An old fort town on the road to K2
Shigar Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan. Photo: Jamil-ud-din Akhtar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shigar is a green valley of orchards and old wooden mosques a short drive from Skardu. Its 17th-century fort has been restored and is one of the finest heritage buildings in the country.
The valley is also the road to the highest mountains in Pakistan. Every expedition to K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums passes through Shigar on the way to Askole and the Baltoro Glacier.
Popular Activities
- Heritage walks
- Cold desert visit at Sarfaranga
- K2 and Baltoro treks
- Hot springs at Chutron
Places to Visit in Shigar
5 places chosen by our local guides.
Shigar Fort
A 17th-century fort palace built on a huge rock, restored and now a heritage hotel and museum.
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Sarfaranga Cold Desert
A wide plain of sand dunes between Skardu and Shigar, used for jeep rallies.
More detailsAmburiq Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in Baltistan, built in wood in the Kashmiri and Tibetan style.
More detailsChutron Hot Springs
Natural hot springs in the Basha valley, used for bathing for generations.
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Askole and the Road to K2
The last village before the Baltoro Glacier, where every K2 expedition begins.
More detailsWhere to Stay in Shigar
Serena Shigar Fort
Restored 17th-century fort-palace of the Raja of Shigar, now a heritage boutique hotel with 15 rooms and five suites.
Khoj Resorts Shigar
Riverside resort in Shigar Valley with cabins and loft rooms, popular with families and groups.
Rivage Resort Shigar
Resort in Shigar with suites, a restaurant, a garden and mountain views, some rooms with a private Jacuzzi.
Treks in Shigar
K2 Base Camp and Concordia Trek
The classic Karakoram trek up the Baltoro Glacier to Concordia and the foot of K2, the second-highest mountain on earth.
Snow Lake and Hispar La Trek (Biafo to Hispar)
A crossing of the Karakoram on two giant glaciers, the Biafo and the Hispar, joined by the Hispar La and the ice basin of Snow Lake.
Thalle La Trek: Shigar to Khaplu
A traditional route over the Thalle La that links the Shigar and Khaplu valleys through high pastures.
