourists and five wildlife staff. The army and the Gilgit-Baltistan administration brought them out by helicopter (Daily Pakistan).
- October 2019: the first winter snow fell on Deosai, Babusar and Nanga Parbat in early October, earlier than locals expected, and the Naran road to Gilgit was closed (ARY News).
- November 2024: a group driving from Gultari to Skardu across Deosai in two vehicles was trapped by heavy snow and rescued by the army (ARY News). Local vehicles sometimes keep crossing late, and this is what can happen when they do.
So the honest answer is that the plateau can close in the first week of October or stay usable into November. Mid to late October is when most closures come. Our guide to whether Deosai is open or closed explains how to check on the day.
The Skardu side and the Astore side
Deosai has two main approaches: from Skardu over the Ali Malik Mar pass, and from Astore through Chilim. We could not find any fixed rule on which side closes first, and it depends on where the snow falls. A light fall can leave one side passable and the other not.
In October, plan Deosai as an out-and-back from one side, usually Skardu, and don't count on crossing the plateau from Skardu to Astore or the other way. A crossing puts you on the highest, emptiest stretch for the longest time, which is exactly where you don't want to be when snow arrives in the afternoon. Ask in Skardu, and if you are coming from the west, in Astore or at Chilim, the evening before.
Do jeeps still run to Deosai in October?
Yes, while the track is open. Skardu jeep drivers keep going up as long as they can get through, and they are the best source of information on whether the road is clear. With far fewer visitors than in summer, there may be fewer jeeps waiting around, so arrange one through your hotel the day before rather than turning up in the morning.
Prices are negotiated, and we have no verified October rate to quote. Our Deosai jeep rent guide covers how hiring works. Agree in advance what happens if the driver turns back because of snow, so there is no argument about the fare.
A private car is a poor idea this late in the season; use a 4x4 with a local driver.
What does Deosai look like in October?
Different from the postcards. The July wildflowers are long gone and the grass has dried out, so the plateau is brown and gold rather than green. On clear days the light is sharp and the mountains around the rim stand out well, and there may be fresh snow on the higher ground.
There are no trees on Deosai itself, so the autumn colour you may have read about is in the valleys below. On the Skardu side the Sadpara valley has poplars and willows on the way up, and on the Astore side the villages below Chilim have their own. The full colour show is in Shigar and Khaplu, covered in our Skardu in October guide.
Wildlife is harder to predict. Golden marmots go underground for winter as the cold sets in, and Himalayan brown bears feed heavily in autumn before they den. A sighting is possible early in the month, but don't go in October expecting one.
Can you stay overnight on Deosai in October?
No. After a brown bear attacked a camper near Bara Pani in September 2025, the Gilgit-Baltistan government banned night camping on the plateau, and seasonal hotels and commercial activity inside the park were banned from the 2026 season. In October you would not want to sleep up there anyway: the nights are well below freezing.
That makes Deosai a day trip: leave Skardu early and be heading down by early afternoon.
Getting to Skardu in October
Flights from Islamabad keep running in October, though weather delays become more common, so leave a spare day at each end. By road, Babusar Top can close for a day or two after any autumn snow, and the full winter closure came by Diamer district notification on 29 November in 2025 (Daily Pakistan). The Karakoram Highway is the other road. The UK government advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, via Besham and Dasu; Pakistani travellers still use it, but check current news first, and overseas visitors should read their own government's advice, because it can affect travel insurance.
Is Deosai worth it in October?
It is worth it if you are already in Skardu for the autumn colour and can keep one day flexible. The first ten days of the month give you the best chance, the plateau is almost empty, and the light is clear.
It is not worth it if Deosai is the main reason for the trip. The window is too uncertain, the flowers are gone and the wildlife is winding down. For a trip built around the plateau, go between late June and mid-September; our guide to when to go sets Deosai against the rest of the north, and our seven-day Skardu and Deosai trip runs in that summer window. Families with small children or older parents should be especially wary of October: the cold at 4,000 metres is serious, and help is far away.
If Deosai is closed on your day, Shangrila and Upper Kachura, the Katpana cold desert, Shigar and Khaplu all stay open through October.
What to carry
- Full winter clothing: a down jacket, thermal layers, hat, gloves and warm socks
- Sunglasses and sunscreen, because the sun is strong at altitude even when the air is cold
- Food and hot drinks in a flask; nothing is sold on the plateau
- Cash for the park fee and the jeep
- A charged phone and power bank, accepting that signal is patchy or absent
Frequently asked questions
Is Deosai open in October?
Usually for part of the month, until the first heavy snow closes the track. That can be in the first week or not until late October, so ask your hotel and jeep drivers in Skardu the evening before.
What is the temperature in Deosai in October?
Model data for the plateau suggests daytime highs of roughly 3 to 8 °C early in the month, dropping to around freezing later. Nights are below freezing throughout, and minus 10 °C or colder is common after mid-October.
Does it snow in Deosai in October?
Yes. Snow falls in most Octobers, often in the first ten days, and a heavy fall is what closes the plateau for the winter.
Can I cross from Skardu to Astore via Deosai in October?
It is sometimes possible early in the month, but we would not plan on it. Do Deosai as a return day trip from one side and check the whole route locally if you are tempted.
Is October a good time to see bears in Deosai?
Not the best. Bears are still active early in the month, but marmots are going underground and visits are short. August and early September give a much better chance.
