Lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan: The Complete Guide

DestinationsHunza Travel Guide

✍ Written by: Hunza-Tours.com Editorial Team ✔ Reviewed by: Sultan Ali, Head Guide (Hunza) 📅 Content reviewed: January 2026 ⛰ Field experience: Local ground team, resident in Gilgit-Baltistan

In short: Gilgit-Baltistan holds Pakistan’s most beautiful lakes: Attabad, Borith, Rush, the Naltar chain, Phander, Khalti, Sheosar on Deosai, Satpara, Kachura/Shangrila and Rama: here is every lake worth the journey, grouped by region with access notes.

Hunza’s Lakes

: the turquoise icon, born of the 2010 landslide; boating, jet skis and resorts. : quiet, saltish, a birdlife stop en route to . : Pakistan’s highest major alpine lake, earned by a 5-day trek.

Gilgit & Naltar

The : Satrangi (rainbow), Blue and Bodlok: jeep-track jewels famous for colour-shifting water in pine forest, 2.5 hours from Gilgit.

Ghizer’s Lakes

Phander: the mirror lake of the west. Khalti: turquoise trout water that freezes walkable in winter. Both feature in the ; Shandur’s plateau lakes join in summer.

Skardu & Astore

Sheosar Lake (4,142 m): Deosai’s deep-blue eye, June to September. Satpara: Skardu’s water supply and dawn mirror. Upper & Lower Kachura: the Shangrila postcard. Rama Lake: Astore’s meadow lake under Nanga Parbat’s east face. All feature in our and .

Planning Lake-Focused Trips

A 10-day Hunza+Skardu loop collects Attabad, Borith, Naltar, Satpara, Kachura and Sheosar in one journey; add Ghizer for Phander and Khalti on 12+ days. Summer opens everything; October gives the stillest reflections. Tell us your must-see lakes on WhatsApp and we’ll route them into one itinerary.

Verification and Official Sources

Travel conditions can change after this guide is updated. Before departure, verify visa rules through the Pakistan Online Visa System, highway access through the National Highway Authority, and local notices through the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. Confirm flights directly with the operating airline.

Plan the journey with our Hunza Valley tour packages, Hunza hotel options, private transport in Hunza, trekking packages and tours for foreign travellers.