Sheosar Lake

Because Sheosar sits at the far western edge of the Deosai plateau, closer to Astore than to Skardu, most travellers see it as one stage of a longer crossing rather than a there-and-back excursion. Treating it purely as a day trip from Skardu means roughly ten hours of driving in a single day.

A more comfortable plan is to camp overnight near the lake or in Bara Pani, then continue west to Chilim and Astore the next morning, splitting what would otherwise be an exhausting round trip into two manageable legs.

• Round trip from Skardu in one day: possible but very long, around 10 hours total
• Recommended alternative: overnight camp, then continue to Astore
• Distance from Skardu: approximately 90 km across the plateau
• Drive time: 4 to 5 hours each way by jeep

Camping is permitted with park permission and is the only way to properly experience Sheosar at sunrise or sunset, when the light on the water and, on clear days, the distant Nanga Parbat massif is at its best.

Nights are cold even in August, frequently close to freezing, so a four-season sleeping bag and warm layers are essential rather than optional. Most independent travellers arrange camping gear and permits through a Skardu-based trekking operator rather than carrying everything themselves.

• Daytime highs in July and August: roughly 12 to 18°C
• Night temperatures: frequently near or below freezing
• Wildflowers peak around the shoreline in July
• Camping gear is best arranged through a Skardu operator

The route follows the same jeep track used for Deosai National Park, via Satpara and Bara Pani, before continuing further west across open plateau to the lake. A 4x4 with an experienced driver is mandatory for the entire route.

There is no fuel or shop beyond Skardu, so vehicles need a full tank and travellers need to carry all food, water and warm clothing for the crossing, whichever direction they are heading.