Khalti Lake is a long, calm lake formed by a bend of the Ghizer River beside Khalti village, just west of Gupis in Gilgit-Baltistan, at about 2,217 m (7,274 ft). It’s about 115–135 km from Gilgit, a 3–5 hour drive on the Gilgit–Shandur road, so it is the first big lake on the way to Phander and Shandur. Visiting is free. The lake is known for trout in summer, for autumn reflections and, in a cold year, for freezing hard enough in January to host ice hockey on the Khalti Ice Hockey Festival. Come from May to October for the drive and the colours, or in mid-winter for the ice.
Details were checked in October 2026. Whether the lake freezes, and whether the winter festival goes ahead, depends on the weather each year, so check before planning a winter trip.
Khalti Lake quick facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Altitude | About 2,217 m (7,274 ft), the figure given by the GB Tourism Department |
| Location | Khalti village, at about 36.248° N, 73.363° E, a few kilometres west of Gupis town. Long counted as part of Ghizer District, it now falls in the newer Gupis-Yasin District |
| From Gilgit | About 115–135 km, 3–5 hours via Gahkuch and Gupis |
| To Phander | About 2 hours further west on the same road |
| Size | Reported as about 2.3 km long, up to about 460 m wide and up to about 24 m deep |
| Fed by | The Ghizer River, which widens into the lake at a bend near Khalti |
| Entry | Free |
| Known for | Trout, autumn reflections and winter ice sports |
What makes Khalti Lake special
Khalti looks less like a mountain tarn than a river that has stopped to rest. The Ghizer River spreads out into a long sheet of still, green-blue water, with Khalti village’s fields and trees on one bank and steep rock walls, reddish in places, on the other. Because the water is so still, the reflections are the main attraction. In autumn the poplars and willows turn gold, and the lake doubles them. Khalti is the first big Ghizer lake on the road west, free to visit and sometimes frozen hard enough for winter hockey.
It’s also one of the best-known trout waters in Ghizer. Trout were first put into the Ghizer River further upstream, near Golaghmuli village, and spread down the Gupis valley. In summer you’ll often see local anglers working both banks in the evening. You need a licence to fish; see the Phandar Valley guide for how fishing permits work in this part of Ghizer.
Khalti Lake in winter: ice and the festival
Khalti usually freezes in winter, and when it does, people walk across it, skate and play ice hockey. The GB Tourism Department lists the Khalti Ice Hockey Festival in January as an annual event on its calendar. In practice the dates and the format change with the ice:
- January 2024: the second Sevendays Winter Feast was held at Khalti from 22 to 24 January, with two ice rinks and ice hockey, ice football, skating and local games. It had been planned for Skardu, then Hunza and then Naltar, and moved to Khalti because the ice elsewhere wasn’t thick enough. Even at Khalti, the lake wasn’t fully frozen.
- January 2025: the GB winter sports festival was held in Hunza and Skardu rather than at Khalti.
- 2026 and later: no Khalti edition was confirmed in the sources checked. Watch the GB Tourism Department’s announcements in December.
Never walk on the ice unless local people are already on it and the event organisers say it’s safe. Warmer winters have made the ice less reliable.
How to reach Khalti Lake
- To Gilgit: fly from Islamabad, weather permitting, or drive the Karakoram Highway. See airports serving Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Gilgit to Khalti: drive west on the Gilgit–Shandur road through Gahkuch to Gupis, then continue a few kilometres to the lake. The road is paved, and an ordinary car can make it.
- Shared transport: shared jeeps and vans from Gilgit to Gupis and Phander pass the lake. A 2026 guide put a seat to Gupis at about PKR 500–800. See NATCO and private bus access.
- As part of a longer trip: most people see Khalti on the way to Phander Lake and Shandur Pass, or on the long Gilgit–Chitral drive.
Best time to visit
- May–June: fresh green fields and long days. Most visitors pass straight through on the way to Phander.
- July–August: warm, with trout fishing in full swing. These are monsoon months, and flash floods damaged the Gilgit–Shandur road in July and August 2026.
- September–November: the best light and the famous autumn reflections, with cold mornings.
- December–February: bitterly cold. The lake may freeze, and that’s when the ice sports happen. Check road and festival news first.
For the wider picture, see the best time to visit Gilgit-Baltistan.
Khalti Lake costs (as of 2025–2026)
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Lake entry | Free |
| Shared jeep, Gilgit to Gupis | About PKR 500–800 a seat (2026 report) |
| Private jeep, Gilgit to Phander (passing Khalti) | About PKR 8,000–14,000 for the vehicle |
| Guesthouse in Gupis | About PKR 1,200–2,000 a night |
| Winter festival | No ticket price published; past editions were open to spectators |
| Fishing | A licence is needed from the Fisheries Department |
Where to stay
The best-placed option is the PTDC motel at Gupis, which stands on a rise above the lake with views across the water. Reviews describe it as simple but clean, and say it’s a good base for trout fishing. Gupis also has a few basic guesthouses. Many travellers simply stop for an hour at Khalti and sleep further up the valley in Phander (see the Phander Lake guide) or back down in Gahkuch, which has the most choice. In winter, confirm that your guesthouse is open and heated before you set out.
Safety and practical tips
- Ice: the lake is a river underneath, so the ice can be thin where the current runs. Only go out where locals are already active.
- Cold water: don’t swim. The lake is fed by glacier melt and is cold all year. See the water sports rules.
- Road: check for flood or landslide closures before you leave Gilgit, especially in July and August, and drive in daylight.
- Winter driving: the road can be icy from December to February. Carry chains or travel with a local driver.
- Cash and signal: bring cash from Gilgit or Gahkuch, and expect weak mobile coverage. See currency and cash in GB.
Nearby places
- Phander Lake: the turquoise lake about 2 hours further west
- Phandar Valley: villages, trout rivers and the road to Teru
- Shandur Pass: the polo ground on the road to Chitral
- Ishkoman Valley: the side valley that branches north at Gahkuch
- Ghizer: the district guide
Taking your time at Khalti
Khalti is a lake you appreciate best slowly. Most travellers pass along the shore on their way somewhere else, stop for a photo and carry on. If you can, spend an hour walking along the water, or stay a night nearby and see the lake in the calm early morning, when reflections are at their sharpest and the valley is quiet. Evenings bring soft light across the water and the poplars along the shore.
Khalti on a Ghizer road trip
Khalti sits on the road west through Ghizer, so it fits naturally into a longer journey toward Phander and Shandur. Breaking the drive here means shorter days behind the wheel and a chance to see the villages along the river at a slower pace. Plan your stops in advance, drive in daylight, and check road conditions further west if you’re carrying on to the higher passes.
Photography at the lake
The best photographs usually come when the wind is low, which is often early in the day. Look for the reflections of the surrounding mountains and trees in the still water. In autumn, the colours along the shore add warmth to the frame. In winter, the frozen surface and snow give a completely different picture. Ask before photographing people in the villages, and keep drones away from homes.
Respecting the lake and its villages
Khalti is part of a lived-in valley, and the land around the shore belongs to local families. Keep to paths and roadsides, take every bit of litter away with you, and don’t wash in the lake. Fishing may be governed by local rules, so ask before you cast a line.
Khalti Lake FAQ
Where is Khalti Lake?
Khalti Lake is beside Khalti village, a few kilometres west of Gupis in western Gilgit-Baltistan, on the Gilgit to Shandur road. It is formed by a bend of the Ghizer River and is often listed under Ghizer, although it now falls in the newer Gupis-Yasin District.
How far is Khalti Lake from Gilgit?
About 115 to 135 km, or 3 to 5 hours by road via Gahkuch and Gupis. Phander Lake is about 2 hours further west on the same road.
What is the altitude of Khalti Lake?
About 2,217 m, or 7,274 ft, according to the GB Tourism Department. That makes it much lower and milder than Phander Lake or Shandur Pass.
Does Khalti Lake freeze in winter?
Usually, yes. In a cold winter it freezes hard enough for people to walk on it and for ice hockey and skating events. In January 2024 the Sevendays Winter Feast was held there, but the lake was not fully frozen, so the ice cannot be relied on every year.
When is the Khalti Ice Hockey Festival?
The GB Tourism Department lists it as an annual January event, but the dates depend on the ice. The 2024 winter feast at Khalti ran from 22 to 24 January. Check the department announcements in December for the coming season.
Is there an entry fee for Khalti Lake?
No, the lake is free to visit. Trout fishing needs a licence, and past winter festivals were open to spectators without a published ticket price.
How long should I spend at Khalti Lake?
An hour or two is enough for a walk along the shore. Staying a night nearby lets you see the lake in the calm early morning.
Can I combine Khalti Lake with Phander and Shandur?
Yes. Khalti sits on the road west through Ghizer, so it fits naturally into a longer trip toward Phander and Shandur.
Can I fish in Khalti Lake?
Ask locally before fishing, because rules and permissions may apply.
When is the best time of day to photograph Khalti Lake?
Early in the day, when the wind is usually low and reflections are clearest.
