PTDC motels in Gilgit-Baltistan are the government guesthouses that the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation built at Gilgit, Karimabad, Sost, Skardu, Satpara, Khaplu, Astak, Gupis, Phandar and Rama near Astore. Most of PTDC's network stopped running in 2020, and the Gilgit-Baltistan properties have since been offered for long-term lease, with seven of them included in a 2024 agreement with the state-owned company Green Tourism. So the motels still stand in some of the best spots in the region, but who runs each one, and whether it is open, now has to be checked property by property.
This guide covers where each motel is and how far it is from the nearest town, what has happened to the network since 2020, and how to plan around one without being caught out. For the mechanics of phoning and booking, see our PTDC motels booking guide.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Built by | Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, a federal company incorporated on 30 March 1970 |
| Locations in GB | Gilgit, Karimabad, Sost, Skardu, Satpara, Khaplu, Astak, Gupis, Phandar, Rama |
| Status | Varies by property; PTDC stopped running most motels in 2020 and GB sites have been offered for lease |
| Standard | Basic government-style rooms, often with a dining room |
| Booking | No single working online portal that we could confirm; phone ahead |
| Best for | Places with few other options, such as Rama, Phandar and Sost |
Where are the PTDC motels in Gilgit-Baltistan?
PTDC's own lists over the years, and Wikipedia's list of its motels, place properties at the locations below. Road distances are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate. Real driving times in the mountains are longer than any routing app suggests, so allow extra.
| Motel | Where it is | Road distance from nearest hub |
|---|---|---|
| Gilgit | In the city | Gilgit itself |
| Karimabad (Hunza) | Central Hunza | About 100 km from Gilgit |
| Sost | Last town before the Khunjerab border post | About 90 km beyond Karimabad |
| Skardu | Skardu town | About 210 km from Gilgit |
| Satpara | Beside Satpara reservoir, above Skardu | About 10 km from Skardu |
| Khaplu | Khaplu town, Ghanche | About 93 km from Skardu |
| Astak | On the Gilgit to Skardu road, in Rondu | Between Gilgit and Skardu |
| Gupis | Ghizer valley, on the road to Shandur | About 110 km from Gilgit |
| Phandar | Phandar valley, Ghizer | About 55 km beyond Gupis |
| Rama | Rama meadows above Astore | About 8 km from Astore, which is about 110 km from Gilgit |
The Skardu and Khaplu motels are in towns with plenty of private hotels. The ones that matter most to travellers are the remote stops: Rama for Rama Lake and the Nanga Parbat views, Phandar for Phander valley, and Sost for an early start to Khunjerab Pass.
The Satpara motel
The Satpara property shows how quickly a motel's status can change. It was closed for about ten years while the Satpara dam was built, reopened in 2016, and was sealed by Skardu's district courts in October 2017 on the orders of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court, after residents complained it was discharging waste into the reservoir that supplies Skardu's drinking water (Pamir Times). We could not find a reliable later report of it reopening, so do not plan on it.
What happened to PTDC's motels after 2020?
The short version is that the corporation stopped running them itself and has been trying to lease them out.
- 2020. PTDC suspended operations at most of its motels nationwide and laid off staff, citing losses. Business Recorder reported that the PTDC board decided on 2 July 2020 to keep its properties in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and lease them to hospitality companies on long leases.
- 2022 to 2023. Nineteen PTDC hotels were handed to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in March 2022. ProPakistani reported in January 2023 that PTDC would keep its Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK hotels and lease them itself.
- July 2023. PTDC advertised plots at Gilgit, Thalichi and Naltar for firms to build and run new hotels on 20-year leases.
- 2024. Green Tourism, a government-owned company, said in May 2024 that it had signed agreements covering 44 sites in Gilgit-Baltistan, seven of them PTDC properties, alongside 20 Public Works Department and 17 Forest Department sites. It said the first phase would develop five GB sites. Critics, writing in Pamir Times, objected to the terms and to the company's short track record.
The seven PTDC sites in that agreement were not named in anything we could find. Some properties may now be run by a lessee under a new name, some may be under renovation, and some may still be shut. That is why we do not print room rates or say which motel is open.
How to check a motel before you rely on it
- Find out who runs it now. Ask whether the property is still operated by PTDC or by a lessee, because the phone number and rates may have changed with the operator.
- Confirm it is open for your dates. A property can close for winter or for repairs between seasons, especially the higher ones such as Rama.
- Ask for the rate and whether meals are available. In the smaller stops the dining room may be the main source of food in the evening.
- Keep a second option. Note one private hotel or guesthouse in the same place before you leave Gilgit or Skardu, in case you have no signal to look one up later.
Local hotels and drivers in Gilgit, Karimabad and Skardu usually know whether the nearest PTDC property is trading, which is often more current than anything online.
What the motels are like
PTDC motels were built for function: plain twin or double rooms with attached bathrooms, and a dining room serving standard Pakistani meals. Furnishings are generally older than at private mid-range hotels, and winter heating can be basic, so pack warm layers outside summer. Card payment is not something to count on in the smaller valleys, so carry enough cash for the night and meals.
What they consistently have is position. PTDC chose its sites decades ago, often by a river, a lake or a viewpoint, before land prices rose.
PTDC motel or private hotel?
In Skardu, Karimabad and Khaplu, private hotels and guesthouses have multiplied, and you will usually find more choice and easier booking outside PTDC. Our guides to hotels in Karimabad and hotels in Khaplu cover them.
A PTDC motel is worth chasing when it sits somewhere with fewer alternatives, such as Rama, Phandar, Gupis or Sost, and when you have confirmed by phone that it is open. Even then, treat it as a pleasant option rather than the anchor of a tight itinerary. If you would rather not handle these calls yourself, our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour and Skardu and Deosai tour include twin-share accommodation throughout.
Frequently asked questions
Are PTDC motels in Gilgit-Baltistan open in 2026?
Some may be and some may not. PTDC stopped running most motels in 2020, and the GB properties have since been offered for lease, so the status differs by location. Phone the specific motel before you rely on it.
Which PTDC motels are in Gilgit-Baltistan?
PTDC has had motels at Gilgit, Karimabad in Hunza, Sost, Skardu, Satpara, Khaplu, Astak on the Skardu road, Gupis, Phandar and Rama near Astore.
Who runs the PTDC motels in Gilgit-Baltistan now?
It depends on the property. PTDC planned to lease its GB properties long term, and Green Tourism said in 2024 that seven PTDC sites in GB were part of its agreements. Ask who operates the motel when you call.
Can I book a PTDC motel online?
We could not confirm a working official booking portal. Phone ahead, or book through a travel agent who deals with the motel regularly. Our PTDC booking guide explains the options.
Is the PTDC motel at Satpara open?
It was sealed by court order in October 2017 over pollution of Satpara reservoir, and we found no reliable report of it reopening. Stay in Skardu instead.
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