A lot of Lahore travelers search for a direct Skardu flight and are surprised to learn one doesn’t exist — here’s exactly how the air route actually works.
The route: Lahore → Islamabad → Skardu
There is currently no direct flight from Lahore to Skardu. You’ll fly Lahore to Islamabad first (a short, frequent domestic hop of around 1 hour), then connect onward to Skardu on a separate ticket or a connecting itinerary.
Which airlines fly it
PIA and Airblue both operate the Islamabad–Skardu leg, with Skardu flights being seasonal-heavy — more frequent in summer (June–August) than in winter. The Lahore–Islamabad leg is served by multiple domestic carriers with frequent daily departures.
Ticket prices
Domestic fares fluctuate significantly by season and how far in advance you book — Skardu flights in particular can spike in price during peak summer and cherry blossom season (April) due to high demand on a limited number of daily flights. Book the Islamabad–Skardu leg as early as you can once your dates are fixed.
Booking tips
- Book the Islamabad–Skardu leg first — it’s the scarcer, more weather-sensitive flight — then arrange your Lahore–Islamabad connection around it
- Choose morning Skardu flights where possible; visual-approach flights have better success rates before afternoon cloud builds
- Leave a buffer of several hours (or an overnight in Islamabad) between your two flights rather than booking a tight same-day connection
- Avoid booking a rigid onward international connection right after your Skardu return leg
If flight timing doesn’t line up, our 10-Day Skardu Tour from Lahore by Road covers the full Karakoram Highway route instead — a genuinely scenic backup that doesn’t depend on weather-sensitive flight connections.