Katpana Cold Desert Skardu – Cold Desert in Pakistan
The Katpana Desert or Katpana Cold Desert is located in the village of Katpana, District Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan. It is the second largest cold desert in Pakistan after Sarfaranga Cold Desert. The place is covered with snow in winter. The desert is situated at an elevation of 2226 meters (7303 ft) above sea level and is considered one of the highest deserts in the world.
The Katpana village is a 10-minute drive from Skardu International Airport. The nearby villages of the Katpana Desert are New Ranga Village in the north and the Indus River in the south. The main tourist point of the desert is located near Katpana Lake.
Location
Katpana Cold Desert is located in Skardu Valley in the Northern areas of Pakistan. This is one of the most beautiful and must-visited tourist spots in the Gilgit Baltistan region. A 10-minute drive from Skardu International Airport and a lovely desert in the range of mountains.
Weather
The weather of the whole Baltistan region is cold in summer. The normal temperature in summer is 25 in the day and 20 in the night. However the temperature goes down to -20 in winter, and the whole desert is covered with snow.
If you’re planning to visit this amazing place, we suggest you pack some extra warm clothes and buy some dry fruits to adjust to the low temperature.
How to Reach Katpana Cold Desert Skardu Baltistan?
There are two ways to reach this place from Islamabad.
- By Road
- By Air
By Road
The total distance from the capital to Skardu Valley is almost 750 kilometers. The best way to reach Skardu is the land route. Local buses and private cars are the main sources of land transport. Local buses can take up to 18 to 24 hours from Rawalpindi to Skardu, and private can cover this distance in 12 to 15 hours. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery on the land route.
The total distance from 411 bus station to This desert is just a 5 to 10 minutes drive. Natco, Geo Tours, K-2 Tours, Mashabrum Travels, K-2 Himalaya, Salam Gilgit Baltistan, Samaa, Samaa Zulfiqar, and other local buses serve their services on a daily basis. Tourists can get the tickets easily from Pirwidhai Rawalpindi and 411 Bus station.
By Air
You can also access the desert by Air from Islamabad to Skardu. Pakistan International Airline and Air Blue are providing their services from Islamabad to Skardu. The fare is 25k to 45k. You can enjoy the mountains, lakes, cities, Nanga Parbat, and many other beautiful things from the Airplane. The total distance covered is just 45 minutes. You can get a taxi or private car from Skardu International Airport to visit this desert.
Best Time to Visit Katpana Cold Desert Skardu
The best time to visit in the Baltistan region is summer, with some great fun activities. This place is fully loaded with tourists in summer. Tourists from all over Pakistan and other parts of the world visit this place in summer. But in winter, only some people visit this place because of cold weather and temperature.
Attractions At Katpana Cold Desert Skardu
Katpana Cold Desert is famous for its cold desert and beautiful scenery. This place is entertaining and exciting for every tourist. This cold desert is located in the center of tall and ice-capped mountains. The other main reason the visit this place is strong winds.
The best part of this place is the very peaceful environment. A quiet environment, white sand, ice-capped mountains, and beautiful views help the tourist to enjoy their vacation happily.
Things to do in Katpana Cold Desert Skardu
Skardu Baltistan is one of the most beautiful cities in Pakistan. Katpana desert satisfies every tourist. You can enjoy a lot of things in Katpana, and some of the things are below.
- Horse Riding
- Bonfire
- Camping
- Campfire
- Enjoy Local Music
- Experience Local Culture
- Experience and Enjoy Local Foods
