The usual way from Islamabad to Khaplu is to fly to Skardu, about an hour in the air, and then drive roughly 100 km east to Khaplu, about three hours on the road. Khaplu has no airport, so it is a flight plus a drive: with a morning flight you can be in Khaplu by the afternoon, if the weather lets the plane leave. The road all the way from Islamabad is possible but long, around 16 to 22 hours of driving, and part of the usual road routes is on the UK government's list of places to avoid.
This guide sets out both options with times, rough costs and what can go wrong, so you can choose before you book a room.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Fastest way | Fly Islamabad to Skardu, then drive to Khaplu |
| Flight time | About 1 hour (PIA, Airblue, AirSial) |
| Skardu to Khaplu | About 103 km (Wikipedia); sources say 100 to 110 km; about 3 hours |
| By road from Islamabad | Roughly 630 to 700 km to Skardu; 16 to 22 hours |
| Whole trip by air and road | One long day, if the flight leaves on time |
| Khaplu elevation | About 2,600 m |
Option 1: fly to Skardu, then drive to Khaplu
Airblue, AirSial and PIA fly direct from Islamabad to Skardu, and one aggregator counted 18 flights a week in September 2026. PIA's earliest departures are around 6 am and its last morning flights around 10 am, according to its route listing on a ticketing site. Flight time is roughly an hour.
Fares seen in 2026 start around PKR 14,000 to 17,000 one way on PIA, with wider market ranges of about PKR 12,000 to 40,000 depending on season and how early you book. We cover fares and the airline choice in our Islamabad to Skardu flight guide, and the arrival side in our Skardu airport guide.
A typical day looks like this:
- Early flight to Skardu, landing between 8 and 11 am.
- Arrange the car. Hotels in Khaplu and car rental firms in Skardu can organise a driver. Shared cars and minibuses also run to Khaplu.
- Drive to Khaplu, about three hours, along the Shyok valley.
- Check in by mid-afternoon, with light to see the palace area.
Our Skardu to Khaplu guide covers the drive itself, and Keris Valley is a reasonable first stop on it.
Flight cancellations are the main risk
Mountain weather causes most disruptions on the Skardu route. One 2026 flight guide says conditions can cancel flights even when the rest of the country is clear. Skardu airport operates largely under visual flight rules, and weather disruption is more common between November and February.
What to do about it:
- Do not book a same-day onward connection or a non-refundable Khaplu hotel for the night you land.
- Keep a spare day at either end of the trip.
- Buy a flexible fare if you can.
- If the flight is cancelled, go to the airline counter straight away, because rebooking queues fill quickly.
Our guide to flight cancellations to Gilgit and Skardu has more detail.
Option 2: by road from Islamabad
Road distance to Skardu is about 630 to 700 km, depending on route, and most guides put the real travelling time at 16 to 22 hours, usually split with a night in Chilas or another stop. Then add the 3-hour drive to Khaplu. In practice this is a two-day journey to Khaplu at best.
Two routes are in common use:
- Via Naran and Babusar Top. Islamabad, Mansehra, Balakot, Naran, Babusar Top, Chilas, then the road along the Indus via Jaglot to Skardu. This is the popular summer route, about 663 km by one count, but Babusar is snowbound for much of the year. One guide says it closes from October to April.
- Via Besham on the Karakoram Highway. This is the winter alternative when Babusar is shut.
Our Islamabad to Skardu by road guide covers both in more detail, and our Babusar open or closed guide covers the pass.
Is the road safe?
The UK government's Pakistan travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, via Battagram, Besham, Dasu and Sazin. That is the Besham route, so it is the one winter drivers use. The Babusar (N15) route avoids that stretch in summer, and Gilgit-Baltistan itself is not listed in the advice.
Pakistani families still drive these roads, but check local news and police advice before leaving, and avoid driving at night. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice, because travelling against it can void your travel insurance. For wider context see is Gilgit-Baltistan safe for tourists.
Which should you choose?
| Fly and drive | Road all the way | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | One day | Two days at least |
| Cost | Flights plus a car | Fuel, hotel on the way, driver |
| Risk | Weather cancellations | Long hours, landslides, the advised-against stretch |
| Best for | Most visitors, families, short trips | Those with their own car and spare days |
Fly if you have limited time or travel with children and older parents. Go by road if you want to see the Babusar route in summer and have days to spare, and are comfortable with long mountain drives.
Costs and planning
Add the flight, the car to Khaplu and your first night's hotel. A private car from Skardu to Khaplu was quoted at PKR 12,000 to 15,000 in a 2025 travel guide, and a shared seat at about PKR 1,300. Prices change. Our Khaplu trip cost guide adds up the full budget, and our guide to hotels in Khaplu covers where to stay. For the wider Baltistan picture, see our Skardu hub.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to go from Islamabad to Khaplu?
By air and road, one long day: about an hour's flight to Skardu plus roughly three hours' drive. By road alone, about two days.
Is there a direct flight from Islamabad to Khaplu?
No. Khaplu is reached by road only. Fly to Skardu and drive about 103 km.
How far is Khaplu from Skardu?
About 103 km according to Wikipedia, with other sources saying 100 to 110 km. It takes roughly three hours.
Which airlines fly Islamabad to Skardu?
Airblue, AirSial and PIA fly the route directly.
Can I drive from Islamabad to Khaplu in one day?
It is not realistic. The road to Skardu alone takes 16 to 22 hours, so plan an overnight stop.
What if my Skardu flight is cancelled?
Contact the airline counter immediately for a rebooking or refund, and keep a buffer day in your plan.
