Thalle La Valley is located in Gilgit. It is an enchanting valley with an easy trek to follow. Thalle La Trek is through a mountain pass (4,572m) between Shigar and Khaplu Valley in Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It is 15 km west of Khaplu and 85 km east of Skardu. It is one of the easier treks, making it accessible to beginners as well. That is why I chose it as my first trekking experience.
Thalle La Trek is home to the most spectacular mountain scenery. I have always wanted to visit and experience the spontaneity of it all. After years of manifestation, I finally got the chance to embark on an unforgettable journey with my friends.
Our exciting expedition began as I took a flight to Islamabad. Although our stay there was brief yet memorable just the same. After an amazing dinner at a restaurant called Savors, we reached our hotel. There, we retired for the night as a more exciting and thrilling adventure awaited us.
There are two routes for reaching Thalle Valley. One is from Khaplu and the other one is from Skardu. You can choose the Khaplu route and have a stay at the beautiful hotel of Khaplu Fort. So, we chose the latter route as we wanted to revel in the beauty of nature of Skardu.
Next, morning, the crew of the tour company gathered us for our 1 hour and 15-minute flight to Skardu. From the plane’s window, I could see the open sky and we got to experience “a rare sight”. Due to the cloudless sky, we could see the Nanga Parbat standing in all its glory. We also got to witness the majestic Himalayan and Karakoram mountains from above. Indeed, it was truly a remarkable sight.
We had the opportunity to spend a day in Skardu, where we got the chance to explore some breathtakingly beautiful places. Satpara Lake was our first stop. And the route we took to the lake was astonishing. The lake is fed by the Satpara Stream and is situated at an elevation of 2,636 meters above sea level. We got to have a conversation with the extremely welcoming locals. They told us that they had a strong belief that there is a gold mine beneath the lake and Satpara Lake shines because of this very reason. The view of the lake was magnificent with its lush greenery, and the clear turquoise water created an enchanting sight. After reveling in the magnificent Satpara Lake’s beauty, we moved to our next destination.
The next spot was the sole reason for this entire trip. From Skardu, we rented a four-wheeler and resumed our thrilling journey to Thalle Valley. The large and green Thalle Lungma leads northwest from Shyok River. The upper valley divides, and the northern branch leads over Tusserpo La (5,084m), while the southern branch leads over the more convenient trek i.e., Thalle La (4,572m).
Traveling in a car turned out to be an absolute delight. Moreover, we got to bathe in the rare sunlight and appreciate the true beauty of nature. It took us approximately 2 hours to reach the mystical destination; Thalle Valley. The view was completely entrancing, with blooming and peaceful fields, grand snow-capped peaks, and the fresh streams that meandered through the landscape. And it all made the valley look so heavenly. We camped there for the night under the starry sky and the next morning started our expedition to Dubla Khan.
Dubla Khan (3,750) is a campsite situated close to the saddle Thalle La. Moving our campsite to Dubla Khan presented us with a change of scenery. We had the privilege to witness the breathtaking scenery of Karakoram peaks and met lively Balti Shepherds. The Dubla Khan campsite had a pleasant environment and one of my core memories there was just sitting there and basking in the beauty of my surroundings.
After camping at Dubla Khan campsite, we continued our trekking journey. We trekked for 2 hours to reach the top of Thalle La (4,572m) from where we could see the mind-blowing and majestic Masherbrum range and Mango Gusor. After our short stay there where we ate freshly picked fruits, we started trekking towards Deserpa, which is known as an ideal campsite because of its idyllic weather. The majestic view of Deserpa will forever be etched in my brain, especially the mesmerizing meadows that left us in complete awe. We stayed there for a day then drove off to Shigar.
Shigar Valley is at a distance of 52 km from Skardu, its architecture and the simplicity of the locals there make it the best place to visit. Its beauty is beyond what words can express. After exploring the area, we drove back to Skardu, to our hotel for the night. Our last stop in Skardu was Deosai National Park. The park was breathtakingly beautiful, it is also known as the “LAND OF GIANTS” due to its vast expanse or rolling plains and majestic mountains. The animals there filled my heart with awe, connecting me to the wild beauty.
The day after my unforgettable visit to the Deosai National Park, we flew back to Islamabad where I spent my last day walking through the busy streets of the beautiful city. I decided to visit the vibrant and colorful market of Islamabad. The street was lined with shops bearing souvenirs where I bought some artifacts to remind me of the beautiful journey I had.
While I was waiting for the plane to take off, a wave of nostalgia hit me, and I could not help but think about the memories I made during this trip. The trip had a serious impact on me, and the memories will forever stay with me, reminding me of the amazing adventure I had.