Pakistan comes at the top place when it comes to having the most breathtaking travel destinations. The region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu, is home to many picturesque places with stunning natural beauty. I, Maisie Poppins from Manchester, always wanted to have a tour of Pakistan, exploring its ethereal regions with unparallel beauty.
On the night of celebration after finishing High School In 2022, I urged my friends, Edmund, Phoebe and Louis, to plan a trip to Pakistan. As we had to part our ways for further studies, they all agreed for a memorable tour before it. So, that’s how we ended up flying to Pakistan and exploring its heavenly places!
As someone curious about the world’s diverse places and their unique livings, I always keep digging out about places. I already had searched a lot about Skardu, the region with ultimately the best destinations to visit in Pakistan, and had our itinerary ready. It was going to start from the Shangrila Resort and Kachura Lakes.
Packed and ready, we flew to Islamabad, Pakistan. We had a brief stay there and set off for Skardu, for a month long extensive stay and exploration of the place’s majestic treasures. As we reached Jaglot during our road journey from Islamabad, we met some people who told us to visit this place first. It was Basho Valley, nestled in the Roundu Division of Skardu District. They told, the valley dwelling in a remote high-altitude place, is quite less explored but a must one for adventurers like us.
How could I refuse it? That’s when we changed the itinerary and headed to Basho first.
After almost a 2 hours 40 minutes ride from Jaglot, we reached the place. From main Skardu city, the place is at 3-hour drive distance, and accessible via jeeps only. A bumpy thrilling ride of 1.5 hours takes you uphill to the unexplored paradise, the Basho Valley, with extremely majestic beauty.
Read our adventurous journey ahead, exploring the hidden treasures of Skardu.
Basho Valley
Basho Valley is at a distance of 45 km, almost a 3-hour drive from the main city of Skardu via Karakoram Highway road. It begins its ascent from the southern side of the Indus River and is situated at an elevation of 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) above sea level.
The Expedition Begins
The uphill track to Basho Valley is only accessible via jeeps because of the rough terrain. We had to grab our things here and rent one of the parked jeeps. They cost us PKR 9000 for the round trip with a one-night stay. The one-day trip will cost around PKR 7000 for 7-8 persons. The remaining distance of around 1-1.5 hours was covered via jeep. It took us uphill from a harsh track but passed through eye-catching landscapes. Going through this bumpy and sloppy track was quite an adventure in itself. If the dangerous road wasn’t enough, we had to cross a wobbly bridge, the gateway to the hidden paradise.
After almost a complete 3-hour road journey, we finally reached the Basho Valley.
Reaching the Basho Valley
The first steps were enough to make us understand why this is called a hidden paradise. This place’s natural treasures, majestic sceneries, and serene atmosphere are beyond the world. The jaw-dropping beauty of Basho Valley, with its lush greenery, tall snow-capped mountains, and crystal-clear stream, makes it all worth it.
Its name, Basho, translates to ‘Raisins’ in the local language because of the fact that the valley is rich in grapes, which are a source of raisins. The valley has vast forests that are home to wildlife animals such as deer, markhor, ibex, and snow leopards. Although the valley is open throughout the year, the best time to visit this valley is from June to September, when the weather is pleasant. The temperature here ranges from 15°C to 20°C, so we were happy to have some warm clothes with us.
Exploring the beautiful Basho meadows was the best adventure. Since there are no mobile networks anywhere in the valley, people can peacefully indulge in the beauty of this other world without any interruptions.
When in Basho Valley, trekking and hiking are two must-do activities. The valley has numerous trekking trails that take you through the valley’s heart, meadows, and up to the mountains.
There are facilities such as tents, camps, hotels, and much more. We bought a camping tent for a night’s stay at PKR 5000. After settling our belongings in the tent and having lunch, we set off in our hiking boots to do some trekking.
Main Attractions in Basho Valley
The best highlights of the Basho Valley venture are encountering Bashu Waterfall, the famous chocolate rocks, and the ice cave.
The waterfall is right next to the Basho Bridge, which is a beautiful spot to cool off and capture stunning pictures. At some distance comes the chocolate rocks. They are one of the main attractions, and people especially visit to witness the chocolate-like rocks. They get this unique color because of iron’s high concentration in the area.
Yet another fascinating place here is the ice cave. It is located amidst the stunning landscapes of Basho Valley and remains cool throughout the year. Locals use it to preserve their food in the cave.
After a whole adventurous day, we were back in our tents. After having a barbeque dinner, we spent our time around a bonfire sipping tea under the starry night sky. The sky was dark and clear, and the stars were shining bright, illuminating the valley in the dim light. It was the perfect ending to an already adventurous day.
Conclusion
We woke up early in the morning to say our farewell to the place and head to our next stop, Kachura Village.
The trip to Basho Valley was an experience of a lifetime. It is, indeed, a hidden paradise. For everyone traveling to Skardu, make sure to explore this heaven with magnificent beauty and create the best memories to relish forever.