Khalti Lake is a long, blue-green lake right beside the Gilgit–Shandur road, about 10 km west of Gupis in the Ghizer valley, at 2,217 metres. It is about 120 km and three to four hours by road from Gilgit, and you see it from the car without walking a step. The best months are May to October, with the second half of October bringing yellow poplars around the shore; in the depth of winter the lake usually freezes hard enough to walk on, and some years it has hosted ice hockey.
This guide covers what to expect at the lake, the trout, the winter freeze, where to stay, and how to fit Khalti into a trip further up the valley.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 2,217 m |
| Where | Khalti village, about 10 km west of Gupis |
| From Gilgit | About 120 km, 3 to 4 hours |
| Size | About 2.4 km long |
| Best months | May to October; late October for autumn colour |
| Winter | Usually frozen in December and January |
| Trout fishing | Licence needed; closed from October to March |
| Stays | The old PTDC motel near the lake; small hotels in Gupis |
Where is Khalti Lake?
Khalti lies on the main road up the Ghizer valley, past Gahkuch and just beyond the town of Gupis, where the side road to Yasin branches north. The lake formed in a bend of the Ghizer river near the village of Khalti, and the road runs right along its shore. It is fed by cold glacier water, and its colour shifts with the light: turquoise in bright sun, darker and greener under cloud, against the bare slopes of the Hindu Kush.
It is about 2.4 km long and a few hundred metres wide, and fields, poplars and willows line parts of the shore.
The drive from Gilgit takes three to four hours, through Gahkuch and Gupis. Most people pass Khalti on the way to Phander, another hour and a half or so up the valley; our guide to the drive from Gilgit to Phander covers the road, fuel and timings.
What to expect at the lake
Khalti is a roadside lake, not a trek. You can pull over, walk down to the water, and spend as long as you like. For most visitors that is an hour or two with tea and photographs; for others it is an overnight stop to see the lake at sunset and early morning, which are the best times for still water and reflections.
Some practical points:
- Pull right off the road to stop. It is narrow, and trucks and vans use it all day.
- The water is glacier-cold all year. It is not a swimming lake, and children should be kept back from the edge.
- The shore is someone's land. Fields and orchards come down to the water in places, so stay on paths and ask before pitching a tent.
- Take your rubbish with you. There are few bins, and the lake is the valley's water.
Gupis, a short drive back down the road, is the nearest town, with a small bazaar, simple places to eat and Gupis Fort, built in 1894. It is also the junction for the Yasin valley.
Trout at Khalti
Khalti has a stock of trout. The fish were first introduced to the Ghizer river higher up the valley, near Golaghmuli, and spread down through the Gupis area, and the Ghizer district is now counted among the main trout areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.
If you want to fish, you need a licence from the Gilgit-Baltistan fisheries department, and fishing is banned during the breeding season from October to March. Ask your hotel how to get a licence before you set out. In June 2026 officials reported that trout numbers across Gilgit-Baltistan had roughly halved over two decades, so keep only what you will eat.
If you would rather eat the trout than catch it, ask at hotels in Gupis and around the lake. With hundreds of trout farms now in Gilgit-Baltistan, the fish on your plate may well be farmed.
Khalti Lake in winter: the frozen lake
In a normal winter Khalti freezes over, usually in December and January, and people walk out onto the ice. It has become known for winter sports: the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department, the Ghizer district administration and the Khalti community have held ice sports events on the lake in January, with ice hockey, ice football and skating.
The ice is not reliable every year. In early 2022 the event at Khalti was called off because of worries that the ice was melting, and local organisers moved their winter festival to Phander instead. If you are planning a trip around the frozen lake, check that year's plans with the tourism department and ask in Gupis about the ice before you go.
If you do go in winter:
- Only walk on the ice where local people are already on it, and keep away from the inflow and outflow, where it is thinnest.
- Dress for well below freezing, with proper boots for walking on snow and ice.
- Check the road from Gilgit the day before, and allow extra time for ice on the road.
- Ask whether your hotel is open. Many places around Ghizer close for the winter, and those that stay open are cold.
Our guide to Gilgit-Baltistan in winter covers which roads and places stay open in the cold months.
When is the best time to visit Khalti Lake?
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| December to February | Cold; the lake usually frozen in December and January. For winter sports, not sightseeing |
| March and April | Bare trees, cold nights and very few visitors |
| May and June | Green fields, snow on the peaks, the water at its brightest |
| July and August | Warmest and busiest months; floods and landslides can close the road |
| September | Clear, settled weather and fewer people. Often the best month |
| October | Poplars turn yellow in the second half of the month; nights near freezing |
| November | Leaves falling, cold; some hotels closing |
For most people, September and late October are the best times: settled weather, quiet roads and, in October, the colour. If you want to combine Khalti with the Shandur Pass, go between June and September, when the pass is reliably open. Our guide to Ghizer valley in autumn covers the colour season across the valley.
The monsoon months deserve a word of caution. In August 2025 a glacial flood near Raushan, on the road to Gupis, cut off Gupis, Phander and Yasin for five days, and in July 2026 floods washed away a bridge on the same road near Yangal. Check the road in Gilgit before setting off in July and August.
Where to stay near Khalti Lake
The best-placed room is the old PTDC motel near the lake, which has a view over the water. It appears to have changed hands along with other government tourism properties: in 2024 the government leased PTDC motels and rest houses in the region, including the rest house at Gupis, to Green Tourism Limited, and the motel now appears on booking sites as Arcadian PTDC Gupis. Check current prices and whether it is open before relying on it.
Otherwise there are small hotels and guesthouses in Gupis and around the lake, with simple rooms. Expect power cuts and ask about hot water.
Many people skip staying at Khalti altogether and push on to Phander, which has more places to stay and a lake of its own. Our Phander valley guide covers it.
Is Khalti Lake worth the trip?
As a stop on the way to Phander or Shandur, certainly. It is right on the road, and it is one of the most attractive lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan that you can reach without leaving the car.
As a destination in itself it is harder to justify. Six to eight hours of driving from Gilgit and back for a lake you can see in an hour is a long day, and there is not much else to fill a longer stay unless you fish or want the Yasin valley. Make it part of two or three days in Ghizer instead, with nights in Gupis or Phander. If you want help shaping that, our trip planning page is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Khalti Lake?
In the Ghizer valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, beside the Gilgit–Shandur road about 10 km west of Gupis. It is at 2,217 metres.
How far is Khalti Lake from Gilgit?
About 120 km, through Gahkuch and Gupis. The drive takes three to four hours.
Does Khalti Lake freeze in winter?
Usually, in December and January, and people walk on the ice when it is thick. It is not reliable every year: in 2022 a planned ice sports event was cancelled over worries about the ice.
Can you fish at Khalti Lake?
Yes, with a licence from the Gilgit-Baltistan fisheries department. Trout fishing is banned from October to March.
Where can I stay near Khalti Lake?
At the old PTDC motel near the lake, now listed as Arcadian PTDC Gupis, or in small hotels and guesthouses in Gupis. Many travellers carry on to Phander, which has more choice.
Is Khalti Lake open in winter?
The lake is always there, but reaching it depends on the road from Gilgit, and many hotels close. Check the road and your room before setting out between December and February.
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