Baltistan's most underrated valley. A restored palace that rivals Shigar Fort. The Hushe River confluence. And almost no one else here.
Overview
Khaplu sits in eastern Gilgit-Baltistan, about 3.5 hours from Skardu along the Shyok River. It's close enough to include on a Baltistan itinerary and far enough to feel genuinely remote in a way that Skardu city no longer does.
The Khaplu Palace, formally the Khaplu Fort, is the Aga Khan Trust's third major heritage restoration in Baltistan, after Baltit and Shigar. The result is a 700-year-old palace that has been brought back to life as a heritage hotel without losing any of its original character.
Beyond the palace, the Hushe Valley branches south toward the Karakoram Range proper: the approach for Gondogoro La (5,585m), the high pass connecting Hushe to the Concordia and K2 Base Camp routes. For trekkers, Khaplu is the gateway. For non-trekkers, the drive up the Hushe Valley is stunning enough on its own.
Highlights
01 / 09A 700-year-old fort palace on a promontory above the Shyok River, restored by the Aga Khan Trust with the same rigour applied to Baltit and Shigar Forts. The rooms are beautiful, the gardens are peaceful, and the views over the confluence are extraordinary. Staying here is one of Baltistan's finest experiences.
02 / 09The valley that leads south toward some of the world's highest peaks: K6, K7, and the Gondogoro La. Even if you're not trekking, the drive up the Hushe River valley is 90 minutes of increasingly dramatic mountain scenery. The road ends at Hushe village, base camp for serious expeditions.
03 / 09Khaplu sits at the confluence of the Shyok and Hushe Rivers, with the Karakoram peaks framing the valley on three sides. The evening light here, golden and long, makes Khaplu a favourite for photographers who know about it.
04 / 09The old town of Khaplu has a market and lanes that haven't changed much in a generation. Considerably fewer tourists than Skardu means you can walk through it without being followed by a camera or a shopkeeper. The hospitality here is the most unrehearsed in Baltistan.
05 / 09One of the oldest mosques in Pakistan, believed to date to 1370. The carved wooden interior, tiered roof structure, and sheer age make it one of Baltistan's most significant heritage sites. In the old town below Khaplu Palace and easy to walk to. Few visitors know to look for it.
06 / 09A traditional village 25km from Khaplu where apricot cultivation has been the main livelihood for generations. In summer the flat rooftops are covered in drying apricot halves. The jeep track passes through some of the most unspoiled agricultural landscape in eastern Baltistan.
07 / 09A high viewpoint above the Shyok Valley accessible from Saling village. From here the full breadth of the Khaplu district is visible: the Shyok River below, the Hushe confluence, and the permanent snowfields of the Karakoram above. One of eastern Baltistan's finest panoramas and almost entirely unknown.
08 / 09A short half-day hike from Khaplu town to the Tholsikhar ridge above the valley. Short enough for most fitness levels, high enough to give a completely different perspective on the Khaplu basin. One of the few easy hikes near a heritage town in Baltistan.
09 / 09A side valley east of the main Shyok corridor, reached by a 4x4-only jeep track from Khaplu. The valley passes through a series of remote Balti hamlets into terrain that almost no travellers reach: narrow gorges, terraced fields clinging to sheer walls, and silence. A full-day commitment for guests who have already seen the main circuit and want somewhere genuinely beyond the tourist track.
A 700-year-old fort palace on a promontory above the Shyok River, restored by the Aga Khan Trust with the same rigour applied to Baltit and Shigar Forts. The rooms are beautiful, the gardens are peaceful, and the views over the confluence are extraordinary. Staying here is one of Baltistan's finest experiences.
The valley that leads south toward some of the world's highest peaks: K6, K7, and the Gondogoro La. Even if you're not trekking, the drive up the Hushe River valley is 90 minutes of increasingly dramatic mountain scenery. The road ends at Hushe village, base camp for serious expeditions.
Khaplu sits at the confluence of the Shyok and Hushe Rivers, with the Karakoram peaks framing the valley on three sides. The evening light here, golden and long, makes Khaplu a favourite for photographers who know about it.
The old town of Khaplu has a market and lanes that haven't changed much in a generation. Considerably fewer tourists than Skardu means you can walk through it without being followed by a camera or a shopkeeper. The hospitality here is the most unrehearsed in Baltistan.
One of the oldest mosques in Pakistan, believed to date to 1370. The carved wooden interior, tiered roof structure, and sheer age make it one of Baltistan's most significant heritage sites. In the old town below Khaplu Palace and easy to walk to. Few visitors know to look for it.
A traditional village 25km from Khaplu where apricot cultivation has been the main livelihood for generations. In summer the flat rooftops are covered in drying apricot halves. The jeep track passes through some of the most unspoiled agricultural landscape in eastern Baltistan.
A high viewpoint above the Shyok Valley accessible from Saling village. From here the full breadth of the Khaplu district is visible: the Shyok River below, the Hushe confluence, and the permanent snowfields of the Karakoram above. One of eastern Baltistan's finest panoramas and almost entirely unknown.
A short half-day hike from Khaplu town to the Tholsikhar ridge above the valley. Short enough for most fitness levels, high enough to give a completely different perspective on the Khaplu basin. One of the few easy hikes near a heritage town in Baltistan.
A side valley east of the main Shyok corridor, reached by a 4x4-only jeep track from Khaplu. The valley passes through a series of remote Balti hamlets into terrain that almost no travellers reach: narrow gorges, terraced fields clinging to sheer walls, and silence. A full-day commitment for guests who have already seen the main circuit and want somewhere genuinely beyond the tourist track.
The Hushe Valley road and the drive from Skardu are most reliable June through September. October is possible but some sections deteriorate quickly with the first cold.
Common Questions
Khaplu is famous for Khaplu Palace: a 700-year-old Balti royal fort restored by the Aga Khan Trust and now operating as a heritage hotel. It is also known for the Hushe Valley trekking approaches to K6, K7, and Gondogoro La, and its position as one of the least-visited major destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Approximately 105km, about 3 to 3.5 hours by 4x4 along the Shyok River road. The drive is spectacular but the road is rough in sections. A private vehicle is strongly recommended over public transport for this route.
Yes. Khaplu is the base for treks into the Hushe Valley, including approaches to K6, K7 Base Camp, Masherbrum Base Camp, and the Gondogoro La crossing (one of the world's great mountain passes at 5,585m). Raahi handles transport to the Hushe Valley trailheads and can connect trekkers with experienced local guides.
Yes, particularly for travellers who want somewhere genuinely quiet and less developed for tourism. Khaplu Palace is arguably the most historically authentic of the three Serena heritage properties in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Hushe Valley beyond Khaplu is one of the finest landscapes in the Karakoram for non-trekkers as well as trekkers.
Plan Your Trip
Khaplu is 3 hours from Skardu and fits naturally into longer Baltistan tour packages as a 1 to 2-night extension. Our Aangan Retreat and Khwab Retreat both pass through or near this route. If you want Khaplu specifically, we customize around it.
Plan Your Visit
Get in touch and we'll plan it around your dates, group, and pace.
Plan Your Trip