Journey
Astore
The Deosai Crossing: Astore to Skardu
- Duration
- 7 days
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Season
- Jul–Sept
Price to be confirmed
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Journey · Skardu, Shigar, Khaplu
Baltistan Heritage: Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu
Forts, palaces and old mosques along the Indus and Shyok rivers, staying in the heart of Balti country.
- Duration
- 8 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Season
- April–October
- Price
- Price to be confirmed
Photo: Shahid Rao · CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
Baltistan has a character of its own: Balti-speaking villages, wide sandy river valleys and a heritage shaped by Tibetan, Central Asian and Islamic influences. This journey begins in Skardu, at the meeting of the Indus and Shyok, and moves out to two restored royal seats.
Shigar Fort, a 17th-century residence of the local Raja, and Khaplu Palace, completed in 1840, were both restored through the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme and now house museums. Between them are orchards, wooden mosques, cold-desert dunes and quiet village lanes.
Distances are short, so each place gets more than one night and there is time to walk rather than simply drive past.
- Shigar Fort, restored and awarded for conservation by UNESCO
- Khaplu Palace and its museum of Balti history and culture
- Kharpocho Fort above Skardu, reached on foot
- The Manthal Buddha rock near Satpara
- The Katpana cold desert dunes
- Kachura and Satpara lakes
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Skardu
Fly in to Skardu. Late afternoon walk up to Kharpocho Fort for views over the town and the Indus.
Overnight: Skardu
Day 2
Manthal, Satpara and Katpana
The carved Buddha rock at Manthal, Satpara Lake south of town, and sunset on the Katpana dunes.
Overnight: Skardu
Day 3
Skardu to Shigar
Short drive north to Shigar. Afternoon at Shigar Fort and the old village mosques.
Overnight: Shigar
Day 4
Shigar valley
Village walks through orchards and fields, with time to rest in the fort gardens.
Overnight: Shigar
Day 5
Shigar to Khaplu
Back through Skardu and east along the Shyok to Khaplu. Timing varies with road and weather conditions.
Overnight: Khaplu
Day 6
Khaplu Palace and Chaqchan
Khaplu Palace and its museum, the Chaqchan mosque, and a walk through the upper village.
Overnight: Khaplu
Day 7
Khaplu to Skardu
Return to Skardu with an afternoon at the Kachura lakes.
Overnight: Skardu
Day 8
Depart Skardu
Flight or road onward.
Practical information
- Suitable for
- Culture travellers, Photographers, Families, Private groups, University groups
What’s included
Included
- Private vehicle with driver
- Guide throughout
- Hotel and heritage-guesthouse accommodation as listed
- Breakfast daily
- Entry to Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace museums
- Airport transfers in Skardu
Not included
- Flights to and from Skardu
- Meals not listed
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips
What to bring
Essential
- Modest clothing covering shoulders and legs
- Headscarf or shawl for visits to mosques and shrines
- Shoes that slip on and off easily for heritage interiors
- Sun hat and sunscreen for open valleys
- Light warm layer for evenings
- Passport and copies
Optional and useful
- Notebook or sketchbook
- Lightweight scarf against dust on the dunes
- Camera with a lens suited to interiors
- Small torch for dim fort passages
- Reading on Baltistan's history
Good to know
Important notes and restrictions
- Baltistan is a predominantly Shia Muslim region: dress modestly, and ask before entering or photographing mosques.
- Flights to Gilgit and Skardu depend on weather and visibility, and cancellations happen; a spare day or a road alternative is sensible.
- Heritage-hotel rooms in Shigar and Khaplu are limited; this sample assumes alternatives nearby.
Photos
Route and region
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