How to get there
From your first arrival to the mountain road ahead. Compare flights, private drivers and coaches, understand the route, and leave room for the unexpected.
Good journeys begin with a clear plan.
A short flight can save a long travel day. A private driver gives you freedom to stop. A coach can stretch your budget. In northern Pakistan, weather and road access matter as much as distance: choose transport around the season, your comfort and the time you actually have.
Islamabad → Hunza
Hunza has no airport serving this journey. Fly to Gilgit and continue by road, or plan a longer overland trip. Karimabad and Aliabad are common bases; Passu is farther north, beyond Attabad Lake.
Seasonal road option: Islamabad → Naran → Babusar Pass → Chilas → Gilgit → Hunza
Fly to Gilgit
Best for a shorter trip · around 1 hour in the air, then 2–3 hours to central Hunza by road.
Arrange your onward driver before you land and confirm your hotel’s exact location. Airport check-in, waiting and luggage collection are additional to the flight time.
- Mountain flights can be delayed or cancelled by weather.
- Keep a spare day and avoid a tight connection to your international departure.
- Skardu is an alternative gateway only with a much longer onward road transfer; it is not a nearby substitute.
Travel with a private driver
Best for flexibility · allow two daylight travel days each way.
Make the drive part of the journey, with breaks and an agreed overnight stop. Driving estimates vary widely: roughly 14–20 hours in total can become much longer with roadworks, traffic or closures.
- Ask for the proposed road route in writing before booking.
- Babusar is a summer route, dependent on snow clearance and conditions; opening and closing dates vary.
- Confirm vehicle condition, seat belts, luggage space, daily driving limits and all inclusions.
Compare coach services
Best for a smaller budget when the exact route is suitable · a long journey, often 18–24+ hours.
Check the service destination, terminal and road routing directly with NATCO. A ticket to Gilgit still leaves an onward journey to Hunza; a Hunza service may stop at Aliabad rather than your hotel.
- Confirm whether the operator accepts your booking documents and what luggage is included.
- Ask about stops, toilets, seat type, cancellation rules and delays.
- For international visitors, route advice comes before price: do not book solely because a service is operating.
Understand the Karakoram Highway
A road corridor, travelled by vehicle or coach.
North of Gilgit, the highway leads towards Hunza, Attabad Lake and Passu. It offers memorable scenery, but closures, falling rock and construction can change plans quickly.
The southern approach via Besham and Dasu is distinct from the seasonal Naran–Babusar approach. An open road does not automatically mean an advisable route for every visitor.
Discover Hunza · Plan five days in Hunza · Explore Attabad Lake
More routes worth planning.
These are approximate planning times, not timetables. Allow for stops, airport formalities, weather and changing road conditions.
Islamabad → Skardu
Fly into Baltistan
Allow around 1–1½ hours in the air, plus airport time. Arrange an airport pickup and confirm whether you are staying in Skardu town or farther away at Shigar or a lakeside hotel. Check available dates with the airline; schedules are not guaranteed.
Keep a buffer before your return international flight. A weather cancellation needs a new plan, rather than an immediate assumption that the road is accessible.
Make the road journey deliberate
Allow at least two daylight travel days from Islamabad with a confirmed suitable route and overnight stop. The final approach follows the Gilgit–Skardu road. Conditions can slow the journey considerably; do not plan a fixed arrival appointment.
Lahore → Islamabad
Coach or private car
Allow roughly 5–6 hours between terminals or cities, with extra time for pickups, motorway traffic and breaks. A coach is a useful city-to-city option; a private car suits families or travellers with several bags.
Know your arrival point
Confirm the actual terminal: services advertised for Islamabad may arrive in Rawalpindi or on the city outskirts. Budget for the final transfer to your accommodation. During winter, fog can disrupt motorway travel, so keep important connections flexible.
Gilgit → Hunza → Passu
Into central Hunza
Allow approximately 2–3 hours from Gilgit to Aliabad or Karimabad before sightseeing stops. Agree whether your quote includes airport waiting, the hotel approach and any detours around Rakaposhi viewpoints.
Continue to Upper Hunza
From central Hunza, allow roughly 1½–2½ hours towards Passu, with extra time for Attabad Lake and viewpoints. A private driver makes a day of this corridor; check shared transport locally and avoid relying on an unconfirmed last return departure.
Skardu → Khaplu
A gentler Baltistan transfer
Allow around 3–4 hours by road, depending on stops and conditions. Arrange a hotel transfer or local driver; clarify whether the quote is one way or includes waiting and a return.
Stay rather than rush
An overnight stay gives you time for village walks and the heritage setting. If continuing towards remote valleys, ask separately about vehicle suitability, permissions and road access: an ordinary town transfer does not cover every side trip.
Hunza → Skardu
Give this transfer a full day
Travel via Gilgit and the Gilgit–Skardu road. Allow roughly 8–11+ hours, including ordinary breaks; delays can extend the day. It is a substantial transfer, not a short hop between neighbouring valleys.
Choose daylight and flexibility
Agree an early start and ask your driver about current works and closures. Consider an overnight stop in Gilgit if you prefer a slower pace. Avoid adding ambitious sightseeing or a flight connection to the same day.
What should you allow?
Compare the total journey cost, not just a headline fare. A cheap flight may need a transfer and extra hotel night; a daily vehicle rate may exclude fuel and the driver’s overnight expenses.
Price references · reviewed 4 October 2026
Amounts are in Pakistani rupees (PKR). These are planning references, not bookable offers. Confirm the final amount, route and inclusions directly before paying.
Sedan with driver
From PKR 5,000 / vehicle / day
Published starting daily hire. Fuel is generally extra; northern transfers require a route-specific quote.
Prado 4×4 with driver
From PKR 20,000 / vehicle / day
Published starting hire. Confirm fuel, driver accommodation, daily hours and outstation allowances.
Grand Cabin Hiace
From PKR 13,000 / vehicle / day
A group vehicle reference. Luggage capacity, road suitability and the complete trip cost need confirmation.
Coach to Hunza
Allow roughly PKR 5,000–8,000 / person / one way
An indicative budgeting range, not a live fare. Service class and route vary. Check the operator’s current fare and exact road routing.
Flight to Gilgit or Skardu
Date-specific airline quote
Use the airline’s booking search for your dates. Add onward transfer, baggage and any change charges to your budget.
Airport & local transfers
Written quote for your route
Ask for a total per vehicle, passenger count, pickup point and waiting allowance. A daily rental price is not a one-way transfer price.
Reference sources: published vehicle starting rates · published coach fare reference. Providers are independent; listing them is not an endorsement. Currency conversions and availability are not live.
Before you book.
Ask for a complete written quote
- Exact start and end locations, travel dates and proposed road route.
- Vehicle type, passenger count and luggage space.
- Fuel, tolls, parking, driver meals and accommodation.
- Daily hours, overtime, overnight stops and return charges.
- Cancellation, weather disruption and refund terms.
- What happens if a road closes or a flight is cancelled.
Travel with a little breathing room
- Keep passport and visa copies available for checkpoints; confirm registration requirements for foreign visitors in Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Carry water, snacks, a warm layer, cash and offline directions.
- Share the route and driver’s contact with your accommodation.
- Choose daylight mountain transfers and sensible rest stops.
- Check the weather, local road updates and current official advice close to departure.
- Leave at least one spare day before an international flight; more flexibility helps during unsettled weather.
Editorial review: 4 October 2026. Useful checks: PIA · NATCO · Daewoo Express · Pakistan Meteorological Department · Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism · UK regional travel advice. Journey times are editorial planning estimates. Always reconfirm your own route and departure.