Katpana Desert, located near Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan is at an elevation of 303 meters. Surrounded by blackish grey mountains, the desert has a unique landscape as well as temperature which has attracted visitors from all around the world. Better known as the “Cold Desert”, the desert offers mesmerizingly cold nights and strong winds which make it stand out among the rest of the deserts.
Located between mountains, the Katpana desert is the only desert blessed with white sand granules instead of the typical yellow ones found everywhere else which shimmer like pearls in the sunlight. The sand dunes keep changing and shifting due to the mighty winds which brings out a new scenery every time!
The first thing that comes to one’s mind when thinking of a desert is the scarcity of vegetables and plants but Katpana desert stuns everyone with its lush plantation and green vegetation. The average temperature of the desert is about 8 degrees to 26 degrees which can drop as low as -10 degrees at night. We know it’s weird to say to pack your warmest clothes for a desert expedition but it’s true!
Many interesting activities await travellers planning to spend the night at the cold desert. Glamping is a new and popular trend where you get to experience camping in a luxurious way! And if you don’t sit around a bonfire at night and marvel at the eerie quietness of the vast landscape, then you’re missing out on the full experience. In the morning, waking up to the sun touching the horizon is a sight you don’t want to miss! Spend your day roaming around the desert and ride AVTs to get your adrenaline pumping!
If you love adventure, then Katpana desert is a must visit place when travelling to Skardu.
