35°18'56.5"N 75°45'11.9"E
Sarfaranga is one of the highest deserts of the world
The Best Time to Visit Gilgit Baltistan Region is Summers. Preferably from April to September. Winters are Extremely Cold and Snowfall blocks most of access. Hence Winters are not recommended.
Sarfaranga Desert is a high-altitude cold desert in the Shigar District of Gilgit Baltistan. Its location at an elevation of 2300m makes it one of the highest deserts worldwide. Encased within the imposing Karakoram mountains, the Sarfaranga Desert is comprised of a large flat expanse of desert area with some areas of high, white dunes, creating a surreal contrast with the vibrant greenery and rugged mountains of Skardu. The Skardu region also hosts other notable cold deserts, including the Katpana Desert and Chumik Farol, adding to its geological diversity.
The journey to Sarfaranga via the Shigar Road from Skardu provides the visitor with a beautiful panorama. Sarfaranga is a vast expanse of sand surrounded by mountains, and it spreads out extensively on either side of the road, giving the impression of endlessness. To the north, a range of mountains acts as a natural barrier separating the desert from the Shigar valley. The grandeur and vastness of Sarfaranga is best appreciated from the mountain top on the Shigar road, offering an expansive view of the desert below.
Sarfaranga annually hosts a Jeep rally, which is attended by adventure seekers and car enthusiasts. This three-day event, typically held in October, draws enthusiasts and tourists from across Pakistan, turning the quiet desert into a hub of excitement and adrenaline. The thrill of the rally is enhanced by additional recreational activities, such as paramotoring, quad biking, and horse riding, all of which contribute to making the Sarfaranga Desert a truly fascinating spectacle.
Every year in October, the Tourism, Sports & Culture Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, in collaboration with PakWheels.com, organizes a three-day Jeep Rally in the Safaranga desert. This event attracts professional drivers from across the nation and international racing enthusiasts. The rally, featuring a track of approximately 75 kilometers, provides a unique setting for participants to demonstrate their driving skills in Safaranga's distinct high-altitude environment. A bike race is also included as part of the event.
Simultaneously, the rally pays tribute to local customs and traditions with a Zakh competition, essentially a rafting contest held at Blind Lake. This competition is a tribute to Gilgit-Baltistan's traditional practice of constructing ad-hoc boats from logs and sticks for raveling in bodies of water.
In the spirit of celebrating the region's heritage, the three-day event also incorporates cultural festivals, traditional dances, and music performances. The cultural elements are augmented by polo matches, a sport deeply entrenched in the area's history. The winners of the various competitions are acknowledged and awarded at the conclusion of the rally.
Located a mere 40 km east of the city of Skardu, the Safaranga Desert lies at an impressive altitude of 2300.0 m or 7545.8 feet, thus ranking it amongst the world's highest deserts. The mighty Indus River, which acts as a natural boundary and a striking contrast to the arid landscape, encircles it to the south.
On the desert's northern side, a range of imposing mountains forms an entrancing barrier, beyond which lies the picturesque Shigar Valley. Additionally, the beautiful Blind Lake can be discovered on the other side of these mountains, creating an exciting point of exploration for any visitor to the Safaranga Desert.
All Photographs by Syed Noor Hussain and Sania Azhar.
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