Skardu in October is clear, dry and cold at night, with autumn colour building in the valleys and the high roads closing one by one. It is a good month for the Skardu valley, Shigar and Khaplu, and a poor one for Deosai, which usually shuts with the first heavy snow somewhere between mid and late October. The month changes a lot from its first week to its last, so the dates of your trip matter more than the month itself.
This guide takes October in three parts and covers what is open, how cold it gets, how to arrive, and who should go. For the wider season, see our Skardu in autumn guide and the general guide to when to go.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Valley temperatures | Sources differ: about 14 °C average high and −1 °C average low, up to 12 to 22 °C by day and 2 to 8 °C at night |
| Rain | Little; October is one of the drier months |
| Deosai | Closes with the first heavy snow, typically mid to late October |
| Babusar Pass | Closed by Diamer district order on 25 October in 2025 |
| Flights | Run, but fog and weather cancellations become more likely |
| Crowds | Low outside long weekends |
How cold is Skardu in October?
Skardu sits at about 2,200 metres, and by October the mornings and evenings are properly cold. Weather sites disagree on the exact figures: one climate dataset gives an average high of about 14 °C and an average low of about −1 °C, while a local travel source quotes 12 to 22 °C by day and 2 to 8 °C at night. Take both as the range and pack for the colder one.
Rain is limited, and the summer haze has cleared, so the mountains are at their sharpest. The days are short, and once the sun goes behind the ridges it gets cold fast.
October week by week
First week. The warmest and greenest part of the month. Deosai is still normally open, the poplars are just starting to yellow, and roads north are still working. Northern Pakistan had its first snowfall of autumn on 6 October in 2025, so even now a cold spell can arrive.
Second and third weeks. The colour peaks in the valleys, most visibly in Shigar and Khaplu, where poplar groves turn gold. This is the best window for photographs and for the valley day trips in our day trips from Skardu guide. Deosai is a gamble from about now.
Last week. Colder, quieter and more likely to be disrupted by snow. Babusar Top was closed to all travel by the Diamer deputy commissioner from 25 October in 2025, following snowfall and freezing temperatures, and Deosai was reported closed by snow from October that year.
The dates move every year. Treat them as a pattern, not a schedule.
What is open and what is closed
- Deosai National Park. Usually open from mid-June to mid-October, then closed by snow. Sources say the closure may fall anywhere from early to late October, so ask at your hotel in Skardu the day before. Our Skardu to Deosai guide covers the route.
- Skardu valley sights. Kharpocho Fort, Shigar, Khaplu and the Kachura lakes stay accessible through October.
- Babusar Pass. Open from about the end of June to October in a normal year, and shut by snow after that.
- Hotels and restaurants. Most stay open through October and close or thin out in winter. Rates tend to be easier to negotiate than in summer, but we have no verified figures to quote, so ask for a written rate before you arrive.
Getting to Skardu in October
By air. Airblue, AirSial and PIA all fly Islamabad to Skardu, and one flight-data source counts 18 weekly departures as of September 2026. Fog and weather cancellations are more common in autumn than in high summer, so leave a buffer day at each end. Our Islamabad to Skardu flight guide has more.
By road. In early and mid October you can still use the Babusar route from Naran, but once it closes the Karakoram Highway is the only road. The UK government's travel advice for Pakistan advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, through Besham, Dasu and Sazin. Pakistani travellers still use it, but check current news and police advice before setting out, and overseas visitors should read their own government's advice first, because it can affect travel insurance. Gilgit-Baltistan itself is not on that list. Our Skardu road condition guide covers the last stretch from Gilgit.
A sensible October plan
If you have four or five days, put the weather-dependent things first and the valley sights after.
- Day 1. Arrive and rest. Skardu is at altitude and flights are the part most likely to slip, so do nothing that cannot be moved.
- Day 2. Deosai, if it is open and your hotel confirms the road, starting early. Otherwise use the day for the Kachura lakes and Kharpocho Fort.
- Day 3. Shigar valley for the poplars, fort and old town.
- Day 4. Khaplu, the longer drive, ideally with a night there. Our Skardu to Khaplu guide covers the road.
- Day 5. Spare day for weather, then the flight out.
What to pack
- A warm jacket, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings, plus layers you can take off by midday
- Sturdy shoes; paths around the fort and in Shigar are uneven and can be frosty early on
- Lip balm and moisturiser, because the air is very dry
- A power bank and a torch, since power cuts happen in the north and dark falls early
- Cash, as card payment is unreliable outside the main hotels
Who should go in October
Go if you want clear light, gold poplars and quiet valleys, and you are happy with cold evenings and a flexible plan. It suits photographers, couples and people who dislike crowds.
Skip October if Deosai is the main reason for the trip. The window is too uncertain, and June to early October is safer. Families with small children or older parents may prefer late summer, since a delayed flight or a closed road matters more in the last week.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skardu good to visit in October?
Yes, for valley sights and autumn colour. It is cold at night, and Deosai and Babusar may close during the month.
How cold is Skardu in October?
Published averages disagree, from roughly 14 °C highs and −1 °C lows to 12 to 22 °C days and 2 to 8 °C nights. Pack warm layers and a proper jacket.
Is Deosai open in October?
Usually until the first heavy snow, which falls between early and late October depending on the year. Ask locally before you go.
When do the leaves change in Skardu?
The valley colour is strongest from about the middle of October, most noticeably in Shigar and Khaplu.
Are flights to Skardu affected in October?
They run, but fog and weather delays become more common, so build a spare day into your plan.
