Self-Launched Skardu Valley: Shigar, Khaplu & Kachura by Air
4 days · Skardu Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Exploria charges £860
No-markup version: ~£315 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Exploria's 4-day "By Air" Skardu loop: fly PIA from Islamabad to Skardu, then work through the valley using shared jeeps, local buses and the odd hired car. You'll hit the Cold Desert dunes, the carved wood mosques of Shigar and Chaqchan, Manthuk Waterfall, and the turquoise lakes at Kachura and Shangri-La — staying in family-run guesthouses rather than tour hotels, and walking into the sights yourself instead of following a guide's flag. Prices are approximate backpacker rates in GBP; northern Pakistan is cheap for food and beds but flights and private jeeps are the big cost drivers.
Day-by-day
Fly Islamabad to Skardu, then Shigar Valley
Islamabad → Skardu → Shigar
Book a morning PIA flight from Islamabad to Skardu (roughly £55–85 one way; these flights are weather-dependent, so keep a road/backup day spare or check the Karakoram Highway bus option from Besham or Gilgit). On arrival at Skardu airport, take a shared jeep or local van to Skardu town bazaar (about £2–4), dump your bag at a guesthouse, then take a shared jeep up to Shigar (approx £3–5, 45 mins). In Shigar, walk the old town: Shigar Fort (entry around £1.50–3 for foreigners), the Amburiq Mosque, and Shigar Valley viewpoints. Late afternoon, catch a jeep or walk out to the Cold Desert dunes near Skardu for sunset — no guide needed, just ask your guesthouse for the drop-off point.
🚌PIA flight Islamabad–Skardu (~£55–85) + shared jeep into town and up to Shigar (~£5–9 total)
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Shigar or Skardu town, twin/dorm room (£12–20)
- →PIA flight Islamabad–Skardu
- →Shigar Fort
- →Amburiq Mosque
- →Shigar Valley old town walk
- →Cold Desert dunes at sunset
Shigar to Khaplu via Manthuk Waterfall
Shigar → Khaplu
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then take a local van or shared jeep down the Shyok/Indus road to Khaplu (about 1.5–2 hrs, £4–7). Drop your bag at a Khaplu guesthouse and walk to Chaqchan Mosque, the 14th-century wooden-and-carved-stone mosque that anchors the old town — entry is by donation or a small fee. In the afternoon, hire a local driver for the short run up to Manthuk Waterfall (negotiate around £8–12 return, or share the cost with other travellers). Khaplu Palace (Serena) is worth a tea stop and a look at the restored Balti architecture even if you don't stay there.
🚌Local van/shared jeep Shigar–Khaplu (~£5) + hired car to Manthuk Waterfall (~£10 shared)
🛏Khaplu guesthouse or basic hotel, twin room (£10–18)
- →Chaqchan Mosque
- →Manthuk Waterfall
- →Khaplu old town and palace exterior
Khaplu back to Skardu, Kachura Lakes & Shangri-La
Khaplu → Skardu → Upper Kachura
Morning van back to Skardu (£4–7), then a shared jeep or local taxi out to Upper Kachura Lake and the Shangri-La Resort area (about £4–6 each way). Swim or just sit by the lake, walk the shore trails and look at the trout ponds. If you've got energy, hike up to Kharpocho Fort above Skardu town for the valley panorama (free, 45–60 mins up on foot). Finish with a wander through Skardu Bazaar for apricots, dried fruit and Balti caps — the bazaar is friendly, cheap and easy to do without a guide. Overnight in Skardu town.
🚌Khaplu–Skardu van (~£5) + shared jeep/taxi to Upper Kachura return (~£9)
🛏Skardu town guesthouse or budget hotel, twin room (£12–20)
- →Upper Kachura Lake
- →Shangri-La Resort grounds
- →Kharpocho Fort hike
- →Skardu Bazaar
Skardu morning and flight back to Islamabad
Skardu → Islamabad
Early breakfast, a last walk around Skardu town, then head to Skardu airport for the morning flight back to Islamabad (roughly £55–85). Allow slack: Baltistan flights get cancelled for weather fairly often — the fallback is a shared jeep/wagon down the Skardu–Gilgit road and an onward bus on the Karakoram Highway, which adds a day and around £35–50. Don't book a tight onward international connection.
🚌PIA flight Skardu–Islamabad (~£55–85)
🛏None — flight home or onward travel (overnight in Islamabad budget hotel if needed, ~£20)
- →Skardu town morning walk
- →PIA flight Skardu–Islamabad
Self-launched vs. Exploria
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exploria | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£315 | £860 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £545 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exploria-style trips? Check them out here.~£315
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Skardu Valley: Shigar, Khaplu & Kachura by Air cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £315 per person for 4 days in Skardu Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exploria?+
Yes — Exploria charges around £860 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £315 — a saving of roughly £545 (63%) per person.
How long is the Skardu Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Skardu Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Skardu Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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