Skardu is the gateway to Baltistan - the cold deserts, Shangrila and the Kachura lakes, Shigar and Khaplu, the Deosai plateau, and the road-head for the great Karakoram treks. Here's the honest comparison of the real, priced packages on offer in 2026.
I only include packages with a published price - no "contact us for a quote". I read the real, current itineraries day by day and ranked the 4 priced Skardu packages from 2 operators below - on pacing, what they actually cover, meals and inclusions, and value.
How I scored them
Each package is scored on its itinerary & pacing, value, inclusions (meals, transport, what's covered) and transparency. Prices are 2026 listings, per person - always confirm the current rate, and whether a "from" price is a deposit. Ratings shown are each operator's real Google rating (with review count and a maps link); operators I could not verify show a dash. Where an operator is based abroad, that is noted.
At a glance - 4 Skardu packages compared
| Package | Operator | Days | From | Score | Reviews | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Days Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Skardu, | Pakistan Travel Places | 8 Days | Rs 190,000 | 8.7 | 5.0 ★ Tripadvisor (4) | link |
| 8 Days Trip to Skardu, Deosai Plains, Sh | Pakistan Travel Places | 8 Days | Rs 25,500 | 8.7 | 5.0 ★ Tripadvisor (4) | link |
| 6 Days & 5 Nights Skardu Tour via Naran | Naran Kaghan Tours | 6 Days & 5 Nights | Rs 112,000 | 8.7 | — | link |
| 5 Days Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Hunza Va | Pakistan Travel Places | 5 Days | Rs 160,000 | 8.6 | 5.0 ★ Tripadvisor (4) | link |
The winners
- 💰 Best value - 8 Days Trip to Skardu, Deosai Plains, Shigar Fort and Khaplu (Pakistan Travel Places, from Rs 25,500)
- 🗺️ Most complete itinerary - 8 Days Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Skardu, Shangrila, Khaplu & Shiger Valley (Pakistan Travel Places)
- 🏆 Top overall score - 8 Days Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Skardu, Shangrila, Khaplu & Shiger Valley (Pakistan Travel Places, 8.7/10)
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Plan my Skardu trip →The 4 packages, reviewed
8 Days Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Skardu, Shangrila, Khaplu & Shiger Valley
The days are reasonably balanced between travel and actual sightseeing. Meals listed: breakfast, lunch, dinner. At about Rs 190,000 for ~8 days, that's roughly Rs 23,750 per day before extras.
Itinerary at a glance
| D1 | Move from Islamabad to Chilas by leaving very early morning we shall try to go via Babusar Top if Na… |
| D2 | Break Fast 8:00 am Departure for Skardu City Lunch on the way Reach there in 8 Hours via Karakoram H… |
| D3 | in Shangrila Resort Boating in Shangrila lake Lunch on the way Visit Upper Kachura Lake Back to Hote… |
| D4 | in Shangrila Hotel Move towards Shiger Valley Lunch on the way Move towards Khaplu Serena Palace Che… |
| D5 | in Khaplu Palace Visit Khaplu Mosque Lunch on the way experience royal Treatments Check into Hotel D… |
| D6 | in Khaplu Palace Move from Khaplu Valley towards Skardu Valley Lunch on the way Visit Sadpara Lake V… |
| D7 | in Hotel Moving towards Chilas via Karakoram Highway Lunch on the way Reach there by evening in Shan… |
| D8 | at 7:00 am Short stay at Abbottabad Lunch on the Way Short stay at Bhera Dinner on the Way Drive Bac… |
What's good
- Genuinely premium, named accommodation for a honeymoon: Shangrila Resort in Skardu and the Khaplu Serena Palace, both upscale heritage properties, plus the Shangrila Chilas Hotel on the return leg
- Most inclusive of the three: 3 quality meals a day, seven nights' accommodation, a private Honda BRV with dedicated driver, fuel, all tolls/taxes, and a private Deosai National Park jeep ride are all bundled in
- Detailed, time-stamped daily schedule (departure 11:30 PM, breakfasts at set times, 8-hour KKH leg flagged) plus a sensible scenic spread covering Shangrila/Upper Kachura boating, Shigar, Khaplu Mosque, and Sadpara/Shisar lakes
- Clear entry-ticket coverage for Shigar, Khaplu and Shangrila resorts, so headline sights are paid for rather than left as on-the-day extras
Could be better
- Two of the eight days are largely long KKH transit (Day 2 is an 8-hour drive to Skardu; Day 7-8 retrace to Chilas then Islamabad/Lahore), so usable sightseeing time is closer to four days
- Soft-focus on the honeymoon premium: 'royal treatments' is never defined, room types/categories at the named hotels aren't stated, and meals are quantified ('3 Quality Meals') without any menu or restaurant detail
- No guide service, Wi-Fi, or activity durations are mentioned, and pricing is muddled (Rs 200,000 vs Rs 190,000 vs Rs 175,000 shown) which weakens the value/transparency picture
8 Days Trip to Skardu, Deosai Plains, Shigar Fort and Khaplu
It pairs Skardu with Deosai - good breadth if the route is well-paced. Reading the days, a large share are transfer/driving days - you're covering ground more than lingering. Meals listed: breakfast, lunch, dinner. At about Rs 25,500 for ~7 days, that's roughly Rs 3,642 per day before extras.
Itinerary at a glance
| D2 | call at 07:00 AM Departure for Skardu Short Stop at Junction point of 3 Highest Mountains Arrive and… |
| D3 | Early Morning Breakfast Departure to Katpana village (Katpana lake) Visit to Shangrilla Resort & Upp… |
| D4 | call at 07:00 AM Departure for Shigar Valley Short Stay at Cold Desert Visit Shigar Fort Back to Ska… |
| D5 | call at 08:00 AM Departure for Khaplu Visit Khaplu fort, Chanchan Mosque & Khaplu Market After lunch… |
| D6 | Early Morning Breakfast Departure for Deosai National Park Stop at Sadpara lake, Bara Pani, Kala Pan… |
| D7 | 8:00 AM Departure for Chilas 10:00 AM Arrival at Chilas 4:00 PM Night Stay at Chilas |
| D8 | Early Morning Breakfast 7:00 AM Off to Islamabad from Chilas 8:00 AM Arrival at Islamabad 6:00 PM Ar… |
What's good
- Strong sightseeing coverage for the length: Katpana Lake, Shangrila/Upper Kachura, Shigar Valley + Shigar Fort + Cold Desert, Khaplu Fort/Chanchan Mosque/market, Manthokha Waterfall, and a full Deosai day with Sadpara, Bara Pani and Kala Pani stops
- Includes a dedicated guide ('Complete Tour Management with dedicated Guide') plus pick & drop, luxury transport, and all tolls/taxes
- Travel comforts spelled out: 2 meals per day of 'hygienic quality food' plus complimentary mineral water, cold drinks and snacks during travel
- Transparent on practical constraints, listing availability (March-Dec), minimum age (9+), and a clear day-by-day timeline with departure/arrival times
Could be better
- Accommodation is vague and budget-leaning: 'best Hotels on 3-4 person sharing' with no hotel names, and shared rooms rather than private
- Only 2 meals per day are covered (lunch or dinner falls on the traveller depending on the day), and porters plus landslide/road-block costs are explicitly excluded
- The 'Rs 25,500 starting price' is a per-head sharing rate with no clarity on what a private or couple booking costs, so the real spend is uncertain; Days 1, 7 and 8 are mostly long transit (e.g. Day 7 is a 10 AM-4 PM drive to Chilas)
6 Days & 5 Nights Skardu Tour via Naran for Couple
It pairs Skardu with Naran - good breadth if the route is well-paced. The days are reasonably balanced between travel and actual sightseeing. Meals listed: breakfast, lunch, dinner. At about Rs 112,000 for ~5 days, that's roughly Rs 22,400 per day before extras.
Itinerary at a glance
| D1 | After picking you up from our point, we will drive toward the Naran city. The distance of 300 kms is… |
| D3 | Leave your bed and have breakfast at Kachura Lake. Next, we will move towards the upper Kachura Lake… |
| D4 | As soon as the breakfast in Khaplu is done, we'll begin our voyage route to the Shigar Valley. It is… |
| D5 | On your 5th day of your trip, we will take you for a half-day trip to the renowned Deosai National P… |
| D6 | On your last day of your trip to Skardu, after breakfast, we will move toward Islamabad as soon as p… |
What's good
- Hits the marquee Skardu sights in a compact 6-day frame: Shangrila/Lower Kachura, a short hike to Upper Kachura, Khaplu Palace and Chaqchan Mosque, Shigar Fort and Cold Desert, plus a half-day in Deosai National Park
- Transport is clearly specified: A/C transportation with a dedicated driver, fuel and tolls included, and a private jeep ride called out for the rough sections
- Upfront on money: discounted price (RS 112,000 down to RS 100,800), a stated 10% discount, and a full cancellation policy (50% / 75% / 100% by notice window) - more financial transparency than the other two
- Honest about logistics, noting drive distances and durations (300 km / ~8 hrs to Naran, ~6 hrs Chillas-Skardu) and that price/overnight stops vary with road conditions
Could be better
- Thin on meals: breakfast only - lunch, dinner, refreshments and even mineral water are all excluded, so daily food cost is on the traveller
- Accommodation is generic 'Standard Normal Accommodations for 4 Nights' with no hotel names and only 4 nights covered against a 5-night trip, leaving one night's lodging unclear
- Itinerary has internal inconsistencies (the page references a 'private jeep ride to Lake Saiful Malook' / Lake Saif ul Malook though the day plan centres on Skardu/Deosai), and two of six days are pure Islamabad-Naran-Chillas transit
5 Days Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Hunza Valley Gilgit-Baltistan
It pairs Hunza with Gilgit - good breadth if the route is well-paced. Reading the days, a large share are transfer/driving days - you're covering ground more than lingering. Meals listed: breakfast, lunch, dinner. At about Rs 160,000 for ~4 days, that's roughly Rs 40,000 per day before extras.
Itinerary at a glance
| D1 | at Besham: 08:00~10.00 Am Short Stays At Besham, Dassu Lunch on the way Arrival At Chilas : 6.:00 pm… |
| D2 | Break Fast 8:00 am Departure for Hunza at 9.00 am Trekking Back to Dak 2 Lunch on the way En route V… |
| D4 | Break Fast: 6.30 am Drive Back To Chillas Short stay at Dassu Lunch on the way Short stay at Summer … |
| D5 | at 7:00 am Short stay at Abbottabad Lunch on the way Short stay at Bhera Dinner on the way Drive Bac… |
What's good
- All three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are included for the full 5 days, plus complimentary mineral water during travel - more meal coverage than the deluxe/standard honeymoon tier, which drops lunch and refreshments
- Private Prado vehicle with a dedicated driver and fuel from Lahore/Islamabad, giving a couple a self-contained car rather than a shared coach
- Entrance tickets/passes for both Altit and Baltit Forts plus all tolls and taxes are bundled in, so the headline price has few hidden add-ons
- Hits the core Hunza circuit (Chilas, Nanga Parbat junction viewpoint, Attabad Lake, Passu, Sost and Khunjerab if accessible) over the 5 days
Could be better
- No hotels are actually named - accommodation is only vaguely described as 'Good family Hotel' yet labelled '5 Star Hotel' in the summary, an inconsistency that obscures real quality at the Rs 160,000 price
- No refund, cancellation, or payment-terms policy is published anywhere on the page
- Pacing is long-haul and tiring for a honeymoon: a 9:00 PM onward departure on Day 1 and a 6:30 AM breakfast on Day 4 mean heavy driving days with limited leisure time in the valley
What's usually included - and what's not
Across these operators, a Skardu package typically includes transport with a driver, hotels, a guide, and at least breakfast; many add lunch and dinner. It usually excludes domestic flights, entry tickets and jeep surcharges (for example the Khunjerab permit or a Deosai 4WD), tips, and personal spending. Ask every operator for the itemised inclusions, the named hotels, and the payment & cancellation policy in writing before you pay.
How to choose
- Pacing - count the real sightseeing days versus transfer days; a "8-day" trip with four driving days is really a short trip.
- Meals - breakfast-only vs full board changes the real cost; it's in the table above.
- Hotels - get the actual hotel names, not "3-star equivalent".
- Inclusions - jeeps, boats, permits and entries are where cheap quotes cut corners.
- Payment - confirm the advance, the balance, and the cancellation terms.
Plan your Skardu trip deeper
Our free local guides go beyond the packages - use them to decide what you actually want, then pick or customise a trip:
- Skardu Travel Guide
- Tourist Places in Skardu
- Things to Do in Skardu
- Shangrila Resort
- Shigar Valley
- Khaplu
- Deosai Plains
Operators - want your packages reviewed here?
If you run Skardu trips, get in touch to have your itineraries assessed and added. Every operator is judged on the same criteria.
Get your packages reviewed →FAQ
How much does a Skardu tour package cost in 2026?
Group trips over Babusar start lower; private Skardu/Deosai tours run higher; luxury/honeymoon packages reach Rs 160,000-190,000. See the table.
How many days do I need for Skardu?
Six to eight days for the lakes, Shigar, Khaplu and a Deosai day; longer for treks.
Is the Deosai jeep included?
Often separate - confirm it's bundled; Deosai is seasonal (roughly late June-September).
Should I fly or drive to Skardu?
The flight saves days but is weather-dependent; the road is reliable but long.