Skardu
Pakistan · Gilgit-Baltistan · 2228 m
Description
Skardu sits on a wide bend of the Indus at two thousand two hundred metres and is the base for everything in Baltistan, including the walk to Concordia and the base camp of K2. Kharpocho Fort stands on the rock above the town and Shigar Fort an hour away has been restored as a hotel. The Kachura lakes lie in orchards on the terrace behind, the lower one known as Shangrila. Sarfaranga between the town and the river is a cold desert of dunes at this altitude. Flights come in from Islamabad when the weather allows. Four of the world's fourteen eight-thousanders stand in the ranges behind it.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 3 to 7 days (optimal 4 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Shangrila and the Lower Kachura lake
- Kharpocho Fort above the Indus
- Sarfaranga cold desert
- Shigar Fort and its valley(Day trip)
- Upper Kachura Lake
- Trek to Concordia and K2 base camp (June - September)(Multi-day trip)
- Satpara Lake above the town
- Manthal Buddha rock
- Deosai plateau over the pass(Day trip)
- Katpana dunes and apricot orchards
- Balti bread and apricot soup
Getting there
- Airports:
- KDU