Getting to Baltistan requires commitment. The two main routes are by air to Skardu Airport or overland via the Karakoram Highway, and both have real limitations.
By air: PIA operates flights between Islamabad and Skardu Airport (IATA: KDU). The flights take around 1 hour but are frequently cancelled or delayed due to weather — the mountain approach requires good visibility, and the Karakoram creates unpredictable conditions. Do not schedule connecting flights from Islamabad on the same day as your Skardu flight; build a buffer of at least one or two days. When flights are running and weather cooperates, the approach to Skardu Airport through the mountains is one of the most spectacular commercial flight routes in the world.
By road: The overland route from Islamabad follows the Karakoram Highway (KKH) north through Abbottabad, Mansehra, and Besham to Gilgit, then east via Jaglot to Skardu. The drive from Islamabad takes 16–20 hours depending on road conditions, usually done in two days with an overnight in Gilgit or on the highway. The Karakoram Highway itself is a remarkable feat of engineering and the scenery — the Indus Gorge, the Nanga Parbat massif, the Hindu Kush foothills — is outstanding. Road conditions can deteriorate after heavy rain or flooding; check conditions before setting out.
Permits: Foreign visitors require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for certain areas of Gilgit-Baltistan. Your trekking agency or hotel can advise on current requirements; the paperwork has changed multiple times in recent years.