The Skardu Tour Package is a guided trip lasting 6 days in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 4,142 m. It is graded Easy to Moderate — sightseeing pace, one high-altitude jeep day — short day walks. 5 fixed departures are open from $750 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Skardu Tour Package — 6 Days from Islamabad
Skardu is the town every Karakoram journey passes through, and it deserves more than a transit night. This six-day package from Islamabad is the complete first visit: the flight up the Indus with Nanga Parbat off the wingtip, Kharpocho Fort above the bazaar, the 17th-century fort and carved mosque of Shigar, sunset on the dunes of the Sarfaranga Cold Desert, a full day on the Deosai Plateau at Sheosar Lake, the blue water of Shangrila and Upper Kachura, and a day east to Khaplu's palace before the flight home.
How this Skardu tour package works
You travel in a private vehicle with a Skardu driver-guide who is from here, sleeping in clean mid-range hotels with mountain views and eating real Balti food alongside the standard menu. We build the schedule around the Islamabad-Skardu flight, hold a road fallback for weather, and tell you honestly which days are long. Local hands, real safety, fair price.
Want a different shape? This page is the starting point: go lighter with the 5-day Skardu City Tour, softer with the Skardu Luxury Tour and its heritage stays, deeper into jeep country on the Deosai Jeep Safari to Astore or the Astore & Rama Lake Tour, further east on the Khaplu & Hushe Valley Tour, or time it for the cherry blossom or autumn gold.
- Duration
- 6 Days - 5 Nights
- Max altitude
- 4,142 m
- Grade
- Easy – Moderate
- Days on foot
- 0
- Best season
- April - October
- Group size
- Max 6
Skardu Tour Package Price
From $750 per person in a group of four to six — private vehicle and driver-guide for six days, five nights in mid-range hotels, all meals, Deosai park fees and every entry ticket. We book the Islamabad-Skardu flights for you at cost; fares are separate because they change with the date. Exact quotes on WhatsApp within the hour.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departure 01 | 12 Apr – 17 Apr | $750/person | 6 of 6 places | $75 | Book now |
| Departure 02 | 21 Jun – 26 Jun | $750/person | 6 of 6 places | $75 | Book now |
| Departure 03 | 16 Aug – 21 Aug | $750/person | 6 of 6 places | $75 | Book now |
| Departure 04 | 4 Oct – 9 Oct | $750/person | 6 of 6 places | $75 | Book now |
| Departure 05 | 17 Oct – 22 Oct | $750/person | 6 of 6 places | $75 | 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) | $1,290 | Private vehicle and driver-guide to yourself for six days — your pace, your photo stops. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $980 | One vehicle, shared. The sweet spot for couples and small groups. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $750 | Best per-person rate. Families welcome — the pace is gentle and the walks are short. |
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy to Moderate — sightseeing pace, one high-altitude jeep day.
Good to know
The highest point is 4,142 m, so altitude counts here. The itinerary is built around acclimatising and your guide sets a pace that gets you there comfortably.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Skardu Tour Package
Six days built around the Skardu flight: the town and its fort, Shigar and the cold desert, a full Deosai day, the lakes, and Khaplu — with the schedule shaped to absorb a weather-delayed flight without losing a day of the valley.
Day 1Islamabad to Skardu — Fort & Bazaar
2,230 m
The hour-long flight up the Indus with Nanga Parbat off the wingtip. Afternoon climb to Kharpocho Fort above the town, sunset over the rivers, first walk through the bazaar. If weather grounds the flight, we switch to the road plan and re-shape the week — you lose scenery time, not the trip.
Day 2Shigar Valley & Sarfaranga Cold Desert
2,300 m
North into Shigar: the restored 17th-century fort, the carved timber Amburiq Mosque, apricot lanes. Late afternoon on the dunes of Sarfaranga — the world's highest cold desert — for sunset against snow peaks.
Day 3Deosai Plateau & Sheosar Lake
4,142 m
A full jeep day on the second-highest plateau on earth: wildflowers in July, brown bears with luck, tea at Bara Pani and lunch by Sheosar Lake. Back down to Skardu to sleep low.
Day 4Shangrila, Upper Kachura & Manthal Buddha
2,500 m
The postcard lakes in the morning light — boating on Lower Kachura, the quieter blue of Upper Kachura — then the ninth-century Manthal Buddha Rock and a slow evening in town.
Day 5Khaplu — Palace & Chaqchan Mosque
2,600 m
East along the Shyok to Baltistan's second kingdom: the 1840 Khaplu Palace, the 700-year-old timber Chaqchan Mosque and the carved old town, with the Shyok braiding silver on the drive home.
Day 6Fly to Islamabad
540 m
The morning flight out, with the whole week replaying below you. We schedule departures with buffer time in Islamabad in case the flight moves.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $750 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 vehicle and driver-guide for six days
- Five nights in clean mid-range hotels
- All meals
- Deosai National Park fees
- All fort
- Palace and mosque entry tickets
Not included
- Islamabad-Skardu flights (booked by us at cost)
- Personal spending
- Drinks
- Tips for the driver-guide
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 $750 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 Skardu Tour Package
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your dates and vehicle. Balance is payable on arrival in Skardu.
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp — we confirm within the hour in season.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 30+ days before departure: full refund of the deposit. 7-29 days: half the deposit. Under 7 days: the deposit is forfeit.
If your Skardu flight cancels for weather, we move to the road plan or re-date the tour — we do not charge for the weather.
Flights & Transport
We book Islamabad-Skardu flights on your behalf at cost; fares are separate because they change with the date. Private car or 4x4 with driver-guide throughout; the Deosai day is by Land Cruiser.
Health & Altitude
Skardu sits at 2,230 m and the sightseeing is gentle. The Deosai day touches about 4,140 m for a few hours; we cross in daytime and sleep in Skardu. Children from four travel comfortably.
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 much does a Skardu tour package cost?
From $750 per person for six days in a group of four to six, with private transport, hotels, all meals and a driver-guide. Couples pay $980 per person and solo travellers $1,290, because the vehicle is the main cost. The Islamabad-Skardu flight is booked by us at cost and paid separately, since fares change with the date.
Is it better to fly or drive to Skardu?
Fly if you can. The flight takes about an hour with a full view of Nanga Parbat; the road takes two hard days. Flights are weather-dependent, so we build the itinerary to absorb a delay and hold a road fallback. Our guide on getting to Skardu covers both in detail.
When is the best time to visit Skardu?
April for blossom, June to September for Deosai and the full itinerary, late September to October for autumn colours. The Deosai day needs the plateau road open, roughly mid-June to September; outside that window we substitute Basho or Katpana desert.
What is actually included?
Private vehicle and driver-guide for all six days, five nights in clean mid-range hotels, all meals, Deosai National Park fees and all entry tickets. Not included: flights, personal spending and tips. No hidden extras on arrival.
Can this be combined with a trek or with Hunza?
Yes. This package is the base layer: add the 7-day Skardu & Hunza Tour to see both valleys, or talk to us about stepping up to Deosai jeep routes, the Khaplu side, or a K2 Base Camp trek in the same trip.
What visa do I need?
A standard Pakistan tourist visa, applied for online. No permits are needed for anything on this itinerary; the Deosai park fee is included.
