Distance between Skardu and Hunza
The distance from Skardu to Karimabad in Hunza by road is roughly 265 to 290 km via the main route through Gilgit and can take between 5 and 7 hours. There is no other route. The Karakoram Range separates the two valleys, and the road descends west to Gilgit before turning north on the Karakoram Highway.
Another route via Deosai and Astore adds about 40 km and at least an hour and is only passable when Deosai is open, and that is generally around late June to late September.
Different sources quote the distance at anything from 265 to 340 km depending on which parts of Skardu and which parts of Hunza they measure from, and the range is different if you stop for lunch in Gilgit. The range given is typically for the city center to Karimabad route.
Why there is no direct road
While the distance from Skardu to Hunza seems straightforward as the crow flies, it is not because of the mountains.
The Karakoram Range splits the region. The glaciers that originate on this range fill the valleys and act as transportation blockers. There is no direct access on the ice to Baltistan and Hunza. The only available access by paved road either leads to Gilgit, where three mountain ranges briefly meet to form a corridor, or goes over the Deosai mountain plateau.
It is useful to know this before you travel. Skardu to Hunza is definitely not a two-hour drive. It is a full-day mountain drive. Drivers who underestimate the drive time from Skardu to Hunza reach Karimabad by 8 pm instead of the 4 pm they have planned.
Route One: Main road to Gilgit
The Skardu to Gilgit road, commonly known as the Skardu Road or S-1, follows the Indus and Gilgit rivers. This section is approximately 165 to 170 kilometers and takes 3 to 4 hours to traverse. This is arguably the most beautiful and dramatic section of the entire drive. This road hugs and winds through some of the deepest gorges of the world, where the river is extremely far below, and the vertical rock walls only allow for a thin skyline.
Gilgit has food, fuel, ATMs, and a chance to plan the next part of your adventure. Gilgit to Karimabad is about a 95 km drive that takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Rakaposhi is visible for most of the last hour of the drive and is on the Nagar side as you climb.
Total is about 265 kms and 5 to 6 hours of driving with stops.
Route Two: cross Deosai and Astore
With summer weather, usually mid-June to late September, there is another option. Take the Skardu to Satpara Lake to Deosai Plateau to Astore route, then take a northwest route along the Gilgit River to meet the Karakoram Highway at Jaglot and head to Gilgit and Hunza.
This option adds 40 to 50 kms and over an hour to the journey, and adds Deosai. The two for the price of one option see Deosai and connect Skardu to Hunza does work out, but you reach Karimabad way late and way tired.
Better option: do this route with a stop in Astore or the Deosai Plateau to allow the crossing to be two days rather than one long day.
Total on the Deosai route: approximately 310-340 kilometers, 8+ hours without stops.
The Drive
Skardu down to Gilgit roughly follows the Indus downstream. This section of the river is flanked by silt-laden glacial sediment and runs through a valley that, at its narrowest, brings the road, river, and cliff wall in proximity. This section of the valley is known as the Rondu Gorge, and in the summer months, heat plumes off of the rock at the valley floor. As a result, the temperatures along this stretch get a lot hotter than in Skardu.
Gilgit is a city that is much more of a working city than a tourist destination, complete with bazaars and hospitals. Beyond that, Gilgit also serves the supply chain for the area northward and eastward, making it a great spot for fuel and food.
After Gilgit, the road merges with the Karakoram Highway and continues to run to the north. Within an hour, the valley begins to expand, terraces begin their rise above the road, and the start of the Nagar side comes into view with Rakaposhi at an impressive 7,788 meters. This stretch of the Karakoram Highway is in great shape, with the Attabad Lake tunnels completing the run to Gulmit and Passu without the old boat crossing. Karrimabad sits on a terrace, and looking out from a hotel room is the reason everyone says to stay here rather than in Aliabad.
How long to realistically budget for the commute
Leaving Skardu at 7 is not a bad start. You should factor in an hour for Gilgit. With that, expect to land in Karimabad around 2 or 3 pm. This result is solid.
The normal time accounts for delays. There is the Rondu Gorge. A blocked vehicle once and a short rockfall can mean a complete traffic hold. Gilgit means city traffic. The KKH north of Gilgit is generally clear. However, landslides in the monsoon months are not unheard of.
Six or seven hours should be the planning figure, not five. The times are not incorrect; the roads have issues.
If you are coming back the same way
Most Skardu and Hunza itineraries are done one way and return to Islamabad, rather than doing the trek both ways. If you do both valleys, the logical order is to fly into one valley and then drive the other valley. This can be done with the first direction being from Islamabad to Skardu and the other from Hunza to Islamabad. This can be swapped in reverse.
Driving both ways doubles the days; with two people swapping each way, this means losing two days rather than spending them on the plateau.
According to many, the Jaglot confluence area, where the Gilgit and Indus rivers meet, is where the Himalaya, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush converge. Though somewhat inaccurate, the area is still noteworthy.
Further south on the KKH, in Chilas, the Indus River has thousands of rock carvings and inscriptions. These were made between the 1st millennium and the Silk Road era. Many travelers skip this stop and later regret it. If you are taking the drive from Skardu to Gilgit, consider stopping at Chilas.
Nanga Parbat at Raikot, on the KKH located south of Gilgit, has one of the world's highest peaks, the north face, which stands at an awesome 8,126 meters. Fairy Meadows can also be accessed from this location. This is only relevant to travelers going to Islamabad rather than to Skardu, but it is located on the same road.
Combining Skardu and Hunza
Ten to twelve days is the ideal length to experience both thoroughly. Anything less and you are either rushing or skipping things such as Deosai (Skardu) and Attabad (Karimabad).
A sample itinerary is to fly to Skardu and spend 4 to 5 days visiting Kharpocho, Katpana, Satpara, Shigar, and Khaplu. From there, drive to Hunza via Gilgit and spend another 4 to 5 days in Hunza and Gojal. This itinerary will give you the best experience of both destinations with no major backtracking.
Add two nights: one on the plateau or in Astore, one on the break in Gilgit to make the drive less tiring before going north again.
What to look for and what to look out for
Find out if your driver has been on the Skardu to Gilgit road within the last month, and if there are any ongoing road works or closures on the Rondu section. This is the most important question along this route.
Check if Deosai is open. Snow covers the road and closes the route from late September to late June, with a varying degree of unpredictability in the opening and closing dates each year.
Carry enough cash before leaving Skardu. There are no ATMs between the city and Gilgit. Gilgit ATMs become operational and are sufficient for a cash refill, but it is better to consider this a last resort.
Don't try to drive this route at night. The roads in the gorge are unlit, and a sleeping road driver or a rockfall can only be spotted at the last minute when you are on the fall.
Leave Skardu at 7 am to get to Karimabad at the best time for the evening to spend the rest of the day in the valley. Leaving at 9 am puts you there after dark if something takes longer than expected.
Never schedule a same-day Skardu flight and the drive to Hunza. If you end up driving instead of flying, you will end up in the wrong valley at midnight rather than the intended valley.
How far is Skardu from Hunza by road? It is roughly 265 to 290 kilometers via Gilgit, the main accessible route all year long.
What is the average driving time? If conditions are good, it should take 5 or 6 hours; add an hour for normal stops. This can increase to 7 hours during monsoon conditions.
How far off is the shortest path from Skardu to Hunza? There is no direct route; the only available path is via Gilgit. The Deosai route is longer and is only accessible for a short time.
How long would it take to do the route in one day? Yes, but it is a longer full day. This route should be started early in the morning to take advantage of hotels with check-in at any time.
Which would you consider the best route from Skardu to Hunza? The Gilgit route is the best all year. The Deosai route is best as a 2-day crossing in summer, but as a single-day crossing, it is not the preferred route.
What sections of the Skardu to Hunza route should I be concerned about? General road safety concerns. Care should particularly be taken on the Rondu Gorge section and the monsoon section.
Which landmarks should I stop and look at between Skardu and Hunza? Check out the Rakaposhi View Point at Ghulmet. The Jaglot confluence. Chilas and the Indus rock carvings if time allows.
Can I go to Skardu and Hunza on one trip? Yes, you can, and this is most likely what will be done on any well-planned Northern Pakistan trip of 10 to 12 days.
We'll plan it for you.
Send us your info: the dates, the valley you begin in, and how many days you have. We'll let you know if the Deosai route works for you. We'll take care of booking hotels and reversing drives, and we'll arrange the jeep and Rondu Gorge driver. We'll show you the whole deal with final prices before we do anything.
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