Skardu Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Land

Bus

In good weather the 170km trip to/from Gilgit takes six to seven hours. For the best views, sit on the left-hand side heading for Gilgit. In rainy weather, multiple rockfalls may block the road for days. Rawalpindi-bound buses will take at least 20 hours and probably stop in Islamabad, but you should confirm this.

K-2 Tours (55582; Hussaini Chowk) has minibuses for Gilgit (Rs 240) departing at 9am, 11am and 1pm. For Khaplu (Rs 100, three hours) a 16-seat Land Cruiser departs at 10am. For Rawalpindi (Rs 850), at least one bus departs daily at 11am.

Mashabrum Tours (55195; Yadgar Chowk) has minibuses to Gilgit (Rs 200) departing at 8am, 10am and noon. To Rawalpindi, a Coaster (Rs 850) departs at 11am and a bus (Rs 800) departs at 4pm. For Khaplu (Rs 100) there’s a 9am departure.

Natco (52188; College Rd) is the best choice for the long-haul trip to Pindi because of the better buses and because they take two drivers. For Pindi, the VIP Coaster (Rs 1100) departs at noon and the VIP deluxe (Rs 850) departs at 3pm. To Gilgit (Rs 125 to Rs 190) departures start at 9am. For Khaplu (Rs 100) there is at least one departure at 8am.

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Air

PIA (50284, airport 58150; Chasma Bazaar) flies Boeing 737s to Islamabad (Rs 2700) daily at 11.20am (weather permitting), with views right across the Karakoram. The Islamabad to Skardu flight departs at 9.30am and arrives at 10.30am. Head out to the airport at least two hours before departure.

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