Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
Six peaks above 7,000 m, run from Skardu by our own Balti team. Permits, oxygen, insured high-altitude porters and a turnaround policy that is actually enforced.
The Shangrila & Kachura Lakes Day Tour is a 1 day guided trip in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 2,600 m. It is graded Easy — lakeside walks and short drives — lakeside walks. 4 fixed departures are open from $65 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Two lakes hide in the hills twenty minutes from Skardu at about 2,500 m. Lower Kachura is the famous one — the Shangrila resort's red roofs and gardens around a round green pool. Upper Kachura (Foroq Tso) is the better one: deep, blue-black, and quiet, with a footpath along the cliffs and a cold swim for the brave. We do both properly, add Satpara Lake at 2,600 m on the Deosai road, and have you back in Skardu for dinner. A local guide, a private car, and every entry ticket handled — local hands, fair price.
Duration
1 day
Max altitude
2,600 mhighest point
Grade
Easy — lakeside walks and short drives
Days on foot
lakeside walksthe rest is travel
Group size
Max 1min age 4
Best season
All Yearopen All Year
Departures open
4next 20 Mar 2027
Shangrila & Kachura Day Tour Price
From $65 per person in a group of four to six — private car from your Skardu hotel, local guide, Shangrila entry and all tickets, and bottled water. Boating on Lower Kachura and lunch at the lakeside are at your own cost. Solo travellers and pairs welcome every day of the year.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 4 dates are currently open, each capped at 6 people. Every date is the same price, $65 per person. A $25 deposit reserves a place. The availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 3 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $140 for Solo (1 Person) down to $65/pp for 4-6 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
Group size
Price
What it includes
Solo (1 Person)
$140
Private car and guide to yourself, your pace all day.
(2-3 Persons)
$90/pp
One car, shared — ideal for couples.
(4-6 Persons)
$65/pp
Best per-person rate. An easy family day — flat paths and picnic spots.
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — lakeside walks and short drives.
lakeside walksDays on footthe rest is travel
2,600 mhighest pointAltitude is rarely an issue.
4minimum age
Good to know
The highest point is 2,600 m, low enough that altitude is rarely an issue.
You’re ready ifyou enjoy a full day out and do not mind some hours on the road.
Give yourself a little longer ifyou would like to feel fresher. A couple of walks beforehand makes the short strolls even easier.
This might not be your trip ifyou are after long days on foot and nights in a tent. Tell us and we will point you at one.
One thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Shangrila & Kachura
One unhurried day: both Kachura lakes in the morning and early afternoon, then Satpara Lake on the Deosai road before returning to Skardu.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $65 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
Private transport from Skardu return
Driver and local English-speaking guide
Shangrila resort entry and all tickets
Bottled water
Not included
Meals
Boating fees
Personal spending. Lunch at the Shangrila lakeside restaurant or a local Balti kitchen is easy to arrange on the day
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them is certified by the Alpine Club of Pakistan, holds Wilderness First Aid, and has between five and twenty years on high-altitude ground.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. A satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Local infrastructure is why $65 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. Exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
Four steps from here to the mountains
1Pick your dateA fixed departure above, or private dates you choose.
2Send the requestThe form on this page, or WhatsApp. Name, party size, date.
3Pay $25 per personThat holds your place. We reply within 24 hours.
4Balance 30 days beforeThen we take over: flights, hotels, permits, crew.
No card details on this page. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
More About the Shangrila & Kachura Day Tour
Booking & Payment
A deposit of $25 per person confirms your date. Balance is payable on the day in Skardu
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp — we confirm within the hour in season
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 3+ days before the tour: full refund of the deposit. Within 3 days: the deposit is forfeit. Weather cancellations on our side are refunded in full
Transportation Details
Private car from your Skardu hotel with driver and local guide. All roads on this route are paved
Timings & Meeting Point
Pickup from any Skardu hotel around 9:00 am
Back by about 5:00 pm. Early starts for photographers are free — just ask
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far are the Kachura Lakes from Skardu?
About 20u201330 minutes by road. Both lakes sit at roughly 2,500 m in side valleys above the Indus, and Satpara Lake is a further 20 minutes up the Deosai road at 2,600 m.
What is the difference between Shangrila and Upper Kachura?
Shangrila is the resort built around Lower Kachura Lake u2014 gardens, the famous aircraft-fuselage restaurant, and easy paths. Upper Kachura (Foroq Tso) is the natural lake: around 70 m deep, strikingly blue, with a cliff-side walking trail and far fewer people.
Is boating available?
Yes, on Lower Kachura in season, paid directly at the lake. On Upper Kachura local boatmen run short trips when the water allows. Boating is at your own cost and your own choice u2014 life jackets are provided by the operators.
Will I feel the altitude?
No. At about 2,500 m this is one of the gentlest days you can have in Baltistan u2014 fine for families, children and anyone just off the flight from Islamabad.
When is the best time to visit?
The lakes are beautiful all year: blossom in April, deep green summers, golden poplars in late October, and a frozen stillness in winter. Summer weekends are busiest at Shangrila; we start early to beat the crowds.
Top-Notch Service, Excellent Reviews
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