With so many valleys, lakes and forts spread across the region, here’s our ranked list of what actually deserves a place on your itinerary.
The essentials
- Shangrila Resort — the iconic lakeside resort with the famous airplane restaurant
- Deosai National Park — one of the world’s highest plateaus, wildflowers and brown bears
- Upper & Lower Kachura Lakes — striking turquoise water, boating
- Shigar Fort — a 17th-century royal residence, now a heritage hotel
- Khaplu Palace — another restored royal residence, further along the Shyok River
- Kharpocho Fort — panoramic views over Skardu city and the Indus Valley
- Satpara Lake — glacier-fed lake, the gateway route to Deosai
- Katpana Cold Desert — high-altitude sand dunes against a mountain backdrop
Worth the detour
- Manthal Buddha Rock — an 8th-century carved Buddhist heritage site
- Nangsoq Valley — Pakistan’s first organic village, right behind Kharpocho Fort
- Manthoka Waterfall — a roughly 180-foot cascade near Khaplu
- Basho Valley — pine forest and alpine meadows, an hour from the city
Off the beaten path
- Nagma & Chunda Valleys — quiet farmland and orchards close to Skardu city
- Minimarg & Domail — remote, permit-required valleys near the Line of Control, with Rainbow and Crystal Lakes
See our full Attractions page for details, facts and things to do at every one of these.