Khaplu is reached from Skardu, which is the main hub for Baltistan. Skardu itself is served by PIA flights from Islamabad — roughly 45 minutes when weather permits, but flights are frequently cancelled due to mountain weather. If the flight is cancelled you face a two-day overland journey via the Karakoram Highway and then the Indus Valley road.
From Skardu, Khaplu is about 100 km east along the Shyok River valley. The road takes four to six hours depending on the season and the condition of the track — it is unpaved for much of its length and subject to floods and landslides in summer. Shared jeeps and Coasters (minibuses) depart from Skardu's main bazaar in the morning. Private jeep hire is possible but expensive.
The journey along the Shyok River is spectacular in its own right — the gorge walls drop sheer to the water, and the light on the rock changes through the day.