Most people planning a Skardu trip are told to go in summer. June to August is the conventional answer, and it is correct if your only concern is maximising what is open. But March has a different character entirely, and for a specific kind of traveller, it is one of the more interesting months to be there.
The weather in March
March in Skardu is cold by most standards. Daytime temperatures in the valley sit between 5 and 15 degrees Celsius depending on the week, early March is still firmly winter, late March starts to feel like early spring. Nights drop below freezing: expect 0 to -5 degrees at valley level, colder at altitude. Snow is possible at any point, particularly in the first half of the month.
What March offers in return: exceptional clarity. The air is dry, the sky is a specific shade of high-altitude blue, and the mountain views from the valley are often sharper than anything you will see in summer. K2, Broad Peak, and the Karakoram giants are visible on clear days in a way that summer haze sometimes obscures. The Indus runs low and quiet, the light falls at a low angle all day, and the landscape has an austerity that photographers find difficult to replicate in any other month.
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What is open in March
Skardu city is fully functional year-round. Hotels, restaurants, the bazaar, and basic services are all operating. Kharpocho Fort is open and, critically, empty, you will likely have it to yourself. The roads within the Skardu bowl are clear. The drive to Shigar Valley is open: the fort, the orchards, the Sarfaranga Cold Desert. Shigar in March has almost no visitors and a particular quiet that the summer months cannot replicate.
What is not open in March
Deosai National Park is closed in March. The plateau sits at 4,100 metres and holds snow well into May. The road does not clear until late May or early June in most years. If Deosai is a non-negotiable part of your itinerary, March is not your month.
Khaplu is reachable in March, though the road can be slow and the town is in deep off-season mode. Most guesthouses are closed; a handful of family-run places stay open. The drive along the Shyok River in winter is stark and beautiful, but go knowing that facilities will be minimal.
Flights to Skardu operate year-round but are more prone to cancellation in March due to winter cloud and visibility. PIA and Air Sial fly the Islamabad to Skardu route; build extra days into any March itinerary as a buffer. The alternative, driving from Islamabad via the Karakoram Highway, is fully operational in March and takes roughly 20 hours.
Who March is right for
March suits a specific kind of traveller: someone who prioritises solitude and landscape over variety of activities, who is comfortable with cold, and who does not need Deosai or a full roster of open guesthouses. Photographers, couples looking for somewhere genuinely empty, and return visitors who have done the summer version and want to see it differently all fit this profile.
It is not the right month for a first trip to Skardu if you want to cover maximum ground. For that, September is the better shoulder-season choice, most things open, far fewer tourists than summer, excellent weather. See our Skardu in September guide for the comparison.
What a March itinerary looks like
Three to four days works well. Day one: arrive, explore the bazaar and old city, Kharpocho Fort at sunset. Day two: full day in Shigar, the fort, the cold desert, the orchards. Day three: drive the Indus valley toward Kharmang or sit in the valley and photograph the morning light on the peaks. Day four: buffer for flight cancellation or extra time in Shigar.
Raahi runs private trips to Skardu year-round, including March. If you want to go in the off-season and want someone who knows which guesthouses are open and which roads are clear, get in touch with your dates. Our Aghaaz Retreat (3-day itinerary) is the right template for a March trip, we adjust what is open for the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skardu worth visiting in March?
Yes, for the right kind of traveller. March is early shoulder season: almost no other tourists, dramatic snow-capped mountain views, the austere pre-spring landscape, and Shigar Valley accessible and beautiful. What you lose: Deosai is still closed, some high-altitude roads are unreliable, and the Islamabad to Skardu flight is most cancellation-prone in spring. Build multiple buffer days into any March trip.
What is open in Skardu in March?
Kharpocho Fort, the Kachura Lakes, Shigar Fort Palace (which is particularly atmospheric in March, snow on the mountains, almost no visitors), and the Skardu bazaar. Deosai is closed. The Khaplu road is generally accessible but conditions vary. Some guesthouses in Shigar operate on reduced hours in early March; confirm before booking.
What is the weather like in Skardu in March?
Days range from 5 to 15°C in the valley, dropping to -2 to 5°C at night. The mountains above 3,000 metres carry heavy snow. Spring weather is variable: warm sunny days alternate with cloud cover and cold wind. The flight from Islamabad is most prone to cancellation in March and April, build 2 to 3 buffer days into any March trip as standard practice.