Skardu sits in a genuinely central position within Gilgit-Baltistan, connected to the region’s other major destinations by a handful of well-established roads. This post is a single, quick-reference distance chart — how far each nearby area actually is, and roughly how long the drive takes.
| From | Approx. Distance | Approx. Driving Time | Route |
| Islamabad | ~480 km | ~2 days (with an overnight stop) | Karakoram Highway via Chilas |
| Chilas | ~167 km | ~4-5 hours | KKH, then the Skardu road along the Indus gorge |
| Raikot Bridge (Fairy Meadows turnoff) | ~165-170 km | ~4-5 hours | Same route as Chilas — Raikot Bridge sits just before Chilas on the KKH |
| Gilgit | ~167 km | ~5-6 hours | KKH south to the Skardu turnoff, then the Indus gorge road |
| Hunza (Karimabad) | ~230 km | ~7-8 hours | Hunza to Gilgit (~2-2.5 hrs), then Gilgit to Skardu (~5-6 hrs) |
| Naran | ~280-300 km | ~7-8 hours | Naran → Babusar Pass → Chilas → Skardu road |
| Astore | ~230 km | ~6-7 hours | Astore → Chilas (KKH) → Skardu road |
| Khaplu | ~103 km | ~2.5-3 hours | Shyok River road, east of Skardu |
These are approximate road distances and driving times under normal conditions — actual travel time varies with weather, road maintenance work, and seasonal closures, particularly around Babusar Pass (generally open June-October only) and the higher sections of the KKH in winter.
A closer look at each route
Islamabad to Skardu
The primary overland route for most travelers, following the full Karakoram Highway north to Chilas before turning onto the Skardu road along the Indus gorge. Almost always split into two driving days with an overnight stop, typically in Chilas or Besham. See our dedicated Islamabad to Skardu Road Guide for the full day-by-day breakdown.
Raikot Bridge to Skardu
Raikot Bridge — the turnoff point for the jeep track up to Fairy Meadows — sits on the KKH just before Chilas, so its distance to Skardu is nearly identical to Chilas’s. This makes Fairy Meadows a natural stop-off for travelers driving between Islamabad and Skardu, rather than a separate detour requiring its own dedicated trip.
Gilgit to Skardu
A more moderate 5-6 hour drive, following the KKH south from Gilgit before turning onto the Skardu road. This is the connecting leg for anyone combining Skardu with Hunza, since Gilgit is the road hub both regions share.
Hunza to Skardu
No direct road connects Hunza to Skardu — you first drive south to Gilgit (roughly 2-2.5 hours), then continue on to Skardu (a further 5-6 hours), for a combined journey of around 7-8 hours. See our full Hunza to Skardu Travel Guide for how to break this into a comfortable two-day transition.
Naran to Skardu
The longest and most seasonal of these routes — Naran connects to the KKH via Babusar Pass (4,170m), which is typically only open June through October. Once past the pass and down to Chilas, the route joins the same Skardu road used by Islamabad travelers. Outside the Babusar Pass season, this route isn’t usable at all.
Astore to Skardu
Astore connects back to the KKH near Chilas before joining the standard Skardu road — a useful route for travelers combining Astore Valley or Minimarg with a Skardu trip, rather than treating them as entirely separate journeys.
Khaplu to Skardu
The shortest of these routes by a wide margin, and the only one heading east rather than along the main KKH corridor — a comfortable half-day round trip or a natural overnight extension of a Skardu-based itinerary.
Practical planning takeaway
Notice that Chilas functions as the practical hub connecting almost every one of these routes — whether you’re coming from Islamabad, Naran, Astore, or passing Raikot Bridge for Fairy Meadows, you’ll pass through or near Chilas before the final stretch into Skardu. Understanding this helps explain why so many road itineraries use Chilas as the standard overnight stop, regardless of which direction travelers are ultimately headed.