The best time to visit Khaplu is between May and October. The valley is blocked by snow from roughly November through April, and even in spring the road from Skardu can be disrupted by floods from snowmelt. Late April and early May is the apricot blossom season — the orchards that surround the town turn white and pink, and the combination of blossom and snow-capped peaks is extraordinary.
June through September is the main trekking season, when the high passes are clear and temperatures at valley level (around 2,600m) are comfortable. July and August can be very warm in the valley itself. October is beautiful — the poplar trees turn gold, the crowds thin out, and the mountain views are at their clearest.
Come with flexibility: road closures from rockfall or flooding can strand you for a day or more in either direction.