This is the resorts section of Gilgit Baltistan Tourism. It currently holds two entries, both named in Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department lodging materials: Shangrila Resort Skardu, on Lower Kachura Lake in Skardu District, and Turgil Green Resort Naltar, in the Naltar Valley of Gilgit District. Each has its own page.
A small list is deliberate. We only add properties that appear in the department materials we draw on, and we only describe what those materials and our own place pages support. We don’t rate or rank resorts, and we don’t publish room types, facilities, rates, photos or contact details. Use this section to understand the setting of each resort and how it fits a trip, then confirm everything directly with the property before you book.
How resort pages differ from hotel pages
Our hotel pages are usually built around a base town. Their job is to help you work out where you’ll sleep relative to Karimabad’s forts, Gilgit’s interchange or Skardu’s bazaar, and what to ask about location.
Resort pages work differently. Each one is built around a setting — a lake, a forest valley or a viewpoint that people travel specifically to see. In practice that means:
- The setting leads. A resort page spends more time on the landscape around the property, how it changes through the year and how to explore it, because that’s usually why people choose a resort.
- Day visitors matter. Some resort settings are also popular day trips. A resort page explains whether you can visit without staying and why an overnight can feel different.
- Seasons are sharper. Lakes freeze, tracks close and valleys fill up. A resort page tells you which months its setting is at its best, using our own place pages.
- The listing facts stay the same. Like every lodging page on the site, a resort page confirms only the name, the district and the source. Everything about the property itself is for you to confirm.
“Resort” is the category on our page, taken from the way the property appears in the source. It isn’t a grade. Ask each property what it actually offers.
Shangrila Resort Skardu and the Kachura lakes
Shangrila Resort Skardu is one of only four properties named as examples in the department’s accommodation FAQ, alongside Serena Hotels Gilgit, Hunza Embassy Hotel and Baltit Heritage Inn. Our source note reads “Accommodation options in Gilgit-Baltistan (FAQ)”, accessed 27 August 2026. The Skardu district page lists it among the district’s named beds and calls it a useful marker for the Kachura area.
The setting
Our Kachura Lake guide explains that Kachura is really two lakes, both at about 2,500 m, around Kachura village in Skardu District. Lower Kachura is better known as Shangrila Lake, after the resort on its shore. The guide describes it as landscaped and easy to reach — you can drive right up to it.
Upper Kachura, called Foroq Tso in Balti, is the wilder of the two. The guide describes a clear lake about 70 m deep with a stony shore, reached by parking in the village and walking down through fields and orchards. A footpath of about 15–30 minutes links the two lakes, uphill from Shangrila.
Getting there
Our guides put Kachura about 25–30 km northwest of Skardu, beyond the airport, a drive of 30–45 minutes. The Kachura guide notes that the airport is closer to the lakes than the town is. See Skardu International Airport and the Skardu destination page. A private car or taxi is easiest. The Kachura guide says shared vans run along the main road but don’t go down to the lakeshores.
When to go
The Kachura guide gives April to October as the best months, with July and August the busiest. Our Skardu page describes April and May as blossom time with few crowds, June to August as peak season — when hotels fill up and prices rise — and September and October as the best balance of weather and quiet. From November to March it warns of severe cold, with roads and flights often disrupted.
Day visit or overnight?
Many people visit the Kachura lakes as a half-day outing from Skardu. Our pages note that the resort charges day visitors an entry fee; confirm it on the day. If you’re thinking of staying, ask the resort what’s open in your season, what the full rate includes and how it handles guests whose flights are cancelled.
Other things to know at Kachura
- Fishing: the Kachura guide says trout live in Upper Kachura, but you need a permit from the GB Fisheries Department.
- The village path: the footpath to Upper Kachura crosses private fields and orchards. Don’t pick fruit, take your litter with you and ask before photographing people.
- Water sports: the FAQ says activities such as rafting and kayaking are regulated and need licensed guides; see water sports regulations.
Turgil Green Resort Naltar and the Naltar Valley
Turgil Green Resort Naltar is associated with Gilgit District by its source, the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department hotels directory, accessed 27 August 2026. Its own page records a Naltar Valley location from the department listing. Confirm the exact location with the property.
The setting
Our Naltar Valley guide describes a pine-forested side valley about 34–40 km from Gilgit through the village of Nomal. Naltar village sits at roughly 2,850–2,950 m. From the upper village, Naltar Bala, a rough jeep track runs another 12–13 km to the Naltar Lakes, at about 3,050–3,150 m. The guide names them as Satrangi, Blue Lake and Feroza. It also notes that the valley lies inside the Naltar Wildlife Sanctuary, declared in 1975.
Getting there
The guide’s usual plan is Gilgit to Nomal on a paved road, then Nomal up to Naltar, with a local jeep for the final stretch to the lakes. It says a 4×4 is needed above Nomal and that the lake track is jeep-only. The road can wash out after heavy rain, so travel in daylight and turn back if your driver says a crossing is unsafe. For the wider picture, see getting to Gilgit-Baltistan and Gilgit destination.
When to go
The Naltar guide describes two seasons:
- May to October for the lakes, with September and October the calmest. Many local guides rate autumn as the best time.
- December to February for skiing. Snow closes the lake track, and the Pakistan Air Force ski slopes take over.
- March and April are snowmelt months, when the road is soft and the lakes are still frozen.
If you’re considering a winter stay, ask the resort whether it’s open, how rooms are heated and whether a vehicle can reach it in snow.
Other things to know in Naltar
- Permits: the Naltar guide says no NOC or trekking permit is needed for the village or the lakes.
- Photography: the ski area is next to a PAF facility. Don’t photograph the base; see photography restrictions.
- Camping: the FAQ says camping needs a tourism department permit and is allowed only in designated areas; see camping regulations.
- Leave no trace: the lakes are glacier-fed and the valley is a sanctuary. Carry your rubbish out.
Choosing between a resort, a hotel and a guest house
There’s no single right answer. A few questions help:
- Is the setting the point of the trip? If you want to wake up beside a lake or in a forest valley, a resort page is the place to start.
- Do you need to be near a bazaar, a fort or an early departure? A town hotel may suit you better; see hotels.
- Are you heading deeper into the valleys? Guest houses are often closer to village life and may be the only choice in remote areas.
- Would you like to stay with a family? The FAQ says homestays are regulated and homeowners need a licence before taking guests; see homestay regulations.
Many travellers mix them: a lakeside or valley night at one end of the trip, town stays in between. The Where to stay hub brings every lodging entry together.
Rules that apply
The department FAQ says hotels and guest houses must hold a tourism department licence, meet safety and hygiene standards and be open to regular inspections; see hotel and guest house regulations. Restaurants need their own licence and are subject to local government inspections; see restaurant regulations. The FAQ also recommends carrying cash, because cards aren’t widely accepted; see local currency and cash.
Questions to ask a resort before you book
- Exactly where are you, and can a normal car reach you in my season?
- Are you open on my dates?
- What’s the full rate, and what does it include?
- How are rooms heated in spring, autumn or winter?
- Which activities in the setting are run by you, and which by others?
- What happens if a cancelled flight or a closed road delays my arrival?
Get the answers in writing and reconfirm a day or two before arrival. For multi-valley trips, see hiring a tour operator.
Frequently asked questions
How many resorts are listed?
Two: Shangrila Resort Skardu in Skardu District and Turgil Green Resort Naltar in Gilgit District.
Why is the list so short?
We only add properties named in the department lodging materials we use, and the resort category currently holds two.
Which resort is named in the department FAQ?
Shangrila Resort Skardu. The FAQ names it with Serena Hotels Gilgit, Hunza Embassy Hotel and Baltit Heritage Inn.
Which lake is Shangrila Resort on?
Our Kachura guide says Lower Kachura Lake, better known as Shangrila Lake, is the resort’s lake.
How far is Kachura from Skardu?
About 25–30 km northwest of Skardu, beyond the airport, a 30–45 minute drive, according to our Kachura guide.
Where is Naltar Valley?
In Gilgit District, about 34–40 km from Gilgit through Nomal, according to our Naltar guide.
Do I need a permit to visit Naltar?
Our Naltar guide says no NOC or trekking permit is needed for the village or the lakes. Camping has its own rule.
When can I reach the Naltar Lakes?
Usually from May to October. From December to February snow closes the lake track.
Can I visit Kachura without staying at the resort?
Yes. Upper Kachura is a short walk from the village, and our pages note a day-visitor charge at Shangrila. Confirm it on the day.
Can I book a resort through this website?
No. We list names and area context only. Book directly with the property or through a registered tour operator.
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Sources: Accommodation options in Gilgit-Baltistan (FAQ) and the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department hotels directory, Tourism, Sports, Culture, Archaeology & Museums Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan. Accessed 27 August 2026. Lake, valley, season and rule details are from this site’s own place, destination, district and knowledge pages. Confirm current details with each property before you travel.