If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Is Skardu really as peaceful and untouched as people say?” — you’re not alone. I wondered the same thing before I booked my trip this June 2025. The pictures online looked like a dream: lush valleys, snow-covered peaks, serene lakes. So, I packed my bags and took off on what I hoped would be the trip of a lifetime.
Now, don’t get me wrong — Skardu is breathtaking. But this story isn’t just about the beauty. It’s about the lessons learned, a few tourist traps I didn’t see coming, and some honest travel tips for Skardu that might just save you from making the same mistakes.
Let’s start from the beginning. I booked my entire trip through a reputable hotel chain. The package included accommodation and a private Jeep with a local driver for sightseeing. Sounded perfect, right? But here’s where things started to feel… off.
After the first day, I noticed something odd. The driver had a routine — every stop on our “sightseeing” list included a shop. Handicrafts, dry fruits, jewelry, shawls, cherries — he had a “recommended” place for everything. I figured it was just local hospitality until I asked myself, “Why does every shopkeeper already know where I’m staying?”
That was the moment the puzzle pieces clicked. Before I even entered, the driver would whisper to the staff: the name of my hotel. Instantly, I wasn’t just a traveler — I was a commission opportunity. Prices would shoot up, sometimes four to five times higher than market rates. And the worst part? I almost always felt pressured to buy something.
“Wasn’t it obvious something was up?” At first, no. These places felt genuine. One example that still stings is the cherry farm the driver insisted I visit. He even said, “You’ll never find better cherries than this.” I tried a few juicy samples and ended up buying ten boxes. But when we got back to the hotel? The cherries were completely different — dull, dry, and clearly swapped. We were too far away to go back.
By then, I started asking myself bigger questions. “Is this kind of overcharging common in Skardu?” After chatting with a few locals, I learned something eye-opening. Some feel tourists bring in money that never reaches the common people. So, charging high prices — or even switching out products — feels like a small act of justice. Of course, not everyone feels this way. Many locals were incredibly kind and honest. But the mindset does exist — and being aware of it is important.
So then I asked myself, “What should I have done differently?” And that’s what I want to share with you — the travel tips for Skardu that I wish I knew before boarding that plane:
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Don’t rush into shopping. Wait until the end of your trip when you’ve had time to explore and compare prices.
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Go to markets alone. Drivers may mean well, but sometimes their suggestions are tied to commissions.
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Be firm. If your driver insists on a stop you’re not interested in, say no — kindly but clearly.
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Always check what you’re buying. Especially with packaged items like fruits and dry goods. What you see isn’t always what you’ll get.
“Is Skardu still worth visiting?” 100% yes. Despite the few bumps, I’d go back in a heartbeat. The landscapes? Magical. The culture? Rich. The stillness in the air? Unlike anywhere else. But like any popular destination, it helps to be informed, alert, and in control of your journey.
“Can a few small precautions really make a difference?” Absolutely. They won’t just save you money — they’ll help you enjoy Skardu in a way that feels real, unfiltered, and deeply personal.
Just sharing this story from one traveler to another. Because sometimes, the best travel tips for Skardu don’t come from brochures — they come from experience.
