Where is Skardu located?
Skardu is in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, at the confluence of the Indus and Shigar Rivers. It rests at approximately 2,228 meters above sea level in the Skardu Valley (approximately 10 kilometers wide and 40 kilometers long), located in the center of Baltistan.
It takes a long time to get there from most places. The major city of Gilgit is about 4-5 hours away to the west. Islamabad, at 600 kilometers to the south, is about a 15 hour drive or a one hour flight that will be cancelled for cloud cover that most people do not plan for.
The exact location
Skardu's approximate coordinates are 35.29 degrees north and 75.64 degrees east. This places it in the east of Gilgit-Baltistan and the beginning of the Baltistan Division. The city is situated along the alluvial plain of the Shigar River. It is in the middle of the Indus River. Here, Skardu is spread along and across the plain. The Karakoram Range surrounds it, and the valley walls are bare rock ridges.
In the summer, the Juxtaposition is astounding. Skardu is busy with a market and hotels, with an active Cricket pitch. Behind the ridges are some of the 8,000+ meter peaks of K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums.
Islamabad, about 600 kilometers to the south, is a 15-hour drive or a one-hour flight that will be cancelled due to cloud cover, which most people do not plan for.
Administrative position
Skardu, as the headquarters of Gilgit-Baltistan, is the headquarters of the Baltistan Division and administers the Skardu District. The district's land is part of the disputed Kashmir region under international law, with Pakistan claiming the territory. This situation may seem confusing and raise many questions for a traveler, but it offers a bit of an explanation for Gilgit-Baltistan's legal status that differs from Pakistan's other provinces.
The district of Skardu spans a sizable area of Baltistan and is subdivided into tehsils with their respective towns and valleys. Shigar Valley is located to the east, while Khaplu and Ghanche, the surrounding valleys, and the Baltoro Glacier approach are all situated within or on the outskirts of Skardu District.
What it borders
The district and its surrounding areas come in contact with a few major borders.
Directly northeast of the district is China. The Karakoram Highway is east of Skardu, and the main boundary between Pakistan and China is at the Karakoram Range.
To the east and south, the territory is bounded by India across the Line of Control in the Siachen Glacier region, which is an extension of the eastern Karakoram. The Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefront, is close to the eastern boundary of Skardu District. This is a military border and does not impact travel.
Afghanistan is west of Skardu and shares a border with some higher regions of the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
How the valley was formed
The Skardu valley is not like most regular river valleys formed by the actions of the Indus alone. The basin was filled with the sediment left by glaciers over thousands of years. The flat floor of the valley is a glacial outwash plain. The Indus and the Shigar now cross the plain. The surrounding mountains hold some of the largest remaining glaciers outside the polar regions, and the melt of those glaciers feeds the rivers all year round.
This formation of the valley and the basin explains the character of the area. The flat floor of the valley is surprisingly wide; the Katpana sand dunes are at over 2000 meters because this is the formation of a glacially deposited valley floor, and the rock walls rise abruptly instead of gradually.
The Indus here is not the fast-flowing white-water river of the lower gorges. Downstream of Kharpocho Fort, where the Shigar joins the Indus, the river is wide, blue and quiet before tightening into the gorge again.
Distance from the cities most travellers start from
Skardu International Airport is a one-hour flight from Islamabad. The road distance from Islamabad is around 600 km and takes around 15-20 hours. It could take longer depending on the variant of roads used. Weather in Skardu often disrupts flights to the airport.
The Grand Trunk Road or the Motorway from Lahore to Islamabad will take the equivalent of the time it takes to get to Islamabad. You can fly to Islamabad and connect.
To Skardu along the Grand Trunk Road from Gilgit takes around 4-5 hours and is about 160 km. The road drops to the Indus at Jaglot and takes you South to Rondu Gorge, and then approaches Skardu from the West along the Indus.
It's estimated to take 6-8 hours by road to get to Skardu from Hunza via Gilgit.
It should take about 10-12 hours by road to get to Skardu from Peshawar via Mansehra and the Karakoram Highway.
The mountain ranges that border Skardu.
Skardu is next to three mountain ranges. The Karakoram range is in the north and northeast and is home to K2 and the highest and most extreme concentrations of peaks on the planet. The western Himalaya forms the ridge that separates Baltistan from Ladakh on the other side of the Line of Control. To the west of the Himalaya are the Hindu Kush Mountains, past Gilgit, where the Hindu Kush separates Chitral from the other regions.
Skardu's location between different altitudes made it the starting point for all major expeditions in the Karakoram. From Skardu, it takes roughly a day to reach the head of the Baltoro Glacier by car, and then it takes another 6-7 days to reach K2 Base Camp on foot from Askole. The Biafo Glacier starts in the same direction and connects to the Hispar Glacier on the other side.
This geography is ultimately swept downstream by rivers. The Shigar River carries the melt from the Baltoro and Biafo Glaciers, and the Indus eventually carries it all to the Arabian Sea as it continues its long journey through some of the deepest gorges on the planet.
Closest to furthest
Kharpocho Fort: is at the river junction and can be found in the old city.
Katpana Cold Desert: is around twenty minutes by car from the city and is about 4 km away.
Satpara Lake: this is a short drive away and can be found within 5 kilometers.
Shigar: is 30 km away, an hour's drive, and is to the east.
Shangrila and Lower Kachura Lake: are 30 km away towards the west and are on the outskirts.
Deosai Plains: can be found after a 2-hour drive through Satpara, and the total distance is around 70 km.
Khaplu: is 100 km away and can be reached in around 2 hours.
Askole and the Baltoro are 115 km away from Skardu/Kharpocho, and it takes 2-3 hours to get there via a rough jeep track. This is the start of the Baltoro trek after Skardu.
Why the location matters for your trip
Planning is all about the location. When we talk about location, we talk about access and altitude.
Skardu is located at the end of a very long and one very short weather-dependent flight. To reach Skardu, you need to take the only road from Gilgit that goes through the Rondu gorge on the Indus. That road is closed a lot due to landslides and floods, and until the road is cleared, you are stuck. Luckily, flights to Skardu International Airport (one of the highest commercial airports in the world at around 2230 meters) are weather-dependent. If there is cloud cover over the valley, flights will be canceled. The beauty of these two is that you do not need to skip your trip; you only need to carry a spare day at the beginning and end of your trip just to be safe about catching an international connecting flight on the same day.
Deosai at over 4100 meters is another example of quick elevation. Skardu is at a comfortable 2228 meters. That quick elevation from Islamabad (507 meters) to Skardu and then Deosai in two days is quick and not recommended for most people.
Geographic confusions
Many people believe that Gilgit and Skardu are the same or nearby districts, but both are incorrect. Gilgit actually serves as the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan and is a featured/separate city about 4-5 hours further west by road, and is situated in Gilgit District of the Gilgit Division. Skardu serves as the capital of Skardu District and the headquarters of the Baltistan Division. Though geographically close, they are culturally and linguistically different regions, along with different mountain systems. Gilgit is where the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush meet. Skardu, along with Baltistan, is included in the Karakoram, and Balti is the primary language there, not Shina.
In itinerary planning, Hunza is also often confused with Skardu, due to both being to the north. Hunza falls under the Gilgit Division and is about 6-8 hours to the North and West of Skardu by road, and the two cannot be connected directly.
The people and languages of Baltistan
Skardu and Baltistan mainly use Balti. It is a Tibetan language and is more closely related to Classical Tibetan than to any language of the Pakistani plains. Before Islam, it was written in a Tibetan-derived script. Post-Islam, as with most other places in the subcontinent, Arabic script became the norm.
In the city, Urdu is understood. Among the younger and more educated people, it is used. English is also used in the hotels, amongst the tour operators, and in the offices.
Most of Baltistan marks a concentration of Shia Muslims with the presence of the Noorbakhshi tradition in Ghanche district's eastern parts. This differs from the Ismaili communities of Hunza and Gojal and the Sunni and Shia mix of Gilgit, and thus gives Baltistan a social identity of its own, unique from that of Gilgit-Baltistan.
What to check and avoid before you arrive
Satisfy yourself regarding your return flight booking and road plan before landing. Flights are canceled more frequently than bookings suggest, and the Rondu Road is risky, especially in monsoons.
Check the status of Deosai. Satpara to Deosai crossing closes under snow from around the end of September, October or early November to the end of June or early July, and the dates vary every year.
Carry cash. ATMs in Skardu do not work, and there are no ATMs on the route to Shigar, Khaplu or Deosai.
Do not expect cellular connectivity or internet beyond the urban regions. Baltistan has only one cellular network, and it is weak on all the valley roads.
Ask your driver or operator regarding the Rondu road’s condition in July and August, as rain destroys the road and can close Rondu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Skardu’s elevation? Approximately 2,228 meters (7,310 feet) in Gilgit-Baltistan in Northern Pakistan, at the junction of the Indus and Shigar rivers in the Skardu Valley.
Which Pakistani province is Skardu in? Skardu is not in a Pakistani province. It is an administered territory with a capital of Skardu district and the Baltistan division.
How far is Skardu from Islamabad? The road distance is approximately 600 kilometres. The shorter, quicker route is a one-hour flight. The drive is usually done over the course of two days and takes about 15 to 20 hours.
How far is Skardu from Hunza? It doesn't make sense to say Skardu is near Hunza. Hunza is a 6 to 8 hour drive (via Gilgit) to the north and west of Skardu.
Which countries border Skardu? Skardu borders China to the Northeast across the Karakoram, and India to the East across the Line of Control in the Siachen area. Neither border is one that can be crossed by civilians.
What is the main language of Skardu? Balti is the main language used; however, many speak Urdu and English is used in the tourist industry.
Is Skardu in the Karakoram? Yes. Skardu is in the Karakoram region and approximately 130 to 140 kilometers from K2, which is the highest concentration of extreme peaks.
How do I get to Skardu? The city is accessible by road all year, but further routes and the Deosai Plateau close during winter. Flights run year-round. Cancellations happen more during winter.
Plan your Skardu trip with us.
If you want to go somewhere on your own terms, consider us. Instead of using a map and concentrating on distances, we determine drive times and customize your itinerary. Accommodations in the city, Shigar, and Khaplu; 4x4s equipped with drivers who appreciate the hazards of driving at different times of the year; trained, licensed guides; and a total cost for everything prior to anything being booked.
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