The river originates in the Chhota Deosai plains in the Astore District north of Minimarg, then flows east.

In the Kargil district, at the Kaksar village, Shingo is joined by the Dras River, which originates near Zojila Pass and flows northeast.

[citation needed] The Shingo River runs north of the Line of Control dividing the Indian- and Pakistani-administered portions of Kashmir.

A road runs parallel to the river, which once connected Kargil to Astore District.

Once in the Kargil, the valley of the Shingo–Drass river contains India's National Highway 1 connecting the Kashmir and Ladakh.