12-Day Trip to Skardu

TourS

Price

Depends upon group size

Days

Overview

Skardu is home to some of the highest peaks in the world. Located in the extreme North of Pakistan, Skardu is undoubtedly an epitome of beauty and serenity. It is a place for adventurers, trekkers and people who easily fall in love with nature. This place is not only famous because of its mountains, but the region has some very beautiful lakes, fortresses and a cold desert that add to the mesmerizing views you get to enjoy while there.

Route Map

Elevation
Skardu: 2,228 metres

Weather
Summers: Between 20-30°C during day. Pleasant at night.
Winters: Under 10°C during day. Below freezing at night.

Locations

Skardu
Kharpocho fort
Nangsoq organic village
Katpana desert
Upper and lower Kachura lakes
Sadpara lake
Deosai
Shigar valley
Sarfaranga desert
Manthoka waterfall
Khaplu valley

Activities

Cultural activities
Sightseeing
Trekking

Trip Rating

Adventure: 2/5
Culture: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Fitness: 2/5

Upcoming Tours
N/A

Accommodation
Will be arranged according to preferences of the group.

Transport
Will be arranged according to the preferences of the group.

Meals
Will be arranged according to the preferences of the group.

Itinerary Overview

Skardu valley provides views of several tall mountains. This city is frequently visited by adventure travelers as it serves as a gateway for many 8,000-er peaks, including K2, the second highest mountain in the world. Sign up for this fun-filled trip to explore this beautiful valley with us.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Islamabad to Chilas

Early morning departure from Islamabad
Drive to Chilas
Stay in Chilas
Travel time: 10-14 hours

Day 2: Chilas to Skardu

Activities:

Stopover at the junction point of world’s 3 highest mountain ranges
Stopover at Nanga Parbat view point
Drive to Skardu
Stay in Skardu
Travel time: 8-10 hours

Day 3: Skardu

Activities:

Visit Katpana cold desert
Visit Kharpocho fort (30 min hike)
Visit the markets of Skardu
Explore Skardu city
Stay in Skardu

Day 4: Skardu to Nangsoq organic village to Skardu

Activities:

Trek to Nansoq organic village (1-2 hour hike)
Explore the organic village
Trek back to Skardu
Stay in Skardu

Day 5: Skardu to Deosai

Activities:

Jeep ride to Deosai
Visit Sadpara lake
Visit Bara Paani
Visit Kala Paani
Visit Sheosar lake

Camping in Deosai

Day 6: Deosai to Shigar

Activities:

Drive to Shigar
Visit Sarfaranga cold desert
Stay in Shigar

Day 7: Shigar

Activities:

Explore Shigar village
Visit old mosque
Visit Shigar fort
Stay in Shigar

Day 8: Shigar to Khaplu

Activities:

Visit Manthoka waterfall
Drive to Khaplu
Visit Khaplu fort
Stay in Khaplu

Day 9: Khaplu

Activities:

Hike to Toseekhar (1-hour hike)
Visit Chaqchan mosque
Visit Khanka
Explore Khaplu village
Stay in Khaplu

Day 10: Khaplu to Kachura

Activities:

Drive to Kachura
Visit upper Kachura lake
Visit lower Kachura lake
Stay in Kachura

Day 11: Kachura to Chilas

Activities:

Drive to Chilas
Stay in Chilas

Day 12: Chilas to Islamabad

Activities:

Drive to Islamabad
End of services

Essential Information

Included

Standard package includes the following, but alterations can be made according to requirements.

Transportation with experienced driver
Accommodation
Meals
Guided tours
Cultural activities
Entrance fees
Tolls and taxes
Basic first aid
Letter of Invitation (LOI) for visa

Not Included

Standard package does not include the following, but alterations can be made according to requirements.

Flight tickets
Visa fees
Porters for carrying personal equipment
Personal trekking equipment
Tips for guides/workers (optional)
Snacks while trekking and traveling
Extra meals/laundry services availed at hotels or otherwise
Charges of sports activities
Souvenirs
Shopping or any other expenses of personal nature
Insurance liability, medical aid, and helicopter rescue coverage
Any other services not mentioned in the plan

Tour Add-ons

Can be arranged according to requirements.

What to Bring

It is recommended to bring one large bag and a small daypack. Kindly pack light.

Essentials to carry:

CNIC (for Pakistanis) and passport + valid Pakistani visa (for foreigners)
Backpack to carry phone, wallet and other important things
Warm clothes – jacket, socks, gloves, cap, thermal
Raincoat
Sun protection – sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
Shoes – joggers, sandals
Re-usable water bottle

Optional items to carry:

Trekking essentials – shoes, socks, stick
Torch
Power bank

More Details

Consider this itinerary as a guideline. Actual plan can be modified according to your requirements. In customized trips you have the flexibility to choose the accommodation, transport, meals, guide and other details according to your preferences.

Charges of the trip depend on the kind of services availed and group size.

Note: The itinerary can vary in different seasons due to weather and road accessibility.

Gallery

Reviews

Pakistan had been on my list of countries to visit for many years. I don't usually use a travel agent when I travel (116 countries to date) but after hearing about a friend's experience with The Mad Hatters in 2019 I decided to reach out and request a literary. I knew it would be challenging because I wanted a very specific type of travel, wanted to be off the beaten path and things were just opening back up after the 2020 COVID closure. Aneeqa Ali and The Mad Hatter team did a FABULOUS job meeting all my requests and at a VERY reasonable price. I just completed the 32-day tour and I couldn't be happier about my experience. Having an experienced/knowledgeable person on the ground that can take your calls and texts 24/7 and respond to requests or solve issues is invaluable in a country like Pakistan. Aneeqa responded quickly when we requested a change in itinerary or wanted to add something. She even took calls late at night to help sort out issues at checkpoints as we traversed the mountains. As a foreigner who doesn’t speak any of many local languages of the mountain regions it was reassuring to know I could call someone and have them bridge the language barrier. Her “can do”, customer-first approach was so refreshing and easy it made the trip carefree which is no small feat in the remote mountains of Pakistan. Her partners and selected local guides were incredible. My friends and I enjoyed our custom schedule that made our visit to Pakistan a bucket list trip that none of us will ever forget. I HIGHLY recommend Mat Hatters whether you are solo, couple, adventure, nomad, or grouper traveler, Aneeqa can ensure you experience Pakistan in a way you will never forget.

The Mad Hatters is the perfect tour company to use when travelling Pakistan whether you are a foreign visitor or local. I booked a private tour and the price was incredibly reasonable considering it was nearly 3 weeks long. Our itinerary was arranged to suit our interests and we got plenty of help arranging documents for the Visa application back in the UK. We had a brilliant guide and driver and the whole trip went smoothly. Would definitely use them again!

Just finished a 30 day tour of Northern Pakistan and it was truly spectacular. Annequa put together a wonderful itinerary for us and yet was totally flexible when we needed to make changes, for whatever reason. Nothing was too much trouble and we were well and truly looked after every step of the way, turning an already outstanding experience into a spectacular one. We have only just left and are already talking about a return visit. It really would be difficult to overstate how wonderful Mad Hatters were.

Me and and a couple of friends who like me have terrible schedules and tough routines turned to Aneeqa for planning a trip. We basically left each and everything to Aneeqa to decide, plan and arrange for us and it was done! Everything turned out to be super well organised and we came back totally pampered and spoiled. At this stage in life we really can't take the pains of saving a penny here and a penny there and trying to plan a trip...so we left it to the pro! This was my second trip to skardu and i discovered things and places the previous tour operators didn't include in our itinerary.... I would definitely plan another trip with the mad hatters and recommend to all other people to do the same... especially if you value professionalism and adventure above all other things. All the best to the mad hatters and thank you for the vacation!

Had a great experience in their Skardu trip. Focus was on quality as the accomodation & transportation and overall organization was much better compared to our previous trips to North. Aneeqa's professionalism was quite exemplary. Would definitely recommend Mad Hatters to everyone travelling upcountry.