You don't need the most expensive gear to capture Skardu's mountains well. Here's what actually matters when choosing a camera setup for high-altitude trekking.
You don't need the most expensive setup to bring back great photos from a Skardu trek — you need a camera you'll actually carry every day, on tired legs, in changing weather. For most trekkers, that means prioritizing weight and durability over raw specs.
A mirrorless camera with a single versatile zoom lens is a solid middle ground: lighter than a DSLR kit, weather-sealed options are increasingly affordable, and you avoid the hassle of swapping lenses on a dusty trail. If you'd rather travel lighter still, the camera on a recent smartphone will comfortably handle wide mountain landscapes and can be paired with a small clip-on lens for more range.
Cold weather drains batteries fast, so carry at least one spare and keep it in an inner pocket close to your body overnight rather than in your pack. A simple rain cover or dry bag is worth the extra grams — weather at altitude can turn from clear skies to sleet within the hour.
For the actual shooting, the best light in the mountains tends to be early morning and just before sunset, when low sun brings out the texture of the peaks and meadows. Don't be afraid to shoot into the wide open spaces of places like Deosai — sometimes the emptiness is the shot.
