The valley stretches about 170 km from Skardu to Askole and is the gateway to the high mountains of the Karakoram.

Askole is the last settlement in the Shigar Valley, which is still far from the high mountains.

This valley is a popular destination for hiking, trekking and mountaineering, despite the tough conditions there.

Also, the valley is an attraction for the tourists as it is a gateway to Karakoram Hills, one of the world's highest peaks is K2.

[2] The local Balti community’s use of medicinal plants has been surveyed in an ethnobotanical study.