Two very different ways to reach Skardu: a short, scenic flight that cancels often, or a long but reliable road journey up the Karakoram Highway. Here is how to choose and plan.
There are two realistic ways to get from Islamabad to Skardu. The fast one is the PIA flight to Skardu Airport (KDU), which takes roughly an hour and is one of the most spectacular short flights anywhere — it threads past Nanga Parbat and the wider Karakoram. The catch is that it is heavily weather-dependent: flights are frequently cancelled when cloud closes in over the mountains, and they are often over-booked, so a confirmed ticket is not a guarantee you will fly that day.
The reliable one is the road. Driving from Islamabad to Skardu takes around 20–24 hours, running up the Karakoram Highway (KKH) toward Gilgit and then turning east onto the Skardu road that follows the Indus. It is long and tiring, but it runs regardless of the weather over the airport and lets you break the trip and see the valley along the way. Many travellers plan to fly in and keep the road as a fallback — or simply drive one direction and fly the other.
| Mode | Approx time | Approx cost (Rs) | Notes |
| Air (PIA, KDU) | ~1 hour in the air | Roughly Rs.20,000–40,000 one-way (confirm current) | Scenic but weather-dependent; cancellations and over-booking are common. Limited frequency. |
| Road (private car / hired vehicle) | ~20–24 hours driving | Fuel plus vehicle hire varies widely (confirm current) | Reliable in most conditions; tiring. Best split over two days with an overnight stop. |
| Road (public/shared van or coach) | ~20–24 hours plus stops | Lower per-seat range (confirm current) | Cheapest option; less comfortable and slower with multiple stops. |
The figures above are broad ranges to help you compare modes — they are not quotes. Fares, fuel, and hire rates move constantly, so confirm current prices with the airline office and local transport before you book.
Doing the full 20–24 hours in one push is hard and not very safe on mountain roads at night. Most people split it into two days. A common pattern is to drive from Islamabad up the KKH and stop overnight around Chilas or, if you have made good time, push on toward Gilgit — then continue along the Skardu road the next day. Gilgit makes a natural base if you want to combine the trip with the Hunza side; see the Gilgit and Skardu guides for where to stay and what to do at each end.
Seasonality matters. Summer is the most straightforward time, with long daylight and open roads. In winter and the shoulder months, snow, ice, and landslides can close or delay sections of the KKH and the Skardu road, and the flight cancels more often too. Rockfall and single-lane stretches are normal year-round, so build slack into your schedule rather than planning tight connections. Start early each day so you are off the steep sections before dark.
Honest bottom line: treat the flight as a bonus, not a fixed plan. Because PIA's Skardu service cancels so frequently, anyone on a tight itinerary should either drive or keep enough buffer days to absorb a cancellation without wrecking the rest of the trip. For ideas on routing the wider region, the explore tool can help you sketch a realistic plan.
The PIA flight to Skardu (KDU) takes roughly an hour. It is short and very scenic, but heavily weather-dependent and prone to cancellation.
Driving from Islamabad to Skardu takes about 20–24 hours via the Karakoram Highway and the Skardu road. Most travellers split it over two days with an overnight stop.
Fly if you want to save time and your schedule has buffer days for cancellations. Drive if you need reliability regardless of weather, or want to see the valley along the way. Many people fly one direction and drive the other.
Skardu flights depend on clear conditions over the mountains, and cloud closes the route in frequently. Flights are also often over-booked, so a confirmed ticket does not guarantee you fly that day. Keep a buffer day and a road backup.
Common overnight stops are around Chilas or Gilgit, depending on how far you get on day one. Gilgit is a good base if you also plan to visit the Hunza side before continuing to Skardu.