Flying to Skardu: What to Know Before You Book

The flight from Islamabad to Skardu is one of the most dramatic domestic routes anywhere. In about an hour you cross the Himalaya, and on a clear morning the aircraft passes close to Nanga Parbat before dropping into the wide Indus valley. For travellers with a week or less, it turns Skardu from an ambitious road trip into a relaxed holiday.

The catch is the weather. Mountain flights only operate when pilots can see the terrain, so cloud, rain or strong wind can delay or cancel a departure, sometimes for more than a day. Morning flights are the most reliable, and spring and autumn tend to be steadier than the monsoon months of July and August.

The way to enjoy flying north is to plan for that uncertainty. Keep at least one flexible day at the end of your trip, avoid booking international connections on the same day you fly back, and travel with a company that has a road plan ready. On our fly-in packages, if a flight is cancelled we either rebook the next available seat or switch you to a private car so the itinerary continues.

Pack soft bags and keep within the domestic baggage allowance, which is smaller than on international flights. Carry your CNIC or passport, arrive early, and if you can, ask for a window seat: the view is part of the journey.