Skip to content
Royal Motors

Skardu & Baltistan — Eight Days

Deosai at 4,000m, the Shigar and Khaplu forts, and the cold desert at Skardu. The most remote trip on the list.

  • 8 days, 7 nights
  • Departs Islamabad
  • Up to 16 people
  • June to September — Deosai is snowbound outside this window
Snow-capped peaks rising above a valley
  • Skardu
  • Shangrila Lake
  • Upper Kachura
  • Deosai Plains
  • Shigar
  • Khaplu

Deosai at 4,000m, the Shigar and Khaplu forts, and the cold desert at Skardu. The most remote trip on the list.

Day by day

  1. Day 1: Islamabad to Chilas

    Karakoram Highway to Chilas.

    Stay: Hotel in ChilasMeals: Dinner

  2. Day 2: Chilas to Skardu

    The Skardu road along the Indus gorge — slow, spectacular and worth the day.

    Stay: Hotel in SkarduMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3: Shangrila and Upper Kachura

    Both lakes, plus the Skardu cold desert in the afternoon.

    Stay: Hotel in SkarduMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4: Deosai Plains

    Full day across the second-highest plateau on earth, to Sheosar Lake and back.

    Stay: Hotel in SkarduMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5: Shigar Valley

    Shigar Fort and the valley that leads toward the Baltoro glacier trailheads.

    Stay: Hotel in ShigarMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6: Khaplu

    Drive east to Khaplu Palace and the Ghanche valley.

    Stay: Hotel in KhapluMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7: Khaplu to Chilas

    Begin the long return.

    Stay: Hotel in ChilasMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8: Chilas to Islamabad

    Final leg home.

    Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

  • Air-conditioned 4x4 with high-altitude experienced driver
  • Seven nights hotel accommodation, twin sharing
  • Daily breakfast and dinner
  • All fuel, tolls and driver expenses
  • Deosai National Park entry

Not included

  • Lunches
  • Fort entry tickets
  • Domestic flights if substituted for the drive
  • Anything not listed above

More trips

Other routes north.