Destination guide · 8 min read
Skardu & Deosai: The Complete Travel Guide
Skardu is the gateway to the greatest concentration of high peaks on earth — including K2 — yet the town itself sits in a gentle, wide valley of turquoise lakes, cold-desert dunes and apricot orchards. Add the Deosai plateau above it and you have one of the most varied trips in Northern Pakistan.
Where is Skardu?
Skardu (2,228 m) is the capital of Baltistan in Gilgit-Baltistan, set on the Indus River surrounded by the Karakoram. It's the launch point for K2 and Concordia treks, but you don't need to be a mountaineer to enjoy it.
Top things to do in Skardu
- Shangrila & Lower Kachura Lake — the postcard resort and its calm water
- Upper Kachura Lake — crystal-clear and quieter
- Katpana Cold Desert — sand dunes at 2,300 m, snow peaks behind
- Kharpocho Fort — views over the Indus and the old town
- Manthal Buddha Rock — an 8th-century carving on the edge of town
The Deosai Plains
Above Skardu lies Deosai National Park — the "Land of Giants" — one of the highest plateaus on earth at around 4,114 m. In summer it becomes a rolling carpet of wildflowers grazed by marmots and the rare Himalayan brown bear. Don't miss Sheosar Lake (4,142 m), a mirror of sky ringed by peaks.
How to get to Skardu
Two ways: a scenic overland drive from Islamabad via the Karakoram Highway (usually broken over 2 days with a night in Chilas), or a short flight from Islamabad to Skardu — spectacular, but weather-dependent, so keep buffer days.
Best time to visit
Skardu is accessible much of the year, but Deosai only opens roughly late June to September once the snow clears. For the full Skardu-plus-Deosai experience, plan for July to September. Spring brings blossom to the valley; autumn brings gold.
How many days do you need?
Give Skardu itself 2–3 days, and add 1–2 more to cross Deosai to Sheosar Lake. Our 7-day Skardu & Deosai trip covers both comfortably with time for the lakes and the cold desert.
See Skardu and Deosai in one trip
Our 7-day expedition handles the drive, permits, lakes and the plateau crossing.