Skardu Flights

There is a daily regular flight between Islamabad and Skardu run by the Pakistan International Airlines, PIA, details of which are given below (for reference only):

Islamabad to Skardu
PK 451
Departure Time (approx): 1035

Skardu to Islamabad
PK 452
Departure Time (approx): 1230

Aircraft Type: Boeing 737
Duration: 1 hour
Economy Fare: PKR 4130 (USD 50)
Economy Plus: PKR 4330

There are various options to book the magical Skardu Flight: PIA website (accepts Credit Cards), PIA Call Center, PIA Ticket Office (located at airports and in the city center), and through Travel Agents. Booking early, 4-6 weeks, is highly recommended, especially when you require more than one ticket with preferred seat allocation in the busy summer season. Keep in mind the reconfirmation requirement peculiar to this route, without which your ticket, or E-ticket for that matter, will be just another piece of paper.

While booking, try to get the right hand side seat of the aircraft for better views, and economy plus will be a bonus in additional PKR 200 per person. The flight is quite unique in the sense that it flies besides mountain ranges and is truly considered as the most dangerous commercial flight of the aviation industry. Contrary to normal flights, the plane flies besides Nanga Parbat – aka the Killer Mountain – among other snow covered peaks hence taking the experience to new and unexplored levels. Landing at Skardu airstrip is very thrilling too as this is the narrowest valley that is operated by any commercial flight. No surprise that PIA’s Flight PK 451 is considered as the most dangerous commercial flight of the aviation industry. Beware; you will be forced to hold your breath as the plane starts descending into the rocks until it lands safely on the narrow airstrip right besides the river bed!

Once booked, tickets need reconfirmation – 24 hours in advance from the departure time – either from PIA Rawalpindi Office (for inbound flights) or from PIA Skardu Office (for outbound flights). Read this for further information.

Due to weather, flights usually get delayed and sometimes even cancelled out. For further information read this.

Having mentioning all the above, I would say that this is once in a lifetime experience and justifies related hassles. However, it requires appropriate planning, lot of patience, and penchant for travelling, and if you are short in these traits then stop dreaming and head towards Murree.

PIA Skardu Office: (+92) 0583153325, 0583150284

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Grab a window seat on the left hand side and enjoy the spectecular view of mountains some of them are 24000 feets feels so close from up there and wish that 1 hour flight could last forever.

Pakistan International Airline is the sole operator flying to Skardu from Islamabad on daily basis on Boeing 737 departing at 9.30 am arriving Skardu at 10.30 and leaving back to Islamabad on 11.20 am

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Flight from Skardu to Islamabad is a must. You get to see amazing views of mountains. You can have an aerial view of Nanga Parbat. Although it is only 50 minutes flight but it sure is an unforgettable one. Ticket costs PKR 2190 (June 2006).
Journey through Bus from Pindi to Skardu takes around 22 Hrs. The journey is long but you travel on KKH. The road journey through bus can either be inspiring for a person who loves mountains, adventure and can endure long hours in bus or it can be tiring if a person cant take the exhaustion and straight 22 hours in bus. The buses are good, quite spaciuos and air-conditioned and cost no more than PKR 1000.

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This is one of the most beautiful journey you will ever travel. Its a one hour flight. The plane goes between lofty mountain peaks. Some of the highest mounain peaks like the K-2, Broad Peak and Nanga Parbat are quite visible from the plane.

I never wanted this journey to come to an end. Just didnt want to get off the plane.

Get a seat on the right side of the plane if you're flying to Skardu from Islamabad (the only route available). The plane will only fly in good weather so you're almost always likely to get terrific views...

If you sit on the right, you'll be rewarded with the most awesome mountain views... you're actually flying BESIDE them and not above them. See if you can spot Nanga Parbat (world's 9th highest peak).

That has to be my most spectacular flight ever...!

Catch the PIA Northern Areas flight from Islamabad to Skardu for amazing views of the surrounding mountains and and amazing landing sequence in Skardu (fly the narrowest valley flown by a jetariliner in the world - white knuckle flying but SO worth it!)

Check out my Skardu Travelogue for pictures!

These jeeps are the only real means of travel out of Skardu up to the head of the trekking routes (usually to the village of Askolie). These are rough machines and well-suited to the conditions of Pakistan. The 5 hour trip from Skardu to Askolie was on "roads" that I couldn't have imaged to be passable by vehicles - where the road clung to the valley wall far above the rivers got the heart-rate going!

I can't give you details about the hiring prices (since it was all included in our trek costs) but I believe that you can make enquiries at the airport or in Skardu town - I think the jeep drivers are pretty active in vying for business!

After we went for a walk through Kachura Village we had just passed this bridge when a group of people came past in the back of a trailer being towed by an ancient looking tractor. The offered us a lift back to the camping resort and we bumped along with all the smiling faces. This kind of encounter was so common in Pakistan and was what made my expereiences with the people as memorable as my experiences in the mountains!