Deosai, Basho and Chunda Valley all require a 4×4 to reach comfortably (Deosai and Basho especially — regular cars can’t manage the unpaved sections). If you’re arranging transport independently rather than booking a package, here’s a realistic picture of what to expect.
How jeep pricing actually works
Local 4×4 jeeps in Skardu are arranged through a local jeep union/association rather than fixed-price rental companies, and rates are priced per vehicle (typically seating 4–6 people), not per person. This means the more people you can fit in one jeep, the lower your effective per-person cost.
Deosai National Park
The most expensive of the three, reflecting the distance and full-day nature of the trip — roughly 4–5 hours of driving each way from Skardu via Satpara Lake, into the park and back. Expect this to be priced as a full-day hire, generally the highest of any single-destination local excursion from Skardu given the distance, fuel, and driver time involved.
Basho Valley
Considerably less than Deosai, since it’s roughly an hour’s drive from Skardu — typically arranged as a half-day hire. Some jeep drivers will negotiate a lower rate if you’re only going partway up the valley rather than to the furthest accessible point.
Chunda Valley
The cheapest of the three by a wide margin, since it sits practically on Skardu city’s edge. Some visitors even reach the lower parts on foot or by regular car, only needing a 4×4 for the higher, rougher tracks.
Tips for arranging your own jeep
- Confirm the price per vehicle, not per person, before agreeing
- Ask whether the driver’s waiting time at your destination is included, or charged separately
- Rates can shift with fuel prices and season — always confirm current pricing locally rather than relying on numbers from an old blog post or forum thread
- Splitting a jeep across a full group (4–6 people) makes all three of these trips considerably more affordable per person
Or skip the negotiation entirely
Every one of our tour packages that includes Deosai, Basho or Chunda Valley already has private 4×4 transport built into the price — no separate negotiation with local jeep drivers required, and the cost is already split fairly across your group. Check our Skardu Deosai Tour or ask us to add a Basho/Chunda excursion to any itinerary.