Phander Lake
Clear Blue Lake In The Ghizer Valley On The Road Between Gilgit And The Shandur Pass · Phander, Gilgit-Baltistan
Phander Lake is a clear, deep blue lake beside the Ghizer River in the Phander valley, on the long mountain road between Gilgit and the Shandur Pass, and it is the jewel of the Ghizer district. The water is fed by springs and is famously clear, reflecting the poplar and willow trees along its banks and the bare brown mountains beyond. Trout swim in it, and anglers come for the fishing in the river nearby. A small hill above the lake gives the classic view, with a simple government rest house on top, and the village around it is quiet and welcoming. Ghizer is less visited than Hunza or Skardu, with a different character: wide valleys, small lakes and villages strung along the river, and a mix of Shina, Khowar and Burushaski-speaking communities. Phander is usually visited on the way over Shandur to Chitral, or as a long drive from Gilgit, and it is especially lovely in autumn when the trees turn gold. The road is rough in places, but the lake repays it.
Phander village, Ghizer District, on the Gilgit-Chitral road, Phander, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
The lake has no gate or ticket. The road from Gilgit is open year round to Phander in most years but beyond, over Shandur, only in summer. Phander is roughly five to six hours from Gilgit by road. There are a few guesthouses and a rest house; book ahead in summer.