Cultural immersion
Baltistan: Stone and Script
Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu, and a Tibetic language in Pakistan
- Region
- Skardu, Shigar & Khaplu
- Length
- 10 days
- Group size
- Maximum 10
- Effort
- Moderate
- Season
- Summer
Balti is a Tibetic language spoken in Pakistan, which surprises almost everyone who hears it for the first time. It was historically written in a Tibetan-derived script, and the architecture of the region carries the same inheritance.
This route covers the three main valleys of Baltistan at a pace that allows for the long drives between them.
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 1 to 2Skardu+
Arrival and acclimatisation, with time in the bazaar and along the Indus.
Day 3 to 4Shigar+
The valley, its fort, and the timber and stone building tradition.
Day 5 to 6Khaplu+
The palace, the old mosque, and the villages above the valley floor.
Day 7Language day+
A working session on Balti, its script, and what it means to write a language that has mostly stopped being written.
Day 8 to 9Upper valleys+
Two days further up, where the road thins out and the settlements are smaller.
Day 10Return to Skardu+
Back to Skardu and onward travel.
The practical part
What is and is not included
Included
- Nine nights accommodation
- All ground transport within Baltistan
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Local guides and interpreters
- Site entry fees
- A contribution to the documentation fund for every booking
Not included
- International flights and Pakistan visa
- Domestic flights to Skardu
- Lunches and personal spending
- Travel insurance, which is required
Before you commit
Fitness, beds and kit
How hard is it
Moderate. Long road days rather than long walking days, at altitudes between 2,200m and 3,000m.
Where you sleep
A mix of guesthouses and, where available, restored heritage properties. Standards vary considerably between valleys.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm layers: nights are cold even in summer
- Modest clothing
- Sun protection
- Any medication you need, in original packaging
Responsible travel
Who benefits
Transport and guiding are booked locally. A share of every booking funds work on written Balti, including the script.
Cultures on this route
Questions
Asked often
- How reliable are flights to Skardu?
- They are weather dependent and cancellations are common. The itinerary assumes you may need to travel by road instead, which takes considerably longer.
- Is this a trekking trip?
- No. There is walking every day but nothing that requires trekking experience.