Getting Around Skardu
Skardu is a compact town in the Skardu Valley, at the confluence of the Indus and Shigar rivers, and it serves as the gateway to the nearby Karakoram eight-thousanders. For a visitor, that means getting around is mostly simple and low-key: the town centre is small enough to cover on foot, and for anything further afield you arrange a taxi or a hired driver.
Walking
Walking is the most practical way to move around Skardu town itself. Most places in the town are within about a half-hour walk of each other, so for everyday errands, meals, and local sightseeing you can generally leave the transport question aside and simply set out on foot.
Trains, Metro and Trams
There is no rail, metro, or tram network in Skardu. None of these modes exist here, so there is nothing to plan around and no tickets or passes to buy for them.
Buses and Long-Distance Public Transport
Public transport in Skardu is oriented toward long-distance travel rather than moving around within the town. Skardu can be reached by bus from Islamabad, with the drive running the whole way over the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The KKH is a fully paved road, but some areas alongside it are prone to landsliding, which can block the route, and some patches may not be fully carpeted. By public transport the journey from Islamabad takes roughly 16 to 20 hours and costs in the region of Rs 1500.
It is also possible to reach Skardu from Gilgit by public transport. Although the distance is less than 200 km, the journey takes close to 8 hours.
Taxis and Hired Drivers
For trips outside the town, taxis are the straightforward option, and it is easy to get a taxi or hire a driver. Taxi stands sit at a few major roundabouts around town; you can recognise them by a small pavilion labelled SDU, along with groups of cars and motorcycles displaying yellow taxi signs. There is no mention of ride-hailing apps serving Skardu, so plan on using these stands or arranging a driver directly.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Skardu Airport (KDU) is the main air gateway. Pakistan International Airlines flies daily from Islamabad, but because the pilots fly by sight with no computer navigation, the flight only operates on clear days. The air journey itself is a highlight: it is possible to catch a glimpse of Nanga Parbat and K2 along the way. After following the same air route that connects Gilgit to Islamabad/Rawalpindi, the plane turns right and flies over the gorge of the Indus River.
Once you land, the practical way into town is the same as getting around locally: take a taxi from the airport, or arrange a driver. Given how compact the town is, the transfer is short and uncomplicated.
Practical Summary
- On foot: the best way to cover Skardu town, where most places are within about a 30-minute walk.
- Taxi or hired driver: the way to reach places outside town; look for stands at major roundabouts marked with an SDU pavilion and cars with yellow taxi signs.
- Bus: a long-distance option for arriving in Skardu from Islamabad over the Karakoram Highway, or from Gilgit.
- Rail, metro, tram: not available in Skardu.
- Airport: PIA flies daily from Islamabad on clear days only; from the airport, take a taxi or a hired driver into town.