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5 Days Hunza Valley Tour from Islamabad
Two full days in the valley, with Attabad, Passu and the Karimabad forts.
FromPKR 48,500per person
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7 Days Skardu & Deosai Tour from Islamabad
7 days / 6 nightsIslamabad – Chilas – Skardu – Shigar – Khaplu – Deosai – Chilas – IslamabadMax 20 peopleJune to September for the Deosai dayModerateMax altitude 4,114 m at Sheosar Lake
Shangrila, Shigar, Khaplu and a full day crossing Deosai to Sheosar Lake.
Overview
Seven days is the honest minimum for Skardu by road with a full Deosai day in it. This itinerary covers the Skardu core — Shangrila, Upper Kachura, the Katpana cold desert — plus Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace, and a whole day crossing the Deosai plateau to Sheosar Lake at 4,114 m.
Deosai is the reason to come in summer and the reason this trip has a short season. The plateau is usually open mid-June to mid-September. We will not sell you a date we do not believe will be clear.
The Skardu road is much better than it was five years ago, but it is still two long days from Islamabad. We break the drive properly and we do not travel the mountain sections at night.
Trip highlights
- Deosai National Park and Sheosar Lake at 4,114 m
- Shangrila Resort and Lower Kachura Lake
- Upper Kachura Lake
- Shigar Fort and the Shigar valley
- Khaplu Palace
- Katpana Cold Desert — dunes at 2,300 m
- Manthokha Waterfall
7 Days Skardu & Deosai Tour Itinerary — day by day
Every day states its route, its driving hours and its altitude, so nothing about this trip is a surprise on the road.
- 1
Day 1 — Islamabad to Chilas
Islamabad → Besham → Dasu → Chilas
Drivingabout 12 hoursMealsDinnerStayHotel Shangrila Midway House, ChilasNorth on the Karakoram Highway from a 6:00 AM start, following the Indus to Chilas.
- 2
Day 2 — Chilas to Skardu
Chilas → Jaglot → Skardu road → Skardu
Drivingabout 8 hoursAltitude1,250 m → 2,230 mMealsBreakfast, DinnerStayHotel Sehrish, SkarduWe turn east at Jaglot onto the Skardu road, which follows the Indus into Baltistan through some of the most dramatic gorge country in Pakistan. Into Skardu in the evening.
- 3
Day 3 — Skardu lakes and the cold desert
Skardu → Shangrila → Upper Kachura → Katpana → Skardu
Drivingabout 3 hoursMealsBreakfast, DinnerStayHotel Sehrish, SkarduA gentle day after two hard ones. Shangrila and Lower Kachura in the morning, Upper Kachura after lunch, and the Katpana sand dunes at sunset.
- 4
Day 4 — Shigar and Khaplu
Skardu → Shigar → Khaplu → Skardu
Drivingabout 6 hoursMealsBreakfast, DinnerStayHotel Sehrish, SkarduThe restored Shigar Fort in the morning and Khaplu Palace after lunch — two of the best-preserved pieces of Balti architecture anywhere, both brought back from ruin by the Aga Khan trust.
- 5
Day 5 — Deosai plateau and Sheosar Lake
Skardu → Sadpara → Deosai → Sheosar Lake → Skardu
Drivingabout 8 hours on jeep trackAltitude2,230 m → 4,114 mMealsBreakfast, DinnerStayHotel Sehrish, SkarduThe big day. Jeeps up past Satpara Lake onto the plateau, across the grassland to Sheosar Lake, and back the same way. Marmots are guaranteed; brown bears are luck.
Note Deosai is above 4,000 m for hours with no facilities. We carry oxygen. Anyone with a heart or breathing condition should speak to a doctor before booking.
- 6
Day 6 — Skardu to Chilas
Skardu → Jaglot → Chilas
Drivingabout 8 hoursMealsBreakfast, DinnerStayHotel Shangrila Midway House, ChilasBack down the Skardu road with a stop at Manthokha Waterfall in the Kharmang valley.
- 7
Day 7 — Chilas to Islamabad
Chilas → Besham → Islamabad
Drivingabout 12 hoursMealsBreakfastStay—The drive home, arriving Islamabad between 8:00 and 10:00 PM.
What is and is not included
Included
- Air-conditioned Toyota Coaster from Islamabad, maximum 20 passengers
- 4x4 jeeps for the full Deosai day
- 6 nights' accommodation as named below
- 6 breakfasts and 6 dinners
- Tour leader throughout and a local guide in Skardu
- Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace entry, and Deosai National Park fees
- Oxygen cylinder and first aid kit
Not included
- All lunches
- Boating at Shangrila
- Personal shopping and tips
- Travel insurance
Hotels on this trip
| Nights | Hotel | Place | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nights 1 & 6 | Hotel Shangrila Midway House | Chilas | 3-star |
| Nights 2–5 | Hotel Sehrish | Skardu | 3-star |
If a named hotel is genuinely unavailable we tell you before departure and move you to a property of the same or better category. We never change it silently.
Upcoming departures
| Departure | Returns | Seats left | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 20 Jun 2027 | Fri 26 Jun | 20 | PKR 68,500 | Book |
| Sat 4 Jul 2027 | Fri 10 Jul | 20 | PKR 71,500 | Book |
| Sat 18 Jul 2027 | Fri 24 Jul | 20 | PKR 71,500 | Book |
| Sat 15 Aug 2027 | Fri 21 Aug | 20 | PKR 71,500 | Book |
Prices are per person on quad sharing. Seats shown are live at the time of publishing — confirm on WhatsApp before transferring an advance.
Frequently asked questions
When is Deosai open?
Roughly mid-June to mid-September, decided by the snow rather than the calendar. Outside that window the plateau is closed and we do not run this itinerary.
Should we fly to Skardu instead?
The flight is an hour and spectacular, but PIA cancels it for weather often enough that groups get stranded. We can add it as an option with the road itinerary as the fallback — we never build the trip around it.
How hard is the Deosai day?
It is eight hours in a jeep on rough track, above 4,000 m for much of it, with no facilities for long stretches. There is no significant walking. Most people find it tiring rather than difficult.
Is 7 days really the minimum?
For Skardu with Deosai by road, yes. Six days works if you drop Khaplu. Anything shorter means either flying or skipping the plateau.
What is the Skardu road like now?
Paved and in good condition via Jaglot — a large improvement on five years ago. It remains mountain road with landslide risk in monsoon.
Ask about this trip
Questions about dates, fitness, children or hotels — we answer them properly.
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