Islamabad to Skardu by Air: 5 Days Highland Lavish Journey

Departure to Skurdu from Islamabad by Air at 0900hrs which will provide a lifetime experience to view the World’s highest snowy mountains. It will fly over the three highest mountain ranges of the World i.e Karakorum, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush and you may see closely the second highest peak K 2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Gashabrum s, Deosai plains, Saif ul Muluk lake and 100s of peaks over 7000 meters mostly still virgin subject to clear weather. After landing at Skurdu Airport the group will be taken to Shangri la Resort for high tea.  After the photography session, the group will move to PRADOS for a light lunch in Concordia Restaurant. You may buy a mobile SIM to remain in communication during the tour. The group will move from here to Jurbusso Lake which is located in a cold desert 30 minutes drive or Katpana Desert 7303 feet high, one of the highest in the world, and enjoy swimming in warm water stunning with its scenic beauty and the view of this lake is magnificent and exotic. It has beautiful meadows on the sides.  The group will then move to Blind / Zharba Tso Lake a panoramic lake in Shigar Valley surrounded by Indus Valley on one side and Shigar River on the other side which is an hour’s drive.  This lake is situated in the middle of the cold desert.  We will do short hiking in the cold desert and along the lake enjoying the Sun setting behind the lake and the mountains. Move to Hotel Serena for an overnight stay. This hotel is a Fort located in the town of Shigar built in the 17TH century by the Raja of the Amacha Dynasty, renovated following scientific guidelines while preserving the cultural and architectural values on one hand presents a thorough learning of the history and culture and on the other hand offers a comfortable stay in traditional rooms/suites with continental and local food varieties. It is managed by Serena International Hotel Chain. Spend the evening in the cool and beautiful orchard where apricots and cherry season on its peak (June / July). We also arrange a mango party here on request. Buy some beautiful handicrafts from the shop inside the hotel

After the breakfast, the group will be guided to a museum with artifacts depicting the Himalayan centuries-old culture inside the Shigar Fort. It is very interesting for those who have a love for history. The group will move in the transport to a beautiful orchard on the bank of River Shyok which is a tributary of River Indus originates at the Rimo Glacier of Siachin. Enjoy fresh fruit juices of apricots, cherries, etc in plenty if it is a season (June / July). From here we move to a natural lake where you can catch live trout fish which will be cooked for a hot lunch in front of you. Then to Khaplu Valley which was the second largest kingdom in old Baltistan of Yabgo Dynesty and guarding the silk trade route to Ladakh along the Shyok River. It has a mosque named Chaqchan means The Miraculous Mosque 700 years old founded by Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamdani. The mosque is one of the oldest in the region and dates from the time when the area populace converted a masse from Buddhism to Islam.  Drive back to Sarena Khaplu Palace Hotel for an overnight stay. It is one of the finest surviving examples of a royal residence in Baltistan. The hotel is a spiritual sanctuary of five buildings constructed back in 1840

After breakfast, the group will move to Manthokha Water Fall which is located in Kharmang Valley 180 feet high and 78 km from Skurdu. It is one of the most enchanting and beautiful places in Skurdu and refreshing which freezes like a glacier in winter. After a light tea break, the group will move to Skurdu for lunch in Concordia Restaurant.    Afternoon move to Shangri-La Resort which is also known as HEAVEN ON EARTH at 8000 feet nestled amongst some of the world’s highest peaks. It encircles the heart-shaped Kachura lake surrounded by fruit-laden orchards and flower-filled gardens. Optional Hiking or driving to upper Kutura Lake in the evening to take the panoramic view of surrounding areas and boating in the lake.  Overnight stay in Shangri la Resort.

Departure for  Deosai Plain 30 km from Skurdu after breakfast which is 13,497 feet high above sea level spread over an area of 3,58,400 hectares and second highest plateau in the world after Changtang Tibetan Plateau. Deosai is located where two biogeographically provinces merge in the Himalayan, Karakoram, and Pamir highlands.  This is well known for flora and fauna in the world and is home to 124 resident and migratory birds. Deosai is also home to the Himalayan Brown bear, red fox, golden marmot ( very extensively seen around ), grey wolf, snow leopard, etc.  The water of the Deosai Plateau is home to the local snow trout which reaches enormous size. It is an important resting place and breeding ground for migratory birds of international importance. Deosai is also the home to hundreds of species of medicinal and aromatic plants and a wide variety of rare butterflies. We continue to Sheosar Lake at the height of 13,589 feet which is one of the world’s highest lakes surrounded by flowers of hundreds of species. Move back to Skurdu and in way a stopover at Satpara Lake which is 8,700 feet above sea level and Manthal Buddha Rock carving. This carving was done on a granite rock in the 8th century when Buddhism was the religion of the area.  Transfer to Shangri la Hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for Skardu Airport for your flight back to Islamabad, concluding your memorable journey through the Himalayan wonders of Northern Pakistan.