Hoto village (also spelt Hotto) is a settlement on the floor of the Skardu valley, right beside Skardu airport and the Indus River, a short drive west of the city. It sits on the main Skardu to Gilgit road, so any car can reach it all year. Hoto is a lived-in village with fields, orchards, a cadet college and some hotels along the airport road, not a sight in itself, and most visitors know it as somewhere they pass or sleep on the way to Kachura and Shigar.
This guide explains where Hoto is, how to get there, what you will find, and when it makes sense to stay there rather than in Skardu city.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Skardu valley floor, beside the airport, on the south bank of the Indus |
| Road | The Skardu to Gilgit road; paved |
| From Skardu city | The airport is about 14 km by road (GB tourism chart); Hoto is just beyond it |
| Altitude | Around 2,200 to 2,300 m (the airport is at 2,225 m) |
| Best months | April to October |
| Known for | Cadet College Skardu, airport-road hotels, Indus erosion |
| Signal | Normal Skardu coverage |
Where is Hoto?
Hoto lies on the flat, sandy floor of the Skardu valley, between the airport and the Indus. The Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department's district map marks it beside the airport and the cadet college, with Pakora and Qumara nearby. OpenStreetMap places the cadet college campus in Hotto, just west of the runway.
If you drive in from Gilgit, you pass Hoto shortly before the airport. If you start in Skardu, you go out past the airport and Hoto comes next. The tourism department's Gilgit to Skardu chart puts the airport at 14 km from Skardu city, so it is a short drive from the bazaar, usually under half an hour.
How to get to Hoto
- By car. Take the main road out of Skardu towards the airport and Gilgit. It is paved and open all year, and any ordinary car manages it.
- By taxi. Taxis and hotel cars run constantly between the city and the airport. Agree the fare before you get in. Our guide to Skardu airport covers arrivals and getting into town.
- From Gilgit by road. You reach Hoto at the end of the long drive up the Indus gorge from Jaglot, just before Skardu itself. Our Gilgit to Skardu distance guide covers that route.
What you find in Hoto
Expect an ordinary Balti village that has grown into a suburb of Skardu: irrigated fields, poplars and fruit trees, houses and small shops along the road, and open sand and scrub beyond. Three things set it apart.
Cadet College Skardu
The cadet college sits in the middle of the valley, next to the airport, in Hotto. Its foundation stone was laid in 1994, it opened in 2001, and the campus covers more than 1,000 kanals. It is a working school, not a visitor attraction, so treat it as a landmark rather than somewhere to walk into.
The airport-road hotels
Several hotels line the road between Skardu city and the airport, including in the Hoto area. They suit travellers with an early flight, or anyone who prefers a quieter stay outside the bazaar. Standards vary widely, so check recent reviews and photographs before you book, and ask whether the hotel runs an airport transfer.
The Indus
The Indus runs right past the village, wide and braided across the valley floor. It is also Hoto's biggest problem. In June 2013 a rise in the river flooded the village: dozens of houses were vacated, orchards and fields were washed away, and part of the Gilgit to Skardu road was damaged. Residents said they had warned officials about the erosion for years. A 2024 Dawn feature on people living along the Indus told of a girl from Hoto whose father and three siblings died when their house collapsed as the river rose through the village.
For visitors, the lesson is simple. Admire the river from the road or a high bank. Don't take children down onto the sandbars in summer, when glacier melt can raise the water quickly.
Places near Hoto
Hoto's real value is its position. From here you are close to several of the places people come to Skardu for:
- Katpana cold desert, the dunes on the valley floor near the airport. See our Katpana desert guide.
- The Kachura lakes, further along the road towards Gilgit. Our Upper Kachura Lake guide covers the walk down to the water.
- Sarfaranga cold desert in the Shigar valley across the Indus, best known for its jeep rally. Our Sarfaranga desert guide explains how to reach it.
- Skardu city itself, with Kharpocho Fort and the bazaar, a short drive back east.
When to visit, and is it safe?
Hoto is on the valley floor, so it is reachable whenever Skardu is. April to October is the comfortable season, with blossom in spring and golden poplars in autumn. Winters are cold, but the valley floor is not cut off the way the high plateaus are.
On security, Gilgit-Baltistan is not on the UK government's list of areas to avoid. Skardu did see serious unrest in early March 2026, when protests turned deadly and the city spent 11 days under curfew before it was lifted on 12 March (Dawn). Flights resumed the same day, but some restrictions stayed in place for a while, so check local news before you travel, and follow any instructions from the police or the GB Tourist Police (helpline 1422 within Gilgit-Baltistan).
Should you stay in Hoto?
Stay in Hoto if you have an early flight out of Skardu, you are driving on towards Kachura or Gilgit, or you want a quieter night than the bazaar offers. Stay in Skardu city if you want to walk to restaurants and shops, or if most of your trip heads east towards Shigar, Khaplu or Satpara and Deosai, because the city puts you closer to those roads. Our guide on where to stay in Skardu compares the areas, and our Skardu destination page gives the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hoto village?
On the Skardu valley floor, beside Skardu airport and the Indus, on the main road between Skardu and Gilgit. Coming from Skardu city, you pass the airport and reach Hoto just beyond it.
How far is Hoto from Skardu city?
The Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department puts the airport about 14 km from Skardu city by road, and Hoto is just past it. It is a short drive, usually under half an hour.
Is Hoto worth visiting?
Not as a destination on its own. It is a residential village and a convenient base near the airport and the road to Kachura, rather than a sightseeing stop.
Are there hotels in Hoto?
Yes. Several hotels line the Skardu airport road, including in the Hoto area. Check recent reviews before booking, as standards vary.
Is Hoto at risk of flooding?
Parts of the village beside the Indus have been hit by river erosion and floods, including in 2013. Stay off the riverbank and sandbars in summer, when the water can rise quickly.
