The Naltar Valley & Bashkiri Lakes Jeep Day Tour is a guided trip lasting 1 day in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, topping out at 3,150 m. It is graded Easy — lakeside walks after a rough jeep track — lakeside and forest walks. 3 fixed departures are open from $70 per person, all-inclusive from Islamabad.
Naltar Valley & Bashkiri Lakes — Gilgit’s Pine Forest and Coloured Water
An hour or so out of Gilgit, a side road through Nomal climbs into a valley that looks nothing like the rest of the Karakoram: pine and juniper forest, yak pasture, and Pakistan’s oldest ski slopes at Naltar Bala, around 2,900 m. Beyond the last village a rough 12 km jeep track runs on to the Naltar lakes, also called the Bashkiri lakes, at about 3,050 to 3,150 m. Satrangi shifts colour through the day, Blue Lake lives up to its name, and Feroza sits quiet in the trees. Nobody publishes a price for this day. We do: local jeep, driver and guide, from Gilgit and back. Local hands, fair price.
- Duration
- 1 Day
- Max altitude
- 3,150 m
- Grade
- Easy – Moderate
- Days on foot
- 0
- Best season
- May - October
- Group size
- Max 1min age 6
Naltar Jeep Day Price
From $70 per person in a group of four to six. That covers the vehicle from your Gilgit hotel to Naltar Bala, the local jeep for the lake track, a guide, the Naltar entry fee and bottled water. Lunch at a lakeside dhaba is at your own cost. Coming from Hunza instead of Gilgit adds about two hours of driving each way, so ask us for a Hunza pickup price.
Fixed Departures
Fixed departures are scheduled dates you join as part of a group, rather than arranging your own trip. 3 dates are currently open, each capped at 6 people. Every date is the same price, $70 per person. A $7 deposit reserves a place. Finally, the availability column shows how many places are left on each date.
Private & customised groups
These are private departures, priced by the size of your party rather than by a set date. Pick the band that matches your group and the price per person is fixed at that rate, across 3 options. The more of you who travel, the less each person pays — from $150 for Solo (1 Person) down to $70/pp for 4-6 Persons. What each band covers is set out in the table.
| Group size | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 Person) | $150 | Private vehicle, jeep and guide to yourself. |
| (2-3 Persons) | $95/pp | One jeep, shared, ideal for couples. |
| (4-6 Persons) | $70/pp | Best per-person rate for one jeep-load of family or friends. |
Is this trip right for you?
Yes — this is one of the easiest trips to say yes to.
Graded Easy — lakeside walks after a rough jeep track.
Good to know
The highest point is 3,150 m. Moreover, most people feel nothing worse than short breath up there, and the pace is set to keep it that way.
However, one thing we do insist on: travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Travel Plan
Itinerary — Naltar & the Lakes
Gilgit to Nomal and up to Naltar Bala, then the jeep track to Satrangi, Blue Lake and Feroza, with time to walk the shore and the forest before driving back.
Day 1Gilgit to Naltar Bala & the Bashkiri Lakes
3,150 m
Morning drive from Gilgit through Nomal and up the Naltar valley to Naltar Bala, about 2,900 m, past the ski slopes and pine forest. Switch to a local jeep for the 12 km track to the lakes: Satrangi first, then Blue Lake and Feroza at around 3,050 to 3,150 m. Time to walk the shoreline and the forest, lunch at a lakeside dhaba, then back down to Gilgit by early evening.
What’s included in the price
Every fixed departure is all-inclusive from Islamabad. This is exactly what your $70 per person covers, and the handful of things it does not — so there is nothing to settle at the trailhead.
Included in the price
- Transport Gilgit to Naltar and back
- Local jeep for the lake track
- Local English-speaking guide
- Naltar entry fee
- Bottled water
Not included
- Meals
- Overnight stays
- Personal spending
Resources
Free guides from our local team, so you arrive ready.
- Trekking gear list what to pack
- Trekking medicine & altitude staying well up high
- Maps, books, visa & permits planning your trip
Why Karakoram Venture
Because the people who take you up this mountain are from it. Our guides grew up in these valleys, and they are our own team — not a booking desk handing you to whoever is cheapest that week. Every one of them holds a guide licence from DTS Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal DTS, renewed each year, and worked at least five years in the region before applying for it. Most also hold Wilderness First Aid.
Because the safety is real, and we will name it rather than imply it. In addition, a satellite phone travels in every camp, we hold established helicopter-rescue contacts for this region, and we tell you exactly which travel insurance to carry. Budget operators cut precisely these things, because you cannot see them on a web page.
Because the price is honest. Indeed, local infrastructure is why $70 per person covers the trip from Islamabad rather than a stripped-down base rate. In short, exactly what it includes — and the handful of things it does not — is set out above.
How to book this trip
More About Naltar
Booking & Payment
A deposit of 10% of the trip price confirms your date. Balance is payable on the day in Gilgit.
Book through our website or directly on WhatsApp. We confirm within the hour in season.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel 2+ days before the tour for a full refund of the deposit. Within 2 days the deposit is forfeit. If we cancel for weather or a closed track, you get a full refund.
Transportation Details
Car from Gilgit to Naltar Bala, then a local 4x4 jeep with a Naltar driver for the rough lake track.
Timings & Meeting Point
Pickup from any Gilgit hotel around 8:00 am; back around 6:00 pm. Hunza pickups available on request.
Important Notes
Carry at least 2 recent passport-size photos for verification and documentation.
A valid passport (foreign nationals) or CNIC (Pakistani nationals) is mandatory for booking and travel.
Keep your original passport or CNIC with you throughout the tour for security checks and hotel check-ins.
Foreign nationals need a valid passport and the correct visa; any NOC and trekking/restricted-area permits are arranged by Karakoram Venture.
Special Information
Professional and experienced Tour Manager available from start to end of the trip.
Delicious and fresh daily meals included from Day 1 until departure.
No complimentary meals provided on flights or during transit stops.
Follow updated state travel policies carefully for a hassle-free journey.
Transportation Details
Comfortable and spacious A/C Coaches for long trips and intercity travel.
Sturdy 4x4 jeeps for mountain roads and sightseeing (up to 7 pax per vehicle).
Reliable 4x4 vehicles (Land Cruiser / Prado) for off-road and high-altitude excursions.
Arrival & Departure Guidelines
Day 1: Report at the designated airport on time as per schedule.
Final Day: Depart after successfully completing the full itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Naltar and how far is it from Gilgit?
Naltar is a side valley about 34 to 40 km northwest of Gilgit, reached through Nomal. The paved and semi-paved stretch to Naltar Bala takes about one and a half to two hours; the lakes are a further 12 to 13 km on a rough jeep track.
How high are the Naltar lakes?
The three main lakes, Satrangi, Blue Lake and Feroza, sit at roughly 3,050 to 3,150 m. The valley floor at Naltar Bala is lower, around 2,850 to 2,950 m.
Why a local jeep?
The track beyond Naltar Bala is narrow, rocky and steep in places. Local Naltar jeeps and drivers run it every day, so we hand over to one for the lake section rather than taking a town vehicle up.
When is the lake track open?
Usually from May to October. Snow closes it in winter and spring, when Naltar becomes a ski valley instead; the slopes near Naltar Bala are run jointly with the Pakistan Air Force.
Can we stay overnight?
Yes. There are simple guesthouses and camping near the lakes in summer. Ask us and we turn the day into a relaxed two-day trip.
