LakesShangrila Resort
The heart-shaped lake that put Skardu on Pakistan's tourist map
- Distance
- 20 km from Skardu city
- Altitude
- 2,500 m / 8,200 ft
Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Skardu — Pakistan's number one summer destination
Glacial lakes, the second-highest plateau on earth, cold deserts under 7,000-metre peaks and the road to K2. Everything you need to plan the trip, in one place.
Why Skardu
The Karakoram at its most accessible
Skardu sits at 2,230 metres where the Indus and Shigar rivers meet, ringed by four of the world's fourteen 8,000-metre peaks. A one-hour flight from Islamabad drops you into a valley of turquoise lakes, 17th-century Balti forts, snow-filled deserts and the trailheads for K2 — which is why it has become the country's defining summer holiday.
- 2,230 m
- Valley altitude — high, dry and cool all summer
- 1 hour
- Flight time from Islamabad to Skardu (KDU)
- Jun–Sep
- Deosai plateau season, when everything is open
Top tourist spots
The places everyone comes for
Lakes
NatureDeosai Plains
The Land of Giants — the second-highest plateau on earth
- Distance
- 35 km to Sadpara gate, 60 km to Bara Pani
- Altitude
- 4,114 m / 13,497 ft average
LakesUpper Kachura Lake
Cold, clear and glacially deep — Skardu's most photogenic water
- Distance
- 22 km from Skardu city
- Altitude
- 2,500 m / 8,200 ft
DesertsKatpana Desert
White dunes beneath 7,000-metre peaks
- Distance
- 8 km from Skardu city
- Altitude
- 2,226 m / 7,303 ft
HeritageShigar Valley
A 400-year-old Balti palace and the gateway to K2
- Distance
- 32 km from Skardu city
- Altitude
- 2,300 m / 7,545 ft
HeritageKhaplu Valley
Baltistan's most complete royal palace, above the Shyok river
- Distance
- 103 km from Skardu city
- Altitude
- 2,600 m / 8,530 ft
Ready-made plans
How long do you have?
5 days
Skardu in 5 days — the essentials
The classic short trip: both Kachura lakes, Deosai, the cold desert and Shigar Fort, with an easy first day to adjust to the altitude.
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Skardu in 7 days — lakes, forts and Khaplu
Adds an overnight in Khaplu, a Kharmang day for Manthoka Waterfall and a spare buffer day for weather.
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Skardu in 10 days — including Hushe and Basho
The full Baltistan loop with camping in Basho, the Hushe valley beneath Masherbrum, and time on the Deosai plateau rather than a rushed day trip.
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Flights and stays
Flights to Skardu (KDU)
PIA operates the Islamabad–Skardu route year-round, with additional seasonal services from Karachi and Lahore. Compare fares and dates before you fix your itinerary.
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Where to stay near Skardu
Compare hotels, resorts and guest houses in and around Skardu — from budget rooms in the bazaar to heritage forts and lakeside resorts.
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Skardu travel FAQs
- Is Skardu safe for tourists?
- Yes. Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the safest regions in Pakistan for travellers, with very low crime and a strong local hospitality culture. The genuine risks are road conditions, altitude and weather rather than security.
- Do foreigners need a permit for Skardu?
- No permit is required for Skardu, Shigar, Khaplu or Deosai. A valid Pakistani visa is enough. Restricted-zone permits apply only to certain expedition areas and border valleys, which licensed operators arrange.
- How many days do you need in Skardu?
- Five days covers the essentials — Kachura lakes, Deosai, Katpana and Shigar. Seven days lets you add Khaplu, and ten days allows Hushe, Basho and a Deosai overnight.
- What is the best month to visit Skardu?
- April to May for blossom, June to August for full access including Deosai, and September for the clearest skies. July and August are the busiest and most expensive.
- Is there mobile signal and internet in Skardu?
- Skardu city has reasonable 4G on SCOM and Jazz, with patchy coverage elsewhere. Deosai, Basho and Hushe have effectively no signal. Hotel Wi-Fi is common but slow.