Lahore to Skardu
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) started direct flights from Lahore to Skardu on April 7, 2021. The first flight from Lahore to Skardu departed from Lahore towards Skardu with 153 passengers on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Since then per week one or two flights from Lahore to Skardu is scheduled.
The ticket fare varies depending on the day and time, therefore, search for the lowest rates and then buy the tickets. Both the cities have only one airport for by-air flights. There can be direct as well as multi-stop flights. The best way to buy a ticket is from various websites that can help you to find great deals on the fare. So, search for a place where you can get the cheapest ticket.
The distance between Lahore and Skardu is around 1100 km and the by-air travel time between cities is around 1 hour 10 minutes. However, it will take two whole days to travel by-road from Lahore to Skardu. Both the routes have some advantages and disadvantages at the same time.
Lahore to Skardu By-Air
For example, If you travel by airplane you will reach Skardu in a short time period, hence, you can save your vacation time to see the mesmerizing view of natural beauties in Skardu. There are many beautiful scenic locations in Skardu to visit such as the Upper Kachura Lake, Lower Kachura Lake, Manthokha Waterfall, Deosai Plains, Shigar Fort, Khaplu Fort, Skardu Fort, Shangrila Resort Hotel, Basho Valley, etc.
Secondly, while traveling by-air you can see the amazing view of various mountains from above. Just before landing on the Skardu airport runway, you can see the beautiful scenery of the Nanga Parbat on the right and K-2 (the second-highest mountain in the world) on the left. Nanga Parbat is the 9th highest peak in the world with 8,126 m in height lies in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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Sight Seeing From Lahore to Skardu By Air
Moreover, after some time of departure from the Lahore airport, you can see the astonishing mountainous view of the Himalayas. You can easily see the Indus River and the Karakoram Highway running alongside. The Indus river passes through the Ladakh and India borders and enters Pakistan through Skardu. You can find the Himalayan mountain range in the south of the river and the Karakoram mountains in the north.
However, the fare of by-air tickets is relatively much higher than the by-road fares. The rate differs with respect to date and time. According to farecompare.com, it is usually found that the ticket fares on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are comparatively lower than on other days.
Moreover, their study found that if you buy the tickets before one to three months of the departure date then you will get the tickets at lower rates. However, if you buy at the last minute then the charges would be relatively much higher. Furthermore, it is found that the multi-stop flight fares are comparatively cheaper than the direct flights so it is better to choose the multi-stop flight if you really want to save money.
In addition to this, the most important point to be mentioned here is that the mountainous flights in the northern areas are often canceled. The reason is obviously the weather in the region. The unpredictable weather in the city covered with a lot of mountains usually becomes the reason for flight cancellation. It is the most annoying part of any holiday vacation, therefore, in this respect, the by-road journey seems better than the by-air.
Lahore to Skardu By-Road
The by-road travel between Lahore and Skardu is also very interesting and enjoyable. There are many beautiful places to see in-route. Basically, there are two routes to go to Skardu from other cities in Pakistan. One is the road that goes towards the Babusar Top through the Naran-Kaghan valley. The beautiful Babusar pass connects the Kaghan valley to Chilas on the Karakoram highway. It is the highest point in the valley with an elevation of 4,173 m. Moreover, it is considered among the most dangerous routes in Pakistan.
Another route is the Karakoram Highway (KKH) which is also known as National Highway-35 (N-35). Moreover, sometimes it is also known as China-Pakistan Friendship Highway. The highway extends from the province of Punjab to the Khunjerab pass in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Talking about the whole journey, it starts from Lahore through the Motorway and you will reach a beautiful city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Mansehra. You can offer a prayer or have some refreshment or meal at the place. Moreover, there are some mesmerizing views to see and enjoy in the city. Then, you can continue the travel and after some time you will reach the Basham valley.
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After that, you will reach Dassu, then Chilas, and then Juglot. During the journey you can have your meals, offer prayers and have some rest at hotels. Therefore, the traveling time differs depending on these circumstances. When you reach the Alam bridge, which is considered one of the scariest bridges in the world, the Skardu roads start. The bridge itself has a mesmerizing scenic view. It is built over the Gilgit river using a combination of iron rods and wood.
The length of the bridge is around 300 meters and it connects Gilgit to Baltistan and other cities of the country. It was built in 1978 by Chinese and Pakistani engineers. After taking some pictures and enjoying the scenic views from the Alam bridge you can continue your journey towards the Skardu road. During the journey, you will cross through many villages such as DamboDass, Staq, Rondu, etc. These places have astonishing natural beauties to see and enjoy. Also, you can have delicious food at these places.
Then finally, you will reach your destination. After reaching Skardu city the first thing you have to search for is a good hotel. However, if you have already contacted a traveler here and booked a room in any good restaurant then it would be easy for you. There are a number of good hotels in the main city such as the Shangrila Resort Hotel, The PTDC hotel, the Mashabrum Hotel, etc. You can easily contact these hotel’s management and book a room before reaching the city.
Hence, the whole discussion results in the fact that the main advantage of traveling by-road is that you can see many beautiful places during the journey. However, the dangerous roads full of cuts and sharp turns make the journey frightening and uneasy. Therefore, choose the best option for you depending on your own criterias. Lastly, it seems pertinent to mention here that during the by-road travel it is mandatory to keep your CNIC card with you because police can check it at various check posts.
