Karachi is the furthest major city from Skardu, so getting the flight logistics right matters more here than for any other departure point.
The route: Karachi → Islamabad → Skardu
Fly Karachi to Islamabad first (around 2 hours, frequent daily service on multiple carriers), then connect onward to Skardu. There is no direct Karachi–Skardu service.
Which airlines fly it
PIA and Airblue both serve the Islamabad–Skardu leg; the Karachi–Islamabad leg has the widest choice of carriers and frequency of any leg in this journey.
Ticket prices
Because Karachi–Islamabad is a well-served trunk route, that leg is usually straightforward to price and book. The Islamabad–Skardu leg is the pricier, more limited-capacity segment — book it as early as your dates allow, especially for June–August or the April blossom season.
Booking tips
- Book Islamabad–Skardu first, then fit your Karachi–Islamabad flight around it rather than the other way round
- Build in an overnight buffer in Islamabad if your onward Skardu flight is early morning
- Given the distance already involved, we’d strongly recommend flying rather than attempting the full overland route unless a road trip is specifically the point of your journey
Our 12-Day Skardu Tour from Karachi by Road exists for travelers who specifically want the full overland experience, but for most Karachi-based travelers, flying both legs is the more practical choice.