Skardu Trip Plan — 4-Day Itinerary

Route: Islamabad to Skardu by air (about 1 hour). By road it is a 2-day journey via the Karakoram Highway.

• Day 1: Shangrila (Lower Kachura) Lake and Upper Kachura Lake.
• Day 2: Shigar Fort and the Sarfaranga cold desert.
• Day 3: Deosai Plains day trip (jeep) — or Satpara Lake and Kharpocho Fort view if Deosai is closed.
• Day 4: Return journey.

What to carry & what you need:

• A heavy jacket, gloves and a beanie for Deosai (about 4,100 m) — it can snow there even in July
• Acclimatise for a day in Skardu first; on Deosai drink plenty of water, go slow, and come down if you feel dizzy
• An SCOM SIM — the only network that works reliably here; download offline maps before you go
• Cash for Shigar, Khaplu and other side valleys — cards are rarely accepted there, and ATMs are only in Skardu city
• Your own food, water and a power bank for Deosai — no shops, no network and no electricity up there
• Sunscreen and sunglasses — the sun is harsh at this height
• A 4x4 jeep hired in Skardu — it is the only way up to Deosai

Note: Deosai is open roughly June to September only. Skardu flights depend on weather — keep one buffer day in hand.