Skardu is beautiful all year — but each season offers a completely different experience. Here is our local guide to choosing the perfect time for your trip.

Spring (March – May): Blossom Season

Spring turns Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu into a sea of pink and white as apricot, cherry and apple orchards bloom against snow-covered peaks. Days are mild (10–20°C), nights still cold. This is the best season for photographers and for travelers who want fewer crowds and lower hotel rates.

Summer (June – September): Peak Season

This is the classic time to visit. All roads, lakes and high-altitude areas are open — including Deosai National Park (usually mid-June to September) and Basho, Kharmang and Hushe valleys. Days are warm (15–27°C), perfect for boating at Upper Kachura, jeep safaris on Deosai, and trekking. Book hotels early — July and August are the busiest months.

Autumn (October – November): Golden Season

Many locals call this Skardu's most beautiful season. Poplars and orchards turn gold and crimson, skies are at their clearest, and the light is magical. Temperatures drop quickly (2–15°C), and Deosai closes after the first snows, but the valleys themselves remain fully accessible.

Winter (December – February): For the Adventurous

Winter Skardu is cold (often −10°C at night) but stunning — frozen lakes, snow-covered desert, and almost no tourists. The Katpana Cold Desert under snow is a sight few travelers ever see. Travel by air is recommended in winter, as road passes can close after heavy snowfall.

Getting There

• By air: Daily flights Islamabad → Skardu (about 1 hour) with spectacular mountain views — weather dependent.
• By road: Islamabad → Skardu via Naran–Babusar (summer only) or the Karakoram Highway and Jaglot–Skardu Road (most of the year), 16–20 hours.

Turquoise lakes, 700-year-old forts, and some of the friendliest people on earth — here is everything you need to know about visiting the Hunza Valley.

Where Is Hunza?

Hunza lies along the Karakoram Highway in northern Gilgit-Baltistan, about 2.5 hours' drive from Gilgit. Its capital Karimabad sits beneath Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Ultar Sar, with terraced fields spilling down the mountainside.

What to See

• Attabad Lake — the famous turquoise lake formed in 2010; boating, jet-ski and lakeside resorts.
• Baltit & Altit Forts — beautifully restored royal forts, 700+ years old, with museums and valley views.
• Eagle's Nest (Duikar) — the classic sunset and sunrise viewpoint over the whole valley.
• Passu Cones — the iconic cathedral-shaped peaks beside the Karakoram Highway.
• Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m) — the Pakistan–China border, generally open to tourists from spring to late autumn.
• Hussaini Suspension Bridge — one of the most thrilling footbridges in the world.

Food & Culture

Try chapshuro (Hunza meat pie), harissa, apricot soup, dried fruits and the famous Hunza walnut cake. The people of Hunza are known for hospitality, high literacy, and long lifespans — don't be surprised to be invited in for tea.

How Long to Stay

A comfortable Hunza trip needs 3–4 days: one for Karimabad and the forts, one for Attabad and Gulmit/Passu, one for Khunjerab Pass, plus a sunset at Eagle's Nest. Combine it with Skardu for the perfect 7-day Gilgit-Baltistan tour.

Known as the "Land of Giants", Deosai is one of the highest plateaus on earth — a rolling sea of wildflowers, streams and wildlife at over 4,000 metres.

What Makes Deosai Special

Deosai National Park covers roughly 3,000 km² at an average altitude of about 4,100 m, making it the second-highest plateau in the world. In summer it explodes with wildflowers and is home to the rare Himalayan brown bear, golden marmots, ibex and over 120 bird species.

Sheosar Lake

At the western edge of the plateau lies Sheosar Lake ("Blind Lake" in Shina) — one of the highest lakes in the world at about 4,142 m. On clear days, Nanga Parbat is visible across the wildflower meadows. It is the most photographed spot in the park.

When Is It Open?

Deosai is accessible roughly from mid-June to late September. The rest of the year it lies under deep snow. July and August are the best months — green plains, flowers everywhere, and marmots out of their burrows.

How to Visit

• From Skardu: by 4x4 jeep via Sadpara village — about 1.5–2 hours to the park entrance.
• From Astore: via Chilim — combine Deosai with Rama Lake for a great loop.
• Crossing: the full Skardu → Deosai → Astore crossing is one of Pakistan's greatest jeep journeys.
• Camping: overnight camping is possible at Bara Pani — falling asleep under Deosai's stars is unforgettable.

Tips

• Take warm clothing even in July — nights drop near freezing.
• Drink plenty of water and move slowly; 4,000 m altitude is no joke.
• Keep distance from bears and never feed wildlife.

Visiting Pakistan is easier than ever — most travelers can now apply online for an e-visa. Here is a simple step-by-step guide.

The Pakistan e-Visa

Pakistan's official online visa system lets citizens of a large number of countries apply for a tourist visa entirely online — no embassy visit needed. Applications are submitted at the official government portal visa.nadra.gov.pk, and the visa is delivered by email as a Visa Grant Notice which you print and carry.

Documents You'll Typically Need

• Passport valid for at least 6 months, with a clear scanned copy
• A recent passport-size photograph
• Proof of accommodation — hotel booking or an invitation/letter of support from a licensed Pakistani tour operator (we provide this for our guests)
• Return or onward travel details
• Visa fee paid online by card (fee varies by nationality)

Processing Time

Most e-visa applications are processed within roughly 7–10 business days, though it can be faster. We recommend applying at least 3–4 weeks before your travel date to stay safe.

Do I Need Permits for Gilgit-Baltistan?

Gilgit-Baltistan's main tourist areas — Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Astore, Khaplu, Fairy Meadows — are open to foreign tourists without special permits. Only certain restricted border zones and high mountaineering expeditions (like K2 Base Camp treks) require permits, which we arrange as part of our trek packages.

How We Help

Skardu Travel Planner provides full visa support: invitation letters, document guidance, and consultation throughout the application — so you can focus on packing, not paperwork.

From a lakeside legend to royal palaces turned heritage hotels — here's where to stay in and around Skardu, picked by our local team.

Shangrila Resort — "Heaven on Earth"

Pakistan's most famous resort, built around the heart-shaped Lower Kachura Lake with its iconic red-roofed cottages and the aircraft-turned-café. Perfect for couples and families; book months ahead for summer.

Shigar Fort Residence — Sleep in a 400-Year-Old Fort

A masterfully restored Raja's fort in Shigar Valley, now run as a heritage hotel. Stone walls, carved wood, orchard gardens — one of the most atmospheric stays in all of Pakistan, and only 45 minutes from Skardu.

Khaplu Palace — Royal Baltistan

A 19th-century royal palace in Khaplu, beautifully restored and operating as a heritage hotel. Worth the 2.5-hour drive east of Skardu for its architecture alone; the views of the Hushe valley peaks are a bonus.

Lakeside & Boutique Stays

Around Upper Kachura and the Katpana desert you'll find newer boutique hotels and lakeside cottages with stunning views at more moderate prices. In Skardu town itself, comfortable mid-range hotels make a good base for Deosai and day trips.

Our Advice

• July–August rooms sell out — book 1–2 months ahead.
• Mix it up: a night in Shigar or Khaplu adds heritage charm to a lake-resort trip.
• All our packages use verified partner hotels — we hand-check rooms, food and service.

Camping in a wildflower meadow directly beneath the 8,126-metre Nanga Parbat — the "Killer Mountain" — is one of Pakistan's greatest travel experiences. Here's how it works.

The Route

• Step 1 — Raikot Bridge: drive the Karakoram Highway to Raikot Bridge (about 80 km from Chilas / 3 hrs from Gilgit).
• Step 2 — Jeep track: switch to a local 4x4 for the famous cliff-hugging jeep track to Tattu village (~1.5 hrs) — thrilling, narrow, unforgettable.
• Step 3 — The hike: from Tattu it's a 5–6 km walk (3–4 hours, gradual climb) through pine forest to Fairy Meadows at ~3,300 m. Horses can be hired for luggage or riders.

At the Meadows

Wooden cottages and camping sites sit at the forest edge with Nanga Parbat's massive Raikot face filling the sky. Sunrise and the star-filled night sky are the highlights — keep your camera charged.

Onward Hikes

From Fairy Meadows, a beautiful day hike leads to Beyal Camp (1–1.5 hrs) and further to the Nanga Parbat Base Camp viewpoint (~3,900 m, 3–4 hrs one way) — a moderate trek any reasonably fit traveler can do.

Best Time & Tips

• Season: June to September; meadows are greenest in July.
• Fitness: moderate — take it slow, the altitude is felt.
• Packing: warm layers (nights are cold even in summer), rain jacket, good shoes, power bank, cash (no ATMs/signal).
• Nights needed: minimum 2 nights at the meadows to enjoy it properly.