The Manthoka & Khamosh Waterfalls Day Tour is a guided trip lasting 1 day in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan. It is graded Easy — short riverside walks — short walks to the falls. 4 fixed departures are open from $70 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Manthoka & Khamosh Waterfalls Day Tour — Kharmang’s Big Water
Kharmang is the valley most Skardu visitors never enter. The road follows the Indus upstream past apricot villages until a sheet of water drops roughly 55 m off a green cliff shelf — Manthoka, the big waterfall of Baltistan. Further up the valley, Khamosh (“the silent one”) thunders through a narrow rock cleft, close enough to soak you. We run the full day from Skardu: both falls, a trout lunch by the water, and the Indus gorge both ways. A local guide, a private car, every entry handled — local hands, fair price.
- Duration
- 1 Day
- Grade
- Easy – Moderate
- Days on foot
- 0
- Best season
- All Year
- Group size
- Max 6
Manthoka & Khamosh Day Tour Price
From $70 per person in a group of four to six — private car from your Skardu hotel, local guide, all entry tickets and bottled water. The famous trout lunch at the Manthoka fish farm is at your own cost and worth every rupee. Khamosh adds about an hour each way on a rougher road; skip it and the price drops — ask us.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip.
| Departure | Dates | Price | Availability | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily — Spring 2027 | 20 Mar – 31 May | $70/person | 6 of 6 places | $7 | Book now |
| Daily — Summer 2027 | 1 Jun – 31 Aug | $70/person | 6 of 6 places | $7 | Book now |
| Daily — Autumn 2027 | 1 Sep – 15 Nov | $70/person | 6 of 6 places | $7 | Book now |
| Daily — Winter 2027 | 16 Nov – 30 Dec | $70/person | 6 of 6 places | $7 | Book now |
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $150 | Private car and guide to yourself, your pace all day. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $95 | One car, shared — ideal for couples. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $70 | Best per-person rate — an easy day out for families and small groups. |
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — short riverside walks.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Manthoka & Khamosh
A full day down the Indus into Kharmang: Manthoka’s 55 m curtain in the morning, Khamosh’s slot-canyon falls after a trout lunch, and the gorge road home.
Day 1Skardu to Manthoka & Khamosh Falls, Kharmang
Out of Skardu along the Indus into Kharmang — about two hours of river gorge and apricot villages to Manthoka, where the water drops roughly 55 m off the cliff shelf. Walk the meadow to the base, then a grilled-trout lunch at the fish farm. In the afternoon, the rougher road on to Khamosh, the “silent” waterfall that is anything but — a white column in a rock cleft you can stand almost underneath. Indus road home by evening.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $70 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Private transport from Skardu return
- Driver and local English-speaking guide
- All entry tickets
- Bottled water
Not included
- Meals — including the trout lunch at Manthoka — and personal spending
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $70 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About the Kharmang Waterfalls Day
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your date. Balance is payable on the day in Skardu.
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp — we confirm within the hour in season.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 3+ days before the tour: full refund of the deposit. Within 3 days: the deposit is forfeit. Weather or road cancellations on our side are refunded in full.
Transportation Details
Private car from your Skardu hotel with driver and local guide. The Kharmang road is paved to Manthoka; the Khamosh stretch is unpaved but fine in season.
Timings & Meeting Point
Pickup from any Skardu hotel around 8:30 am; back by about 6:00 pm. Manthoka-only days run shorter — roughly 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Manthoka waterfall from Skardu?
About 80 km up the Indus into the Kharmang valley u2014 roughly 2 to 2.5 hours each way on a mostly paved road. Khamosh waterfall lies further up the valley on a rougher stretch.
How big is the waterfall?
Manthoka drops about 55 m (180 ft) off a cliff shelf into a meadow basin u2014 the largest easily reached waterfall in Baltistan. In winter it part-freezes into blue ice columns.
Is the trout lunch worth it?
Yes. The fish farm at the base of Manthoka grills trout straight from its ponds. It is the standard lunch stop and costs a few dollars per fish, paid directly.
Can we do only Manthoka and skip Khamosh?
Of course. Manthoka alone makes a relaxed day. Khamosh adds about two extra hours of driving on a rougher road u2014 worth it if you like your waterfalls loud and close.
When is the best time to go?
May to October for full flow and green meadows; April for blossom in the Kharmang villages; winter for the frozen falls u2014 the road stays open, just slower.
