Byarsa Hotel Skardu

Getting to Skardu

Skardu Airport lies about 9.8 km in a straight line from Skardu town. The airport is small, with flights from Islamabad, weather permitting. Flights are often cancelled or delayed, so allow flexibility in plans and keep some slack around arrival and departure dates.

By road, the Karakoram Highway connects Gilgit to the rest of Pakistan, and arrivals usually continue to Skardu by road from Gilgit or from the airport itself. In winter, snow can close roads and the airport, so plan accordingly and check conditions before travelling. Allow time to arrange transport for the next stage of the trip once in town.

Around Skardu

Skardu sits at an altitude of 2,228 metres in a mountain valley. Irrigated fields of wheat, apricot and apple lie between the built-up area and the bare mountains, and the air is dry, with warm summer days and cool nights. The town has banks, bazaars and transport links, and the light is better for photographs later in the day.

Around Skardu, Shigar sits in a wide, irrigated valley about 30 km east, with a fort, an old mosque and a bazaar; the road follows the Shigar river through a narrow gorge. Deosai is a wide high plateau south of Skardu, open in summer and snowbound for much of the year. With one day, start at the fort in the morning, then walk down through the bazaar; with two days, add a half-day trip to Shigar and a slower look at Skardu itself.

Skardu through the year

The best months in Skardu are May to September, when summer days are warm and nights stay cool. April and October are good months, March and November are possible, and January, February and December are the off season. In winter, snow can close roads and the airport, so plan accordingly.

Flights from Islamabad operate weather permitting and are often cancelled or delayed, so allow flexibility in any season. Deosai is open in summer and snowbound for much of the year, which shapes when a visit to the plateau is possible.

Places to stay in Skardu: what to expect

Hotels in Skardu form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking and a 24-hour front desk, many list free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, breakfast, a shuttle service and a garden, and some list family rooms, heating, room service and air conditioning, while a few list a kitchen and a swimming pool. This suits families and drivers who want a front desk, a meal on site and parking for a vehicle.

Guest houses in Skardu form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking, most list a 24-hour front desk, and many list free Wi-Fi, breakfast, a shuttle service and a garden. Some list a restaurant, family rooms, heating, a kitchen, room service and air conditioning. This suits families looking for family rooms and breakfast, and drivers who want parking and a front desk.

Resorts and lodges in Skardu form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking, most list a 24-hour front desk and a shuttle service, and many list free Wi-Fi, breakfast and a garden. Some list a restaurant, family rooms, heating, a kitchen, room service and air conditioning, and a few list a swimming pool. This suits families and groups who want space, a garden and a shuttle service alongside parking.

Staying in Skardu: questions