Tour De Swat
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All journeys · Skardu and Deosai
Eight days where two great ranges meet. A cold desert with a fort at its heart, lakes the colour of sky, and the high plains of Deosai in summer flower.
Skardu is the wilder sibling of the northern valleys, a high desert town ringed by granite walls. Above it, Deosai: a 4,000-metre plateau of grass and sky that exists for a few months a year. For travellers who have been north before, or want the road less softened.
The route, day by day the climb, in metres above the sea
The Karakoram Highway follows the Indus upstream through gorges that dwarf the road. A long first day, broken by river stops.
Ask about this dayPause at Junction Point where three mountain ranges visibly meet, then climb into the Skardu valley for bazaar lights and the first sight of the great walls.
Ask about this dayCross to the 400-year-old fort and its garden, then let the 4x4 loose on the dunes of the Cold Desert as the light turns amber.
Ask about this dayA slow, beautiful day between two lakes. Pedal boats on clear water, the organic village cafe, and time that politely refuses to hurry.
Ask about this dayUp onto the plateau at 4,000 metres. Brown bear country through binoculars, wildflowers, and Sheosar Lake at its heart.
Ask about this dayA day up the Shyok to the old palace and the 700-year-old Chaqchan Mosque, under the great wall of the Saltoro ridge.
Ask about this dayMorning at the deep blue lake above town, afternoon in Skardu bazaar for apricots and hand-woven wool. Farewell dinner with the team.
Ask about this dayFly out past the great peaks if the sky allows, or drive down the Indus with one last look at Nanga Parbat.
Ask about this dayFrom the road Skardu and Deosai
Ways to do it three comfort levels
Every package is private to your group. The road is identical; what changes is where you sleep, how much room you ride with, and how much we wrap around you.
Tell us your dates and group size on WhatsApp and we will send the full price list for Skardu and Deosai.
The practical truth of this route. Ask us anything else on WhatsApp.
Easy to moderate. Walking is optional everywhere and the 4x4s do the climbing. Tell us about any conditions beforehand. Ask on WhatsApp
Towns have data, the high valleys do not. Treat the silence as part of the route. Ask on WhatsApp
Bring cash from the big cities. Cards rarely work beyond them, and ATMs are thin in the valleys. Ask on WhatsApp
Skardu flights run daily but are weather-dependent. We book flexibly and always plan the road alternative. Ask on WhatsApp
★★★★★
We recently completed a trip to Skardu and Hunza with Tour De Swat, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish. A special thanks to Mohsin Bhai, who was always available through calls and messages throughout the trip and made sure everything went smoothly.
4.9 from 307 travellers read them on Google
We booked our Skardu trip with Tour de Swat, and overall it was a wonderful experience. The car and driver provided were perfect. He was so accommodating and kind that by the end of the trip, he truly felt like part of our family.
Keep exploring other routes
Plan this journey Deosai, 4,000 m
Tell us your dates and group size. We shape Skardu and Deosai around you.
