How far is Hunza Valley from Islamabad?
By road, the shorter route (journey distance of about 620-650 km) is the Babusar route in the summer, and the other route (journey distance of about 700-750 km) is the Karakoram Highway through Besham.
Traveling from Islamabad to Gilgit typically involves a long drive of 13 to 20 hours. As a result, many people prefer to break the journey into two days. Alternatively, you can take a one-hour flight to Gilgit, followed by a 2 to 2.5-hour drive to Karimabad.
The journey measurements provided by different sources vary by about 100km or more, and the reason for this is simple. Some of these sources measure from Hasan Abdal instead of Islamabad; some people measure up to Attabad, and some people measure up to Aliabad. The two routes are definitely not the same length.
The two road routes
Since there is only one road into Gilgit-Baltistan from the south, and it is the Karakoram Highway, the different routes come from how you reach the highway.
The Besham route joins the highway early, while the other route follows it all the way through Kohistan. It is the road that you will use for nine months of the year since it is open throughout the year.
The Babusar route traverses the Kaghan Valley via Naran and crosses the 4,173-meter Babusar Pass. It connects with the Karakoram Highway via the town of Chilas, making it a quicker route than looping around via the western end of the highway. It is a far more attractive route through high mountain passes. It is open for less than four months of the year, from June or July until late September or October, when the pass clears of snow.
The Besham route along the Karakoram Highway
The stretches of the motorway between Islamabad and Mansehra and the section between Mansehra and Besham are the fastest parts of this route. The motorway is faster than the old Indus Highway, and dining services are available for breakfast. This section should take about three and a half hours.
The section between Besham and Chilas is the most time-consuming, varying from 5 to over 10 hours. It is landslide country and should never be driven at night.
Chilas to Gilgit is 3 to 4 hours, with stops for photographs at the Raikot Bridge, the Nanga Parbat viewing point, and the junction of the three main mountain ranges of Pakistan at Jaglot.
Gilgit to Karimabad is the last easy section and takes less than two hours, continuing to showcase some of Pakistan's best landscape views. Rakaposhi appears above the valley, becoming green with terraces and orchards.
Total travel time is around 15 to 20 hours. It's a smart* choice to do this trip in two days with one night in Besham or Chilas.
Route two: via Babusar Top
The route from Islamabad to Mansehra takes around 3 hours as it's a motorway stretch that you have to cross.
The Mansehra to Naran stretch takes about 4 to 5 hours, driving from Mansehra to Balakot and further up from there to the Kaghan Valley. Naran is a common stopover point, as it is located at about 2,400 meters.
From Naran to Chilas takes about 4 to 5 hours, over Babusar Top, which is located at around 4,173 meters. This leg of the trip is very scenic, which is why a lot of people choose this route over the others.
From Chilas, the trip takes you along the Karakoram Highway and up to Karimabad. This stretch is around 5 to 6 hours.
This itinerary involves around 13 to 16 hours of total driving time, so aim to do it in 2 days.
The main thing to consider is the date. In winter and spring, Babusar closes due to snow. It could also close suddenly due to an unpredictable, bad Autumn. To be on the safe side, plan the Besham route and consider Babusar as a nice surprise if it is open.
One-day trips vs. two-day trips
This route can be done in one day, and many people choose to drive it in one long day. However, people arrive at their destination at around midnight, having seen nothing at all, and spend the next day recovering from it.
For almost everyone, two-day trips are optimal. With children, older parents, or anyone prone to car sickness, three-day trips are preferred. The overnight options along the Karakoram Highway are Besham and Chilas. Each has its own set of problems. Besham is basic, and Chilas gets hot during the summer, so it is better to book a room than gambling on showing up and hoping for the best.
Three days is a trip now, not just a transfer. Stop overnight in Naran, see Saif-ul-Malook, cross Babusar in the morning, then stop to see Nanga Parbat and reach Hunza on the third day with your sanity still intact.
By air, and why it is not always faster
Flights from Islamabad to Gilgit take an hour with turboprops, on what is an amazing scenic flight as you see Nanga Parbat and fly alongside the Karakoram Mountains.
The road to Karimabad from Gilgit is two to two and a half hours.
The weather, as always, can be a pain. Since much of the flight path is along valleys, they can only fly when skies are clear, and there are no backup routes to use in case of bad weather, meaning flights are commonly canceled through all four seasons, but particularly in winter. The roads should always be used as a backup to the flights, and absolutely no same-day flights should be booked from Islamabad after one takes a flight back from Gilgit.
It makes sense to visit Skardu and Hunza together because the former has better airline connectivity and weather during some months, but the latter is six hours away by road through Gilgit.
By bus
Several companies offer overnight bus services from Rawalpindi to Gilgit. The longer services from Gilgit to Hunza are offered by many companies, of which NATCO is the most well-known. It is the quickest and cheapest way to travel for those on a budget, although it has no stops and you will arrive tired.
Why the trips vary
There are closed sections due to monsoons during July and August, and the Kohistan section can be closed for hours or days due to landslides and flash floods.
The long stretch of construction near Dasu creates unpredictable diversions due to the dam being built.
The road through Babusar can similarly change the travel plan in a given year, and there are several closed sections due to winter snow and heavy snowfall.
There are foreign visitor registers that also slow travelers down, as do the many cargo trucks that share the road.
Which route should you take based on your travels?
Besham is the route with the most predictability, so it's good for families and first-time visitors. This route takes about two days with a booked overnight stay at the halfway point.
For avid photographers and road trip enthusiasts, consider taking the Babusar route in season. This route also goes through Naran and Saif-ul-Malook and takes approximately three days.
For corporate groups, consider taking the route with the most flexibility. This means taking the quicker flight to Gilgit with a built-in reservation for the drive to Gilgit, with some flexibility to extend the trip by a day of sightseeing possibly.
Consider taking the route with the least amount of two-way driving for your time off. This means flying to a higher elevation and driving back on the more tourist accessible road.
Babusar is closed for the winter, so the Besham route is the more tourist accessible option.
Coming from other cities
Add the drive to Islamabad and use the statistics and information above.
Lahore is around 4.5 to 5.5 hours on the motorway. Most travelers stop in Islamabad for the night or take the long drive to Naran or Besham for the first day of the trip.
For travel from Peshawar, it's about 2-3 hours to Mansehra.
Multan, Karachi, and farther south are over two days of travel before the mountain route; that's why a lot of travel from these cities means flying to Islamabad or even Gilgit and starting the journey from there.
What to check and what to avoid
Times are most important here. Leaving Islamabad by 6 pm puts a restriction on how far you can go for the day.
Avoid mountain roads at night. There are no lights, trucks are dominant after dark, and you’re unable to see potential landslide debris until you are in it.
If you are departing in the morning, check road status, especially in July and August, and once again in the morning before starting your trip on the second day.
When your driver is briefed, make sure to find out when he last took this route. For Kohistan, this is more important than the type of vehicle.
Fill up in Mansehra, Besham, Chilas, and Gilgit because you can’t assume the next station is open. Make sure to carry cash since card payment cannot be relied upon after you leave the motorway.
Download offline maps and save your hotel's contact number after you lose signal. Coverage is poor in Kohistan, and one network is mainly dominant in Gilgit - Baltistan.
Make sure to keep a spare day at the end of your trip because you should not miss your flight due to a closure on the way back. Babusar is above 4000 metres, and it’s cold at the top in July. Going straight over after a night in the plains and altitude can cause a headache.
Eid holidays and the 14 August weekend should be avoided if possible, as the road through Naran becomes congested, and hotels charge more.
How far is Hunza from Islamabad? Roughly 600 to 750 kilometres depending on the route, with the Babusar road shorter and Besham road longer and open all year.
How many hours is the drive? Between thirteen and fifteen going through Babusar, fifteen to twenty going through Besham, and two days is generally how much time people plan for.
Can you do Islamabad to Hunza in one day? Sure, in a fast car with an early start. The second half of the trip is where most people regret doing it.
Is there a flight to Hunza? There’s no airport in the valley. You have to fly to Gilgit, about an hour from Islamabad, and then take a two to two and a half hour drive. Flights often get canceled because of the weather, any time of the year.
Can a normal car do it? Yes, both routes have proper roads. Side roads to places like Shimshal, Borith, and Hoper, however, need a 4x4.
Is the Karakoram Highway open in winter? Yes, to Sost, with some weather-related closures. Babusar is closed.
When does Babusar open? The opening date is sometime in the first half of the summer, and it shuts in the autumn. The dates change every year, so check the date before you visit.
What is the best overnight stop? Naran is the best stop on the Babusar route; Besham or Chilas are the best stops on the Karakoram Highway.
Let us handle the drive.
We arrange the whole run from Islamabad: the vehicle sized to your group, a driver who does this route regularly, hotels booked at the halfway stop rather than found on arrival, and a schedule built around daylight instead of optimism. If the road closes, we reschedule and tell you what it changes before it costs you anything.
Send us your dates and group size, and we will email you the travel plan and cost prior to booking.
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