Skardu or Gilgit which is best by air

Hey. I will be travelling to the north for the first time. We are 5 friends . Can someone advise me best options for travelling to one of these destinations in oct for 3-4 days by air e.g best hotels, price of hotels , taxi costs , food and restaurant costs..Also want to know which flight is best from a scenic point of view. any advice would be helpful.

Skardu is served by large airplanes, so better chance to get a seat, that the flight is not cancelled, and safer.

What do you want to do while you're there? Do you want to stay in Skardu itself, or in the region?

In the past, I've stayed some distance from Skardu:

• http://www.serenahotels.com/serenashigarf/default-en.html

The prices are indicated on the website. The hotel will arrange to meet you at your flight and take you back to the airport for your departure. The drive to and from the airport is very scenic, passing through river valleys.

Skardu itself is very dusty and uninspiring.

You don't have any choice about the flights. PIA operates one flight in each direction each day.

• http://www.piac.com.pk/weeklyflightschedule.aspx

The 17hour bus ride from Rawalpindi up to Gilgit is the most spectacular scenery a person can experience - more thrilling than the destination. Once you get there you can hire cargo jeep for day trips. Karimabad is quaint.

Air travel isn't reliable. They say it's dependent on weather conditions. Anyway, KKH is a spledid route, very scenic, so I'd suggest that, at least one way.
What do you want to do in Skardu or Gilgit? Neither is spectacular for sightseeing, hotels or eating out. The landscape and views are great. Most people go there for trekking in the mountains.

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