Travelling from Peshawar to Skardu

Travellers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are spoiled for choice when it comes to mountain scenery, with Swat, Dir, Kalam and Chitral practically on their doorstep. So why take the long road east into Gilgit-Baltistan? The answer lies in geography. Baltistan offers a completely different environment compared to the green, monsoon-fed valleys of KP. The mountains here are bare, jagged and immense, framing wide sandy valleys and cold desert dunes.

The culture is also distinctly different. Skardu is a Balti-speaking region with deep historical ties to Tibet and Central Asia, visible in the wooden mosques of Shigar and the stone forts of Khaplu. A Peshawar to Skardu trip offers a shift in perspective, trading the familiar alpine meadows for high-altitude plateaus and ancient glacial lakes.

If you are driving the entire way from Peshawar, you will spend at least four days just in transit. To make the long drive worthwhile, we recommend a trip length of at least eight to ten days. This gives you a day to recover from the road, three or four days to explore Skardu and its nearby valleys, and ample time for the return journey.

If you manage to secure flights from Islamabad, a five-day trip is highly practical. You can base yourself in Skardu town and take daily excursions to Deosai, Shigar, and the local lakes without feeling rushed. Keep in mind that flight cancellations may extend your stay unexpectedly.

For travellers looking for a reliable base, Arcadian Hotel & Resort offers a practical location at 8HJ7+X7M, Katpana, Skardu 15100. We are situated just ten minutes from Skardu International Airport and about fifteen minutes from the main Skardu bazaar. This puts you close to transport links while keeping you near the quiet dunes of the Katpana desert.

We maintain a small property of 16 rooms, managed by a dedicated team of about ten staff. Our Deluxe Double Room is priced at PKR 9,180 a night plus PKR 918 tax. It includes a double bed, air conditioning, a private balcony with lake views, a TV, desk, dining table, and an en-suite bath and shower. Our Economy Single Room costs PKR 10,800 plus PKR 1,080 tax, offering a single bed and free Wi-Fi.

Both room categories include heating, hot water and breakfast. We have a 24-hour front desk, with check-in from 12:00 and check-out until 10:00. You can reach our front desk on 0310 0973119 to arrange airport shuttles or local day trips.

Skardu experiences four distinct seasons, and road conditions from Peshawar vary greatly depending on when you travel. Spring arrives around late March into April, bringing apricot and cherry blossoms to the valleys. The weather is cool, but the roads are generally clear.

July and August are the busiest months. Summer brings warm days, and the Deosai plateau opens up, making it the most popular time for family trips. However, monsoon rains lower down the Karakoram Highway can cause temporary road blockages.

Autumn, spanning late September and October, is highly favoured by photographers. The air is crisp, the skies are usually clear, and the poplar trees turn bright yellow. Winter in Skardu is harsh, with sub-zero nights. While the cold desert under snow is beautiful, many roads to higher valleys close entirely.

If you are planning a Skardu tour from Peshawar, there are a few regional differences to note. The local language is Balti. While Urdu is understood by almost everyone in the hospitality and transport sectors, Pashto and Hindko are not widely spoken here.

Food in Baltistan is much milder than in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. You will not find the heavy spices, chapli kebabs or rich karahis of Peshawar on every corner. The traditional Balti diet relies more on subtle broths, wheat breads, yak meat and apricot oil. At Arcadian Hotel & Resort, our in-house kitchen serves a mix of simple Balti dishes and standard Pakistani home cooking.

Finally, driving the Karakoram Highway is different from driving the roads in Swat or Abbottabad. The distances between fuel stops are longer, and the barren rock faces require constant attention for loose stones. Drive cautiously.

Travellers arriving from Peshawar will notice an immediate shift in the local diet. Traditional Peshawari food is famous for its rich, meat-heavy dishes like chapli kebabs and salted karahi, cooked in animal fat with minimal spices. Balti cuisine, by contrast, evolved to sustain people through harsh, high-altitude winters. The local diet relies heavily on buckwheat, barley, apricots and walnuts. You will find dishes like marzan, a heavy wheat dough served with apricot oil, and prapo, a thick noodle soup. If you prefer familiar tastes, our in-house Balti and Pakistani kitchen serves standard national dishes alongside regional specialities, ensuring you always have options after a long day of touring the valleys.

The linguistic landscape also changes significantly as you enter Gilgit-Baltistan. You will leave Pashto and Hindko behind entirely. While Urdu is understood by almost everyone in Skardu and the surrounding towns, the primary languages spoken at home are Balti and Shina. Learning a basic greeting in Balti is a simple way to break the ice with shopkeepers in the Skardu bazaar, which is located fifteen minutes from the hotel.

Skardu town sits at roughly 2,230 metres above sea level. While this is not high enough to cause severe altitude sickness for most people, you may feel slightly short of breath or experience a mild headache on your first day. Take it easy upon arrival and drink plenty of water.

The real altitude test comes when visiting Deosai National Park, which averages over 4,100 metres. If you are prone to altitude sickness, speak to a doctor before your trip and ascend slowly. Keep paracetamol and motion sickness tablets in your day pack, as the winding roads can upset stomachs. There is a hospital in Skardu town for basic medical needs, but severe emergencies often require a flight to Islamabad.