Getting to Skardu is one of the parts of a Baltistan trip that requires the most planning. The journey involves a short but weather-dependent flight or a long but scenic road journey. Here is what you actually need to know.
Flying to Skardu
Skardu Airport (SKZ) receives daily PIA flights from Islamabad (ISB). The flight takes 45 to 55 minutes. It is one of the most dramatic commercial routes in the world: on a clear day you fly over the Nanga Parbat massif with Rakaposhi and the Karakoram visible from the windows. Most flights depart in the early morning: PIA typically schedules two to three daily services during peak season (June to September).
The cost of a PIA ticket varies widely depending on how far in advance you book. For July and August travel, book 6 to 8 weeks ahead: fares are lower and availability is better. Last-minute peak-season bookings can be expensive and sometimes unavailable on preferred dates.
Why flights cancel so often
Skardu Airport sits at 2,229 metres in a narrow valley. Landing requires visual approach conditions: pilots need to see the runway. Cloud cover, morning fog, or strong valley winds can make the approach unsafe. Cancellations are made by the captain on the day, often on short notice.
The worst season for cancellations is spring (March to May) when unstable weather is common. Summer (June to August) has the fewest cancellations. Autumn (September to October) is generally reliable but not as consistently clear as summer. Winter cancellations are frequent.
For a July or August trip, the actual cancellation rate is low enough that most guests get in and out on their scheduled flights. For spring travel, we strongly recommend building one extra day at each end of the itinerary specifically as a buffer.
What to do when your flight cancels
PIA will rebook you on the next available flight. In peak season this can mean a 24 to 48-hour delay. Your options:
- Wait for the next flight: usually the right call if the weather issue is expected to clear within 24 hours. Islamabad has hotels at every price point for an unplanned night.
- Drive: Islamabad to Skardu by road takes 12 to 14 hours via the Karakoram Highway and Indus Highway. It is a long but genuinely impressive drive. Some guests who have their flights cancelled actually enjoy the road journey. A driver and vehicle can usually be arranged on short notice. Raahi can arrange this.
- Adjust the itinerary: if you have a one-day buffer built in (which we always recommend), a single-day cancellation does not affect the trip.
The road route from Islamabad
Driving from Islamabad to Skardu is a real option for travellers who want to see the Karakoram Highway, avoid flight uncertainty, or who are travelling in a season when flights are unreliable.
The route: Islamabad to Besham via the Hazara motorway, then north along the KKH through Chilas and the Indus Gorge, then the Indus Highway east from Gilgit-Skardu junction to Skardu. The road is paved for most of the route but rough in sections between Chilas and Skardu.
Total distance: approximately 650 kilometres. Driving time: 12 to 14 hours with an experienced local driver. Most travellers break the journey with a night in Chilas or Besham, which extends the journey to two days but makes it significantly more comfortable.
The KKH section between Besham and Chilas passes through the deepest gorge on the route and is one of the most dramatic road sections in Pakistan. The section from Gilgit junction to Skardu follows the Indus for most of its length. Both are worth doing once.
Flying out of Skardu
Everything above applies in reverse for departure. The same weather risk exists. Our standing advice: never book a same-day connection from Islamabad to an international flight on the day of your Skardu departure. Give yourself at least one night in Islamabad as a buffer. The cost of a hotel night in Islamabad is small compared to the cost of missing an international connection.
What Raahi handles
Raahi does not book your flights directly (you book PIA flights through PIA or a travel agent). What we do: advise on the best travel dates for your specific itinerary, arrange ground transport as a backup if flights cancel, adjust the itinerary around flight delays, and make sure you have accommodation sorted at both ends. When you book a Raahi trip, we build the flight contingency into the plan from the start.