Askole

Askole is last village of NORTH and after this you can not find human settlement. Its a place of Porters (invisible footmen) who are always heading you to the mountains and they are never been counted to any achievement. You have to hire the porters and your luggage and your kitchen accessories moves for next 15 days by these men.

Askole is 6-8 hours drive away from Skardu. At some point near Shaftan (village) , you have to exchange the vehicle because at one point , road directly goes into the Baltoro river. You have to leave the first transport there and cross that area through mountain . It was a short hike and then you are close to Shaftan village.

We were a group of 8 hikers from different parts of the Pakistan. One of them was a U.S citizen known ifti.

Skardu

Skardu is a remote area of Pakistan where heaven starts. This is also considered a gateway to the Karakoram mountain range.

Skardu requires 24 hours of bus ride (if you are lucky enough) otherwise landslide takes hours and hours to get you to Skardu.

Flight can take you there in 45 minutes with magnificent views but expensive as well . Its ticket almost cost PKR 9,000. 

This town is located on the indus river, which separates the Karakoram range from the Himalayas.