Basho Valley

Basho is the region's favourite camping ground precisely because it looks unlike the rest of Baltistan: thick pine forest, open meadows and cold glacial streams rather than bare rock and sand. Families pitch tents directly in the meadows, and the local community charges a modest camping fee.

Most visitors either bring their own gear or hire it through a Skardu-based operator, since there are no equipment rental shops in the valley itself. A tent, sleeping mat and warm sleeping bag are the minimum, as nights at 3,000 metres get cold even in July.

• Camping fee charged by the local community
• No hotels in the valley, camping is the only option
• Nights are cold even in midsummer at 3,000 m altitude
• Gear best hired through a Skardu operator before setting off

The final stretch of track off the Skardu-Gilgit road near Dambudas is genuinely rough, and is frequently washed out or rutted after rain, meaning conditions can change trip to trip. A capable 4x4 and a driver experienced on this specific route are essential, not just recommended.

The approach takes around two hours from the turn-off, on top of the drive out from Skardu to reach Dambudas itself, so Basho is a longer undertaking than its straight-line distance suggests.

• Jeep track can be washed out after rain
• Approach from the turn-off: around 2 hours
• Standard cars cannot make the final stretch
• Check current road conditions before departure

A longer walk beyond the main camping meadow leads up the valley to waterfalls and summer shepherd settlements, a good half-day addition for anyone camping overnight rather than just passing through. Trout streams run through the valley floor for anglers.

Because there is no marked trail signage, hiring a local guide for the waterfall walk is worthwhile for visitors unfamiliar with the terrain.