Choose Deosai if you want a high plateau you can reach in a day from Skardu, with wildflowers, brown bears and well-known campsites. Choose Shandur if you have several days, a 4x4 and an interest in the polo ground, the lake and the long road between Gilgit and Chitral. Deosai is higher, easier to fit into a trip and better set up for visitors; Shandur is remoter, quieter outside July and more of a journey than a destination.
Both are treeless plateaus above 3,500 metres that are snowbound for most of the year, so the summer season matters more than anything else. This comparison is for readers deciding between them, so we keep each place's detail short and link to our full guides.
| Shandur | Deosai | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | About 3,700 m at the pass; the lake is around 3,800 m | Average about 4,114 m |
| Where | Boundary of Upper Chitral and Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan | Skardu and Astore districts, Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Base town | Gilgit, Phander or Mastuj | Skardu |
| Distance | About 200 to 216 km from Gilgit | About 30 km from Skardu to the park, then 4x4 track |
| Vehicle | Jeep or 4x4 for the high section | 4x4 for the plateau |
| Season | Roughly June to September; snow-blocked about October to May | Mid-June to mid-October; opened on 10 June in 2026 |
| Best known for | Polo festival in early to mid July, lake, Ghizer valleys | Plains, wildflowers, Himalayan brown bear, Sheosar Lake |
| Lodging on the plateau | Almost none | Camping in designated areas |
Altitude: Deosai is the higher of the two
Deosai averages 4,114 metres, which makes it the second highest plateau in the world after the Tibetan Changtang. Shandur sits at around 3,700 metres, with the lake slightly higher. The difference of about 400 metres is real but not dramatic: both are high enough for headaches, breathlessness and cold nights, so plan a day or two at a lower elevation first in either case.
In practice altitude catches Deosai visitors harder, because the drive from Skardu climbs fast and many people sleep at the top. Shandur visitors usually reach the plateau after a slower approach through Phander or Mastuj.
Access: one is a day trip, one is a journey
Deosai is the easy one. The park is about 30 km from Skardu, and the road beyond Sadpara Lake is unpaved and steep in places. Guides give roughly 35 km to Bara Pani and 60 km to Sheosar Lake, and in rough conditions the one-way drive can take over three hours. A 4x4 is the usual advice. Our guides to Deosai by car and the Deosai entry fee cover the road and the costs.
Shandur is a long road. From Gilgit it is around 200 to 216 km through Gahkuch, Gupis and Phander, and from Chitral guides describe about two days by jeep with a stop at Mastuj. Shared jeeps leave when full, not on a timetable, and Shandur itself has almost no lodging, so most people sleep in Phander, Mastuj or Chitral. See our guide to Gilgit to Shandur for the Ghizer side.
Season: both close for winter
- Deosai: most guides say mid-June to mid-October, with late July and August greenest. The park opened on 10 June in 2026 and was expected to close around the last week of October.
- Shandur: best from late June to early September. Snow blocks the pass from around October to May, and the Chitral to Gilgit road is not open to normal traffic for that period.
Dates move with the snow every year, so check locally before you set off. Our posts on Shandur Pass open or closed and Deosai open or closed explain who to ask.
Camping compared
Both are used for camping, but they feel different.
Deosai has three main camping areas, at Bara Pani, Kala Pani and around Sheosar Lake. Camping is allowed only in designated zones, and nights drop to near freezing or below even in summer. Our Deosai camping guide explains the setup.
Shandur has no developed campsites outside the festival, when tented camps appear at the polo ground. The lake and nearby meadows are used by campers. Summer days average roughly 15 to 20 degrees Celsius and nights fall to near freezing. Bring everything you need, including food.
What each place is actually like
Deosai is open rolling grassland, with large flower meadows in July and August and, in the park, a protected population of Himalayan brown bears. Sheosar Lake is the usual destination, and the plains feel the same from almost anywhere, so a half day at the top is enough for most people.
Shandur is a flat saucer between mountains, with the world's highest polo ground, said to be the setting for matches between Chitral and Gilgit teams at the early to mid July festival. Outside those days it is quiet and sometimes empty, and the interest is the road and the valleys on either side.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Deosai if you have one or two spare days from Skardu, want the classic plateau and wildflowers, or are travelling with a group that can handle a jeep ride. It also appears in our 7-day Skardu and Deosai tour.
- Choose Shandur if you are already travelling between Gilgit and Chitral, want the festival or like long, remote drives and can spare several days.
- Choose neither if you are short of time, prone to altitude sickness, travelling with very young children, or have no 4x4.
Is it safe?
Deosai and the Ghizer side of Shandur are in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is not on the UK government's list of areas it advises against. The Chitral side is different. The UK advises against all travel on the N45 from Mardan to Chitral city and in the Kalash valleys, and Chitral approaches should be checked against current advice and local news. Overseas visitors should read their own government's advice, which can affect travel insurance. For more on regions, see our destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
Which is higher, Shandur or Deosai?
Deosai, at an average of about 4,114 metres. Shandur Pass is around 3,700 metres, and sources put Shandur Lake near 3,800 metres.
Is Shandur or Deosai easier to reach?
Deosai. It is about 30 km from Skardu, whereas Shandur is some 200 km or more from Gilgit or about two days from Chitral by jeep.
When is the best time to visit each?
Deosai from mid-June to mid-October, with July and August greenest. Shandur from late June to early September, with the polo festival in early to mid July.
Do I need a 4x4?
Yes for both, according to guides. Deosai's track is unpaved and steep, and Shandur's high section is rough.
Can I stay overnight at either?
You can camp at both, but Shandur has almost no formal lodging, so most visitors sleep in Phander, Mastuj or Chitral.
