Skardu & Baltistan
Lakes, cold desert, forts and the gateway to K2 and the Baltoro.
Northern Pakistan · Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan
The mountain heart of Pakistan
April – October
Custom trips only
The place
About Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit-Baltistan is the mountain heart of Pakistan, home to the Karakoram, the western Himalaya and the Hindu Kush. It contains five of the world’s fourteen peaks above 8,000 metres, along with glaciers, high plateaus and valleys that stay green through the summer.
Travellers usually arrive through Gilgit or Skardu and then choose a route: Hunza and Gojal in the north, Skardu and Baltistan in the east, Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat in the west, or the high plains of Deosai in between.
Distances are long and weather matters. A good northern trip leaves room for a spare day, avoids tight flight connections and treats the journey as part of the experience.
What to see
Places to visit
Hunza & Gojal
Forts, blossom, Attabad Lake and the road to Khunjerab Pass.
Deosai National Park
The high wildflower plateau and the Himalayan brown bear habitat.
Fairy Meadows
The meadow at the foot of Nanga Parbat, reached on foot.
Logistics
Getting there
Routes, roads and timing
Fly to Gilgit or Skardu from Islamabad, or drive the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad via Besham and Chilas. Internal routes connect Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu by road. We plan the transport, overnight stops and buffers around the season.
Trip options
Ask for a custom route
Trips to Gilgit-Baltistan
No listed trip at the moment
We still run private journeys here. Share your dates and we will quote a route with current road and weather conditions in mind.
Good to know
Questions about Gilgit-Baltistan
What is the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan?
April to October covers blossom, summer trekking and autumn colour. July and August are peak season. Winter travel is possible in the main valleys but many high routes close.
How many days do I need?
Allow at least 7 to 10 days for Skardu and Hunza together. A focused Skardu trip needs 4 to 5 days, and a Hunza trip 5 to 7 days from Islamabad.
Do I need a guide?
You can travel independently on main roads, but a local driver and guide make the mountain roads, permits and seasonal access much easier, especially for Deosai, Fairy Meadows and border areas.
Keep exploring
Add another valley to the route.
Most journeys here link two or three destinations. We can connect Gilgit-Baltistan with Deosai, Hunza, Shigar or Khaplu in one sensible loop.