A week in Baltistan, staying in two restored royal residences: the Shigar Fort and Khaplu Palace. You fly north and go straight on to Shigar on the day you land, follow the Shyok to Khaplu, then finish with two nights in Skardu among its lakes, dunes and Buddhist carvings. Walking is gentle throughout, so the days are as full or as relaxed as you want them.
You're met at Islamabad International Airport and taken to your hotel. Later, visit the Faisal Mosque and watch the sun set over the capital from Daman-e-Koh, or have dinner in Saidpur Village.
Weather permitting, take the morning flight over the Himalaya and Karakoram to Skardu (2,230 m) and drive straight on to Shigar across the Sarfaranga cold desert. In the afternoon, walk through the village to the Amburiq Mosque and the Shigar Fort, your home for the night.
Take a morning stroll through the Hashopi apple orchards or out to Blind Lake, then drive east along the Shyok River to Khaplu. Explore Khaplu Palace and the Chaqchan Mosque, with a short hike to Thoksi Khar if you'd like one.
Drive back towards Skardu, stopping for a village lunch in Yugo and at the Manthokha Waterfall. The evening is free in Skardu, with the bazaar or a walk up to Kharpocho Fort for the view over the Indus.
Visit Upper Kachura, with a boat ride if you wish, and Lower Kachura, then the Manthal Buddha Rock. Add Sadpara Lake or sunset on the Katpana dunes before a farewell dinner.
Weather permitting, take the morning flight back to Islamabad. In the afternoon, visit the Pakistan Monument and the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, or the Laluna Concepts gemstone studio.
This day is held in reserve in case weather delays the Skardu flight. If everything has run to plan, spend it at Taxila, the UNESCO-listed Buddhist city, or in the Margalla Hills, before your transfer to the airport.
Summer option: from mid-June, add a day on the Deosai Plateau and Sheosar Lake.
Every journey is tailored to you through consultation, and your final price is confirmed once we've planned it together.
EnquireReturn Islamabad–Skardu
Boutique hotels throughout: one night at Serena Shigar Fort, one at Serena Khaplu Palace, two in a boutique hotel in Skardu and two in Islamabad
All meals
Private 4x4 with driver
Professional English-speaking guide
Entry tickets, permits and park fees
2 to 12 guests
Easy. Short walks and village visits.
Not included: international flights, visa, travel insurance and tips.
Blossom season
Blossom season
Summer walking and trekking
Summer trekking season
Summer trekking season
Autumn colour
Autumn colour
Apricot blossom usually peaks in April; timing varies each year.
April and May are for our blossom and valley journeys. Treks run from June.
Typical daytime temperatures. Nights are cooler, and mountain weather can change quickly.
Baltistan at its most colourful, with alpine lakes, tranquil valleys and historic palaces. A slower-paced escape for families, photographers and travellers.
Dense pine forests, wildflower-strewn pastures and snow-fed streams beneath Nanga Parbat. Brilliant starlight and unparalleled views of the peak bathed in golden dawn.
Skardu's crystal-clear lakes and tranquil valleys meet Hunza's lush terraces and emerald orchards. Rich traditions and unforgettable encounters in the heart of the Karakoram.
