Skardu is the main town of Baltistan in Gilgit-Baltistan, reached by turning east off the Karakoram Highway at Jaglot and following the Indus. The valley floor is wide and dry at roughly 2,200 metres, with sand dunes at Katpana sitting below Karakoram peaks. Shangrila and Upper Kachura are the best known lakes near the town, and the Shigar valley lies to the north. Above it all is Deosai, a plateau at around 4,000 metres that is generally open from late June to September. Skardu is also the staging point for K2 and the Karakoram’s bigger expeditions. Darwesh Travels runs a 6 day Skardu Basho tour and an 8 day Hunza and Skardu circuit.