Hotels in Khaplu come in three kinds: the Serena Khaplu Palace, a heritage hotel in the restored royal palace, listed from about USD 95 a night in September 2026; the long-running PTDC motel; and a handful of small hotels and guesthouses, the simplest from roughly USD 11 to 20 a room. The choice is far smaller than in Skardu, so book the palace well ahead for spring and autumn. For most of the rest, a few days' notice is enough outside the peak weeks.
This guide covers each kind of stay, what to expect from heating, hot water, power and food, and whether a night in Khaplu is worth it over a day trip from Skardu.
| Kind of stay | Rough price (September 2026) | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serena Khaplu Palace | From about USD 95; suites about USD 140 to 160 | Couples, heritage, a special night | Only 21 rooms; reported to close in winter |
| PTDC Motel Khaplu | Ask when you book | A simple, known name | Check that it is open for the season |
| Small hotels | Around USD 45 to 75 for the better-rated ones | Families, groups | Few reviews; standards vary |
| Guesthouses | From about USD 11 to 20 a room | Budget travellers | Basic rooms and bathrooms |
Prices are what Serena's own site and Booking.com showed for sample dates in September 2026. They change with the season and the date, so treat them as a guide and check when you book.
Serena Khaplu Palace: the heritage stay
The palace is why many people spend a night in Khaplu at all. Built in 1840 for the Yabgo rajas and restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture between 2005 and 2011, it is now run by Serena Hotels, with a museum in the old building.
The rooms. There are 21 rooms and suites in two buildings:
- The old palace (Yabgo Khar): six rooms in all, two royal suites, two heritage suites and two standard rooms. These have the carved wood, thick walls and history.
- The Garden House: thirteen rooms and two suites in a separate building in the grounds, sharing the same gardens and restaurant.
Prices. Serena's website listed standard rooms from about USD 95 a night and suites from about USD 140 to 160 when we checked in September 2026. Rates on booking sites can be higher for particular dates.
Facilities. The restaurant serves Balti, Pakistani and international food, using produce from the hotel's own vegetable garden, with breakfast and dinner as buffets. There is Wi-Fi, on-site parking, and air conditioning in some rooms.
Things to know. Book early for April, May, September and October, when the six old-palace rooms go first. The hotel has been reported to close in winter, so ring before planning a stay between November and March. Day visitors come to see the museum and gardens, so the grounds are not entirely private in the daytime.
Our guide to Khaplu Palace covers its history and what to see there.
PTDC Motel Khaplu
The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation has run a motel in Khaplu for many years, and it is listed by the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department among the town's places to stay. PTDC announced it open for the 2025 season.
Expect a simple, government-style motel with plain rooms and its own restaurant. It is a sensible middle choice for travellers who want a known name without the palace's price. Check that it is open and confirm the rate when you book, since both change from season to season.
Small hotels and guesthouses
Beyond the palace and the motel, Khaplu has a handful of small hotels and family-run guesthouses. Booking.com listed about ten places to stay in Khaplu in September 2026, from simple guesthouse rooms at about USD 11 to 20 a night to newer small hotels at around USD 45 to 75.
What to know about them:
- Standards vary a lot, and several are new. Some have excellent guest scores from only a few dozen reviews, so read the most recent ones before you book.
- Rooms are simple: a double or family room, an attached bathroom, and sometimes a balcony or a garden. Views of the Shyok and the mountains are the main difference between places at the same price.
- Food is usually simple and home-cooked, so order dinner in advance.
- Ask whether the host can arrange a jeep for the Hushe valley when you book.
What to expect: heating, power, water and signal
Khaplu is the district headquarters, but at about 2,600 metres and three hours from Skardu, the basics work differently from Islamabad or Lahore.
- Heating. Nights are cool even in summer and cold from October. Ask how the room is heated, whether it costs extra, and whether blankets are thick enough. In late autumn this matters more than the view.
- Power. Power cuts are common in Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in winter. Ask whether the hotel has a generator or solar backup, and for which hours.
- Hot water. Ask whether it is available all day or only at certain times, especially in the smaller places.
- Internet and signal. Expect slower mobile data than in Skardu. Wi-Fi, where there is some, is often weak or goes off with the power.
- Cash. Bring enough from Skardu for your stay, jeeps and meals. Don't count on paying by card outside the Serena.
- Eating out. The bazaar has simple places to eat, but most visitors eat at their hotel, especially in the evening.
Staying in Hushe instead
If you are heading up the Hushe valley, there are basic guesthouses, homestays and campsites in Hushe village itself, at a little over 3,000 metres below Masherbrum. They suit trekkers and anyone happy with very simple rooms, little hot water and limited power. Our Hushe valley guide covers the road and what to expect there.
For most visitors, Khaplu makes the better base, with a day trip up the valley by jeep.
Should you stay in Khaplu or go back to Skardu?
Khaplu is 103 km from Skardu, about three hours each way. A day trip works, and it is how our Skardu and Deosai trip fits Khaplu into a week. But a night changes the visit: you see the palace in the evening light, walk up to the old fort in the morning, and drive back without rushing.
If you are basing yourself in Skardu for the rest of the trip, our guide on where to stay in Skardu compares the town, Kachura and Shigar. For the valley as a whole, see our Skardu destination page.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the hotel open on my dates? Especially in late autumn and winter.
- How is the room heated, and at what cost?
- Is there power backup, and when?
- Is hot water available all day?
- Are meals available, and do I need to order dinner in advance?
- Can you arrange a jeep for the Hushe valley, and at what price?
- Is there parking inside the gate for your car and a room for your driver? Drivers' rooms are not standard everywhere.
Which stay suits you?
- Couples and anyone who wants one special night: the palace, ideally in one of the old-palace rooms.
- Families on a mid-range budget: one of the better-reviewed small hotels, or the PTDC motel.
- Budget travellers and students: a guesthouse, with dinner arranged with the host.
- Trekkers: a night in Khaplu, then on to Hushe.
- Late-autumn travellers: wherever confirms heating and is actually open. Our guide to Khaplu in autumn covers the colour season and the cold.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best hotel in Khaplu?
The Serena Khaplu Palace, in the restored royal palace, is the best-known and the only heritage hotel in town. For a lower budget, the PTDC motel and a few newer small hotels are the main alternatives.
How much is a room at the Serena Khaplu Palace?
Serena's own website listed rooms from about USD 95 a night and suites from about USD 140 to 160 in September 2026. Rates vary by date and season.
Are there cheap hotels in Khaplu?
Yes. Simple guesthouse rooms were listed from about USD 11 to 20 a night on Booking.com in September 2026. Read recent reviews, and ask about heating and hot water.
Is Serena Khaplu Palace open in winter?
It has been reported to close in winter. If you plan to stay between November and March, ring the hotel to confirm before you travel.
Is it better to stay in Khaplu or Skardu?
Skardu is the better base for a whole trip, but a night in Khaplu makes the Khaplu visit much more relaxed. With a week in Baltistan, spend one night there.