Where to Stay Near Manthokha Waterfall

Of the hotels near Manthokha waterfall, only one is right at the falls: the Manthokha Waterfall Resort, a small property of three treehouses and four lofts beside the falls in Kharmang district. Its website lists the treehouses at PKR 30,000 a night for two and the lofts at PKR 40,000 a night for four (October 2026). Beyond that there are a few simple guesthouses in the Kharmang valley, and most visitors still sleep in Skardu and see the falls as a day trip.

This guide sets out what the resort actually offers, what guests have said about it, the cheaper fallbacks in the valley, and when a night out of Skardu is worth the money.

Where the falls are, and how far from Skardu

Manthokha waterfall drops about 55 metres (180 feet) above Manthokha village in Kharmang district, east of Skardu on the road up the Indus towards Kargil. The resort's address is on the Madhupur to Mantho road, the short link road that leaves the main Skardu to Kargil road for the falls.

Published distances disagree. The Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department gives about 80 km and a two-hour drive from Skardu, the resort's own website says 40 km, and OSRM road routing puts Manthokha village about 60 km from central Skardu and about 71 km from Skardu airport. The two hours is the figure to plan on: the road is narrow in places, and the tourism department recommends a local driver and a vehicle suited to rough stretches.

Our guide to Manthokha waterfall covers the drive, the walk to the falls and the trout lunch. This page sticks to where to sleep.

Manthokha Waterfall Resort: what you get

The resort is the reason most people search for a hotel here. It is small, built of wood, and laid out so that the rooms look at the falls.

The treehouses

There are three treehouses, named Rongul, Geemal and Stiyaqbuchan. Each is listed at about 100 square feet, with one bed and one bathroom, for two guests, at PKR 30,000 a night. A third-party listing describes them as walnut-wood cabins raised about six metres off the ground, with the waterfall in view from the bed. A guest review on TripAdvisor mentions electricity, a separate washroom with a shower and a double bed.

They are small. Think of them as a cabin for a couple, not a family room, and pack light, because there is not much floor space for suitcases.

The lofts

There are four lofts, named Chik, Khsum, Nis and Bji, listed at about 320 square feet with three beds and one bathroom, for up to four guests, at PKR 40,000 a night. For a family or a group of four friends, a loft works out cheaper per head than two treehouses.

Food and services

The resort runs its own restaurant using local produce, and the area is known for trout from the fish farms near the falls. Its website also lists free Wi-Fi in every unit, housekeeping, laundry, breakfast in bed, private parking, guides and porters for hikes, and transfers from Skardu airport in a Toyota Prado.

The website does not say which of these are included in the nightly rate. Ask, in writing, whether the price covers breakfast, dinner and the airport transfer, because on a two-night stay those extras can add a lot.

What guests have said

Reviews are mixed. On the Google listing summarised by Wanderlog, the resort had an average of 4.6 out of 5 from 24 reviews, with most guests giving five stars. Some reviewers, though, found the treehouses and lofts did not match the photographs online and complained about cleanliness, upkeep and limited views from most of the lofts, and food reviews were mixed. With so few reviews, one bad season changes the picture, so read the latest ones before you pay.

Simple guesthouses in Kharmang

The tourism department says there are a few guesthouses and hotels in the Kharmang valley and advises booking ahead in the peak season. They are simple rooms rather than tourist resorts, and most do not take online bookings, which is also why we have not named any here.

If you want one, ask your Skardu hotel or driver to phone ahead. Expect basic bedding, shared or simple bathrooms and home-cooked meals, and confirm whether there is hot water and a power backup before you set out. They suit travellers on a tighter budget who want a night in the valley and do not mind fewer comforts.

Staying in Skardu instead

For most people the sensible plan is to stay in Skardu and treat Manthokha as a day trip of about two hours each way. Skardu has the widest choice of rooms at every budget, the airport, and the other day trips of the region within an hour or so: Shangrila, Upper Kachura, Shigar and the Katpana desert.

A day trip has one drawback: day visitors cannot reach the falls much before mid-morning, so you see them at the busiest time of day. Our guide to where to stay in Skardu compares the town with Kachura and Shigar, and our budget hotels in Skardu guide covers the cheaper end.

Which should you choose?

Choose Skardu if you have five days or fewer in Baltistan, want one base for Deosai, Shigar and the lakes, or are travelling on a normal budget. PKR 30,000 for a night for two is a lot of money for a cabin.

Choose the resort at Manthokha if you want the falls without the midday crowds, are celebrating something, or plan to continue further into Kharmang the next day. The district's other sights include Khamosh waterfall and Kharmang Fort; our guide to places to visit in Kharmang has the list, and our Kharmang Fort guide covers the fort.

Choose a Kharmang guesthouse if you want a night in the valley for a fraction of the resort price and are happy to arrange it by phone.

Before you book

• Book ahead in summer. The resort has only seven units, and July, August and Eid weekends fill first.
• Get the price in writing, with what is included: meals, transfers and taxes.
• Bring cash. Card machines and ATMs are not something to count on in the valley, so draw money in Skardu.
• Fill the tank in Skardu. Do not count on fuel further up the valley.
• Carry your CNIC. Kharmang runs towards the Line of Control with Kargil, so expect army checkposts on the road. Stop when asked, and do not photograph military posts. Foreign visitors should check their own government's advice and ask the police in Skardu whether any permission is needed.
• Pack warm layers. Nights beside a mountain stream are cold even in summer, and a wooden cabin holds less heat than a brick room.

Frequently asked questions