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Katpana Cold Desert, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan

Deserts

Katpana Cold Desert

White dunes beneath 7,000-metre peaks

Altitude
2,226 m / 7,303 ft
Distance
8 km from Skardu city
Drive time
15 minutes
Best season
Year-round; snow-covered December to February
Entry
Free
Category
Deserts

One of the highest deserts in the world, Katpana is a field of pale, wind-shaped dunes right on the edge of Skardu city — and in winter, one of the very few deserts on earth that fills with snow.

The sand is unusually light in colour, which is why photographs of Katpana under a full moon look almost lunar. It is a fifteen-minute drive from most hotels, making it the easiest sunset stop in Skardu.

Camel rides and quad bikes operate in season, and the wider Sarfaranga plain a little further towards Shigar hosts an annual desert jeep rally that draws crowds from across Pakistan.

Highlights

  • Sunset and moonrise over silver dunes
  • Snow-covered desert in December and January
  • Camel and quad-bike rides in summer
  • Fifteen minutes from Skardu city centre

How to get there

Any taxi in Skardu bazaar will run you out to Katpana in fifteen minutes. The road is paved the whole way.

Not sure how to reach the region itself? See how to reach Skardu by air and road.

Where to stay nearby

Skardu city hotels are the practical base; a few camping outfits pitch tents on the dune edge in summer.

Where to stay near Katpana Desert

Compare hotels, resorts and guest houses in and around Katpana Desert — from budget rooms in the bazaar to heritage forts and lakeside resorts.

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Book a guided Skardu tour

Jeep days to Deosai, multi-day Baltistan loops and full trekking logistics run by licensed local operators.

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Katpana Desert — questions travellers ask

Why is Katpana called a cold desert?
Because it sits above 2,200 m in a high-altitude rain shadow. Temperatures fall well below freezing in winter and the dunes are regularly covered in snow.
Is Katpana Desert free to enter?
There is no formal entry fee. You only pay for optional activities such as camel or quad-bike rides.

Nearby attractions

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