Gilgit-Baltistan

Skardu & Deosai Plains

Cold-desert dunes, the Shangrila lakes and two nights on the high plateau, where the horizon runs out before the road does.

The route

Day by day

A week built around one crossing: the Deosai plateau, open only in high summer, reached from a valley that is worth several days on its own.

Group sizes and accommodation names are still to be confirmed by the brand.

Day 1

Arrive in Skardu
Fly in from Islamabad if the weather allows, or arrive by road. Nothing strenuous on day one - a walk along the Indus and an early night at 2,200 metres.
Day 2

Shangrila and Katpana
Lower and Upper Kachura in the morning, before the day boats. The Katpana cold desert in the last hour of light.
Day 3

Shigar Valley
An hour out to Shigar for the restored fort, the wooden Amburiq mosque and the apricot orchards behind the village.
Day 4

Over Sadpara into Deosai
The climb onto the plateau, then slowly across it. Marmots everywhere, brown bear if you are lucky. Night on the plateau.
Day 5

Deosai to Sheosar
The full width of the park in the best light of the trip, out toward Sheosar Lake, then back down to Skardu.
Day 6

Khaplu
Three hours up the Shyok to Khaplu Palace and the Chaqchan mosque, and back to Skardu in the evening.
Day 7

Depart
Fly or drive out. We build in a spare day for weather, because the Skardu flight needs it more often than not.

The detail

What is included

What is not

Destination

Cold-desert dunes on one side of the Indus and 8,000-metre giants on the other. Skardu is the way in to the Karakoram.

Timeless beauty · Serene waters · Living culture

Dates, pace and length all move. Tell us what you want changed and we will redraw it.