What's on in Skardu (Baltistan), Pakistan through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Busy — Eid al-Fitr, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  25 Feb – 25 Mar · usuallyRamadan & EidClosuresCrowdedBook early

  Eid al-Fitr ends Ramadan with three or more days of public holiday. Markets are packed with shoppers in the nights before, offices and most shops close for the first days, and intercity buses, trains and flights sell out as families travel home. Source ↗

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Busy — Eid al-Fitr, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (25 Feb – 25 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Apricot and cherry blossom

  1–25 Apr · usually

  The orchards through Shigar and Khaplu come out before the climbing season starts, and the valleys are briefly white against bare rock and sand. The quietest good fortnight of the year here.

Busy — Eid al-Adha, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Eid al-Adha

  1 May – 5 Jun · usuallyRamadan & EidClosuresCrowdedBook early

  Eid al-Adha brings three or more days of public holiday. Livestock markets spring up in the weeks before, many businesses close for the first days, and roads, buses and flights are packed as families travel home or take trips to the hills. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Eid al-Adha, Baltoro expedition season

• Season

  Baltoro expedition season

  1 Jun – 31 AugTrail seasonCrowdedBook early

  Skardu is the road head for the Baltoro, so every K2 and Gasherbrum party passes through it in these weeks. Jeeps to Askole, porters and the better rooms are taken by the expeditions before anyone else asks.

• Season

  Deosai plains open

  25 Jun – 30 Sep · usuallyTrail season

  The plateau is under snow for most of the year and the tracks in from Skardu and Astore only clear around the end of June. Brown bear, marmots and nowhere at all to shelter when the weather turns on you.

Still on: Eid al-Adha (1 May – 5 Jun (usually))

Busy — Baltoro expedition season, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Baltoro expedition season (1 Jun – 31 Aug), Deosai plains open (25 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Baltoro expedition season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Baltoro expedition season (1 Jun – 31 Aug), Deosai plains open (25 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Deosai plains open (25 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Nature

  Autumn colour on the Indus

  10 Oct – 10 Nov · usually

  The poplars and the apricot orchards turn along the river and through the Shigar valley for a fortnight, and the light is at its best. The trekking is finished by then and the town has itself back.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Autumn colour on the Indus (10 Oct – 10 Nov (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Winter shutdown

  1 Dec – 28 FebOff-season shutdownClosures

  The Deosai road is shut, most hotels close and the flights from Islamabad are cancelled for days when cloud fills the gorge. The few who do come are here for the frozen lakes and the cold-desert dunes.