Deosai National Park

Deosai National Park protects the high‑altitude Deosai Plateau in Gilgit‑Baltistan, Pakistan, a broad alpine plain notable for its elevation and seasonal wildflower displays. The plateau is one of the highest expanses of plateau grassland in the region.

Visitors come for vast, open landscapes, seasonal sheets of wildflowers in late spring and summer, and wildlife such as Himalayan brown bears and a variety of migratory birds. The park contains lakes and marshy meadows, with Sheosar Lake among the most visited natural features.

The area was designated as a national park to conserve its unique plateau ecosystem and wildlife and to regulate grazing and hunting pressures. Access and facilities are limited by altitude and seasonal conditions.

Situated in the northern reaches of Pakistan’s mountainous Gilgit‑Baltistan region, the park lies at high elevation north of the Karakoram range and is accessed via roads from Skardu and surrounding valleys.

• Elevation and climate: The Deosai Plateau sits at an average elevation around 4,100 metres, making it one of the highest plateaus in the world and subject to an alpine climate for most of the year.
• Conservation purpose: The park was established to protect the plateau’s unique high‑altitude grassland ecosystem and its wildlife, including populations of Himalayan brown bear and migratory birds.

What to See#

• Sheosar Lake: Sheosar Lake sits on the plateau and is one of the park’s best-known features, often frozen for much of the year due to the high elevation.

Deosai National Park is reached by road from the Gilgit‑Baltistan gateways, with Skardu the most common starting point. Visitors typically travel by 4x4 jeep from Skardu (and sometimes from Astore) over rugged, high‑altitude roads; the park is seasonal and most vehicle access is arranged through Skardu‑based tour operators. Expect a multi‑hour drive over unpaved mountain roads and plan transfers with a local operator.

• Visit Deosai between late June and early September when the snow has melted and the plains, including Sheosar Lake, are accessible by road; outside that window most approaches are impassable.
• Most visitors approach Deosai from Skardu-plan your logistics (transport and fuel) from Skardu and allow extra time for dirt roads; local drivers and jeep services are the norm for the final stretches.
• Get up at first light to spot wildlife (including Himalayan brown bears and nomadic grazing herds) and to enjoy the plateau before afternoon winds and day-tripper traffic pick up.
• Don't rush past Sheosar Lake - allocate time to walk the shoreline and climb nearby ridgelines for wide views of the plain and surrounding Karakoram peaks, especially if you're staying overnight for star photography.