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 Katpana Cold Desert Tour is a 1 day guided trip in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 2,226 m. It is graded Easy — barefoot-friendly dune walking — dune walks. 4 fixed departures are open from $40 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Katpana is the strange one: real sand dunes at about 2,226 m, ringed by snow mountains, fifteen minutes from Skardu bazaar. In winter the dunes themselves carry snow — sand and ice in the same frame, which is why photographers rank it among the highest cold deserts anywhere. We time the light — early morning or the last two hours of the day — walk the dune crests, visit the adjacent Katpana lake pools, and get you back without burning a whole day. Local guide, private car, fair price.
Duration
1 day
Max altitude
2,226 mhighest point
Grade
Easy — barefoot-friendly dune walking
Days on foot
dune walksthe rest is travel
Group size
Max 1min age 4
Best season
All Yearopen All Year
Departures open
4next 20 Mar 2027
Katpana Cold Desert Tour Price
From $40 per person in a group of four to six — a private half-day with car, driver and local guide from your Skardu hotel, timed for the best dune light. Easily paired with our Shangrila & Kachura day or a heritage morning; ask us to combine and we price it fairly.
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, $40 per person. A $15 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 $90 for Solo (1 Person) down to $40/pp for 4-6 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
Group size
Price
What it includes
Solo (1 Person)
$90
Private car and guide to yourself, timed to the light you want.
(2-3 Persons)
$55/pp
One car, shared — the photographer’s favourite slot.
(4-6 Persons)
$40/pp
Best per-person rate — an easy add-on day for families.
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — barefoot-friendly dune walking.
dune walksDays on footthe rest is travel
2,226 mhighest pointAltitude is rarely an issue.
4minimum age
Good to know
The highest point is 2,226 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 — Katpana Cold Desert
A timed half-day: the dunes at their best light, the Katpana lake pools, and the viewpoints over the Indus plain — morning or golden-hour departure, your pick.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $40 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
Bottled water
Not included
Meals
Camel or quad rides offered by local operators on the dunes
Personal spending
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 $40 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 $15 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 Katpana Cold Desert
Booking & Payment
A deposit of $15 per person confirms your slot. 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 2+ days before the tour: full refund of the deposit. Within 2 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. The road to Katpana is paved
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 is Katpana desert from Skardu?
About 15 minutes by car from central Skardu, near the airport side of town. It is the easiest half-day excursion in Baltistan.
Why is it called a cold desert?
Because true sand dunes sit here at about 2,226 m, high in the mountains where winters are hard u2014 in January the dunes carry snow. Katpana and the nearby Sarfaranga desert in Shigar are commonly ranked among the highest cold deserts in the world.
When is the best light for photos?
The first hour after sunrise and the last two before sunset. We schedule around the light by default u2014 tell us if you prefer a midday slot instead.
Can we combine Katpana with other Skardu sights?
Easily. It pairs well with our Shangrila & Kachura lakes day or the Kharpocho Fort and Manthal Buddha Rock heritage walk. Ask and we combine them at a fair rate.
Is winter worth it?
Winter is the signature season u2014 snow on sand is what made Katpana famous. Dress warm; the wind over the dunes is sharp.
Top-Notch Service, Excellent Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to tell us how it went.
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
_gac_
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Facebook Pixel is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
