THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE - SKARDU
Trip plan for 10 days. Motorcycle trip
Nomal standard
Difficulty level - demanding
Day 1. Transfer from Islamabad airport to the hotel, short rest after the trip. After lunch, start the journey to Gilgit - Baltistan province, drive to Naran or Batakundi. Overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 2. Drive from Naran (Batakundi) to Skardu through the high Babusar Top pass (4,173 m a.s.l.), motorbike rental, short trip to see Manthal Buddha Rock
Skardu is located in the Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan. The Skardu Valley is approximately 10 km wide and 40 km long. It is located at the confluence of the Shigar River and the Indus River. It is surrounded by the vast Karakoram range. Together with the nearby lakes and mountains, it is an important tourist point in Pakistan. Skardu is the main city of Baltistan and the largest district of the Northern Areas. It is the starting point for mountain expeditions and mountain lovers who hike to the Baltoro glacier, the K2 base camp and Concordia, Baltistan is an area where one of the
of the highest peaks in the world in the Karakoram range.
Manthal Buddha Rock is a large granite rock on which an image of Buddha is carved, which, according to sources, dates back to the 7th century. This rock is located in the village of Manthal just outside Skardu. Buddha Rock is one of the most important Buddhist monuments in Skardu. It is about 3 km from Sadpara Road, the road leading to Satpara Lake. Before the adoption of Islam, most people in the Gilgit-Baltistan region were Buddhists. They carved images of Buddha on many rocks. Manthal Buddha Rock was not known to the world until the early 20th century due to its location. In 1906, Scottish traveler Ella Christie wrote and described her journey to western Tibet. She attracted international attention. Since then, many actions have been taken to preserve this monument. Nowadays it is frequently visited by tourists coming to Skardu.
Day 3. Visiting Skardu attractions: Shangrila Resort, Upper Kachura Lake, Soq Valley, overnight stay at a hotel in Skardu.
Shangrila Resort is located at an altitude of 2,500 meters on the shores of Lower Kachura Lake. Shangrila was established in 1983 with the opening of the first resort hotel in Skardu. Shangrila Resort Hotel was founded by Muhammad Aslam Khan Afridi, a Pakistani military officer who served as the first commander of the Pakistan Army's Northern Scouts. The resort is famous for its restaurant built in the fuselage of a plane that crashed nearby. It was named after Shangri-La, an idyllic Himalayan paradise described in the novel Lost Horizon
from 1933 by British writer James Hilton. Shangri-La, means “heaven on earth” in Tibetan.
The pure and wild Upper Kachura Lake is 70 meters deep. In summer the temperature is 15°C. In winter the surface is frozen. The beauty of Upper Kachura Lake is almost untouched and mostly unknown to travelers due to lack of infrastructure. This area is characterized by the rich flora of the Western Himalayan subalpine coniferous forest ecoregion and is also known for its orchards of wild apricot - Prunus armeniaka. Recreational activities at Upper Kachura Lake include hiking, trout fishing, boating on the lake and climbing in the Himalayas.
Day 4. Trip to Kharmang Valley Waterfalls: Montokha and Khamosh Abshar (Silent Waterfall) Return to Skardu for overnight stay
The Khamang Valley (also known as Kartaksho is one of the five main valleys in the Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan. The area became
became a district in 2015, with a temporary seat in Tolti. The valley is located about 120 kilometers from Skardu. Kharmang is the place where the Indus River enters the territory of Pakistan from the Leh district of India. The Kharmang Valley is a populated area. Approximate population is approximately 20,000 households (approximately 60,000 people); most of the population lives in scattered villages. The main source of income is subsistence cattle breeding and agriculture, as well as unskilled labor working abroad and in Pakistan's urban centers. Many Kharmang residents work in the Persian Gulf countries, most in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The people of the Kharmang Valley speak the Balti language. Kahrmang is a Balti word that consists of two parts (khar means "fort" and mang means "abundant"). The name Kharman was given to the valley during the era of Ali Sher Khan Anchan, who built many forts in this region due to its strategic importance. Tourist destinations include Montokha Falls, Khamosh Falls, Mehdiabad Valley.
Montokha Waterfall is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Pakistan. It is located in Khamrang district, 1.5 hours from Skardu. A waterfall flowing down the rocks creates lines of gushing water. Delicate water mist enhances the scent of nature and is perfect refreshment on a hot day. There is a restaurant next to the waterfall