Roundu Valley: The Indus Gorge Between Gilgit and Skardu

Roundu valley, also spelt Rondu, is the stretch of Indus gorge that the Gilgit to Skardu road runs through for much of its length. It is a district of its own, the western gateway to Baltistan, and most travellers drive straight through it on the way to Skardu. This guide explains what is there, how the road behaves, and which of its villages and side valleys are worth a stop or a separate trip.

Where Roundu is and what it covers

Roundu is the fourth-largest valley of Baltistan, after Skardu, Khaplu and Shigar, and it forms the only main route between Baltistan and Gilgit. It became a separate district in 2019. Reference sources name Thowar, about 65 to 70 km from Skardu, as the headquarters but say Dambudas, which sits in the middle of the valley, currently does the job. The district has four union councils: Mindi, Stak, Tormik and Ganji.

This is the linguistic border of Baltistan. About 70 per cent of residents speak Balti and about 30 per cent Shina, and most Shina speakers are bilingual after generations of living alongside Baltis. Tradition holds that Dardic peoples first entered Baltistan through this valley. The Maqpon ruler Ghazi Mir of Skardu annexed Roundu in the late 16th century. Nearly everyone is Shia Muslim, and life runs on farming, fruit and herding. Our Balti culture guide covers the wider traditions.

The road through the gorge

The road is the Baltistan Highway, or S-1, which leaves the Karakoram Highway near Juglot, south of Gilgit, and follows the Indus for 167 km to Skardu. Army engineers built it between 1970 and 1982. For decades it was a single lane barely 3.6 metres wide, and Gilgit to Skardu took about ten hours.

That changed with a four-year upgrade costing about Rs 31 billion, opened on 16 December 2021. The road is now paved and 7.3 metres wide, and the drive takes about four hours. A normal car can do it. Two cautions still apply:

• Landslides. The tunnels and realignments in the original design were dropped, so the road still runs under loose slopes and closes after heavy rain or snow. In late July 2026 torrential rain washed out roads and bridges across Gilgit-Baltistan, and at the end of September 2026 the Gilgit-Baltistan government publicly asked the National Highway Authority and the Frontier Works Organisation to step up safety on this road.
• The drop. For long stretches the road is cut into the cliff with the Indus far below. Keep your speed down, do not overtake on bends, and avoid driving it at night.

For the day's conditions see our Skardu road condition guide, and for stage distances the Gilgit to Skardu distance guide.

Villages and stops along the way

• Stak. The mouth of the largest side valley, on the right bank of the Indus about halfway between the two cities.
• Dambudas and Thowar. The administrative centre and the old headquarters, where you see everyday life in Roundu away from the tourist trail.
• Shengus. A mostly Shina-speaking village on the highway and a reasonable place to break the journey. One reference source puts it about 53 km from Skardu, which we could not confirm against a map, so do not rely on the figure. It gives its name to one of Pakistan's most extensive pegmatite zones, the kind of rock in which gem crystals form; see our note on gemstones in Gilgit before buying stones from roadside sellers.

Do not expect viewpoints with railings or car parks. Stop only where there is a proper lay-by, well away from bends and from slopes shedding stones.

Stak Valley

Stak is the largest valley in Roundu by both area and population. It runs north from the Indus towards Haramosh, and the Stak river, fed by the Kutia Lungma and Goropha glaciers, flows about 30 km before it joins the Indus. At its head is the Stak La, a 4,601 metre pass. This is a jeep-and-trekking valley, not a roadside stop; our Stak Valley guide covers access.

Tormik Valley

Tormik, east of Stak and the second-largest valley, also rises to the Stak La. It is known for Broq, its high summer pasture of meadows, streams and forest, with a polo ground where people from across Roundu gather to play in summer. Our Tormik Valley guide covers the road in and what to expect.

East again, towards Skardu, is Basho Valley, which is usually visited from Skardu.

Fuel, signal and supplies

Fill the tank in Gilgit, Juglot or Skardu. We could not confirm which pumps along the gorge are working, so do not plan around them. Mobile signal comes and goes, and there are few formal rest stops, so carry water, snacks and warm layers. Tell someone your expected arrival time before you lose signal.

Buses and vans between Gilgit and Skardu pass through Roundu and can drop you there, but getting onward transport from a village is uncertain; see our Gilgit to Skardu bus guide. For the side valleys you need a hired jeep, arranged from Skardu.

When to go

May to October is the practical season. Summer brings the green terraces and orchards that break up the bare rock, and the side valleys are open. July and August are also the months of flash floods and slides. In winter the highway usually stays open but can close for snow or rockfall, and the side valleys are cut off.

Is it safe?

Gilgit-Baltistan is not on the UK government's list of areas it advises against, and this is the ordinary route to Skardu for Pakistani travellers. The risk here is the road, not security. Anyone driving up from Islamabad should know that the UK advises against the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas; the Babusar route avoids it in summer, and foreign-passport holders should check their own advice because it can affect insurance.

Should you stop in Roundu?

If you have your own car or a flexible driver, one or two short stops break up the drive, and the gorge is worth seeing from outside the car at a safe spot. A tea stop in one of the roadside villages is the simplest way to do that.

If the weather is unsettled, keep moving and get through the gorge in daylight. And if what you want is a green valley with a place to stay, we could not verify any established accommodation in Roundu's side valleys: Basho or Kachura near Skardu are easier. Our plan a trip page can help fit this into a wider itinerary.

Frequently asked questions