PTDC motels are the government-run rest houses the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation has operated in the north for decades, in towns like Naran, Skardu and Hunza. Many closed in 2020 and have been reopening in stages since 2024, so the honest answer to "can I book one" is: check first, because status varies by property and season.
This guide covers where PTDC motels still exist, what happened to the network, and how to actually get a room rather than turn up to a locked gate.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Run by | Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), a federal body |
| Standard | Basic government-style rooms, not luxury; reliable more than stylish |
| Status | Most closed in 2020; reopening in stages since 2024–2025 |
| Booking | No single working online portal; phone ahead or book through a travel agent |
| Best for | A known, fairly priced overnight stop in a town with few other options |
What a PTDC motel actually is
PTDC is the federal tourism corporation, and its motels were built from the 1970s onward at scenic or strategic stopping points: river banks, lake shores, and towns on the main routes into the mountains. They were never meant to compete with private hotels on style. The appeal was consistency — a known standard of room, a dining room that served food even in small towns, and a price set by government rather than the season.
In the north, PTDC has operated motels and rest houses at locations including Naran, Skardu, Hunza (Karimabad area), Gupis and Phandar in Ghizer, Khaplu, Rama Lake near Astore, Sost near the Chinese border, and in Chitral district at places such as Booni, Bumburet and Garam Chashma.
Why so many closed
In mid-2020 PTDC suspended operations at most of its motels nationwide and laid off staff, as the corporation moved away from running properties itself and toward leasing them to other operators. Roughly three dozen motels and several restaurants were affected, and for a few years many stood empty or partly used, which is why travellers researching this topic will find outdated reviews describing a motel as "closed" alongside older ones describing it as open.
What has changed since 2024
The network is being revived in pieces, not all at once, and not under one single manager.
- In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government leased 17 PTDC motels, including the one at Naran, to Green Tourism, a state-owned company, on a long-term lease approved in 2024. Properties that had been sitting shut, including Naran, have since been made functional again for the tourist season.
- In Gilgit-Baltistan, motels including those at Skardu and Hunza were reported open again for the 2025 tourist season under PTDC's own management, separately from the KP lease.
The practical result is that some PTDC motels you may have read about as closed are trading again, but the network is not uniform: some have reopened fully, some are seasonal, and a few may still be shut or under repair. There is no substitute for checking the specific property before you plan around it.
How to book a room
There is no single, reliably working online booking portal for PTDC motels that we could confirm still operates at the time of writing. Third-party travel sites list PTDC motels with rates, but availability and prices on those pages are not guaranteed to be current.
The more dependable routes are:
- Call ahead. Ring the motel directly if you have a working number for it, or PTDC's Islamabad office, and confirm it is open, has rooms for your dates, and ask the current rate.
- Book through a travel agent or tour operator who deals with PTDC regularly and can confirm availability faster than a traveller calling cold.
- Treat it as a backup, not your only plan. In towns with several private hotels, such as Skardu or Karimabad, have a second option in mind in case the PTDC motel is full, closed for the season, or under renovation.
- Ask locally once you arrive in the region. Tourist information staff and other hotels usually know the current status of the nearest PTDC property, which is often more current than anything online.
What to expect if you stay
Rooms are simple: a bed, an attached bathroom, and usually a dining room serving standard Pakistani meals. Furnishings are older than at a private mid-range hotel, and heating in winter can be basic, so carry extra layers if you are travelling outside the summer months. What you get in return is a fair, fixed price and a location that is often better than newer private hotels, since PTDC picked its sites decades ago, before land nearby became expensive.
For families or groups who want more comfort or certainty, our travel guide covers the private hotel options across the north, and our Skardu & Deosai and Gilgit, Hunza & Khunjerab tours are built around hotels we can confirm are running and up to standard for every night of the trip.
Is it worth planning around a PTDC motel?
For most travellers, no, not as the anchor of an itinerary. Private hotels and guesthouses in Skardu, Hunza, Naran and Chitral are more numerous, easier to book with confidence, and give you a choice of standard and price. A PTDC motel is worth considering when it sits somewhere with genuinely few other options, such as Gupis, Phandar or Rama Lake, and when you have confirmed by phone that it is currently operating.
Frequently asked questions
Are PTDC motels still operating in 2026?
Some are and some aren't. Most closed in 2020, and properties have been reopening in stages since 2024 under new management arrangements, so the status differs by location. Confirm the specific motel before you rely on it.
Can I book a PTDC motel online?
Not reliably. We could not confirm a single official booking portal in current operation, so phoning ahead or booking through a travel agent is the safer route.
Are PTDC motels cheaper than private hotels?
Historically yes, since PTDC set fixed government rates rather than seasonal pricing. Confirm the current rate directly when you call, as prices have changed along with the reopening.
Which PTDC motels are in Gilgit-Baltistan?
Properties have included Skardu, Hunza, Gupis, Phandar, Khaplu, Rama Lake near Astore, and Sost near the Chinese border. Not all are guaranteed to be open at any given time.
Is a PTDC motel a good choice for families?
It can be, for a straightforward overnight stop, but don't expect resort-style facilities. If you need certainty about availability and standard, a private hotel booked in advance is the more reliable choice.
