Travel advisory · PakistanSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Pakistan.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Bajaur · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Balochistan province · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand, UK, US
- Border with India (whole frontier) · avoid all travel · France, New Zealand
- Former FATA tribal areas · avoid all travel · France, Italy, US
- Karakoram Highway, Mansehra to Chilas · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
- Khyber · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand, US
- Kurram · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Line of Control · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK, US
- Lower South Waziristan · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Mohmand · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- North Waziristan · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Orakzai · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Upper South Waziristan · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
- Border region with Afghanistan · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand
Also named by one government: 10 km strip along the Chinese border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Indian border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Iranian border (Canada), 10 miles of the Afghan border (UK), 50 km strip along the Afghan border (Canada), 50 km strip along the Afghan border in Gilgit-Baltistan (New Zealand), Bannu (UK), Buner (UK), Charsadda (UK), Dera Ismail Khan (UK), Hangu (UK), Karak (UK), Kohat (UK), Lakki Marwat (UK), Lower Dir (UK), N45 highway, Mardan to Chitral (UK), Peshawar (UK), Punjab, excluding Faisalabad-Lahore-Islamabad zone (France), Swat (UK), Tank (UK), Upper Dir (UK), 20 km strip along the Indian border including the LoC (Germany), 5-mile strip along the Indian border (UK), Chitral district (Canada), Dera Ghazi Khan (UK), Faisalabad-Lahore-Islamabad zone (France), Karachi (Canada), Land route to and from Afghanistan (Germany), Land route to and from Iran (Germany), Malakand (UK), Mardan (UK), Nowshera (UK), Shangla (UK), Sindh north of and including Nawabshah (UK), Swabi (UK), Tribal areas of Balochistan (Italy)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Jun 16, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country; partial warnings for named regions (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Le reste du territoire est déconseillé sauf raison impérative | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Skardu
Skardu is the usual base for Karakoram treks, set in high desert valleys above the Indus, with glacier-fed rivers and views of some of the highest peaks in the world.
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Skardu is the main town of Baltistan, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. It sits in a wide valley where the Indus and Shigar rivers meet, with dry hills on every side and snowy peaks in view on clear days. Most people use it as the base for treks to the Concordia area and the K2 base camp route. It is also the way up to the Deosai plateau, a high grassland known for wildflowers and wildlife. Closer to town, Shigar Fort, a restored palace with carved wooden balconies, and Lower Kachura Lake are common day trips.
Skardu suits travelers who want big mountain scenery and can handle long road journeys. Flights in and out depend on the weather and are often delayed, so build in spare days. Allow three to four days for the valley and a few lakes, and more if you trek. Summer, roughly June to September, is the best season, when high roads and trails are most open. Spring and early autumn are quieter but colder at night.
Skardu in five
- Book the flight with a road day spareFlights from Islamabad to Skardu depend on the weather and are often delayed or cancelled, so keep at least one spare day before any date you cannot move. The road is the fallback, but the drive over the Karakoram Highway is long.Getting around
- Carry your passport and copies to every checkpointPolice checkpoints on the road to Skardu ask to see passports. Keep the original on you and a few photocopies in a separate bag.
- Buy a local SIM with data before the valleyMobile signal is patchy once you leave Skardu town and disappears in the side valleys. Buy a SIM with your passport in a city before you travel north.Phones and eSIM
- Carry enough rupees in cashATMs in Skardu are few and can run dry, and cards are rarely accepted outside a few hotels. Bring rupees in small notes for jeeps, guides and shops.Money and costs
- Take the first day slowly at altitudeSkardu sits at about 2,200 m (7,200 ft), and the Deosai plateau is higher still. Rest on arrival and drink water before any hike.
Need to know
- Currency
- Pakistani rupee (PKR)
- Entry
- Visa needed by most nationalities; eVisa is the usual online route
- Emergency
- 15 police, 1122 ambulance and rescue
- Tipping
- Small tips for guides and porters are customary
- Time
- UTC+5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryCold, snow
- FebruaryCold, snow
- MarchCold, thaw
- AprilSpring, cool
- MayBlossom, cool
- JuneWarm, green
- JulyWarm, green
- AugustWarm, green
- SeptemberCool, clear
- OctoberAutumn, cool
- NovemberCold, quiet
- DecemberCold, snow
Right now in Skardu
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-3
- Feels like
- -7°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 12%
Skardu
01:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today13°4°12%Tuesday: Fog. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Wed13°5°54%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Thu11°2°63%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Fri9°-2°18%Friday: Rain. High 9°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sat5°-2°0%Saturday: Fog. High 5°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun8°0°0%Sunday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 10:52 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 276.7 PKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Shigarabout 1 hour by carA valley town with an old fort and a palace guesthouse, a common half-day outing.
- Upper Kachura Lakeabout 45 min by carA still lake with a clear reflection of the mountains, reached by the Kachura road.
- Khapluabout 3 to 4 hours by carAn Indus valley town with an old palace and a slower pace than Skardu.
- Deosai National Parkabout 3 to 4 hours by jeepA high plateau with wildflowers in summer; the road is rough and a jeep is the usual choice.
Before you go to Skardu
Rules for Skardu, checked
- Most nationalities need a Pakistan visa. Check eVisa eligibility with your passport before you book a flight.
- Police checkpoints along the Karakoram Highway ask for passports, so carry the original and copies.
- Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, and bring a scarf for mosques.
- Alcohol is prohibited for most visitors, so do not bring any into Pakistan.
Plan around Skardu
The country page and the trip as a whole
Read the guideGetting aroundFlights, road and jeep options from the main cities
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and how to apply
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, ATMs and typical prices for the trip
Read the guideWhere to stayGuesthouses and hotels in Skardu and nearby valleys
Read the guidePhones and eSIMSIM and data options before the mountains
Read the guideSkardu FAQ
How do you get to Skardu?
Fly from Islamabad to Skardu International Airport, which depends on the weather, or drive the Karakoram Highway through Gilgit, a long road journey. Keep a spare day in case the flight is delayed or cancelled.
Is Skardu worth visiting?
Yes, for mountain views, the Indus valley, lakes and the Deosai plateau. It works best as a base of three to four days, with a jeep for the rougher side roads.
When is the best time to visit Skardu?
June to September, when the roads are open and the valleys are green. Winter is cold and snow can close the roads.
Do you need a jeep in Skardu?
For Deosai and some side valleys, yes, because the roads are rough and a jeep or 4WD is the usual choice. Shangrila and Satpara Lake can be reached by taxi on paved road.
How many days do you need in Skardu?
Three to four days covers Upper Kachura, Shigar and Satpara Lake. Add two more days for Deosai and Khaplu.
Is Skardu safe for tourists?
Check your government's travel advice before you book. Keep to the main tourist routes, and show your passport at checkpoints when asked.